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22 June 2026
Broker and Three Traders Plead Guilty to Multi-Year Insider Trading SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, John Lowe and Richard Ringel pleaded guilty to securities fraud for their involvement in a multi-year insider trading scheme. Co-defendants David Cooper, a broker registered with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, and Randy Grewal pleaded guilty to securities fraud on September 22, 2025 and April 30, 2026, respectively. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Taryn A. Merkl. When sentenced, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Pete Gizas, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York); and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), announced the guilty pleas.
“For years, the defendants brazenly exploited their access to inside information to gain an unfair advantage over the investing public,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Insider trading destroys the public’s faith in the fairness and integrity of our markets. This Office is committed to protecting market integrity and rooting out bad actors, and it will continue to hold accountable those who engage in insider trading.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
“By admitting they conspired to steal confidential information from investment banks and trade ahead of multiple secondary stock offerings, these defendants have acknowledged a years-long scheme that corrupted the markets for their own gain and generated more than a million dollars in illicit profit,” stated HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Gizas. “Insider trading erodes public confidence in our financial system, harms everyday investors who play by the rules, and sends a dangerous message that the wealthy and well connected can tilt the playing field in their favor. HSI New York, through meticulous financial analysis, a range of investigative techniques, and close coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, will continue working alongside our law enforcement and regulatory partners to uncover complex financial crimes and ensure those who abuse access to sensitive information are held to account.”
“These individuals used their access to confidential information not available to the trading public to devise a scheme for their financial gain, profiting from MNPI. Let me be clear, it does not matter the type of scheme, postal inspectors will remain dedicated to exposing and bringing to justice anyone utilizing the U.S. mail to further criminal activity,” stated USPIS Inspector in Charge Larco-Ward.
As detailed in the indictment and other court filings, between approximately January 2018 and May 2024, the defendants conspired to obtain material non-public information (MNPI) about upcoming secondary stock offerings and to trade on that MNPI in advance of those offerings. The defendants illegally obtained MNPI from numerous sources, including through Cooper and another employee of a broker-dealer (Broker-Dealer), who had obtained MNPI from investment banks involved in and underwriting the secondary stock offerings. The MNPI included specific deal information such as the identity of the public company issuing the secondary offering; the timing of the deal; the structure of the deal; and the price at which the company would offer its stock in the upcoming offering. Employees of the Broker-Dealer breached their duty of confidentiality to their employer by improperly disclosing the MNPI to Lowe, Ringel and others with knowledge that they intended to use the information to execute short sales in advance of the public announcement of the secondary offerings. Employees of the Broker-Dealer shared the MNPI to induce their customers, including Lowe and Ringel, to commit to buy shares in the offerings so that the Broker-Dealer would receive compensation from the underwriters. Lowe, in turn, passed MNPI to Grewal. Lowe, Ringel and Grewal illegally profited more than $1 million from trading based on MNPI.
Evidence obtained from judicially authorized wiretaps revealed that in connection with numerous secondary offerings between approximately January 2023 and May 2023, Cooper and another employee of the Broker-Dealer (Co-Conspirator #1) obtained MNPI from investment firms that were underwriting the secondary offerings and provided MNPI to Lowe, Ringel and others, with knowledge that Lowe, Ringel and others intended to trade securities in advance of secondary offerings based on the MNPI. Those secondary offerings included the companies Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSSE), Revelation Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: REVB) and Tivic Health Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVC).
Fraudulent Trading on MNPI in the CSSE Secondary Offering
On or about March 30, 2023, Cooper obtained MNPI about the timing and pricing of the CSSE offering from the sole managing underwriter for the deal and shared that information with Ringel, who traded in CSSE in advance of the offering using the information, and with Co-Conspirator #1, who gave the inside information to Lowe. Lowe traded based on the MNPI and tipped Grewal, who also traded using the MNPI.
Fraudulent Trading on MNPI in the REVB Secondary Offering
Between February 6, 2023 and February 8, 2023, Lowe obtained MNPI about the timing of the REVB offering from a representative of the sole underwriter on the deal and passed it to Grewal, who traded in REVB using the information. Between February 7, 2023 and February 9, 2023, Ringel traded REVB based on MNPI that Cooper received from another representative of the sole underwriter on the deal.
Fraudulent Trading on MNPI in the TIVC Secondary Offering
On or about February 6, 2023, Cooper called a representative of the sole managing underwriter for the TIVC offering. The next day, Co-Conspirator #1 communicated to Lowe that TIVC intended to offer shares of its stock in a secondary offering. After learning this information, Lowe traded in TIVC and passed the MNPI he received from Co-Conspirator #1 to Grewal, who then also traded in TIVC. Between February 6, 2023 and February 8, 2023, Ringel and Cooper spoke over the telephone numerous times and Cooper executed a number of short sales in TIVC. In particular, on February 8, 2023 (after Co-Conspirator shared MNPI about the TIVC deal with Lowe), Cooper spoke with Co-Conspirator #1 and then with Ringel. Approximately six minutes after Ringel and Cooper spoke, Ringel executed additional short sales in TIVC.
* * * * *
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section and the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica K. Weigel, Adam R. Toporovsky and Sophia M. Suarez are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Laura Mansour. Assistant United States Attorney Laura Mantell of the Office’s Asset Forfeiture Section is handling forfeiture matters.
The Defendants:
JOHN LOWE (also known as “Clams”)
Age: 63
Sayville, New YorkRICHARD RINGEL
Age: 56
Boca Raton, FloridaCo-Defendants Who Previously Pleaded Guilty:
DAVID COOPER
Age: 40
Larchmont, New YorkRANDY GREWAL
Age: 55
Anthem, ArizonaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-10 (DG)
Boston Gang Member Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A self-admitted member of the Bailey Street gang in Boston was sentenced today in deferral court in Boston for illegal possession of five firearms and ammunition.
Kenneth Bigby-Williams, 30, of Hyde Park, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 90 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In March 2026, Bigby-Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Bigby-Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025.
On Aug. 7, 2025, five firearms, approximately 73 rounds of various caliber ammunition, along with numerous high-capacity magazines and other firearms accessories were seized during a series of search warrants. Due to a prior conviction in 2019 for possession of a firearm without a permit in Suffolk Superior Court, Bigby-Williams is prohibited from possessing firearms.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Billings man sentenced to 11 years for trafficking methRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who was caught with 10 pounds of methamphetamine while travelling from Wyoming was sentenced Wednesday to 135 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Nathan Wilnau, 51, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Wilnau, working with a partner, was helping bring methamphetamine from California via Wyoming into Billings.
In June 2023, law enforcement learned Wilnau and Christina Lavon Hill were selling illegal drugs in Billings. Agents learned Hill was sending money to a source in San Francisco, who then sent packages of meth to Cody, Wyoming, which Wilnau would go and retrieve.
On his last trip, Wilnau drove to Cody, picked up the package, and was heading back to Billings when he was pulled over. Searching the vehicle, agents found over 10 pounds of meth. They also learned that the source in Cody had previously received three to four packages of meth for Hill and Wilnau.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The DEA and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
Belfair, Washington, man arrested by FBI in connection to planned attack on government officials at White House UFC eventRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 21-year-old resident of Belfair, Washington, was arrested Friday June 19, 2026, in a fast-moving FBI investigation of a plot to attack the June 14, 2026, UFC event at the White House, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. William Lee Spartacus Falkner was arrested midday Friday June 19, 2026. Falkner is charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit murder. Falkner appeared in U.S. District Court in Tacoma today and was ordered detained pending future hearings.
“I commend the work of the FBI for their effective investigative work on what was clearly a plot to murder members of the federal government at the highest levels,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “This was a geographically wide-ranging conspiracy, and the investigation has required round-the-clock coordination to identify and arrest those responsible. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the FBI and the Mason County Sheriff’s Office moved swiftly and carefully to ensure any threat to the public was neutralized.”
“While many enjoyed a relaxing holiday weekend, the FBI and our partners remained vigilant, working hard to keep the public safe,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “FBI Seattle especially commends the Mason County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service for their vital contributions to this investigation and arrest.”
According to the detailed complaint, law enforcement first learned of the plot to attack the UFC White House event when the parents of a coconspirator in Ohio alerted police to their son’s purchase of weapons and concerning online activities. As investigators reviewed cell data and online communications, they identified a number of coconspirators including Falkner. The communications indicate Falkner has experience with drones, both manufacturing and piloting them. In the communications he discussed loading explosives on the drones and how to configure and fly them for maximum destructive impact.
The plan apparently called for the drones to attack the event on one side to force those in attendance to try to exit from the other side of the event where they could be shot by coconspirators with sniper rifles and other weapons.
Falkner and another had been discussing their “Work trip” -- prior to the scheduled UFC fight. After the arrests of some of the coconspirators Falkner and others communicated that the “work trip” was cancelled.
One of those arrested in this case said the goal of the conspirators was to cause enough chaos to bring about the overthrow of the U.S. government.
The charge contained in the criminal complaint is only an allegation. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Conspiracy to commit murder is punishable by up to life in prison.
The case is being investigated by the FBI with significant assistance from the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted in Seattle by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Wynne. He is working closely with the Department of Justice National Security Division on the case.
falkner_complaint_-_wdwa.pdfAlgerian man arrested, extradited to the United States for his role in black market fraud conspiracy that targeted thousands of victimsRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Abdellah Belmili, a/k/a Dila Belmili, a/k/a SPOX, 26, a citizen of Algeria, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.
“This defendant thought that he could get away with defrauding thousands of victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by using fake names and hiding behind a keyboard to steal bank account and credit card numbers,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “This arrest makes clear that, regardless of where you operate, our law enforcement partners will find you – and when they do, you will face the full consequences of your actions.”
“Cybercriminals often believe they can hide behind usernames and encrypted platforms. This arrest proves otherwise,” said Brendan Dunford, Acting Special Agent-in- Charge of the FBI Buffalo Field Office. “The FBI identified the individual behind this alleged cyber fraud scheme, followed the evidence across international borders, secured his extradition, and brought him to the United States to face justice.
According to the criminal complaint, in September 2020, FBI Buffalo became aware of a nefarious online marketplace www.market0day.com, run by an administrator using the name “SPOX,” a cyber actor known for creating “phishing kits” that have been used to compromise major U.S. financial institutions. SPOX was later identified as Belmili. Between September and November 2020, Belmili advertised the marketplace and facilitated some of the customer support for the marketplace on his personal Telegram channel @SpoxCoder. Cyber actors typically open marketplaces on the internet to facilitate the anonymous selling and purchasing of illicit goods and services, operating similarly to Amazon or eBay. However, unlike legitimate websites, these websites sell illegally acquired online banking information, stolen credit card information, victim computer login information, malware tools, and other nefarious goods and services, requiring all transactions to be paid for through the use of bitcoins.
