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11 June 2026
Somerset County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possession of Six Firearms in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
TRENTON, N.J. – A Somerset County, New Jersey, man was sentenced on June 9, 2026 to 300-months’ imprisonment for drug trafficking, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and illegal possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Malachi A. Muhammad, 51, of Somerset, was previously convicted on April 11, 2025 of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin, and cocaine, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of firearms by a convicted felon, following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner in Trenton federal court. On June 9, 2026, Judge Castner imposed a 300-month sentence of imprisonment.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
On August 19, 2021, officers from the Lawrence Township Police Department responded to calls from concerned citizens about a car stopped in the middle of Route 1 near the Quaker Bridge Mall. Officers found Muhammad, the only occupant and driver of the car, initially unresponsive and believed that he was asleep or having a medical emergency. After officers woke him up, they noticed the handle of a handgun in between his legs. Officers secured the loaded handgun, took Muhammad out of the vehicle, and arrested him. In the vehicle, officers found 91 pills of methamphetamine, 468 wax folds of fentanyl and heroin, 5 bags of cocaine, and five additional firearms, including two semi-automatic rifles, and over 150 rounds of ammunition. The drug and gun evidence introduced at trial is depicted below:
In addition to the prison term, Judge Castner imposed three years of supervised release following Muhammad’s term of imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr., the Lawrence Township Police Department, under the direction of Interim Chief Kevin Reading, the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Acting Superintendent Jeanne Hengemuhle, and the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Linda Estremera, with the investigation leading to the guilty verdict.
The government is represented by Attorney-in-Charge Tracey Agnew and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton.
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Somerset County Felon Charged with Attempted Murder of U.S. Marshals Service Officers and Related Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Rockwood, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on charges of attempted murder of federal officers and violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The 14-count Indictment named Christopher Eric Fisher, 41, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about April 16, 2026, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Fisher fired at and attempted to murder a Deputy U.S. Marshal and five U.S. Marshals Service Task Force Officers while the officers were engaged in and on account of the performance of their official duties. The Indictment also charges Fisher—who was previously convicted of both drug and firearm felonies—with carrying, using, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to the attempted murder of the officers and unlawfully possessing that firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
“The defendant here is charged with the most serious of offenses: the attempted murder of law enforcement personnel with a firearm,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “We will not tolerate these assaults, which strike at the very fabric of our social order. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will ensure that individuals who carry out or seek to carry out such attacks on officers or employees of the government are prosecuted and punished fully for their crimes.”
“This indictment reflects our commitment to holding violent offenders accountable,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “This individual’s attempt to kill brave law enforcement officers demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life and the rule of law. ATF and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue those who threaten the safety of our community and those sworn to protect it.”
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and Arnold P. Bernard Jr. are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on June 8, 2026.
Kyle Heinemann, 42, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Heinemann was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.
For several months in 2024, Heinemann served as a sub-distributor for a California and Nevada-based drug trafficking organization which transported large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to South Dakota and distributed it in the Sioux Falls area. Heinemann purchased methamphetamine from the organization, which he then re-sold here. Approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine was attributed to Heinemann at sentencing.
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 Minneapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, USMS, USPIS, SD DCI, SFPD, MCSO, and SDHP with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, the Sioux Falls Police Department, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Heinemann was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Seattle Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Willard Lawrence Gibson, Jr., 48, of Seattle, Washington, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children, one count of attempted enticement of a minor, one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, and one count of distribution of child pornography. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case is a reminder of the many threats our children face online from predators, like this defendant, seeking to sexually exploit and victimize them. Our state and federal law enforcement partners are relentlessly pursuing those sick individuals through undercover operations like we saw in this case, but parents also need to be aware of what online platforms their children are using and who they are communicating with to ensure kids don’t fall prey to online exploitation. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute these cases and seek maximum punishments to keep these sexual predators locked behind bars and away from our kids.”
Court documents reflect that in July 2025, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies conducted an undercover operation focused on identifying individuals using the internet to sexually exploit children. During that operation, Gibson began communicating through a social media platform with an undercover officer and the conversation later moved to text messaging. Gibson sent the undercover officer two images of child sexual abuse material. Further, court records show that, on multiple occasions, Gibson asked the undercover officer to produce child pornography images and send them to him. When Gibson was arrested in Seattle, his cell phone was seized as evidence. After a search warrant was obtained, law enforcement discovered multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse material on Gibson’s phone. Gibson’s phone also contained other evidence confirming that he communicated with the undercover officer.
Gibson faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, up to a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment for attempted sexual exploitation of children, a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years to a maximum of life imprisonment for attempted enticement of a minor, a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years up to a maximum of 20 years imprisonment for distribution of child pornography, and up to 10 years imprisonment for attempted transfer of obscene materials to minors. Gibson also faces a lifetime term of supervision upon release.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 2:00 pm, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
This case was a joint investigation by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Seattle Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Schuylkill County Man Indicted for Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Andrew Chester Moyer, age 48, of Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Moyer distributed and received child pornography between April 27, 2026 and April 30, 2026 while in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania and possessed child pornography on May 6, 2026.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation—Allentown Resident Agency and Minersville Borough Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 20 years of imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Safeguarding the FIFA World Cup Events in the City of PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – As Philadelphia is set to host the “world’s game” in the form of six FIFA World Cup matches, the law enforcement community stands ready to safeguard both our own citizens — as well as those visiting from around the globe — to ensure a safe and fun experience.
The mass public congregation of American citizens and foreign tourists for a global entertainment event can pose notable threats to public safety — including terrorism, violence, threats and hoaxes, human trafficking, dangerous drugs, fraud and counterfeiting, threats by unauthorized drone aircraft, and other criminal activity.
As a result, for the past several months the Department of Justice has led public safety preparations to anticipate, assess, and prevent the salient threats to the security of the matches and fans. United States Attorney David Metcalf also designated a World Cup Coordinator (“WCC”) from the office to convene public and private partners, including FIFA officials, to maximize law enforcement readiness. These efforts include:
- Developing, sharpening, and coordinating the criminal intelligence among all agencies to concentrate on threats particular to the FIFA World Cup events;
- Increasing and intensifying our contact with public agencies and private companies who can assist in the identification and prevention of FIFA-related threats;
- Proactive deployment of increased federal, state, and local law enforcement resources — both technical and manpower — to physical locations or online networks vulnerable to such threats;
- Imposing temporary flight restrictions to protected airspace — including from unauthorized drone aircraft;
- Establishing a federal coordination team to respond to World Cup-related criminal activities.
“It is a wonderful point of pride for our country to host the greatest spectacle of international sports. But the honor to host the FIFA World Cup games also carries the duty to protect them,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “These events represent historic moments for our city and region, and our focus remains on ensuring they are carried out safely, securely, and successfully for the public we serve. We are ready.”
“This summer, Philadelphia stands at the epicenter of a series of historic and once-in-a-generation moments as we welcome visitors from across the globe for the World Cup and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “No single agency can secure events of this scale alone. Our success is driven by the close coordination and partnership across local, state, and federal law enforcement, and most importantly, the public.”
“Philadelphia is ready to welcome the world, and Homeland Security Investigations is proud to help make this World Cup safe and memorable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Nathan Abel. “Working side by side with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSI will be targeting counterfeit World Cup gear and fake tickets, enhancing efforts to identify and disrupt human trafficking, and providing specialized support at the stadium, fan events, and key transit points so fans can focus on world class soccer.”
For any public safety emergencies, please dial 911.
If you are aware of any criminal activity associated with the FIFA World Cup events, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
You can find more information on public safety and city services during the FIFA matches and Fan Fest at the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management’s World Cup safety and event information site.
Sacramento Man Indicted for Bringing Explosive Material into Sacramento International AirportRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury today returned a three-count indictment today against Kimani Osayande Jones, aka Kimani Osayande Jackson, 49, of Sacramento, charging him with attempting to place a destructive device on an aircraft, unlawfully possessing explosive material in an airport, and attempting to carry a dangerous weapon or explosive onto an aircraft, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at approximately 9 p.m. Jones attempted to pass through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at the Sacramento International Airport to board American Airlines flight 2464. Jones was wearing a scarf covering his face and latex gloves. Inside his carry-on bag, Jones had an M-type explosive device, a torch lighter capable of igniting the device, a knife, scissors and scissor blades, an aerosol can, and zip ties. Jones also had five cellphones; one displayed a 15‑minute timer ready to begin.
The explosive device was safely removed by Sacramento County Sheriff bomb technicians and an FBI Special Agent bomb technician. When the device was later examined and tested, authorities determined that both the powder and fuse were viable and energetic. The device had the potential to cause injury and, if it had detonated near a window on a pressurized aircraft flying above 10,000 feet, it could have damaged the aircraft and potentially caused a loss of cabin pressure.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Jones faces a maximum statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempt to place a destructive device in an aircraft, a maximum of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 for unlawful possession of explosive material in an airport, and up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempt to carry a dangerous weapon on an aircraft. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Russell County Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that Ira Cicero Smith, 67, formerly of Jefferson County, Alabama, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for failing to register as a sex offender as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). There is no parole in the federal system.
“Ensuring that convicted sex offenders comply with their registration obligations is essential to protecting the public,” said United States Attorney Govan. “When individuals disregard those requirements, they undermine a system designed to help keep communities safe. This sentence sends a clear message that failing to register is a serious federal offense and that our office will continue to pursue these cases to deter others from violating the law.”