In December 2020, investigators conducted controlled purchases from www.market0day.com:
- Investigators purchased a JP Morgan Chase phishing kit, which was successfully downloaded after purchase.
- Investigators successfully purchased a Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), which typically includes a mail server’s IP Address, username (email), and password, allowing the purchaser to access the user’s email messages.
- Investigators also purchased a Cpanel, which allows website owners to manage and publish on their websites. Compromised cpanel access would allow the purchaser to access and alter the compromised website. The cpanel was never sent to investigators.
In late December 2020, after several customers complained that they had not received their purchases from www.market0day.com, Belmili replied that he was no longer the administrator, and instead had opened up a new marketplace – www.spoxy.us, advertising the new marketplace as a “new store for bulk sms.” “Bulk sms” typically refers to sending phishing or other fraudulent messages via text message.
During the course of the conspiracy, Belmili is accused of defrauding multiple institutions, including American Express, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, and Wells Fargo, as well as financial institutions in the United Kingdom. Between January 2020 and January 2023, approximately $900,000 was deposited into an account controlled by Belmili. The investigation has also identified approximately 5,600 U.S. and international victims.
Belmili made an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr. and was detained.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly. The complaint is the culmination of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance with securing the arrest and June 18 extradition from Spain of Belmili to the United States.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Activity in the U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
Assault
Kevin Jacob Dupri Eagle, 27, of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, was sentenced to 23 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release to follow for assault by strangulation. According to court documents, the Wind River Police Department was called to the defendant’s house on Dec. 10, 2025, for a reported domestic assault. When they arrived, the victim stated that Eagle had struck them with closed fists and choked them to the point of unconsciousness. The victim was treated for injuries at the hospital. The defendant admitted to drinking earlier in the day and getting into an argument that resulted in him choking the victim. The Wind River Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry J. Jacobson prosecuted the case. Eagle was indicted on Jan. 13 and pleaded guilty on March 24. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on June 12 in Cheyenne. Case No. 26-00007
Firearm Offenses
David Leroy Young, 67, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 46 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow for being a felon in possession of a firearm. This sentence was imposed consecutively to a seven-month sentence for a supervised release violation. According to court documents, on Dec. 15, 2025, Casper police pulled the defendant over for a traffic violation. Officers learned Young had an outstanding warrant. During a subsequent search, officers seized $846 in cash, 13.8 grams of methamphetamine and a Glock 9 mm handgun and ammunition. Young has prior felony convictions, including a federal conviction for felon in possession of a firearm which prohibits him from possessing a firearm. The Casper Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Naiman prosecuted the case. Young waived indictment and pleaded guilty on March 13. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on June 11 in Cheyenne. Case No. 26-CR-00022
47 defendants charged as part of ‘Operation Fly City’ Homeland Security Task Force enforcement operationRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II announced today with federal law enforcement partners the results of an eight-week operation to fight gun violence and drug trafficking in Dayton. Forty-seven defendants face federal charges, and 43 individuals are in federal custody following arrests last week. During the operation, which began on April 27, agents seized 176 firearms, as well as machinegun conversion devices and kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
“The goal of this operation was simple: to get guns and drugs off the street and out of the hands of the most violent and habitual offenders,” said U.S. Attorney Gerace. “Law enforcement at all levels took that mission seriously and I thank them for making our streets safer. I also thank the prosecutors in my office for the dedication and skill that it took to support this large operation. We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to maintain law and order and keep our communities safe.”
Special Agent in Charge Jorge A. Rosendo stated “I’m proud of the women and men of the ATF’s Columbus Field Division and all they accomplished in such a short period of time. Their dedication to duty and unwavering commitment to the citizens of Dayton, Ohio were truly remarkable throughout this operation. It is our sincere desire that our collective efforts will have a lasting and positive impact on their community for years to come.”
“Operation Fly City is a testament to the strength of the Homeland Security Task Force and HSI’s unwavering commitment to making our communities safer,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “By working together with our federal, state, and local partners, we were able to disrupt dangerous criminal activity and remove illegal firearms and narcotics from the streets of Dayton. HSI remains dedicated to protecting the public and ensuring that those who threaten our neighborhoods are held accountable.”
“This operation is another example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies work together toward a common goal,” said Dayton Police Chief Eric Henderson. “By targeting individuals responsible for violent crime, illegal firearms, and drug trafficking, we are making our neighborhoods safer and sending a clear message that those who threaten our community will be held accountable. I want to thank our officers and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment throughout this operation. The Dayton Police Department remains committed to reducing gun violence and improving the quality of life for everyone who lives, works, and visits our city.”
“The arrests and seizures announced today are the result of extensive investigative efforts focused on identifying those responsible for drug trafficking, illegal firearms offenses, and other criminal activity,” said Sheriff Rob Streck. “This operation highlights the impact of strong partnerships and a shared commitment to addressing the criminal activity that affects our communities.”
The charges were brought via 20 federal indictments and three federal criminal complaints in Dayton over the past few weeks. Indictments and criminal complaints merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi, Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Amy M. Smith, Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly K. Rossi, Elizabeth L. McCormick, Rob Painter, Brendan Sullivan, Erica D. Lunderman, Christina E. Mahy and Ryan A. Saunders and Special Assistant United States attorney Allison Oswall are representing the United States in these cases.
A complete list of those charged includes:
Operation Fly City Defendants
NameAgeCity of ResidenceChargesTerrence Berry38DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Mark Jones42DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Marshall Disney36Huber HeightsDistribution of cocaineDavid Cohorn42DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
Dealing in firearms without a license
Brandon Dunn42DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Robert Everhart42DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Raymond Garvin 43DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Brian Gee38DaytonDistribution of cocaineGeoffrey Hobson52DaytonConspiracy to distribute methamphetamine
Distribution of methamphetamine
Daviontay Travis Hunter22DaytonFelon in possessionMarlin Robinson33CincinnatiFelon in possessionKevin Julious47DaytonDistribution of cocaine
Felon in possession
Brenda Mann55MoraineDistribution of methamphetaminePatrell Miller28DaytonDistribution of fentanylAngel Santos-Rodas 27DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Transfer of a firearm for use in a drug trafficking crime
Alien in possession of a firearm
Distribution of methamphetamine
Distribution of cocaine
Brandon Heisle34DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Transfer of a firearm for use in a drug trafficking crime
Felon in possession of a firearm
Jeremy Wright30DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Transfer of a firearm for use in a drug trafficking crime
Felon in possession of a firearm
Nathan Smith37Huber HeightsConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Marcus Lockett37DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine
Distribution of cocaine
Austin Womble31DaytonConspiracy to distribute 500+ grams meth and 40+ grams fentanyl
Distribution of various amounts of meth and fentanyl
Use and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime
Felon in possession of a firearm
Trafficking in firearms
Pete Craft45DaytonConspiracy to distribute 500+ grams methamphetamine and 40+ grams fentanyl
Distribution of various amounts of meth and fentanyl
Felon in possession of a firearm
Trafficking in firearms
Ra’Che Amos26DaytonDistribution of fentanyl
Use and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to traffic in firearms
Conspiracy to transfer a firearm for use in a drug crime
Felon in possession of a firearm
Possession of a machinegun
Dereon Caudill24DaytonConspiracy to traffic in firearms
Conspiracy to transfer a firearm for use in a drug crime
*Isaiah Chancellor25DaytonConspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Distribution of 40+ grams fentanyl
Dalontay Martin24DaytonConspiracy to distribute fentanyl
Distribution of fentanyl
Conspiracy to traffic in firearms
Conspiracy to transfer a firearm for use in a drug crime
Julian Heisle36DaytonConspiracy to distribute cocaine Distribution of cocaine
Conspiracy to traffic in firearms
Conspiracy to transfer a firearm for use in a drug crime
Karon Clark19DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Conspiracy to transfer of a firearm for use in a drug crime
Dealing in firearms without a license
Ja’leon Hayes19DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Transfer of a firearm for use in a drug crime
Dealing in firearms without a license
Victor Coronado-Hernandez30DaytonDistribution of cocaineDakota Jones32DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Dealing in firearms without a license
Jaden Fuller20DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Dealing in firearms without a license
Donovan Printers23DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms Dealing in firearms without a licenseDeshon Fisher33DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms
Dealing in firearms without a license
Phillip Benson19DaytonConspiracy to traffic firearms Dealing in firearms without a licenseKendall Jones30DaytonDistribution of cocaineDiontre Montgomery22DaytonConspiracy to distribute 40+ grams of fentanyl
Distribution of fentanyl
Conspiracy to traffic firearms
Conspiracy to transfer firearms for use in a drug crime
Possession of a machine gun
Darnell Clark27DaytonDistribution of fentanyl
Conspiracy to traffic firearms
Conspiracy to transfer firearms for use in a drug crime
Robert Williams27DaytonDistribution of fentanyl
Conspiracy to traffic firearms
Conspiracy to transfer firearms for use in a drug crime
*Eucelf Taste Jr.22DaytonDistribution of 40+ grams of fentanyl
Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5kg + cocaine
Possession of a machinegun
*Anthony Scott23DaytonConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5kg + cocaine
Possession of a machinegun
Tony Yates27DaytonConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5kg + cocaineDylan O’Quin34MiamisburgDealing in firearms without a license
Attempt to traffic firearms
Quasawn Taborn24DaytonDistribution of cocaineD’Shawn Russell25Huber HeightsDistribution of cocaineLaryan Brooks37DaytonDistribution of cocaine*Eucelf Taste Sr. 46TrotwoodConspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams + fentanyl
Distribution of fentanyl
Willie D. Spann42DaytonPossession with intent to distribute cocaine
Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine
*Defendants who are fugitives
If you have information on the whereabouts of any of the defendants at large, contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS or email ATFtips@atf.gov. ATF is offering a reward of $5,000 for information leading to the arrests of Eucelf Sr. and Jr.
These cases are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
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21 June 2026
Reedsburg Man on Parole for Homicide Sentenced to 8 Years for Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that David Davis, 54, Reedsburg, Wisconsin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 8 years in federal prison for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. Davis pleaded guilty to this charge on March 18, 2026.
On June 5, 2025, Reedsburg police executed a search warrant at Davis’s residence. While searching the bedroom, investigators found a loaded Hi-Point 9mm handgun, a Polymer 80 privately made handgun, and two AR15s with loaded magazines nearby. One of the AR15s had an obliterated serial number.
In 1991 Davis was convicted of being a party to the crime of homicide in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was sentenced to life in prison but was released on parole in 2020. As a convicted felon, Davis is prohibited from legally possessing firearms and ammunition.
At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that these weapons could cause a lot of damage and that Davis was also dealing drugs in a grocery store parking lot. Judge Conley also found that Davis obstructed justice by trying to get another individual to falsely claim the guns belonged to them. Judge Conley sentenced Davis to 8 years in prison to run concurrently with his parole revocation sentence.
The charge against Davis was the result of an investigation conducted by the Reedsburg Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF as well as state and local agents throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Canadian Citizen Sentenced to 3 Years for Defrauding U.S. Victims Out of More Than $1.2 MillionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Michel Poirier, 60, Montreal, Canada, was sentenced on June 10, 2026, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 3 years in federal prison for mail fraud. Poirier pleaded guilty to this charge on March 20, 2026, following his extradition from Canada.
Between 2011 and May 2016, operating out of Canada, Poirier orchestrated a mass marketing fraud scheme that targeted printing companies and consumers in the United States, including the Western District of Wisconsin, resulting in a loss to victims of more than $1.2 million.
Using aliases, Poirier contacted printing companies in the U.S., representing that he was working for direct mail companies looking for United States suppliers to handle mass mailings of brochures. After the victim printing companies incurred costs for printing and mailing the brochures, the companies received business checks from Poirier that drew on either closed accounts or accounts with insufficient funds. When the victim printing companies sought alternative forms of payment, Poirier stopped answering emails and telephone calls.
The brochures printed and mailed by the victim printing companies promoted weight loss products sold by Poirier. These marketing materials contained numerous false statements and material omissions, including: (1) testimonials from fictitious clients; (2) statements of product authenticity from fictitious doctors; and (3) a fictitious money back guarantee. Consumers who received the brochures and purchased weight loss products were defrauded out of their money.
At sentencing, Judge Conley called the crime callous stating that Poirier failed to appreciate the financial and emotional harm to the victims. Further, Judge Conley found that Poirier perpetuated this elaborate scheme, which involved layers of misrepresentations, for over seven years and that this was a significant factor in imposing the three-year prison term.
The charge against Poirier was the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard prosecuted this case.
20 June 2026
Madison County Man Charged with Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Travis J. Longo, age 46, of Cazenovia, New York, appeared in federal court on June 20, 2026, on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography. The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone (HSI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James.
The complaint filed against Longo alleges that during a search of Longo’s cellular telephone seized by NYSP investigators on June 18, 2026, numerous images and videos of child pornography were discovered including several videos depicting the sexual abuse of infants that Longo had received from other users of an internet-based messaging application.
The receipt charge filed against Longo carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in federal prison, while both counts carry a statutory maximum term of 20 years. Both charges carry a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. Longo will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. 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.
Longo made his initial appearance on June 20, 2026, via video, before United States Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric, and was detained pending further proceedings.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated, “As school board vice president, the defendant was entrusted by parents and the community to help protect and serve the interests of children. Instead, as alleged, he exploited his position of public trust while actively seeking out and accumulating images and videos depicting the heinous sexual abuse of children. This shocking betrayal makes his conduct all the more reprehensible. Thanks to the great investigative work of HSI and the New York State Police, he is now behind bars where he belongs and where my office will work tirelessly to ensure he stays for a long time.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone said: “These allegations against a school board vice president strike at the heart of parents’ trust and fears. For HSI Syracuse and our law enforcement partners, protecting children is not just a duty—it’s personal. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will aggressively pursue anyone who endangers children, so parents can send their kids to school knowing they are safe.”
NYSP Superintendent Steven G. James stated: “The exploitation of children is among the most disturbing crimes we investigate, and those who seek out, possess, or distribute this material will be held accountable. I commend the dedicated work of our investigators and our federal partners whose efforts led to these charges. The New York State Police remain committed to protecting vulnerable victims and aggressively pursuing individuals who exploit children through technology and online platforms.”The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
HSI and the NYSP Computer Crimes Unit (CCU) are investigating the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle as part of Project Safe Childhood.
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.
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19 June 2026
Unauthorized Sale of Adulterated Animal Drugs Lands Repeat Offender in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Scott Robinson, 51, of Pace, Florida, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Drug Adulteration. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Complying with federal laws that are in place to ensure the safety of regulated medications is not optional. This defendant knowingly flouted those requirements for several years, but thanks to the excellent investigative work of our federal law enforcement partners, his scheme has been dismantled and now he will be held accountable.”
Court documents reflect that from 2022 to 2025, the defendant, via his website, advertised and sold the animal drug toltrazuril to customers across the United States. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, toltrazuril is deemed an adulterated new animal drug, which is subject to specific requirements for its production, labeling, and sale. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted multiple purchases of items labeled and advertised as toltrazuril from the defendant’s website. Those items were tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and confirmed to contain toltrazuril. The defendant never complied with FDA regulations regarding his production, labeling, and sale of toltrazuril.
“This sentencing reflects the serious public safety risk created when someone knowingly distributes adulterated and unsafe animal medications,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI continues to work with our partners to investigate and hold accountable anyone who profits from the sale of counterfeit or contaminated drugs.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Patterson and Ward Narramore.
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.
Panama City Felon Indicted for Distribution of Drugs & Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Jhi Chadron Williams, 46, of Panama City, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for one count of distribution of cocaine and marijuana and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Williams appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Charles A. Stampelos in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 8:30 am, before District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
Williams faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the distribution of cocaine and marijuana count and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the firearm count.
The case was jointly investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
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.
Mesa Bank Employee Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Embezzling Money from the BankRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – A former bank employee who embezzled $655,000 from the bank she managed over the course of seven months was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silver to 48 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Brooke McDonough, formerly known as Brooke Taylor, 35, of Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced on June 10, 2026. A jury previously convicted McDonough of embezzlement by a bank employee, structuring, and transactional money laundering.
McDonough served as the branch manager of a Mesa bank, a position that afforded her broad authority over branch operations, employee assignments, and cash audits. Between June 2021 and February 2022, McDonough stole cash from the ATMs and vault inside the branch. She also manipulated monthly audits by entering inflated figures into the bank’s systems to conceal the increasing cash shortage. The scheme came to light only after McDonough resigned. The discovery of the theft triggered an internal investigation that caused three other bank employees to be placed on administrative leave.
A federal investigation revealed that McDonough deposited most of the cash she stole into her personal bank accounts. She used different ATMs at multiple bank branches breaking deposits into smaller amounts to avoid mandatory Currency Transaction Reports for deposits of over $10,000 in cash.
“Embezzlement is not a victimless crime,” said United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “McDonough’s conduct caused real harm to her employer, to the integrity of the financial system, and to innocent co-workers whose careers were placed at risk by her actions. The sentence she received reflects the seriousness of that conduct.”
“The sentencing in this case serves as a stern warning to others who are considering victimizing financial institutions or financial consumers…you will be caught, and you will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “We are laser focused on protecting the Nation’s Financial System, and we were proud to work alongside the Mesa Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office to bring justice in this case.”
"This successful embezzlement prosecution reflects the strong investigative work of the Mesa Police Department and its partnership with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General,” said Mesa Police Chief Dan Butler. “Financial crime cases are often complex, requiring detailed analysis and coordination across jurisdictions. We commend the investigators and prosecutors whose dedication and professionalism led to this outcome. Their efforts demonstrate the importance of collaboration in holding offenders accountable and protecting the community from financial crime."
This case was investigated by the FDIC OIG and the Mesa Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aron Ketchel and Adriana Genco, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: 24-CR-376
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-099_McDonough# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Homeland Security Task Force Initiative Leads to Indictment of Tallahassee ManRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Malcolm Akeem Holloway, 22, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Holloway appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 20, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted, Holloway faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Tallahassee Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida.
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.
Four-Time Deported Illegal Alien Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Franklin Flores-Penas, 48, of Honduras, was sentenced yesterday to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry by an alien, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Flores-Penas will be removed from the United States after he completes his prison sentence.
According to court records and the sentencing hearing on October 26, 2025, Flores-Penas was arrested in Buncombe County. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that the defendant had illegally reentered into the United Sates four times after he had been deported. Court records show that on January 16, 2004, Flores-Penas was convicted of a felony drug offense in Los Angeles, California, and on February 25, 2004, he was ordered to be deported back to Honduras. Subsequently, Flores-Penas was removed from the United States three more times, in 2008, 2015 and 2018. Each time the defendant was removed, he illegally reentered the United States voluntarily without gaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reenter.
In announcing the sentence, Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger noted Flores-Penas’s disregard for the law and his many previous reentries after deportation.
Flores-Penas remains in federal custody and will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Buncombe County Sherrif’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
18 June 2026
Waterloo Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Lying While Buying Four GunsRead the Press Release
A woman who bought four guns over six months and lied about her drug use was sentenced June 17, 2026, to a year in federal prison.
Sydnie Mahoney, age 28, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 23, 2026, guilty plea to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm.
Information at sentencing showed that between March 2023 and September 2023, Mahoney bought four guns on four separate occasions from a gun dealer in Cedar Falls, Iowa. During each purchase, Mahoney signed a form on which she indicated she was not an unlawful user of controlled substances, including marijuana. Mahoney was a marijuana user at the time of each purchase. During two of the purchases, Mahoney was accompanied by Torion Byrd, her boyfriend.
Later, police officers found Byrd driving a car with another man who was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant. Officers searched the car and found one of the guns Mahoney had purchased in the glove box. Byrd’s DNA was found on the gun, which had an extended magazine. Byrd was a convicted felon. Byrd was sentenced to over three years in federal prison.
Mahoney was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Mahoney was sentenced to 12 months and a day in federal prison. She must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
Mahoney was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on July 20, 2026.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-cr-2027.
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Virginia Man Sentenced to Prison Term for Pointing a Firearm at Woman at a 2023 Halloween PartyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Gerald Day, 35, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was sentenced today to five years in prison for charges stemming from an altercation between the victim and the defendant’s romantic partner that occurred in October 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Day was found guilty of one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of carrying a pistol without a license, and one count of felony threats on February 25, 2026. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered Day to serve the prison term to be followed by three years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, shortly after midnight on October 29, 2023, the victim arrived at the location of a party near the intersection of O Street and Carrollsburg Place, SW. Upon arrival, she saw her romantic partner with another woman and a larger group of people. Another woman in the group–the defendant’s girlfriend–was also there, unbeknownst to the victim. The two of them began to fight and other members of the larger group joined in.