According to court documents and Smith’s plea agreement, Smith was convicted of a sex offense occurring in Jefferson County in 1987. As a result of that conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender in each jurisdiction where he resides and works.
In April 2025, Smith established a residence in Russell County, Alabama, and failed to register his new address in Alabama or update his registration information from a previous residence in Georgia, as required under SORNA.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Smith will serve five years of supervised release. He will also be required to continue registering as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
The United States Marshals Service investigated this case, with assistance from the Phenix City, Alabama Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Kirkpatrick prosecuted the case for the Middle District of Alabama.
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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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.
Reno Man Indicted for Sexually Exploiting Child in 2008 in Placer CountyRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Jeffrey Alan Koehl, 60, of Reno, Nevada, charging him with sexual exploitation of a child, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in February 2008, in a residence in Roseville, Koehl coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct and used a handheld camera to record two videos.
The victim, now an adult, learned of the videos, and on Jan. 20, 2025, submitted an online tip that was received by the FBI National Threat Operations Center (NTOC) leading to the federal investigation. Koehl has been in custody since his arrest on Jan. 30, 2026, in Carmichael.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from the Reno Police Department and the California Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Koehl faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the sexual exploitation counts. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Aggravated AssaultRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison today after striking an officer in the head with a large rock at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford.
Robert Jacob Hoopes, 25, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $8,000 in restitution.
“Today’s message is clear – violence is not a protest. When you cross the line and assault a federal officer, you will be prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Bradford. “My office will continue to pursue those who seek to harm our law enforcement partners.”
“The FBI will not stand idly by and allow federal officers to be assaulted by rioters,” said FBI Portland Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Torres. “We will investigate any perpetrator using violence to express their views and hold them accountable.”
According to court documents, on June 14, 2025, Hoopes threw a large rock and struck an ICE officer in the head, causing a significant laceration over the officer’s eye. Later that same day, he and two other individuals were seen using an upended stop sign as a makeshift battering ram, which resulted in significant damage to the main entry door to the ICE building.
On August 5, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Hoopes with aggravated assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon and depredation of federal property.
On February 18, 2026, Hoopes pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon.
The FBI investigated this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
Poplar man sentenced to 20 years for aggravated sexual assaultRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who strangled and sexually assaulted a teenage girl was sentenced today to 120 months in prison on one count of aggravated sexual abuse and 120 months on one count of commission of a sex offense by a registered sex offender. The two sentences will be served consecutively. He was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Arthur Dion Longee, 38, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to the two charges.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Longee, who had previously been convicted of a sex crime in 2013, repeatedly strangled and sexually assaulted a teenage girl after spending the day drinking alcohol and smoking meth with her and a friend.
On Jan. 22, 2025, Longee brought a 17-year-old girl and her friend over to his grandmother’s house in Poplar to smoke meth and drink alcohol. Later in the day, after dropping off the friend at her apartment, Longee and the 17-year-old girl returned to his bedroom.
The girl was on her tablet and Longee got angry, strangling her to unconsciousness. She regained consciousness before Longee strangled her again. When she awoke each time, she was in various stages of undress. At one point during the assault, she coughed up blood. She said Longee told her, “I’m sorry, babe. Am I scaring you?”
The girl cried and asked to leave but Longee wouldn’t let her, instead telling her that she was with him tonight. When she told him again that she wanted to go home and was scared, he again got angry, yelled at her and sexually assaulted her again. After another assault in the living room, the 17-year-old was able to escape through the kitchen and run to a friend’s house where the friend called 911.
At the hospital, the girl was interviewed by law enforcement, who obtained a search warrant for the Longee residence. They found Longee there, passed out on the floor and the house exactly as described by the girl. Agents awakened Longee, arrested him and swabbed him for DNA. At the hospital, the 17-year-old was evaluated by a sexual assault nurse examiner, who found injuries, bruising and other evidence of the assault.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Fort Peck Tribes and the FBI conducted the investigation.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 94 Months in Prison for Role in Large-Scale Cargo TheftsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Salahudin Reddy, aka “Dean” and “Deen,” 39, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 94 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release by United States District Chief Judge Wendy Beetlestone for his role in a large-scale cargo theft conspiracy.
The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in December 2024 and pleaded guilty in March of this year to conspiracy, four counts of theft from an interstate shipment, one count of theft of government money, one count of possession of stolen government money, and one count of possession of items from interstate shipment theft.
As detailed in court filings and statements, between January 1 and July 31, 2023, Reddy conspired with co-defendants to steal goods moving as parts of interstate shipments located on tractor trailers around Philadelphia.
While a trailer was unattended overnight, or while the driver was asleep, the members of the conspiracy participating in the theft would use bolt cutters and other tools to break into the trailer and steal the goods inside. The members of the conspiracy would then offer the goods for sale to local contacts.
Reddy admitted to participating in thefts of hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of frozen crab legs on April 4, 2023, and again on April 6, 2023; the theft of over $360,000 worth of Samsung televisions on April 10, 2023; and the theft of over $230,000 worth of U.S. dimes on April 13, 2023. The members of the conspiracy committed numerous other thefts, stealing goods with a total estimated value of over $1.5 million from more than 10 victims.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Bowerman and Christopher Diviny.
Panama City Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Kendrick Parham, 47, of Panama City, Florida, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Under Operation Take Back America, my office will continue to deploy the full might of the Department of Justice toward removing the perpetrators of violent crime from our communities until our citizens get the safe, crime-free streets they deserve.”
Court documents reflect that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives assisted the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in Panama City, during which five ounces of methamphetamine were discovered, and he was arrested on state charges. While in jail, the defendant – a four-time convicted felon legally prohibited from possessing firearms – made incriminating statements during a monitored phone call about the presence of a firearm in his residence that was not previously found by officers during the search. After obtaining a new search warrant based on those incriminating statements, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office conducted another search of the defendant’s residence and recovered the firearm.
Parham’s prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. Forfeiture was ordered as to all four recovered firearms.
The case involved an investigation by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Out-of-State Duo Faces Federal Charges for Attacking "Cop City" Contractor and Intimidating EmployeesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – A federal grand jury has indicted Katie Marie Kloth and Tyler John Norman for allegedly using fire and explosives to damage and attempt to damage the property of Brasfield & Gorrie, a general contractor for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, and to intimidate the company’s employees.
“The law does not protect, and the Department of Justice will not tolerate, organized acts of violence or targeted intimidation,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Criminal agitators who travel to this district to engage in such conduct will be prosecuted and held accountable, even years after the fact.”
“This indictment underscores our commitment to ensuring that acts of violence and intimidation will not be tolerated in our communities,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Atlanta Field Division.
“This indictment represents our continued commitment to work alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Georgia and our local, state, and federal partners to protect the citizens of Georgia,” said Chris Hosey, Director, Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “The criminal acts of these individuals have repeatedly placed members of the community, construction personnel, and public safety officials in danger. Acts of violence and intimidation will not be tolerated in our state.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information released previously: On May 12, 2022, Katie Marie Kloth and Tyler John Norman allegedly gathered during a riot and civil disorder outside the Cobb County, Georgia offices of Brasfield & Gorrie. At the time, Brasfield & Gorrie was the general contractor for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, a police and fire department training center often referred to as “Cop City” by its opponents. As the crowd approached the office building, Kloth and Norman allegedly launched explosives at the building and started fires to intimidate Brasfield & Gorrie employees. Those explosives and fires allegedly damaged Brasfield & Gorrie’s property.
On June 9, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Katie Marie Kloth, 39, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Tyler John Norman, 42, of Blue Mountain, Wisconsin, with maliciously damaging or attempting to damage property used in interstate commerce by means of fire and an explosive. The grand jury also charged Kloth and Norman with using fire and explosives to intimidate and interfere with Brasfield & Gorrie employees during and incident to a civil disorder. On June 8, 2026, the Acting Attorney General of the United States certified that prosecution of Kloth and Norman for the intimidation offense is in the public interest and is necessary to secure substantial justice.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Office of the Attorney General of Georgia and the Cobb County Police Department provided substantial assistance to the investigation.
This case is part of the nationwide National Security Presidential Memorandum 7 initiative, which is a White House directed, interagency effort to integrate federal, state, and local partners in protecting First Amendment rights while targeting individuals and organizations engaged in political violence and is led by the investigative and prosecutorial Joint Task Force Vanguard.
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.
Opelika Woman Sentenced to over 11 Years for Sex Trafficking Scheme Involving MinorRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced that an Opelika, Alabama, woman has been sentenced for her role in a commercial sex trafficking scheme involving a minor.
On June 10, 2026, a federal judge sentenced 24-year-old Jada Renee Coggins to 135 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Coggins is also required to register as a sex offender for life. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Commercial sex trafficking inflicts deep and lasting harm, especially when minors are involved,” said U.S. Attorney Govan. “Removing those who exploit minors from our streets makes our communities safer and protects future potential victims. Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute individuals who participate in these schemes and seek justice for the victims.”
“Sex trafficking of minors is one of the most appalling crimes our society faces, " said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. "No child should ever be subjected to this kind of exploitation and abuse. The pain inflicted on victims and their families is profound and lasting. HSI, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle trafficking networks, and we will not rest until those who prey on children are brought to justice.”