After a series of exchanges, including the victim deploying mace at a woman in the group, the victim took several steps away from the group when Day produced a black handgun with a tactical flashlight attachment and pointed the firearm at the victim, stating words to the effect of, “I’ll blow you’re a** up.” The victim and the group continued to exchange words and eventually the victim got into her vehicle just seconds before the defendant ran up to her car, kicked her car door shut, and slammed the firearm against the window.
As the victim drove past the group, she heard three gunshots, fired by co-defendant Paul Poston. The victim’s vehicle sustained gunshots to the driver’s side rear door, the driver’s side rear window, and trunk. The victim was not injured and drove away before pulling over and calling 911.
Day self-surrendered on an arrest warrant on January 4, 2024. Day was stepped back today.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.
They also thanked Assistant United States Attorneys William Gandy and Samuel Ison, who tried the case, and Assistant United States Attorneys Sara Hanson, Michael Lee, Hannah Skopicki, and Katerina Qesari, who investigated, indicted, and prosecuted the case and Deidria Ellis, who served as a Victim Advocate for the case investigation and trial.
2024 CF3 000133
Violent Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Michael Stephen Johnson, 59, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Operation Take Back America continues to deliver wins for the citizens of the Northern District of Florida, and this successful prosecution demonstrates my office’s firm commitment to aggressively pursuing the violent criminals who have threatened the safety of our streets for far too long.”
Court documents reflect that on July 16, 2025, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shooting at a residence located on Wilson Avenue, in Pensacola, Florida. Once there, deputies detained the defendant and transported him to the Sheriff’s Office for an interview. During the interview, the defendant admitted to possessing a firearm, which he described as a .22-caliber assault rifle, and stated that he purchased the firearm from the victim within the past few months for approximately $150.00. Investigators obtained a residential search warrant for the Wilson Avenue residence and found a black Mossberg Intl Model 702 Plinkster, semi-automatic .22 LR caliber rifle with a magazine inside one of the bedrooms. At the time of the arrest, the defendant was a convicted felon and could not legally possess a firearm based upon his multiple prior convictions for aggravated assault and bank robbery.
Johnson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker is prosecuting the case.
Sentencing is to be scheduled after the resolution of Johnson’s related state case and will be held at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell II.
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 available 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.
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces 15 Arrests for Benefit FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Fifteen individuals, 11 illegal aliens and four U.S. Citizens, have been charged and arrested for benefit fraud in Massachusetts. The defendants are charged with more than $1.4 million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit fraud, MassHealth benefit fraud and disability and unemployment benefit fraud, just to name a few.
The following individuals have been charged over the past week. Several defendants’ names are currently unknown at this time, as they have been living under stolen identities:
- Heriberto Rodriguez of Framingham, Mass., is charged with passport fraud, SNAP fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with $546,463 in total benefit fraud loss ($175,182 in MassHealth fraud; $146,944 in Social Security fraud; $185,194 in HUD fraud; and $39,000 in SNAP fraud);
- Mirian Chalas, 33, a U.S. Citizen living in Salem N.H., is charged with making false statements in connection with $266,000 in MassHealth fraud; $25,000 in Social Security Disability fraud; and $12,000 in SNAP fraud;
- Santo Escolastico Cuello, 56, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Worcester, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with $162,180 in MassHealth fraud;
- John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally, is charged with false representation of a Social Security number, aggravated identity theft and making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with MassHealth fraud totaling $75,000 and aggravated identity theft;
- John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally living in Quincy, Mass., is charged with illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft in connection with SNAP benefit fraud totaling $11,000;
- Mario Baez Romero, 45, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Somerville, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and passport fraud in connection with $26,942 in SNAP fraud and $48,785 in MassHealth fraud. Baez Romero was allegedly encountered during an interdiction of a recreational vessel near Key Biscayne in Miami, Fla. in May 2026;
- Richard Odelis Vallegas Nunez, 35, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Allston, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and unlawful production of an identification document in connection with $48,865 in MassHealth fraud;
- Miguel Diaz Matos, 54, a Dominican national living in Lynn, Mass., is charged with illegal acquisition or use of SNAP benefits, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft in connection with $13,431 in SNAP fraud and $50,494 in MassHealth fraud;
- John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally, is charged with making false statements related to a health care program in connection with $32,717 in MassHealth fraud;
- John Doe, age unknown, suspected to be in the United States illegally, living in Lynn, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft and making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with $38,776 in MassHealth fraud;
- Mitul Patel, 40, an Indian national unlawfully living in Worcester, Mass., is charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud, in which co-conspirators staged a false armed robbery of a convenience store to allow “victims” such as Patel, to seek U Visas as victims of violent crimes;
- Santo Tejada Sanchez, 48, a Dominican national unlawfully living in Haverhill, Mass., is charged with aggravated identity theft, theft of government funds and SNAP benefit fraud totaling $4,054;
- Jennifer Ferran, 48, a U.S. Citizen living in Haverhill, Mass., is charged with theft of government property, Social Security fraud and furnishing false information to Social Security in connection with over $29,000 in Social Security fraud;
- Owen Landry, a/k/a “Oski,” 24, a U.S. Citizen living in Haverhill, Mass., is charged with theft of government property, Social Security fraud and furnishing false information to Social Security in connection with over $29,000 in Social Security fraud; and
- Yahaira Diaz Gomez, 45, a Dominican national living in Mattapan, Mass., is charged with making false statements relating to a health care program in connection with $48,694 MassHealth fraud.
“Today’s announcement is just the beginning of what will be a sustained and ongoing effort to arrest and charge individuals for benefit fraud in Massachusetts. The defendants charged today stole from a number of programs, including SNAP and MassHealth – which are designed to assist U.S. citizens in need of food and health care. They allegedly stole tens of thousands of dollars each in benefits for which they are not entitled,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley. “There isn’t any place else in the world where you can go and be handed free food, free housing, free healthcare and free monthly checks, while being in the country illegally. However, it appears that you can come to Massachusetts and steal as many benefits as you want without fear and without any accountability. This is all ending on my watch. Beginning today, we will be announcing benefit fraud charges on a rolling basis.”
“These cases highlight a broader, deeply troubling pattern: the exploitation of America’s safety-net by illegal aliens,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald for the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Fraud by illegal aliens carries real and substantial costs to American taxpayers and places enormous strain on our public benefits systems. The Fraud Division remains laser-focused on rooting out fraud — whether committed by illegal aliens or anyone else — and recovering money wrongfully taken from the American people.”
“Stealing someone’s identity to rip off unemployment benefits isn’t just breaking the law — it's stealing from every American who plays by the rules,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “We will continue working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSI’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, and our federal and state partners to hunt down these criminals and ensure they pay the price for stealing from hardworking Americans.”
“During this short surge operation, we have uncovered over $1 million of fraud — but we’re just getting started. In response to rampant fraud in Massachusetts, and with the support of our task force partners and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, we’re redoubling our efforts to root out fraud and bring these criminals to justice,” said Jeffrey Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “HSI is making real progress identifying government benefits fraudsters, dismantling identity document dealers, and arresting those who steal from taxpayer-funded programs.”
“This investigation determined that several defendants submitted fraudulent SNAP and other benefits applications in the names of stolen identities. Identity theft affects the lives of many people. Our collaborative work to combat this type of fraud and promote the integrity of government programs remains a priority,” said Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Northeast Region.
“Medicaid enrollment fraud undermines the integrity of our health care system and inflicts real harm on the victims whose personal information is exploited and whose medical records are compromised,” said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “Every fraudulent dollar paid out through these schemes is a dollar taken from those who are truly entitled to these benefits —and we will not allow that theft to go unanswered.”
The charge of SNAP fraud of over $5,000 provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of SNAP fraud of over $100 provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of passport fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of unlawful production of an identification document provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of Social Security fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of making false statements to federal officials provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of making false statements relating to a health care program provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of furnishing false information to Social Security provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year sentence to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $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.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald for the National Fraud Enforcement Division; Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor; Jeffrey Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations – Northeast Region; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Two Sentenced to over Four Years in Prison for Manufacturing Counterfeit Pills Containing FentanylRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Massachusetts men were sentenced in federal court in Boston for a conspiracy involving the distribution and manufacturing of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and other controlled substances.
Elmidio Crisostomo, 30, of Lynnfield, was sentenced on June 10, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 53 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. David Depena, 32, of Lynn, was sentenced on Dec. 10, 2025, by Judge Stearns to 53 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. On Sept. 9, 2025, Crisostomo and Depena both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. In November 2023, Crisostomo and Depena were indicted by a federal grand jury.
From late 2022 through June 2023, Crisostomo and Depena used an apartment in Lynn to manufacture thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, which they then distributed around Malden, Saugus and Revere. During a search of the Lynn apartment in June 2023, more than three kilograms of fentanyl and 500 grams of methamphetamine were recovered as well as a large hand-crank-style pill press.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lynn Police Department and the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.- Two Gang Members Sentenced to Life in Prison plus Ten Years for Murder-for-Hire, Firearms, and Fraud Convictions
Two Galesburg Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Methamphetamine and Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Two Galesburg, Illinois, men, Juan Pablo Garcia, aka “Chewy” (age 30), and Edgar Calderon, aka “Lil Man” (age 34), were sentenced on June 15, 2026, following their convictions for trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine. Garcia was sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Calderon was sentenced to 27.5 years of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
At the jury trial earlier this year, the government presented evidence showing that beginning in the spring and continuing through the fall of 2024, Garcia and Calderon conspired with one another and others to source kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine from Texas and bring the drugs back to Galesburg for distribution. During the conspiracy, law enforcement conducted multiple controlled buys from Garcia and one controlled buy from Calderon. In addition to the evidence of drug trafficking in the Galesburg area, the government also presented evidence regarding a traffic stop connected to the conspiracy in Nacogdoches County, Texas, where approximately 9.8 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately 3 kilograms of cocaine were seized.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow, the Court found that firearms were possessed during the conspiracy and that both men tampered with witnesses. Additionally, the Court found that Garcia created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury when he fled from officers in his vehicle after they attempted to arrest him in relation to these charges. In pronouncing Garcia and Calderon’s sentences, the Court noted that this was a large-scale enterprise responsible for trafficking considerable amounts of narcotics in the relatively small community of Galesburg. During the hearing, the Court conveyed the devastation that methamphetamine causes in communities and the positive impact that removing large-scale drug traffickers, such as Garcia and Calderon, can have.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment in January 2025 charging Garcia and Calderon with conspiracy to distribute and posses with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. They were detained pending trial, and both have remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since their arrest.
Robert Joseph Strong, also of Galesburg, was involved in the conspiracy as well and pleaded guilty prior to trial. Strong received a sentence of 240 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
The statutory penalties for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine are at least ten years but not more than life imprisonment, at least five years but up to a life term of supervised release, and a fine up to $10,000,000.
The case investigation was conducted by the Knox County (Illinois) Sheriff’s Office; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; the Galesburg Police Department; the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Department; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Searle and Jennifer L. Mathew represented the United States.
Two Former Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office Employees Indicted in Multi Million Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A federal grand jury has returned a five‑count indictment charging former employees of the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and multiple counts of bank fraud stemming from an alleged long‑running scheme to steal taxpayer funds and misappropriate conservator account assets, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
The indictment names Barbara Gail Gooden, age 60, and Lisa Lee French, age 48, both of Martinsburg. According to the indictment, from 2007 to 2024, Gooden and French conspired to defraud by embezzling cash payments collected by the Sheriff’s Office and manipulating conservatorship and estate bank accounts under the office’s administration. In carrying out their scheme, defendants issued fraudulent checks, forged signatures, misused a signature stamp, and diverted funds for personal use.
“This office will continue to safeguard taxpayer resources, protect the interests of vulnerable individuals, and ensure that those entrusted with public responsibilities are held fully accountable for violations of that trust,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
As a result of the conspiracy, Gooden and French are alleged to have misappropriated more than $3 million. The alleged fraud included fraudulent checks drawn from conservator accounts and issued either to the “Berkeley County Sheriff & Treasurer” or to a private business, to benefit Gooden and French. In total, the defendants allegedly carried out more than 700 fraudulent transactions, including over 550 forged checks, withdrawing substantial funds from at least 59 conservator bank accounts.
The United States also seeks forfeiture of any property derived from the offenses, including a money judgment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. Investigative agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office. The Berkeley County Prosecutor’s Office and the Berkeley County Commission cooperated in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Twenty-Six Charged in Indictment Alleging Federal Racketeering, Conspiracy, and Other CrimesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda and Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Boston Field Division, in partnership with Colonel Oscar L. Perez, Chief of Police, Providence Police Department, announced federal charges against twenty-six individuals. The indictment alleged that several Providence-area street gangs, including the East Side gang, the Congress gang, and their various subsets and associates constituted a criminal enterprise. Three additional defendants are charged with related offenses. The charges are the result of a multi-agency investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.
According to court documents, the Enterprise operated in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and elsewhere since at least 2013. The indictment alleges that members and associates of the enterprise worked together to advance the interests of the organization through acts of violence, narcotics trafficking, firearms offenses, fraud schemes, and other criminal activity.
Court documents further allege that members and associates of the enterprise distributed controlled substances, including fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, marijuana, and Percocet, and that narcotics trafficking served as a significant source of income for the enterprise.
The indictment further alleges that members and associates of the enterprise participated in violent acts, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to commit murder, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, firearms offenses, narcotics trafficking, wire fraud, and other criminal conduct. The indictment also alleges that certain members and associates participated in fraud schemes involving unemployment insurance benefits, COVID-19 relief programs, tax filings, and other financial crimes.
The indictment charges twenty-three defendants with participation in the racketeering conspiracy and three additional defendants with related offenses.
The matter was investigated by ATF, the Providence Police Department, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and numerous additional federal, state, and local law enforcement partners including the Providence Police Department Intelligence Unit.
The charges contained in the indictment are allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Additional information will be provided at the appropriate time.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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.
Trail of Stolen Cigarettes Leads to Federal Conspiracy Charge in Armed Hinsdale Store RobberyRead the Press Release
Trail of Stolen Cigarettes Leads to Federal Conspiracy Charge in Armed Hinsdale Store Robbery
CONCORD – A New Hampshire federal grand jury has indicted two men on a charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, capping an investigation that began when stolen cigarettes spilled from a fleeing U-Haul, United States Attorney Erin Creegan announced today.
Richard Conner, 64, of Greenfield, MA, and James Ferguson, 66, of Worcester, MA, are each charged one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery – Hobbs Act conspiracy – in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951.
According to the charging documents, on the night of March 15, 2026, at approximately 10:40 p.m., the two defendants, both masked, entered the T-Bird Mini Mart on Brattleboro Road in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. One of the men allegedly brandished a firearm at store employees while the pair stole merchandise, including cigarettes, from the store. The defendants then allegedly fled the scene in a stolen U-Haul box truck, traveling south on Interstate 91 into Vermont. As they fled, some of the stolen cigarettes fell from the vehicle and helped investigators trace their route. The stolen U-Haul was discovered abandoned, and on fire, in Orange, Massachusetts. On June 12, 2026, the ATF, and partner law enforcement agencies, executed federal search warrants at locations in Massachusetts that were associated with the defendants and found cigarettes cartons with State of New Hampshire tax stamps. Some of the cartons were stored in cardboard boxes that had a sticker affixed to the side that indicated the box originated in Hinsdale, New Hampshire or was shipped to Hinsdale, New Hampshire. Some of the visual evidence of the allegations included in the complaint appears below.
Richard Conner and James Ferguson were arrested in Massachusetts without incident. James Ferguson will make his initial appearance in District of New Hampshire federal court on June 22, 2026, while Richard Conner will make his initial appearance on June 24, 2026.
The charge of Hobbs Act robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New Hampshire Violent Crime Task Force, with substantial assistance from, the Manchester Police Department, the Hinsdale Police Department, the Keene Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Massachusetts State Police, the Vermont State Police, the Greenfield Police Department, the Worcester Police Department, the Northampton Police Department, the Orange Police Department, United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office for the District of Massachusetts, Franklin County Probation, the Brattleboro Police Department, the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office, Massachusetts Department of Fire Services, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Marin, Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles DeJoie, paralegal specialist Hayley Orlando, and legal assistant Emily Morneau are prosecuting the case.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.
Indictment
Complaint
Third Defendant from Texas Sentenced for Prattville ATM RobberyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced today that a third defendant has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in the robbery of an ATM at a credit union in Prattville, Alabama.
On June 17, 2026, Dominique Jeremiah Pearson, 34, of Spring, Texas, was sentenced to 77 months in prison after pleading guilty to bank robbery. Upon completion of his prison term, Pearson will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Pearson’s co‑defendants, Onarri Bond, 27, of Cedar Hill, Texas, and Xavier Rashad Ross, 35, of Houston, Texas, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. In February 2026, Bond was sentenced to 52 months in prison. In March 2026, Ross received a 72-month sentence, to run concurrently with a previously imposed sentence for an earlier bank robbery conviction.
According to court documents and statements made during the plea hearings, on December 13, 2024, Pearson, Bond, and Ross approached a credit union ATM in Prattville while it was being serviced by technicians. The defendants used force to overpower the technicians, removed cash cassettes containing approximately $179,234, and fled. During the robbery, one technician was struck by a cassette as it was forcibly removed, and another technician was shoved by one of the defendants. Investigators later identified Pearson, Bond, and Ross as the perpetrators, leading to federal charges.
In addition to the prison sentences, the court ordered the three defendants to forfeit the proceeds stolen from the credit union.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau Investigation, the Prattville Police Department, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and Joel Feil prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Ten defendants convicted and sentenced in cross-country fentanyl conspiracy in Homeland Security Task Force caseRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Carlos Moctezuma Sandoval Romero, 26, was sentenced today to 11 years and three months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Sandoval Romero is the final defendant to be sentenced in a conspiracy investigated by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Washington, D.C.
According to court documents, beginning at least in November 2022, the conspirators obtained thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and distributed the pills in Virginia and elsewhere. Sandoval Romero sent the pills from California through the mail to co-conspirators in Virginia and Maryland. Co-conspirators Jonathan Ordoñez, 20, and Amir Jose Villalta, 24, paid Sandoval Romero, and Ordoñez collected money from co-conspirators.
Some of the conspirators possessed firearms in relation to their drug trafficking, and some of the conspirators were arrested while in possession of both firearms and fentanyl pills. Two of the conspirators, Haydee Giselle Barrera Serrano, 23, and Olivia Jade Bush, 24, straw purchased firearms for Ordoñez.
Ordoñez pled guilty on Oct. 18, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. On Feb. 20, 2025, he was sentenced to 16 years and three months in prison.
Villalta pled guilty on Oct. 30, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. On Feb. 27, 2025, he was sentenced to 11 years and eight months in prison.
Jose Eduardo Funes, 22, pled guilty on March 25, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. On July 10, 2025, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Younis Fakhrudin Abdulkadir, 20, pled guilty on March 19, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. On Aug. 21, 2025, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Raul Ernesto Bermudez, 21, pled guilty on June 18, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. On Oct. 2, 2025, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Steven Giovanny Santos-Bonilla, 21, pled guilty on Sept. 3, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. On Dec. 18, 2025, he was sentenced to 16 years and three months in prison.
Erik Venancio Turcios Benavides, 24, pled guilty on Oct. 28, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and using a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. On Feb. 19, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Barrera Serrano pled guilty on Oct. 21, 2025, to making false statements to a firearms licensee. On May 18, she was sentenced to one weekend in prison and three years of probation.
Bush pled guilty on Nov. 18, 2025, to making false statements to a firearms licensee. On March 27, she was sentenced to three years of probation.
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division, FBI Washington Field Office, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Washington Division investigated this case with assistance from the Fairfax County Police Department, Arlington County Police Department, and Torrance (California) Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine Rosenberg, James L. Trump, and Annie Zanobini prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the 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 Washington, D.C., comprises agents and officers from the FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; Transportation Security Administration Federal Air Marshals Service; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Washington Baltimore HIDTA, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Suburban Chicago Chiropractor Convicted of Healthcare FraudRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a suburban Chicago chiropractor on healthcare fraud charges for billing a private insurer for nonexistent services.
SEUNG HAN LIM owned and operated Movement Health and Rehab, also known as Motu Chiropractic and Motu Chiromassage, in Libertyville, Ill. From 2016 to 2019, Lim submitted fraudulent claims to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois for purported health care services that Lim knew were not actually provided. Some of the fraudulent claims were for services purportedly provided on dates when either Lim or the patient were not in Illinois. Other claims submitted by Lim were for services purportedly rendered by another chiropractor in Lim’s practice to Lim and Lim’s family members, even though Lim knew that those services had not actually been provided.
When Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois attempted to audit the bogus claims, Lim prepared false patient medical records and other documents and submitted them to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. As a result of the scheme, Lim and his clinic fraudulently billed more than $600,000 to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois for services not rendered.
Lim, 42, of Lincolnshire, Ill., was convicted on 13 counts of healthcare fraud. The jury returned its verdicts on June 12, 2026, after a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in Chicago. U.S. District Judge Franklin W. Valderrama set sentencing for Oct. 22, 2026. Each healthcare fraud count is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison.