According to court documents and her plea agreement, in December 2023, Coggins conspired with her co-defendant, Chloe Michelle Alexander, 31, also of Opelika, to induce a 17‑year‑old to engage in commercial sex acts. As part of the conspiracy, Coggins admitted that she photographed the minor and used sexually explicit images to advertise commercial sex on various websites. She also admitted transporting the minor to locations where the minor engaged in commercial sex acts.
Both Coggins and Alexander pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Alexander is scheduled to be sentenced in August and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine her sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the Opelika Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz, J. Patrick Lamb, and Russell T. Duraski 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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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.
Officials Announce Results of Project Safe Neighborhoods Operation Combined Resolve Roanoke ValleyRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – Law enforcement leaders from more than a dozen agencies across the Roanoke Valley announced the results of Operation Combined Resolve Roanoke Valley today. Combined Resolve, a month-long enforcement operation led by the U.S. Marshals Service and in furtherance of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, resulted in more than 150 arrests and the seizure of nearly $2 million dollars’ worth of street drugs.
Between May 1, 2026, and May 31, 2026, 78 officers from 15 partner agencies arrested 150 fugitives and executed 302 warrants.
The operation resulted in the seizure of nearly $2 million dollars’ worth of street drugs. These drugs included 338 doses of MDMA, 16 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 12 kilograms of cocaine.
Finally, 352 grams of fentanyl was seized, enough potential lethal doses to kill 176,097 people, or more people than the entire population of the Roanoke Valley.
In addition to drug seizures, $93,940 in cash, 20 handguns, and 1 rifle were seized.
“Operation Combined Resolve resulted in the arrest of over 300 individuals and the capture of 150 fugitives wanted for offenses including assault and battery on law enforcement, carjacking, robbery, aggravated malicious wounding, assault by mob, and crimes against children. The US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia will continue to maximize strategic law enforcement partnerships through Project Safe Neighborhoods to enhance cooperation and information sharing that ensures a sure and rapid response to violent crime and other threats to our citizens,” First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “I am proud to stand with law enforcement partners including the Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Vinton Police Departments, VSP, Virginia National Guard Counterdrug Program, Roanoke area Commonwealth’s Attorneys, ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, and other partners who contributed to the outstanding success of Combined Resolve. Like Operation Washout No Limits in Danville last October, Combined Resolve reflects our collective and unyielding determination to enhance community safety and the rule of law in our communities. These efforts will continue throughout the Western District of Virginia.”
“Operation Combined Resolve Roanoke Valley is a continuing example of how partnerships and true collaboration, among law enforcement partners in the Western District of Virginia, results in safer streets and communities by leveraging the full weight and commitment of federal, state, and local law enforcement to bring violent offenders to justice, remove illegal drugs and guns from our communities, and fight organized crime. I commend First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Tracci for his leadership and spearheading the operation, as well as our local operational commander Chief Booth, for his tenacity and dedication to the citizens we serve. We also extend gratitude to Roanoke City Commonwealth’s Attorney John McNeil, Jr. and Roanoke County Commonwealth’s Attorney Brian Holohan, for the substantial work of their staff as well as their guidance, oversight, and prosecutorial judgements in future prosecutions. All the participant agencies contributed significantly, and none of these excellent results, for our citizens, would have been accomplished without every leader and officer involved. Finally, we suggest this operation is the first of many future collaborations in continued and enhanced partnerships. Criminals should take notice. If you are wanted for a crime, committing violent crime, or are part of a transnational gang, your time of freedom is limited if you stay in the Roanoke Valley,” said Acting United States Marshal Matthew Davis.
“Today’s results are a testament to what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies come together with one common goal: the safety and security of the Roanoke Valley. The success of this operation demonstrates that through collaboration, shared resources, and a unified commitment to public safety, we are able to deliver results that no single agency could achieve alone. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to every agency and officer who participated in this effort. In particular, I want to recognize First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Tracci and his team from the Western District of Virginia, as well as the United States Marshals Service, for their partnership, leadership, and dedication throughout this operation. Together, we are sending a clear message that public safety remains our top priority and that law enforcement agencies across this region stand united in our commitment to reducing violent crime, removing illegal drugs and firearms from our streets, and holding offenders accountable. Operation Combined Resolve reflects the best of law enforcement partnership and will continue to serve as a model for our future efforts to protect and serve the people who call the Roanoke Valley home,” said Scott Booth, Chief of Police, City of Roanoke.
“Operations like this highlight the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts in addressing the dangerous connection between narcotics trafficking and illegal firearms. ATF remains steadfast in its mission to protect our communities by supporting investigations that remove violent offenders, illegal firearms, and dangerous narcotics from our streets, “ said ATF Washington Field Division Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood.
“Every day, Postal Inspectors work to protect the mail from being misused by criminals, including large scale Drug Trafficking Organizations. When prevention and investigative efforts can come together with the efforts of other agencies to identify and charge individuals who distribute drugs throughout Virginia, it makes all our communities safer. I want to acknowledge the contributions of the combined efforts of officers and agents from the multiple involved agencies for the impressive work accomplished. Through combined efforts such as this, the Postal Inspection Service upholds its long-standing mission of protecting our Postal customers and eliminating criminal misuse of the U.S. Mail,” said Damon Wood, Inspector in Charge, USPIS Washington Division.
“Some of the primary goals of the Virginia State Police are to preserve life and to protect the vulnerable. Collaborative efforts, such as this, enhance our capability of achieving these goals through problem solving partnerships. We are pleased with the results and grateful for the contributions of the involved agencies. We look forward to further cooperation on future operations,” said Shawn Caudill – Captain, Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
This operation was part of the revamped Project Safe Neighborhoods, a combined law enforcement initiative that aims to provide a rapid response to violent crime, conduct strategic federal, state, local, and tribal partnerships, and increase accountability and deterrence to promote public safety.
OPERATION TAKE BACK AMERICA: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 16 Months in Prison for Illegally Re-entering the United StatesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An illegal alien has been sentenced for unlawfully re-entering the United States after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
Chief U.S. District Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Walter Anselmo Rosa-Menjivar, 29, a citizen of Honduras, to 16 months in prison. In January 2026, Rosa-Menjivar pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after deportation.
“This sentence demonstrates that individuals who unlawfully reenter the Unites States will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Phil Williams. “My office remains committed to prosecuting offenders who threaten public safety and to working alongside our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.”
“Rosa-Menjivar’s history of drug trafficking and unlawful reentry underscores the importance of strong border enforcement and community safety partnerships,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI will not tolerate those who endanger the public and violate our immigration laws—serious consequences await anyone who attempts to do so.”
According to court documents, Rosa-Menjivar was deported on March 9, 2020, after he was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. Rosa-Menjivar came to law enforcement’s attention again when officers with the Bessemer Police Department were dispatched to Rosa-Menjivar’s residence on October 24, 2025, after his roommate called 911. The roommate reported that Rosa-Menjivar threatened to shoot him during a verbal argument. After having been found illegally in the United States a second time, Rosa-Menjivar was arrested on October 25, 2025.
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.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Bessemer Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney L. Plyler and J. Patrick Lamb are prosecuting the case.
Nurse Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Tampering with and Stealing Controlled Substances at Tampa Bay Area HospitalRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Lauren Hornbuckle (37, Seminole) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven to two years in federal prison for tampering with a consumer product. Hornbuckle pleaded guilty on August 6, 2025. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Hornbuckle was a Florida-licensed registered nurse who worked at Hospital #1. Between November 2023 and March 2024, Hornbuckle tampered with injectable controlled substances, including morphine, hydromorphone, and fentanyl, by removing them from their containers and replacing them with saline. She then returned the containers into circulation for other patients’ medical needs and used the drugs for her own personal use. By tampering with the injectable controlled substances, Hornbuckle acted with reckless disregard for the risk that patients would be in danger of bodily injury and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Pizzo.
North Carolina Woman Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Immigration Fraud, VA Disability FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A North Carolina woman was indicted by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to commit immigration fraud, making false statements under oath on immigration documents, unlawfully procuring citizenship, mail fraud, and wire fraud. This indictment is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
Britney Sherene Curry, 26, of Charlotte, N.C. is a Jamaican National and entered the United States on a six-month B-2 visa on Aug. 27, 2015, but never left. Curry allegedly paid a third-party to arrange a fraudulent marriage between herself and a United States citizen for the purpose of obtaining immigration benefits. Curry and her husband met for the first time on the day of their marriage and never lived together before or after. After the marriage, Curry became a lawful permanent resident of the United States then joined the United States Army which allowed her to apply to become a naturalized United States citizen immediately, instead of having to wait a minimum of three years.
Curry allegedly provided false information about her marriage, under penalty of perjury, in immigration documents filed both online and via the U.S. Postal Service. After becoming a United States citizen, Curry used her status to petition for her mother to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States. All of the immigration applications were initially processed at the United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) National Benefits Center in Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Less than two years after joining the Army, Curry applied for a medical discharge and was awarded Veteran’s Administration disability compensation. Curry claimed her husband as a dependent for purposes of her disability compensation which increased her monthly benefit, despite never having lived with him and not having seen him since before she enlisted in the Army. All Veteran’s Administration disability compensation benefits passed through Treasury Payment Operations at the Federal Disbursement Services in Kansas City, Mo.
The charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury who will be responsible for determining whether Curry is guilty or not.