The conviction was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige Nutini and Caitlin Walgamuth.
St. Peters Man Charged After Toddler Suffers Apparent Fentanyl OverdoseRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Peters, Missouri was charged with drug and gun crimes Wednesday after a toddler suffered an apparent fentanyl overdose.
Kevin Lamar Knowles, 50, was charged by complaint in U.S. District Court in St. Louis with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was arrested Wednesday and appeared in court Thursday.
An affidavit filed in support of the complaint says that first responders called to the family’s St. Peters home at about 4:30 p.m. on June 16 discovered a 12-month-old suffering from an apparent fentanyl overdose. They administered Narcan and took the boy to the hospital. When Knowles brought the victim’s twin brother to the hospital, staff determined that he had also been exposed to fentanyl, xylazine and tramadol, the affidavit says. St. Peters police then found an assault rifle, a pistol and bulk cash in the home and about 1.5 pounds of raw fentanyl in the trunk of a car in the driveway, the affidavit says. Knowles is a convicted felon and is thus barred from possessing firearms.
Charges set forth in a criminal complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
“I applaud the quick thinking and professionalism of law enforcement and the health care workers who administered care for the children, and we hope the health of the children continues to improve,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus. “This case is more proof that fentanyl is poison and should be treated as such.”
“This case is a stark reminder that fentanyl continues to pose a serious threat to the community, particularly to our young people and children,” said Chief Andrew Ramirez of the St. Peters Police Department. “The swift actions of the St. Charles County Ambulance District, combined with the outstanding work of our patrol officers and detectives, helped save lives and led to the seizure of a significant quantity of fentanyl. This case also demonstrates the value of our strong and continuing partnership with the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Our commitment to protecting the community and pursuing those who traffic deadly drugs remains unwavering.”
“Two young children came into contact with a substance that no individual young or old should be around, let alone ingest,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colin Dickey said. “Fentanyl, even amounts small enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, can be life threatening. We’re grateful for the work of those who performed life saving measures on these children. It’s imperative that we raise awareness and continue having conversations in our communities about the lethality of this drug. These efforts, combined with the work of our agents and law enforcement partners are necessary to prevent another life from being lost to this terrible poison.”
The St. Peters Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration are investigating the case.
St. Louis Sex Offender Caught Again with Child Pornography Sentenced to 140 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Zachary M. Bluestone on Thursday sentenced a St. Louis sex offender who was caught again with child sexual abuse material to 140 months in prison.
Sandor Spies, 39, pleaded guilty in March in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession of child pornography. He admitted that while on supervised release for a prior child pornography possession offense, probation officers found multiple unauthorized electronic devices during a home visit. A later forensic exam of the devices revealed pictures and videos containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the devices, as well as evidence that Spies was using the devices to view CSAM, communicate with individuals involved in the distribution of CSAM and to buy and sell drugs. The devices also contained chat messages in which Spies and others shared fantasies of violently raping minors, Spies’ plea agreement says.
The U.S. Probation Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards 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 the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Springfield Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Drug and Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass. man was sentenced on June 15, 2026 in federal court in Springfield for possessing a firearm and cocaine possession and distribution.
Joshua Garcia, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 75 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In March 2026, Garcia pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm if furtherance of drug distribution. Garcia was charged in March 2025.
Garcia possessed with the intent to distribute drugs and a firearm on Oct. 3, 2024.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in New England; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announced today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
South Dakota Men Indicted in Connection with 14-year-old Sioux Falls Girl Found DeadRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Leif Olson announced today that two men have been indicted on criminal charges related to the missing-person case of McKenna Wendel, who was found dead on March 19, 2026, in Brookings, South Dakota.
Mark Milk, 51, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Jon Rogness, 38, of Brookings, South Dakota, were charged in an indictment filed on June 17, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
Milk faces five counts:
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death,
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance,
- Transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity,
- Conspiracy to conceal objects with the intent to impair their availability for an official proceeding, and
- Concealing objects with the intent to impair their availability for official proceedings.
Rogness faces two counts:
- Conspiracy to conceal objects with the intent to impair their availability for an official proceeding, and
- Accessory after the fact.
Milk and Rogness will have an initial appearance before a judge at the Sioux City federal courthouse at a date yet to be determined.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. It is being investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department; Sioux Falls Fire Rescue; Minnehaha County, South Dakota, Sheriff’s Department; Minnehaha County Search and Rescue; Brookings County, South Dakota, Sheriff’s Office; Brookings Police Department; Brookings Fire Department; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; Brookings County Attorney’s Office; Minnehaha County, South Dakota, Attorney’s Office; the Iowa Department of Public Safety—Division of Criminal Investigation; Iowa State Patrol; Lyon County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Department; the Lyon County Attorney’s Office; the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office; the U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 26-4032.
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Sixth Honduran National Sentenced to Prison for His Role in a Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Rosalio Pena Sandres, 45 years old, of Luquigue, Honduras, is the latest Honduran national to be sentenced to prison for his role in an expansive bank fraud conspiracy resulting in significant losses to small businesses and community banks in more than a dozen states, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Pena Sandres was sentenced to 33 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of illegal re-entry. He was also ordered to pay $533,043 in restitution to the victims of his crimes. The sentence was imposed by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon at a hearing held on June 18, 2026.
“Rosalio Pena Sandres will spend 33 months in prison because he and his co-conspirators used fake identification cards to cash 169 fraudulent paychecks totaling $233,569 at three branches of the same bank in the Northern District of Indiana on January 11, 2023. The fraudulent paychecks were designed to look like they had been issued by a company that operates dairy farms in the Northern District of Indiana. Almost six months later, on June 23, 2023, Pena Sandres and his co-conspirators used fake identification cards to cash 178 fraudulent paychecks totaling $299,474 at five branches of the same bank and three check cashing businesses in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The fraudulent paychecks were designed to look like they had been issued by a building materials supply company in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. As he has no legal no legal status within the United States, he will be subject to a separate and immediate removal process upon release from prison. Thanks to the combined efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Indiana State Police, with valuable assistance provided by the Benton County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Department, the Benton County (Indiana) Prosecutor’s Office, the Poteau (Oklahoma) Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Travis County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office, the Houston (Texas) Police Department, the Nebraska State Police, and the Stanton County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office, the case was successfully prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven J. Lupa from the Northern District of Indiana and Assistant United States Attorneys Kara Traster and Jordan Howanitz from the Eastern District of Oklahoma,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.
“The economic impact of these fraud schemes damages the well-being and quality of life in these communities,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “Small businesses are the backbone of our country. I’m proud of our agents and law enforcement partners for disrupting the fraud scheme and ensuring that the individuals involved were held accountable for their criminal actions.”
“The sentencing of another member of this fraud conspiracy sends a clear message that those who target American businesses and financial institutions will be identified, investigated, and prosecuted,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The FBI remains committed to working with our partners to protect the integrity of our financial system and hold offenders accountable.”
“Indiana State Police remains committed to working diligently with our federal and local law enforcement partners to investigate complex criminal organizations that victimize businesses and communities. This case, involving a multi-state bank fraud conspiracy that resulted in significant financial losses, is a testament to the strong partnerships and coordinated efforts that help bring offenders to justice and protect the public,” said Sgt. Jeremy Piers, Indiana State Police.
Five co-conspirators were previously sentenced to prison for their roles in this scheme: Luis Banegas Rodriguez (27 months), Ricardo Castro Murillo (37 months), Carlos Aquino Sosa (41 months), Edwin Palacios Sosa (27 months), and Delvin Velasquez Romero (time served of approximately 17 months).
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Indiana State Police, with valuable assistance provided by the Benton County (Indiana) Sheriff’s Department, the Benton County (Indiana) Prosecutor’s Office, the Poteau (Oklahoma) Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Travis County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office, the Houston (Texas) Police Department, the Nebraska State Police, and the Stanton County (Nebraska) Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steven J. Lupa from the Northern District of Indiana and Assistant United States Attorneys Kara Traster and Jordan Howanitz from the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana.
Sioux Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking, Which Resulted in Pipestone DeathRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – A North Dakota man has pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, which resulted in the accidental fatal fentanyl poisoning of a young man in the Pipestone, Minnesota, area, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
According to court documents, Jake Noland Northern, aka “Jake Noal Northern,” admitted that from at least February 2023 through April 21, 2023, he knowingly and intentionally distributed pressed fentanyl pills to users and distributors across southwestern Minnesota. Northern operated his distribution network from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he sold both personal‑use and bulk quantities of fentanyl pills, including to individuals who further distributed the drugs in the Pipestone community.
On April 21, 2023, Northern sold pressed fentanyl pills to an individual for roughly $200. That evening, the victim consumed Northern’s fentanyl and subsequently died due to accidental fentanyl poisoning.
Northern admitted during his plea that he knowingly and voluntarily conspired to possess and distribute fentanyl pills and acknowledged that his conduct violated federal law. He also acknowledged a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, for which he received a sentence of 96 months’ imprisonment. That conviction increased the penalties in this case.
“[The victim] deserves to be remembered for the beautiful soul he was, not for the way he died. I hope that through this process, his story can bring awareness to the dangers of fentanyl and help save others from this tragedy,” said a person close to the victim.
“Fentanyl has stolen lives, fractured families, and destabilized entire communities across Minnesota,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “Northern treated addiction as an opportunity and people as profit. This office will continue to pursue federal sentences for traffickers whose actions bring deadly fentanyl into Minnesota communities. We extend our condolences to the victim’s family, friends, and community and will continue to work with partners around the state to find, investigate, and prosecute those who bring this lethal drug into our communities.”
“This case shows the devastating reality and impact fentanyl has on our community,” said Lt. Edison Dengler, of the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office and Buffalo Ridge Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. “A young man lost his life, a family was forever changed, and our community continues to feel the devastating effects. We are thankful for the long hours, dedication, and teamwork of all the local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation, as well as the overwhelming support of the Pipestone County Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. From the start of this investigation in April of 2023 through today’s sentencing more than three years later, this case required persistence, cooperation, and a shared commitment to justice. Jake Noland Northern’s 240-month federal sentence sends a strong message that those who traffic fentanyl into Pipestone County and poison our community will be held accountable. We will not stop working to protect our citizens, support victims and families, and hold drug traffickers accountable.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Buffalo Ridge Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Additional assistance was provided by the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Fargo Police Department, the Globe Police Department (AZ), and the Mid-State Organized Crime Information Center.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Evans.