Under federal statutes, Curry is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud and mail fraud charges, up to 10 years in prison on some of the immigration charges, and faces the possibility of being denaturalized. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Michael J. Nichols. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services—National Benefits Center, Veteran’s Administration Office of Inspector General, and the United States Army Criminal Investigations Division.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
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.
North Carolina Man Charged with Scheme to Fraudently Obtain Hundreds of Millions of Shares of Technology CompanyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the Inspector in Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), Ketty Larco-Ward, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging CHARLES COLE with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit securities fraud. COLE was presented this morning in the Western District of North Carolina. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick.
“Fraud is fraud, whether in our public markets or our private markets,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Our private markets are essential engines of growth and ingenuity, and this Office will purse vigorously those who abuse securities markets—public or private, venture, growth, mid-cap or large-cap. As alleged, Charles Cole built a fiction of wealth using fake bank records, sham correspondence, and a fraudulent bank website, then used that fiction to obtain hundreds of millions of shares with no intention of paying for them.”
“Mr. Cole allegedly defrauded an unsuspecting company through a series of lies and misrepresentations,” said USPIS Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward. “The hard work from our Postal Inspectors that led to this indictment shows the U.S Postal Inspection Service's commitment to protecting individuals and companies from being defrauded.”
As alleged in the Indictment:
From June 2024 through March 2026, COLE perpetrated a scheme to fraudulently obtain at least 239 million shares from Infinite Reality, now known as Napster. As part of that scheme, COLE, and others acting at his direction, repeatedly lied to Infinite Reality about his ability to pay for the shares—fabricating bank records, creating sham correspondence, and establishing a fake website to mirror that of a foreign bank—to deceive Infinite Reality into believing that COLE had billions of dollars he was prepared to invest in the company. Based on those misrepresentations, Infinite Reality issued shares to COLE and entities he controlled. But COLE, who had no intention of paying for the shares, never invested in Infinite Reality. Instead, he used his fraudulently obtained shares as collateral to obtain or try to obtain loans from third parties, fabricated bank records to acquire still more shares of Infinite Reality based on further misrepresentations, and persisted in his efforts to deceive Infinite Reality until it ultimately rescinded the shares it had issued to COLE and his entities.
* * *
COLE, 57, of Mooresville, North Carolina, is charged with one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of USPIS and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Clayton further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney L. Heavey, David J. Robles, and Justin V. Rodriguez are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
New York City Department of Correction Captain Indicted for Extortion and Wage Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Latanya Brown with extortion and federal program funds theft. Brown is a Captain with the New York City Department of Correction (DOC). The indictment charges Brown with two counts of extortion and one count of fraudulently obtaining funds from a federally funded government agency. Brown was arrested today and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Seth D. Eichenholtz.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Nadia I. Shihata, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), announced the indictment and arrest.
“As alleged, the defendant brazenly abused her authority as a law enforcement supervisor to steal taxpayer money and terrorize her subordinates by shaking them down for money, expensive gifts, and chauffeuring her to run personal errands, including trips to a casino while she was on duty,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will vigorously prosecute corrupt government officials who betray the public’s trust, and where applicable as in this case, seek forfeiture of ill-gotten funds.”
“Captain Latanya Brown allegedly abused her rank and strongarmed her subordinates to support her lavish lifestyle. The FBI is determined to aggressively pursue and hold accountable government officials who steal American taxpayer dollars while engaging in corrupt misconduct for personal enrichment,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
“As a New York City Correction Captain, this defendant was entrusted with great authority, including over those she supervised. Instead of setting the example by upholding the highest standards of integrity and fairness, as charged, this Correction Captain allegedly used her power to extort luxury gifts, money, and personal favors from her subordinates in exchange for approving overtime, schedule changes, and vacation time,” stated DOI Commissioner Shihata. “The indictment also charges that on more than 100 occasions in 2024 and 2025 the defendant allegedly collected thousands of dollars in regular and overtime pay for hours she did not work — coming to work late and leaving her post early, including to go to a casino. I thank the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York and the New York Office of the FBI for their continued partnership in protecting taxpayer funds and holding public employees accountable.”
As alleged in the indictment, Brown has been employed by the DOC since October 2001 and has held the rank of Captain since July 2007. Between approximately July 2024 and November 2025, Brown was assigned to Rikers Island’s Facility Operations Department as a DOC supervisor. Between approximately November 2025 and December 2025, Brown was assigned to New York State courthouses located in the Bronx. As a Captain, Brown supervised other correction officers and was responsible for approving employee requests for shift-schedule changes, overtime shifts, and vacation time. In 2024 and 2025, Brown regularly threatened to withhold approvals for shift changes, overtime shifts, and vacation time requests for her officers unless they agreed to pay her money, buy luxury items for her, and/or perform personal errands for her. For example, in December 2024, Brown forced several officers to buy an expensive Louis Vuitton bag for her. When Brown made her demand, she made statements to the DOC officers implying, in sum and substance, that their shift assignments, overtime shifts, and vacation time would be in jeopardy unless they purchased the luxury item. Additionally, on numerous occasions, Brown forced officers to drive her while on duty for non-work-related purposes, such as visits to restaurants, bars, and a casino.
In 2024 and 2025, Brown received more than $250,000 in regular pay and more than $400,000 in overtime pay. However, on more than 100 occasions during this time period, Brown submitted documentation to the DOC claiming that she had worked the entirety of regular and overtime shifts, when in fact she actually arrived to work several hours late or left work several hours early on those occasions. On some occasions, when Brown left her assigned posting early, she did so to spend time at the Empire City Casino in Yonkers, New York. For example, on November 21, 2024, Brown claimed in documentation submitted to the DOC to have worked from 5:00 a.m. until 9:31 p.m. on Rikers Island. However, Brown was not at Rikers Island during the entirety of that shift and instead arrived at the casino that day at approximately 2:34 p.m. Nevertheless, Brown was compensated by the DOC as if she had worked her full shift and at least seven hours of overtime.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Brown faces up to 20 years in prison.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Grubin and Andrew Wang are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Johnson Peow.
The Defendant:
LATANYA BROWN
Age: 51
Yonkers, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-168 (MKB)
latanya_brown_indictment.pdfNew Haven Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Drug-Related Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HARRY WHITLEY, 23, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 4, 2024, Whitley, who had an active state arrest warrant and was on probation, was observed participating in a suspected drug transaction in New Haven. He was arrested a short time later in Waterbury. At the time of his arrest, Whitley possessed fentanyl, cocaine, and oxycodone; a Glock 17 9mm semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine; and a Glock-style machine gun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch.”
Whitley’s criminal history includes state felony convictions for firearm possession and larceny offenses.
Whitley has been detained since his arrest. He pleaded guilty to the offense on March 19, 2026.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the New Haven Police Department, and the Connecticut State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Lembo and Nathan Guevremont.
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.
N.J. Man Sentenced to 6½ Years in Prison for 2022 Lehigh Valley Plane Crash That Killed Student Pilot, Additional OffensesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Philip McPherson II, 37, of Riverside, New Jersey, was sentenced today to 78 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, a $5,000 fine, $4,300 special assessment, and $19,530 in restitution by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher for involuntary manslaughter and additional offenses arising from a 2022 plane crash in Lehigh County that killed a student pilot. Judge Gallagher also prohibited McPherson from working in the aviation industry.
The defendant was charged by second superseding indictment in April of last year. In October, he pleaded guilty to the involuntary manslaughter charge, as well as conspiracy to commit wire fraud, obstruction of an administrative proceeding, and 40 counts of serving as an airman without a certificate.
As detailed in court filings and statements, on September 28, 2022, McPherson took off as the pilot-in-command of a Piper-28-140 aircraft from Queen City Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with student pilot K.K. Shortly after takeoff, McPherson crashed the plane, killing K.K.
As further detailed, McPherson acted with gross negligence because he knew that he was not competent to safely fly an aircraft as the pilot-in-command.
Specifically, McPherson knew that: (1) he was not competent to safely operate the aircraft because he had two prior crashes and almost a third; (2) he failed his September 29, 2021, reexamination for his pilot’s certificate for a lack of demonstrated competence; (3) he voluntarily surrendered his pilot’s certificate on October 7, 2021, acknowledging his lack of competence; and (4) he allowed his Temporary Airman Certificate to expire on November 8, 2021, thus further acknowledging his inability to demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) his competence to fly safely.
McPherson also admitted to illegally serving as the pilot-in-command of an aircraft with passengers while not possessing an FAA pilot’s certificate permitting him to do so. These flights occurred between October 12, 2021, and September 20, 2022.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Federal Aviation Administration, and Salisbury Township (Pa.) Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert Schopf and Special Assistant United States Attorney Marie Miller.
Multi-Million-Dollar Prescription Fraud Scheme Results in Prison Sentence for Three East TennesseansRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On June 11, 2026, Barbara A. Smith, 75, of Powell, Tennessee, was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment and one year of supervised release by the Honorable Katharine A. Crytzer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Smith was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,810,878.
Judge Crytzer previously sentenced Smith’s codefendants and coconspirators Jared Grant Riddle (“Grant Riddle”), 47, of Clinton, Tennessee, and Brian M. Woods, 48, of Dandridge, Tennessee.
Both Grant Riddle and Brian Woods were sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Grant Riddle was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $8,687,531.89, and Woods was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $7,365,897.89.
As part of the plea agreements filed with the court, Smith, Riddle, and Woods each pleaded guilty to an indictment charging them with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349.
Riddle Formulary Fraud Case: Barbara Smith, Grant Riddle, Brian Woods
As set forth in plea agreements filed with the Court, from May 2018 to October 2020, United Apothecary, LLC, operated six retail pharmacies doing business as Riddle Drugs or Riddle Express Pharmacy. Grant Riddle, a licensed pharmacist, created a drug formulary that listed certain drugs, including pain creams and an oral muscle relaxer called chlorzoxazone 250 mg, based solely on their high reimbursement values. Riddle Drugs hired Woods to market the formulary to local pain clinics, including to a Knoxville-area pain clinic and primary care facility where Smith was the office manager. Woods provided stacks of blank paper formularies to Smith and the clinic’s providers. Riddle Drugs agreed to pay Woods off-the-books cash bonuses based on the volume of signed formularies he delivered to Riddle Drugs.
Woods agreed to pay Smith cash for formularies signed by the clinic’s providers. Woods and Smith then began to alter signed formularies, adding check boxes next to unprescribed medications and increasing the number of refills written on the formularies. The clinic’s patients began to complain about receiving medications in the mail that their provider had not prescribed and that they did not want, which led the clinic’s providers to suspect Smith of altering their formularies. As a result, the providers completed formularies to prevent alterations, including crossing out medications by drawing an “X” on them.
Woods and Smith then used blank formularies to create wholly forged formularies: they handwrote patient names on the formularies, marked boxes next to various medications, wrote in refills, and forged providers’ signatures—either by hand or by using a photocopy of the provider’s signature without the provider’s knowledge. Woods paid Smith in cash for Smith’s role in altering and forging the formularies.
Grant Riddle submitted, or caused United Apothecary to submit, the altered and forged formularies to drug plans and pharmacy benefits managers for reimbursement. As a result of those fraudulent claims, the drug plans and pharmacy benefits managers paid to United Apothecary approximately $7,365,897.89, including approximately $4.8 million paid by Medicare Part D. During portions of the scheme, Riddle Drugs’ Oliver Springs, Tennessee, pharmacy was the top pharmacy in the country for distribution of chlorzoxazone 250 mg.
Riddle Health Care Kickbacks Case: Ernest Riddle and Grant Riddle
In a separate case also involving Riddle Drugs, George Ernest Riddle (“Ernest Riddle”), 78, of Clinton, Tennessee, was sentenced by Judge Crytzer to 15 months’ imprisonment, two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,321,634.00.
As indicated in plea documents filed with the Court, Ernest Riddle, who owned United Apothecary and its six retail pharmacies, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to solicit, pay, and receive health care kickbacks, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371.
From July 2016 to January 2020, Ernest Riddle and his son Grant Riddle conspired with each other to pay kickbacks and bribes to out-of-state marketers in exchange for the marketers delivering signed prescriptions to Riddle Drugs. Riddle Drugs then submitted the prescriptions to Medicare Part D drug plans for reimbursement. Medicare paid approximately $1,321,634.00 to United Apothecary for the prescriptions United Apothecary acquired by paying kickbacks and bribes. As part of his plea agreement filed with the Court, Grant Riddle admitted to his involvement in the kickbacks scheme and agreed to pay restitution to Medicare Part D.
“Medicare fraud undermines the integrity of our nation’s most critical healthcare programs, which are relied upon by millions of patients, doctors, and honest healthcare professionals,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “Fraud of this kind wastes taxpayer dollars and increases the cost of healthcare for all Americans. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will relentlessly pursue those who steal from taxpayers and exploit our healthcare system for their own personal gain.”
“These sentencings underscore the serious consequences faced by individuals who exploit federal health care programs for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The Riddles’ scheme diverted valuable taxpayer funds from programs designed to support beneficiaries in need. Working closely with our law enforcement partners, HHS OIG will continue to pursue those who compromise patient trust, inflate health care costs, and undermine the integrity of Medicare.”
“Healthcare fraud undermines trust in a system that millions of Americans rely upon and costs taxpayers and consumers billions of dollars each year,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that those who exploit our healthcare system for personal gain will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice. The FBI and our partners remain committed to protecting public healthcare resources and holding fraudsters accountable.”
The criminal indictments were the result of an investigation by HHS-OIG and the FBI.
Assistant United States Attorneys William A. Roach, Jr., and Michael S. Deel represented the United States.
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.
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Montrose Man Indicted for Child Exploitation CrimeRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that George Welch, age 59, of Montrose, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of production of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on April 26, 2026, in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Welch produced child pornography.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Susquehanna County District Attorney’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
The maximum penalty under federal law for the crimes charged in the Indictment is 30 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Modesto Gang Member Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury today returned an indictment charging Bendrelle Williams, 28, of Modesto, with being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on May 17, 2026, Williams, a member of a violent Modesto street gang, possessed an assault-style rifle loaded with 50 rounds of 5.56 ammunition. Williams is prohibited from possessing ammunition because of prior felony convictions including attempted robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The Modesto Police Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney George Biko is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Williams faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
Modesto Felon Indicted for Two Charges of Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Anthony Welch, 27, of Modesto, charging him with two counts of being a felon in possession of firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Feb. 1, 2026, Welch possessed a Glock 26 handgun, and on June 2, 2026, he possessed a Glock 23 Gen4 .40 caliber handgun. Welch is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior felony conviction of assault with a deadly weapon with a firearm.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zulkar Khan is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Welch faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
Mineral County Home Center of Drug Trafficking Operation, Occupant Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Keyser, West Virginia man will spend time in federal prison for selling fentanyl and methamphetamine from his residence, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Lucas Earl Shoemaker, 35, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. The Mineral County Sheriff’s Office was investigating a complaint about suspected drug trafficking from a home on Knobley Road Keyser, West Virginia. Shoemaker was reported to be the occupant and was selling fentanyl and methamphetamine. Officers later encountered Shoemaker at a store in Mineral County and arrested him for having firearms and being prohibited because of prior felonies. A search warrant was executed on his home and investigators seized 231 grams of methamphetamine, 17 grams of fentanyl, cocaine, multiple firearms and ammunition, cash, scales, and drug paraphernalia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office investigated.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Mexican National Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national was sentenced today for Possession of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Jose Guadalupe Naranjo Cruz, 29, to 78 months' imprisonment. Upon his release, Naranjo Cruz is expected to face removal proceedings. If Naranjo Cruz returns to the United States lawfully, he would be required to register as a sex offender and would be supervised for life by the United States Probation Office.
In August 2025, Homeland Security Investigations was contacted by the United States Consulate in Mexico regarding Naranjo Cruz having an inappropriate relationship with a minor child. Agents began investigating Naranjo Cruz and discovered that he had an outstanding warrant after he had previously been ordered to leave the United States in 2024. Agents detained Naranjo Cruz and seized numerous electronic devices from his home during the investigation. On the devices, agents found 148 images and 22 videos of child sexual abuse material, including videos of minors under the age of 12 and infants being sexually abused.
Naranjo Cruz will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with the assistance of the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal 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.
Methamphetamine Supplier Sentenced to 17.5 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, Jordan Marquis Cantrell, 32, of Sherrills Ford, N.C., was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking kilogram quantities of methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
According to information in filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, from 2023 to 2025, Cantrell was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in Burke and McDowell Counties. During the investigation, investigators determined that Cantrell supplied kilogram quantities of methamphetamine to a network of local drug distributors for further distribution into the community. Law enforcement utilized an individual cooperating with law enforcement to conduct multiple drug buys with Cantrell. Court records show that, in total, Cantrell was accountable for distributing over 71 kilograms of methamphetamine, and that he used his residence to store and sell drugs.
Cantrell previously pleaded guilty to the charges, conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, on June 23, 2025. He is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, the Hickory Police Department, and the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant United States 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.
Memphis Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting Memphis Safe Task Force OfficersRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Memphis woman has been sentenced to federal prison for two counts of assault on federal officers. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
On January 8, 2026, Memphis Police Department officers assigned to the Memphis Safe Task Force conducted a traffic stop on defendant Shalond White, 43. During the encounter, officers discovered that White had an active arrest warrant out of Germantown, Tennessee. Officers asked White to exit the vehicle, and she stated "no”.
Officers then attempted to remove White from her vehicle, but she resisted. When officers opened the door of White’s vehicle, she kicked one of the officers in the thigh. White then began throwing punches and struck another officer in the shoulder. Officers were able to detain White, but during the detainment process, she spit on another officer. White was then placed into custody.
White was charged, by way of criminal information, with two counts of 18 United States Code § 111, Assaulting a Federal Officer. On April 24, 2026, White pled guilty as charged to both counts and was sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker on June 9, 2026 to twelve months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "There is no constitutional right to resist arrest, and doing so endangers everyone involved. We have zero tolerance for any assault on federal officers and will impose real consequences for such violence against those who are working to protect us every day.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Wright, of the United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, and Assistant United States Attorney Jermal Blanchard prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Lynchburg Store Owner Sentenced for Federal Food Stamp FraudRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The owner of Taste of India, a medium-sized grocery store in Lynchburg, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison on federal food stamp fraud and other charges.