Senior Member of the Hoover Gang Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Gresham, Oregon, man was sentenced to over eight years in federal prison yesterday for illegally possessing firearms as a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
Shakor Shovontae Ray Holiday, 32, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
“The unlawful possession of firearms fuels gun violence and puts communities at risk. This case sends a clear message that those who choose to illegally possess and flaunt firearms—whether online or in our neighborhoods—will face federal prosecution,” said the U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. “We will continue to combat gun violence, prosecute offenders, and safeguard communities across Oregon.”
“This sentencing is an example of the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners to make our communities safer,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue felons in possession of firearms.”
“Homeland Security Investigations is focused on making our communities safer, and helping take a felon off the streets for possessing firearms illegally is one of the ways we do that,” said Acting Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “Working with our federal, state and local partners, we will do everything we can to make our streets more secure.”
According to court documents, on May 31, 2023, Holiday, a senior member of the Hoover Gang who goes by “Dute Fly,” posted a video of himself holding an AR rifle on social media. On June 2, 2023, Holiday posted another video on social media with the same firearm. Pursuant to a search warrant at Holiday’s residence, investigators found two firearms, one being the AR rifle used in his social media posts. The other firearm was connected to a shooting in Beaverton, Oregon, on June 21, 2023, the night before investigators executed the search warrant, although there was not enough conclusive evidence to identify Holiday as the shooter.
On July 13, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Holiday with one count of felon in possession of a firearm. Holiday pleaded guilty on January 13, 2026.
The FBI, HSI, the Portland Police Bureau, and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Gresham Police Department. U.S. Attorneys Lewis Burkhart and Leah Bolstad prosecuted the case.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Running and Gunning Felon Sentenced to over 7 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Montrel Devon Ingram, 36, to over 7 years in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm in the Eastern North Carolina.
“Felons can’t have guns, and this proves why. To recklessly blast away without regard to the lives of our dedicated brave law enforcement officers is abhorrent, antisocial behavior. Thank God he didn’t hurt or kill any innocent citizens.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle.
Ingram could not legally possess a firearm because in July 2017, he was convicted of a felony for selling Marijuana in Edgecombe County, North Carolina Superior Court. On June 29, 2025, Ingram sat as a passenger in a car when the Nash County Sheriff’s Office stopped it in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Ingram ran from the car, and Officers chased him. As he ran away, Ingram fired the gun wildly at the deputies until it jammed. Ingram then tossed the gun into a random stranger’s yard before deputies caught him.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office, and ATF collaborated on this investigation.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-00166-FL-BM.
Prior felon going to prison for five years cyberstalkingRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Daniel Richter, 47, of Middle Island, NY, who was convicted of cyberstalking, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr.
Between December 24, 2023, and March 27, 2024, Richter sent hundreds of threatening and sexual emails via the internet to Victim 1’s personal email address. He threatened not only Victim 1, but members of her family as well. For instance, over a two-day period in February 2024, Richter sent over 50 email messages to Victim 1’s personal email address, including one email mentioning Victim 1’s son by name. He also sent multiple emails and/or Google voicemails to Victim 1 on an almost daily basis, which became more threatening as time progressed. Richter threatened to visit Victim 1 in person and threatened to kill her. In March 2024, Richter traveled from California to the Western District of New York, where he was arrested at a local hotel. Law enforcement found photos of Victim 1, handwritten notes of Victim 1’s phone number, as well as a black knit ski mask, and several bottles of women’s hair dye in Richter’s hotel room.
In September 2020, Richter was convicted of interstate communication of threat to injure in the Western District of New York and was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Filicetti, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford.
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Poplar man sentenced to over 3 years in prison for sexual abuse, machete attackRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who was indicted on two unrelated charges was sentenced today to 18 months followed by five years of supervised release for the first charge, and to 26 months followed by three years of supervised release for the second, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Eithan Toby McKay, 22, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of sexual abuse of a minor and, in a separate indictment, to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided.
The government alleged in court documents that when McKay was 19, he engaged in a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl and got her pregnant. The following year, McKay attacked his brother with a machete, leaving him with deep lacerations.
In September 2024, law enforcement received information about a young teenage girl who was pregnant. In an interview with investigators, the girl identified McKay as the father and said the two met on social media and started hanging out at the girl’s house in Poplar. They engaged in a sexual relationship that resulted in the girl getting pregnant when she was 13 and McKay was 19.
In a separate incident, McKay showed up to a Brockton residence with a machete and attacked his brother. A 911 call shortly after 2 a.m. on March 4, 2025, reported the incident, with the caller telling the dispatcher, “Someone just hit my son over the head with a machete and he’s bleeding.” When asked by the operator is the attacker was still in the house, the caller said, “He just walked in the living room. He’s drunk. It’s Eithan McKay.”
The victim had serious injuries to his head, arm, and shoulder and was bleeding heavily. The man told responders that his brother Eithan had slashed him with the machete because he had told Eithan he wanted him to leave.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.
Philippine national sentenced for stealing identities of U.S. citizens for impersonation on a cruise to AlaskaRead the Press Release
JUNEAU, Alaska – A Philippine national was sentenced yesterday to over four years in prison for stealing the identities of U.S. citizens and using one identity to impersonate a U.S. citizen to board a cruise destined for Alaska.
According to court documents, on May 11, 2025, Enrico Ronquillo, 38, represented that he was a U.S. citizen when he boarded a cruise ship in Seattle. Ronquillo used a U.S. citizen’s name, date of birth and address in his online passenger application for boarding the ship. Cruise ships traveling in international waters are required to maintain accurate passenger manifests for inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Ronquillo is not a U.S. citizen but is a lawful permanent resident.
On May 14, 2025, CBP officers boarded the cruise ship when it arrived in Juneau. A CBP officer searched Ronquillo’s backpack and found two birth certificates and a California driver’s license that appeared to be fraudulent. The fraudulent driver’s license and birth certificate contained the personally identifiable information (PII) of an identity theft victim known to investigators. The victim told investigators he lost his original driver’s license in 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ronquillo was also carrying a large amount of cash in his pockets and in his backpack. It was later determined that he fraudulently used yet another individual’s credit card information to obtain money while at the ship’s casino.
On June 10, 2025, Ronquillo was indicted by a federal grand jury. On Feb. 19, 2026, he pleaded guilty to one count of false impersonation of a U.S. citizen and one count of aggravated identity theft. In handing down the sentence, the Court also ordered Ronquillo to serve one year on supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence, and to pay over $25,000 in restitution. Ronquillo will be subject to deportation proceedings.
“Mr. Ronquillo knowingly used stolen identities and personal information of innocent U.S. citizens to gain passage on a cruise ship and enrich himself at its casino,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “My office remains committed to protecting U.S. citizens from those who exploit them for personal gain. Identity theft and impersonating a U.S. citizen carry real consequences, including time behind bars.”
“This fraudster stole the identity of a U.S. citizen and impersonated the victim while on board a cruise ship, where he then continued to commit financial fraud crimes on the high seas,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Zachary Pomerantz of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI is committed to safeguarding Americans from fraud and identity theft schemes, and ensuring that these fraudsters cannot operate with impunity, no matter where they reside or where their crimes are committed.”
“This case highlights the vigilance and dedication of our CBP officers in protecting the integrity of our nation’s borders and travel systems. Identity theft and false impersonation threaten the security of our communities and the trust placed in our processes,” said David A. Salazar CBP Director of Field Operations in San Francisco. “CBP will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to detect, deter, and bring to justice those who attempt to exploit our systems. I commend our officers and all agencies involved for their outstanding work in this investigation.”
The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Juneau Resident Agency, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers, Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Transportation Security Administration Office of Law Enforcement, Federal Air Marshals Service and the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Schmidt prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
UPDATE: This release has been updated with corrections to the title and FBI quote.
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Pasco County Man Indicted for Attempting to Meet a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Produce Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Michael Joseph Vitoff (50, Zephyrhills) has been charged by indictment with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and attempted production of child sexual abuse material. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, on the attempted enticement offense and a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to 30 years, for the attempted production offense. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between June 2 and June 5, 2026, Vitoff communicated online with someone whom he believed was a 13-year-old girl. The minor, however, was an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent. During the conversation, Vitoff asked the minor to produce sexually explicit images of herself and send them to him. Vitoff also expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with the minor.
Vitoff was arrested on June 5, 2026, when he traveled to a location in Marion County to engage in sexual activity with the minor. He remains in custody pending the resolution of the criminal case.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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.justice.gov/psc.
Panama City Beach Man Indicted for Attempted Enticement of a MinorRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Tyler Ryan Lee Heimer, 27, of Panama City Beach, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for attempted enticement of a minor. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Heimer appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026 at 8:30 am, before United States District Court Judge Mark E. Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
If convicted, Heimer faces a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment.
The case was jointly investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Owner of Two South Florida Nursing Schools Pleads Guilty in Fraudulent Nursing Diploma SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Following a two-week trial in Fort Lauderdale, a South Florida nursing school owner and operator pleaded guilty for her role in a scheme that sold fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts to individuals seeking nursing licenses and employment throughout the U.S.
Carleen Noreus, 52, of Plantation, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to money laundering.
“Nursing licenses must be earned through education, training, and demonstrated competence, not purchased through fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “By selling thousands of fraudulent diplomas and transcripts, the defendant undermined the integrity of the nursing profession and our healthcare system. The Southern District of Florida remains committed to holding accountable those who profit by corrupting professional licensing processes and placing the public at risk.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Noreus served as president of Carleen Home Health School, Inc. in Plantation and vice president of Carleen Home Health School II, Inc. in West Palm Beach.
Noreus conspired with others to sell fraudulent nursing diplomas and educational transcripts to individuals who had not completed the required coursework or clinical training to earn Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurse/Vocational Nurse (LPN/VN), or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) credentials.
The fraudulent diplomas and transcripts falsely represented that purchasers had successfully completed the academic and clinical requirements of the schools when, in reality, they had not. These documents enabled purchasers to sit for the national nursing board examinations and, after passing those examinations, obtain nursing licenses and employment in the healthcare field.
Evidence admitted at trial established that between April 17, 2018, and Oct. 8, 2025, Noreus was responsible for providing 2,956 fraudulent nursing diplomas through the schools. State authorities have since terminated both schools as a result of the investigation.
Of the individuals who obtained fraudulent credentials from the school, approximately 2,274 passed nursing board examinations, allowing them to obtain nursing licenses and work as nurses in Florida and across the country.
Noreus faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of the second phase of Operation Nightingale, a nationwide effort targeting fraudulent nursing diploma schemes operated by for-profit nursing schools in South Florida. The investigation uncovered an illegal shortcut to professional licensure and employment that resulted in fraud-related charges against 13 defendants, including Noreus, for their roles in selling fraudulent nursing diplomas and transcripts.