Rajan Babbar, 60, pled guilty in March 2026 to one count of fraud regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program and one count of transacting in criminally derived property. SNAP was established by the United States government to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among low and middle-income families by increasing their food purchasing power and ability.
According to court documents, in 2016 Babbar filed paperwork with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for Taste of India to become a SNAP retailer. In December 2016, FNS approved Babbar’s application.
Beginning around April 2021, it is alleged that SNAP sales at Taste of India exploded from their previous levels. For example, in 2018, Taste of India was conducting an approximate monthly average of $2,600 in SNAP transactions. By 2023, the approximate monthly average was $65,000 a month, a roughly 2,500 percent increase. Between January 2019 and January 2025, the average individual SNAP transaction at Taste of India was for $115.77. By comparison, the average individual SNAP transaction among similarly sized stores statewide was $40.61.
To perpetuate the scheme, Babbar admitted that he permitted individuals to exchange their SNAP benefits for cash. Babbar rang up false transactions for non-existent food items and other products. He then provided those individuals with cash for approximately one-half the value of the SNAP benefits.
Between approximately January 2019 and January 2025, Babbar conducted numerous such fraudulent SNAP transactions in an amount determined by the Court to be $2,108,924. The Hon. Norman K. Moon, Senior United States District Judge, also ordered that Babbar forfeit more than $380,000 in seized assets and pay $2,108,924 in restitution back to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.
First Assistant United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci, Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the USDA-OIG, Northeast Region, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The USDA-OIG, FBI, and Lynchburg Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Brett prosecuted the case.
Lenexa Man Charged with Attempted Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas man was charged in federal court with attempted sex trafficking of a minor.
Curtis Ray Gibson, 47, of Lenexa, Kan., was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Gibson had his initial appearance this afternoon.
The federal complaint charges Gibson with one count of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Gibson, over the course of two days, engaged in online communications with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing online as a 15-year-old minor. During his communications with the person he believed to be a minor, Gibson arranged to meet the purported minor to engage in sexual conduct in exchange for $400.00, and also asked the purported minor to send him pornographic images. Gibson was later arrested on June 9, 2026, after he arrived at a hotel where he had arranged to meet the minor to engage in sexual conduct.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Kansas City Missouri Police Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Kyle Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on June 8, 2026.
Bryan Black Tail Deer, 57, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Black Tail Deer was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on February 12, 2026.
Black Tail Deer was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in August 1997 in United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. In February 2000, Black Tail Deer was convicted of First Degree Sexual Assault in the District Court of Sheridan County, Nebraska. Based on the nature of the convictions, he is required to register as a sex offender for life under the provisions of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
In March 2024, Black Tail Deer registered his address at Kyle, SD. He is required to update his address in May and November of each year based on his birth date. Black Tail Deer, knowing he was required to do so, did not update his address in May 2024, November 2024, or May 2025.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case.
Black Tail Deer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Justice Department Sues New Mexico Supreme Court and Board of Bar Examiners for Violating the Servicemembers Civil Relief ActRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against the New Mexico Supreme Court and the New Mexico Board of Bar Examiners, alleging that they violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by refusing to recognize the out-of-state law licenses of qualifying servicemembers and their spouses.
“The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act gives servicemembers and their spouses the right to have their covered out-of-state law licenses recognized in a state where they have relocated due to military orders,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “State supreme courts and bar associations in other states should take note of this lawsuit and come into full compliance with the SCRA immediately, or risk a lawsuit by the Department of Justice.”
“New Mexico is the proud home of four major military installations and more than 14,000 active-duty servicemembers. Our military servicemembers and their families bear great burdens to protect our Nation, including frequent moves and interruptions or barriers to employment,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison for the District of New Mexico. “In fact, spousal unemployment is a leading cause of servicemembers leaving military service and is a significant readiness and retention issue. This lawsuit highlights the fact that license portability is a critical tool for our military spouses to be able to earn a living in the manner of their choosing.”
The complaint alleges that the New Mexico Supreme Court and Board of Bar Examiners refused to allow a military spouse to practice as an attorney in New Mexico after his wife was transferred to Holloman Air Force Base. As a result, the military spouse, who is licensed to practice law in the states of Texas, Washington and Maryland, was unable to accept a higher-paying position at the Las Cruces District Attorney’s Office. The complaint also alleges that New Mexico imposes requirements on military applicants that exceed what is allowed by the SCRA, by requiring them to provide transcripts, test scores, and references and to submit to a full character and fitness evaluation.
The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $489 million in monetary relief for over 152,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
Justice Department Files Complaint Challenging Virginia Mask Ban and Identification Requirements for Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones, and Commonwealth Attorney for Fairfax, Virginia Steve Descano challenging their unconstitutional attempt to regulate federal law enforcement officers by criminally prohibiting federal officers from wearing masks, requiring individual identifiers, and functionally banning cooperative 287(g) agreements with numerous local law enforcement agencies dedicated to helping enforce this nation’s laws. Virginia Code, §§ 19.2-83.6:1, 15.2-1726.1.
Not only is the law an illegal attempt to regulate the federal government, but, as alleged in the complaint, the law threatens the safety of federal officers who have faced an unprecedent wave of harassment, doxing, and even violence. Threatening officers with prosecution for simply protecting their identities and their families also chills the enforcement of federal law and compromises sensitive law enforcement operations.
"Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day to keep Americans safe, and they do not deserve to be doxed or harassed simply for carrying out their duties," said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. "Virginia’s anti-law enforcement policies regulate the federal government and are designed to create risk for our agents. These laws cannot stand."
"Governor Spanberger cannot tell Federal officers how to do their job,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. "And she certainly cannot prohibit them from ensuring their own safety in conducting Federal law enforcement operations. Our suit today stops those unconstitutional efforts."
"The Department of Justice will steadfastly protect the privacy and safety of law enforcement from unconstitutional state laws like Virginia’s," said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
Acting Attorney General Blanche has instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal laws or impede lawful federal operations. Today’s lawsuit is the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by the Civil Division targeting illegal policies designed to thwart federal law enforcement across the country, including in Virginia, New Jersey, and California.
Justice Department Announces Final Settlement in North Dakota v. United StatesRead the Press Release
The United States disputes the District Court’s legal analysis of North Dakota’s claims and of the United States’ defenses under the Federal Tort Claims Act, but acknowledges in hindsight that, under the Obama Administration, the federal government could have done more to reduce the impacts to the people of North Dakota from the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) protests, which at times rose to the level of unlawfulness and confrontational violence.
Therefore, the United States today settled this litigation with North Dakota in the hope that all parties affected by the chaos of the DAPL protests will be able to move forward with some degree of closure. This settlement allows the United States and the State of North Dakota to resolve this matter and continue working together cooperatively in the future.
While freedom of speech and the right to peaceably assemble are bedrock principles in our constitutional order, some of the conduct that took place during the height of the DAPL protests in the summer and fall of 2016 was unlawful and not protected free speech or peaceful assembly. Throughout the DAPL protests, the people of North Dakota endured repeated acts of violence and intimidation by protestors who established encampments on federal property without permission. Vehicles were burned, private property was destroyed, public roadways were shut down, and there were clashes with local law enforcement.
To avoid further escalation of unlawful behaviors, the federal government at the time chose not to forcibly remove the protestors from the encampment on federal property. The United States recognizes that this difficult choice had painful consequences for North Dakota and many of its residents. Under President Trump, the United States is committed to protecting its citizens from lawlessness and violence masquerading as “peaceful” or “mostly peaceful” protests.
Jury finds Honduran woman guilty of transporting a Mexican national illegally in the U.S.Read the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A woman from Honduras who was accused of illegally reentering the country and transporting a Mexican national was found guilty by a federal jury today, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Following a three-day trial, Yolanda Ernestina Soto-Antunez, 41, was found guilty of being in the county illegally and transporting someone in the country illegally. Soto-Antunez faces up to five years of prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for July 9, 2026, Soto-Antunez was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Soto-Antunez was illegally transporting a Mexican national in the U.S. and that she had illegally reentered the country in 2016.
A Phillips County Sheriff’s deputy pulled over Soto-Antunez on March 6, 2026, on Highway 2 near Malta for speeding. The deputy eventually requested translation help from two U.S. Border Patrol agents after he struggled to understand Soto-Antunez’s broken English. Law enforcement learned Soto-Antunez was in the county illegally from Honduras and the passenger in her car was in the country illegally from Mexico.
Through the course of their investigation, agents found $18,000 in a duffle bag that belonged to her passenger. He told agents he was traveling to Washington to borrow an additional $12,000 from a cousin for a total of $30,000 to pay for his sister to be transported illegally into the U.S. He was told to give the money to Soto-Antunez, who would deliver it to a group in Tijuana to get his sister across the border.
Agents also learned Soto-Antunez had been previously deported from the U.S. in June 2012 and had reentered the country illegally in August 2016.
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 U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Phillip’s County Sheriff’s Office.
Jury Convicts D.C. Man of Brutally Stabbing His Romantic Partner Multiple TimesRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – James Callen, 42, of Washington D.C., was found guilty by a Superior Court jury today for charges stemming from an incident on July 13, 2024, where he stabbed his then-romantic partner multiple times, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Callen was found guilty of one count of assault with intent to kill while armed. In addition, the jury also found Callen guilty of one count of aggravated assault while armed, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and three counts of contempt. Sentencing will be scheduled before Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt.
“James Callen stabbed his girlfriend multiple times, following his previous history of physical abuse, and then from his jail cell, tried to convince his victim to take the blame for ‘accidentally’ injuring herself,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Let this verdict be a warning: if you commit violence against your partner, you will face serious consequences. If you contact that partner in violation of court orders, you will face the full wrath of this office.”
According to the government’s evidence, on July 12, 2024, Callen and the victim met at Callen’s brother’s apartment in southeast Washington, D.C., to hang out. Callen asked the victim to move in with him and became enraged when she said she didn’t want to live with him. In the early morning hours of July 13, 2024, Callen walked from the living room to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and returned to the victim. He proceeded to stab her multiple times, including slicing her neck, which lacerated her jugular vein. As the victim started to bleed out on the floor of the apartment, Callen panicked and called 911. When EMTs arrived, they immediately rushed the victim to the hospital before law enforcement arrived. When police officers arrived, Callen told them that the victim had arrived at the apartment already bleeding and injured. From September 2024 to February 2025, Callen called the victim numerous times from the D.C. Jail in violation of a court order to stay away from and have no contact with the victim. In those calls, Callen changed his story and attempted to convince the victim that she had accidentally injured herself.
During trial, the jury learned that this was not the first time Callen had assaulted the victim but instead was part of a pattern of abuse. Callen broke her leg in August 2023 and gave her two black eyes in January 2024.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Olivia Hinerfeld and Anne Cotter.
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Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice a 13-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Jerry Alexander Cobb (38, Jacksonville) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a 13-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. Cobb pleaded guilty on February 20, 2026. He was also ordered to serve a 12-year term of supervised release and to register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between July 18 and August 1, 2025, an FBI agent (UC) in Jacksonville was conducting an undercover operation on an online social media application (app) to identify adults who were seeking to make contact with and engage in sexual activity with children. During this operation, UC and app user “Jerry,” who was later identified as Cobb, exchanged several private messages on the app. After UC advised Cobb that the “child” was 13 years old, Cobb asked for the location of the “child’s” residence, whether the “child” could “sneak out at night,” and if “she” was a “virgin.”
On July 30, 2025, Cobb suggested that he and the “child” meet for sex and promised that he would use a condom. The next day, Cobb texted the “child,” “[y]es I’m serious that we can [have] sex.” On August 1, 2025, Cobb and the “child” made specific plans to meet later that day at a location in Jacksonville. Cobb took a car service from his apartment to this location to meet the purported 13-year-old “child.” Upon arrival, Cobb was arrested by FBI agents.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Iowa Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking and Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Southern District of Iowa convicted a Des Moines man today on charges related to sex trafficking and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.
“Dave Shumpert preyed on vulnerable young women, using violence, drugs, and their fears of homelessness, to profit from their exploitation,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He even continued to run his enterprise from jail, and tried to obstruct the testimony of witnesses against him. Human trafficking and preying on vulnerable victims have no place in our communities. This jury verdict will ensure that the defendant is separated from society once he is sentenced for these crimes.”
“The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa will aggressively prosecute human traffickers who exploit vulnerable victims through violence, coercion, and drug addiction,” said U.S. Attorney David C. Waterman for the Southern District of Iowa. “The defendant’s conviction — on all eight charged counts — reflects the outstanding work of federal prosecutors and law enforcement officers who relentlessly pursued justice for these victims.”
“I thank our partners at the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Homeland Security Investigations, and Des Moines Police Department for their exceptional collaboration throughout this case,” U.S. Attorney Waterman continued. “This conviction demonstrates the strength of our partnership, as well as our shared commitment to dismantling human trafficking conspiracies, holding traffickers accountable, and protecting the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
“This case represents some of the most egregious forms of exploitation — using violence, threats, drugs and weaponized addiction to force vulnerable women into commercial sex,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rick Sabatini of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City Field Office. “HSI is committed to investigating and dismantling criminal networks that profit from human trafficking and drug distribution. This conviction sends a clear message: those who prey on the vulnerable through brutality and coercion will be held accountable. We will continue to pursue justice for victims and ensure traffickers face the full consequences of their actions.”
According to court documents, witness testimony, and evidence presented at trial, Dave Shumpert III, 30, of Des Moines, Iowa, aided by his co-defendant, Haley Morrison, 30, also of Des Moines, coerced three women to perform commercial sex acts using a combination of physical force, threats of force, a coercive debt scheme, withholding of drugs, and other threats of harm. Shumpert and Morrison targeted vulnerable young homeless women struggling with drug addiction, provided them with shelter and drugs, and then used violence and other coercive means to compel the women to engage in commercial sex. Shumpert and Morrison advertised the women online, set the prices for the commercial sex acts, communicated with the sex buyers, rented hotel rooms, and kept most of the proceeds of the commercial sex acts. Electronic communication evidence between Shumpert and Morrison demonstrated that Shumpert directed Morrison on how to manage and control the victims. One of the victims testified about the physical violence Morrison employed, such as hitting a victim with closed fists and dragging her by the hair. The victims explained their fear of homelessness, drug withdrawal, and of being indebted to Shumpert.
Shumpert kept up his coercive scheme even after being arrested, placing thousands of calls to Morrison to discuss his criminal commercial sex business, and even received over $32,000 on his commissary accounts from the victims’ commercial sex proceeds. While incarcerated, Shumpert sought to intimidate and threaten a government witness by having someone outside of the jail post threatening messages on his social media accounts.
Morrison previously pled guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion on Nov. 25, 2025, and will be sentenced on July 7.
The jury convicted Shumpert of three counts of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, obstruction of a sex trafficking prosecution, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance to a person under 21, conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering. A sentencing date has not been set. Shumpert faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
HSI is investigating the case with assistance from the Des Moines Police Department.
Trial Attorney Slava Kuperstein of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Jennings for the Southern District of Iowa are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
Iola man charged for online threats that included blowing up White House and killing federal law enforcementRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old man from a small town in Grimes County has been charged for allegedly transmitting interstate threats via social media, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Authorities took Peter James Bloomfield into custody June 10 where he remains on related charges. He is expected to make his initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge in Houston in the near future.
The criminal complaint alleges authorities discovered a Texas-based X account with multiple threatening messages directed at federal law enforcement and others. The account allegedly made several posts about where the closest FBI building was, killing federal agents and others, spending money to blow up the White House and negative comments about America. Bloomfield is linked to that account, according to the allegations.
Law enforcement also allegedly identified a Facebook account in Bloomfield’s name that used the same profile image as the X account which posted additional threats against federal agents and notable figures. The charges further allege the Facebook account included comments about making a hit list and who would be on it during a Fox News broadcast of a recent Senate floor hearing.
According to the complaint, Bloomfeld was angry and had researched explosives and their effect on demolishing a building.
A federal search warrant allegedly resulted in the discovery of over 20 firearms and a significant amount of ammunition.
If convicted, Bloomfield faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The FBI - Bryan Resident Agency conducted the investigation with the assistance of Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office; Secret Service; and Grimes County Constable’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Indictment Unsealed Charging Two Individuals with Distribution of Methamphetamine and One of the Two with Murder for HireRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An indictment unsealed today charges two individuals with distribution of methamphetamine and one of the individuals with a related murder for hire, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
A six-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Joshua Cole Rasberry, 34, and Donald Paul Sheets, 38 — both of Birmingham, Alabama — with distribution of methamphetamine. Rasberry was also charged with murder for hire, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and use and carry of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence. The alleged incidents occurred in January 2026, in Jefferson County, Alabama.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan S. Cross and Kristy M. Peoples are prosecuting the case.
An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Illegal alien sentenced for sexual exploitation of a child after communicating on social mediaRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 24-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for producing child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Erasmo Alexandro Rodriguez-Estrada pleaded guilty Dec. 2, 2025.
U.S. District Judge John Kazen has now sentenced Rodriguez-Estrada to 188 months. At the hearing, the court considered additional information including letters detailing the psychological harm the victim has suffered. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted the seriousness of the crime and its consequences. Rodriguez-Estrada will also be ordered to register as a sex offender and will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Restitution will be determined at a later date. Not a U.S. citizen, he is also expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
The investigation began May 19, 2025, when authorities discovered the whereabouts of a minor previously reported as a runaway. Upon discussion with the young female, law enforcement observed multiple hematomas, commonly known as a hickey, on her neck and learned she had spent the previous night with Rodriguez-Estrada.
Rodriguez-Estrada indicated he sent the minor a friend request on social media before their sexual involvement. Authorities seized his electronic device and uncovered five videos of the two engaging in sexual acts. The investigation revealed Rodriguez-Estrada knew the victim’s age at the time of the encounters.
Rodriguez-Estrada is a citizen and national of Mexico who had been previously removed from the United States in December 2024 and illegally resided in Laredo.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Lopez prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Husband and Wife Plead Guilty in International Property Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO –Victor Hugo Villalobos Almazan and his wife, Nayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez, Mexican nationals who entered the U.S. on tourist visas, pleaded guilty in federal court today to bank fraud charges, admitting they participated in a conspiracy to fraudulently sell homes they did not own and launder approximately $1 million in proceeds.
According to the plea agreement, conspirators posed as legitimate property owners and used fraudulent documents to sell real estate they did not own to unsuspecting buyers. They then routed the proceeds from the illegal sales through bank accounts controlled by the defendants.