In Phase I of Operation Nightingale, 30 defendants were charged and convicted in 2023 through guilty pleas or trial verdicts.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Isaac M. Bledsoe of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office, made the announcement.
FBI Miami and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Christopher J. Clark and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon M. Juenger presented the case at trial on behalf of the government. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-60039.
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Odessa Man Sentenced to 13 Years for Possessing Firearm Used in KC ShootingRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Odessa, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today to 13 years for possessing a firearm used in a shooting in Kansas City, Mo.
Gary D. Holcomb II, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 120 months on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and 36 months for violating a previous term of supervised release. The sentences were ordered to be served consecutively for a total sentence of 13 years. On Jan. 29, 2026, Holcomb, pleaded guilty to one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm that he admitted he used in a shooting in Kansas City, Mo.
According to the plea agreement, Holcomb admitted during the early morning hours on Sept. 30, 2025, he and his co-defendant, were in an alley behind a residence in Kansas City, Mo. Holcomb admitted they both possessed semi-automatic AR style rifles with large capacity magazines and shot at another individual in the alleyway, before fleeing the area in an SUV. Holcomb further admitted he had multiple felony convictions, to include a prior federal felony conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jess Michaelsen. It was investigated by Kansas City, Mo. Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Operation Take Back America
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.
Newport Man Sentenced for Production and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COVINGTON, Ky. – A Newport, Ky., man, Leandro Davila, III, 31, was sentenced on Thursday by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 408 months for the production and distribution of child pornography.
The investigation began in July 2025 when federal investigators discovered that an individual, subsequently identified as Davila, had produced and distributed sexually explicit conduct involving a minor online. The investigation further revealed that the Defendant was entrusted by the family to look after the minor and committed the crimes while doing so.
According to court records, Davila created child sexual abuse material involving the child and disseminated it through the messaging platform Kik, sharing it repeatedly with users around the world. He also distributed child pornography involving other minors. Kik reported the activity to law enforcement, prompting the investigation. Investigators were able to link the activity to Davila through account records and files sent from the account. A search of Davila’s Kik account uncovered at least 50 videos involving minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Records from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also showed multiple prior CyberTipline reports associated with Davila’s IP address. Davila received numerous sentencing enhancements, including an enhancement pertaining to the abuse of a position of trust.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Colin Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Chief Patrick Sorrell, Campbell County Police Department, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by HSI and the Campbell County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case was prosecuted 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 the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Newark Real Estate Developer Charged for Bribing City of Newark Employees and Unauthorized Sale of I.D. Cards with Homeland Security InsigniaRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A real estate developer was charged yesterday for his role in a scheme to bribe Newark, New Jersey employees and for conspiring to sell law enforcement identification cards embossed with the insignia of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announced U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.
Menashe Davidovitz, 31, of Airmont, New York, was charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with the business and transactions of a federally funded local government and organization. Davidovitz was also charged with one count of conspiracy to sell false seals and one count of conspiracy to sell official insignia.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From June 2024 through November 2024, Davidovitz conspired with others to provide City of Newark employees with cash and other benefits in exchange for the employees’ official action in matters related to City of Newark properties that Davidovitz owned. Specifically, Davidovitz paid bribes in order to obtain permits and certificates, including certificates of occupancy, which were required before his properties could be occupied or sold. Davidovitz also paid bribes to local officials for their help in resolving violations at his properties.
Further, from October 2021 through January 2023, Davidovitz worked with his co-conspirators, including Jonathan Ledesma, a former U.S. Air Marshal, to sell “Law Enforcement Family Member” cards that identified their bearers as “family member[s]” of Ledesma, “a Federal Officer.” These cards were embossed with the apparent insignia of DHS as well as a QR code that was linked to Ledesma’s cell phone. Though Davidovitz was not authorized to sell the insignia of the DHS, or any colorable imitation of the insignia, he received approximately $30,000 in proceeds from the sale of these cards.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy and special agents of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Shawn A. Rice with the investigation leading to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francesca Liquori of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel:
Jerome A. Ballarotto, Esq., Trenton, New Jersey
John W. Mitchell, Esq., Bedford, New York
davidovitz.complaint.pdfNew York Man Faces Federal Cyberstalking Charge After Posting AI-Generated Nude Images and Racist Messages from Fake Social Media ProfilesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Anthony Belford was arraigned last week on federal charges of cyberstalking after allegedly using social media accounts to post more than a dozen messages with nude images generated by artificial intelligence and racist comments during a three-month online harassment scheme.
“Belford allegedly waged a lengthy online campaign, hiding behind spoofed social media and email accounts to harass, intimidate, and cause substantial distress to his victim with racist messages and AI-generated nude images,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Cyberstalking and other forms of online abuse, just like physical violence, can ruin lives and disrupt communities. Victims of such crimes should not suffer in silence, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold the perpetrators of these crimes accountable using all available tools.”
“The alleged use of AI-generated images and fake online accounts to harass and intimidate a victim shows that digital abuse can have very real consequences,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify offenders and hold them accountable for using digital platforms to harass, threaten, and cause emotional distress.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between January and March 2025, Anthony Belford allegedly devised and carried out a scheme to create fake social media and email accounts to harass, intimidate, and cause substantial emotional distress to a college student in Georgia. Belford allegedly created and used fake social media accounts to spread lies in the victim’s community that the victim was racist and to send racist and derogatory messages, posing as the victim, to student groups at the victim’s college. He also repeatedly posted AI-generated nude images of the victim online, created fake social media accounts that appeared to belong to the victim, and used those accounts to distribute the AI-generated images. To amplify the impact of his campaign to cause the victim substantial emotional distress, Belford allegedly used spoofed accounts on an online forum to direct community members to the fake information he disseminated through other social media platforms.
On June 10, 2026, Anthony Belford, 21, of New York, appeared in federal court after a federal grand jury returned an indictment on June 3, 2026, charging him with one count of cyberstalking. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
It is a federal crime for someone to share, or threaten to share, intimate photos or videos of someone without their consent, including AI-generated images. Victims should report the conduct to local law enforcement and the FBI. Online platforms are required to remove nonconsensual intimate photos or videos and any duplicates upon request, and victims are urged to report online platforms that do not comply with a request to remove the content to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) within 48 hours. More information about steps you can take to protect yourself and hold perpetrators and online platforms accountable is available here: Take it Down Act: What Else You Can Do.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Theft of Stolen Mail and Possession of USPS PropertyRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JALEN C. VALDERY (“VALDERY”), age 27, was sentenced on June 10, 2026, to two years imprisonment, two years of supervised release, and payment of a $200 mandatory special assessment fee by U.S. District Court Judge Greg G. Guidry, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
VALDERY previously plead guilty to unlawful possession of a postal key, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1704, and to unlawful possession of stolen mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708.
According to court documents, VALDERY unlawfully possessed a United States Postal Service “arrow” key, which key is used to access authorized postal receptacles (“blue boxes”) of deposited mail. Further, he unlawfully possessed approximately 700 pieces of USPS stolen mail taken from those authorized receptacles
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Irene González of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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New London Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine Distribution and Firearm Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LUIS OLIVER-GARCIA, also known as “Bebo,” 36, of New London, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for cocaine distribution and firearm possession offenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force identified Oliver-Garcia as a large-scale distributor of cocaine and learned that he rented a storage unit at a facility on Cross Road in Waterford to store narcotics and other items. On June 21, 2024, Oliver-Garcia arrived at the storage facility shortly before investigators were about to conduct a court-authorized search of his storage unit. Oliver-Garcia was arrested after the search revealed more than three kilograms of cocaine, approximately $30,000 in cash, and a 9mm firearm, and a search of the car that he drove to the facility revealed an additional quantity of cocaine and two boxes of 9mm ammunition.
Ortiz-Garcia’s criminal history includes state convictions for drug distribution and weapon possession offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce.
Oliver-Garcia has been detained since his arrest. On January 20, 2026, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, including personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reed Durham.
New Jersey Man Sentenced to 350 Months’ for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material on the Dark WebRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A New Jersey man was sentenced yesterday to 350 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on a dark-web site dedicated to discussing and trafficking in CSAM, announced U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer.
“By serving as a moderator on a dark web forum devoted to the dissemination of child sexual abuse material, the defendant did not merely enable exploitation—he curated and sustained a marketplace of depravity. This sentence marks a critical measure of accountability and affirms my Office’s unwavering commitment to vindicating the rights and dignity of the most vulnerable. We will persist in our efforts to expose and dismantle these clandestine networks, wherever they operate.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
“The court’s sentence holds Drew Holzlein accountable for his role in helping run a community on the dark web dedicated to trafficking in visual depictions of minors being subjected to horrific acts of sexual abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Those who engage in this disgusting conduct will be investigated and prosecuted. The clear message in this case and others just like it is that Holzlein and his co-conspirators will not skate by because of the anonymity afforded by the dark web. We will still find you.”
“This offender provided access to a platform where multiple perpetrators conspired to create and share CSAM,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The arrest of this moderator led FBI Newark and the FBI Child Exploitation Operational Unit to investigate and disrupt the activities of additional child exploitation offenders and abusers. The FBI will continue to track down these criminals, ensure that they are held accountable for their crimes, and secure justice for their victims.”
According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:
Drew Holzlein, 57, of Manchester, New Jersey, was a member and moderator of a website on the dark web that was dedicated to the proliferation of CSAM. From approximately 2019 until his arrest in January 2024, Holzlein was an active participant on this site and shared thousands of sexually explicit images of nude, prepubescent minors with the site’s many users. A search of Holzlein’s home in January 2024 recovered multiple electronic devices containing images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of prepubescent children. Holzlein was interviewed during the search and admitted to law enforcement that he was an active member on this dark-web site for years and served as a moderator on the site. Holzlein was previously convicted in New Jersey state court of two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit, the FBI Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Manchester for investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Belgiovine of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney William G. Clayman of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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New Gloucester Man Sentenced for Illegally Possessing a HandgunRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New Gloucester man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Shawn Small, 29, to 93 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Small pleaded guilty on January 16, 2026.
According to court records, officers with the Scarborough Police Department responded to a tip that Small was attempting to sell a pistol to another individual. Officers then located Small at a business in Scarborough. They approached and attempted to detain him but he physically resisted. During the ensuing struggle, officers removed a pack from his person. Inside that pack, officers located a Smith & Wesson pistol with a loaded magazine. Small was a convicted felon at the time and on probation for a state robbery conviction.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case, with the assistance of the Scarborough Police Department and State of Maine Division of Adult Community Corrections.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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