To carry out the scheme, the defendants’ co-conspirators created email addresses that closely resembled those of the legitimate property owners and used them to market properties they did not own to unsuspecting buyers, the plea agreement said. By conducting transactions entirely through email, they avoided meeting buyers in person and concealed their identities.
Once a sale was arranged, the defendants’ co-conspirators used forged property transfer documents that falsely appeared to bear the property owner’s signature, allowing ownership of the property to be fraudulently transferred to the unwitting buyer. Villalobos and Montoya admitted they opened bank accounts using business names similar to those of the legitimate property owners and used those accounts to receive the illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sales before transferring the money abroad.
Specifically, Villalobos and Montoya admitted they lied to open bank accounts to facilitate the illegal sales of homes at 3873 36th Street and 555 Hollister Street in San Diego. The plea agreement said the defendants received:
- $400,748.41 of illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sale of 3873 36th Street. In April 2023, Montoya transmitted nearly the entire amount of money to bank accounts in Mexico.
- $561,463.25 of illicit proceeds from the fraudulent sale of 555 Hollister Street. Upon receipt, Villalobos withdrew all the money by international wire transfers to accounts in Mexico and Jordan, and in cash withdrawals.
The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on September 4, 2026, at 9 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Dana M. Sabraw.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Beeler and David Kete.
DEFENDANTS Case Number 25-CR-4686-DMS
Victor Hugo Villalobos Almazan Age: 48 Mexico
Nayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez Age: 48 Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Bank Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $250,000 fine
Bank Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1344(2)
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
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.
Hudsonville Man Sentenced for Possessing and Transferring Machinegun Conversion DevicesRead the Press Release
ATF Recovered Seven “Switches” from Ethan Carter’s Home, Including One Installed on a Pistol
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that Ethan Carter, age 18 of Hudsonville, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for possession and transferring a machinegun. In imposing sentence, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker observed that he had “seen a lot of carnage on the street from conversion devices,” and noted that the sentence had to account for deterring not only Carter but others who might be drawn toward the same conduct.
“Selling machine gun conversion devices is like selling sticks of dynamite,” said U.S. Attorney VerHey. “We know from sad experience that it’s only a matter of time before they kill someone. That’s why we prosecute these cases no matter who we catch doing it. We don’t know for sure how many of these devices Carter sold, but he bragged about selling a hundred of them. I hope he was lying about that. But even if he transferred less than that, his conduct was incredibly dangerous to the rest of us.”
In June 2025, Carter gave a machinegun conversion device to another person. When installed on a semiautomatic gun, a machinegun conversion device, often called a “switch,” allows the weapon to shoot automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single pull of the trigger. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) executed a search warrant at Carter’s home several weeks later and found approximately six additional machinegun conversion devices, as well as a Glock pistol with a machinegun conversion device installed.
Carter pleaded guilty to one count of possession and transfer of a machinegun on February 11, 2026. Although the advisory sentencing guidelines called for 24 to 30 months, Judge Jonker granted a partial variance, weighing Carter's age among the relevant factors. In addition to the 15-month prison term, Carter will serve two years on supervised release.
“Ethan Carter chose to make a quick buck selling an illegal machine gun conversion device in another state and it almost cost him his life. He essentially knowingly risked his future when he clearly chose to possess and distribute devices that turn pistols into illegal machineguns. Those were not youthful mistakes—they were reckless decisions that threatened public safety across this nation,” said James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Detroit Field Division. “If you traffic in machinegun conversion devices, expect ATF to identify you, track you down, and hold you accountable.”
This case was investigated by ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Roth and Constance Turnbull.
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.
Guatemalan human smugglers admit to roles in 2021 mass casualty event in Chiapas, MexicoRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas - Two foreign nationals have pleaded guilty to human smuggling charges related to the crash of a tractor-trailer packed with at least 160 illegal aliens which resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people, including unaccompanied children, and injured over 100 more.
Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, 43, and Alberto Marcario Chitic, 32, both of Guatemala, acknowledged that they conspired with other smugglers to transport illegal aliens, both adults and unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States. Canil De Zavala, Chitic and others recruited Guatemalan aliens, collected payment, and arranged for the aliens to travel by foot, inside microbuses, cattle trucks, and tractor-trailers.
Aliens paid Canil De Zavala and Chitic and their co-conspirators to be smuggled to the United States. In some cases, Canil De Zavala, Chitic and their co-conspirators provided scripted language to unaccompanied minors for their use if U.S. immigration authorities apprehended them.
During the conspiracy, on Dec. 9, 2021, Canil De Zavala, Chitic and others arranged for the aliens they were smuggling to the United States to be loaded into a tractor trailer that was to transport them through Mexico. The vehicle ultimately crashed north of the Guatemala/Mexico border near Tuxtla Guiterrez, Chiapas, Mexico, resulting in deaths and serious bodily injury.
“The defendants ran a calculated alien smuggling operation that moved people across borders like a supply chain—recruiting them in Guatemala, collecting their money, and packing them into cattle trucks and tractor-trailers for a dangerous journey through Mexico,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “This was an organized, profit-driven network that even handed scripts to children so they could lie to law enforcement if caught entering the United States. That operation ended with the loss of more than 50 lives on a Mexican roadside, and today’s convictions make clear that the Southern District of Texas will work to shut down these networks at every level.”
“This tragic event shows that human smugglers do not care about the illegal aliens they come in contact with and transport despite the numerous risks, including extreme heat and dangerous travel conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duvan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This defendant and her co-conspirators maximized their profits by packing more than 100 men, women, and children into a tractor trailer, which ultimately ended in an accident that claimed the lives of 56 people.”
“This case highlights Homeland Security Investigations’ unwavering commitment to dismantling transnational criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit. This horrific tragedy, which claimed dozens of lives, underscores the urgent need to combat human smuggling,” said HSI Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon. “The successful prosecution of these smugglers reflects the dedication of our agents and the coordinated efforts of our domestic and international partners to safeguard our borders and uphold the rule of law.”
Canil De Zavala and Chitic pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring and attempt to bring an illegal alien into the United States, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injury and resulting in death. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has set sentencing for Sept. 9. At that time, Ramos faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Canil De Zavala, Chitic and three other Guatemalan nationals: Daniel Zavala Ramos, 41, Tomas Quino Canil, 37, and Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, 25, were extradited from Guatemala in 2025 to face charges. U.S. authorities arrested an additional Guatemalan national illegally present in the United States, Jorge Agapito Ventura, 33, at his residence in Cleveland in December 2024. Ramos entered a guilty plea in April. The others are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
HSI’s Counter Proliferation Investigations Group in Washington D.C. conducted the investigation in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; HSI Houston; HSI Laredo; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions. Guatemalan prosecutors from the Office of Public Ministry and Mexican prosecutors from the Republic of Mexico’s Federal Prosecutions Office, with the support of law enforcement officials from both countries, were also instrumental in furthering the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Lou Castillo and Jennifer Day are prosecuting the case along with Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha, the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking cartels and transnational criminal organizations commit. A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s HRSP Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section; Office of International Affairs and Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 458 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 408 U.S. convictions; more than 357 significant jail sentences imposed and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is also 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.
Guatemalan Human Smugglers Admit to Roles in 2021 Mass Casualty Event in Chiapas, MexicoRead the Press Release
Two foreign nationals have pleaded guilty to human smuggling charges related to the crash of a tractor-trailer packed with at least 160 illegal aliens which resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people, including unaccompanied children, and injured over 100 more.
“This tragic event shows that human smugglers do not care about the illegal aliens they come in contact with and transport despite the numerous risks, including extreme heat and dangerous travel conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This defendant and her co-conspirators maximized their profits by packing more than 100 men, women, and children into a tractor trailer, which ultimately ended in an accident that claimed the lives of 56 people.”
“The defendants ran a calculated alien smuggling operation that moved people across borders like a supply chain — recruiting them in Guatemala, collecting their money, and packing them into cattle trucks and tractor-trailers for a dangerous journey through Mexico,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “This was an organized, profit-driven network that even handed scripts to children so they could lie to law enforcement if caught entering the United States. That operation ended with the loss of more than 50 lives on a Mexican roadside, and today’s convictions make clear that the Southern District of Texas will work to shut down these networks at every level.”
“This case highlights Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) unwavering commitment to dismantling transnational criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable individuals for profit,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John Condon. “This horrific tragedy, which claimed dozens of lives, underscores the urgent need to combat human smuggling. The successful prosecution of these smugglers reflects the dedication of our agents and the coordinated efforts of our domestic and international partners to safeguard our borders and uphold the rule of law.”
Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, 43, and Alberto Marcario Chitic, 32, both of Guatemala, acknowledged that they conspired with other smugglers to transport illegal aliens, both adults and unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States. Canil De Zavala, Chitic and others recruited Guatemalan aliens, collected payment, and arranged for the aliens to travel by foot, inside microbuses, cattle trucks, and tractor-trailers.
Aliens paid Canil De Zavala and Chitic and their co-conspirators to be smuggled to the United States. In some cases, Canil De Zavala, Chitic and their co-conspirators provided scripted language to unaccompanied minors for their use if U.S. immigration authorities apprehended them.
During the conspiracy, on Dec. 9, 2021, Canil De Zavala, Chitic and others arranged for the aliens they were smuggling to the United States to be loaded into a tractor trailer that was to transport them through Mexico. The vehicle ultimately crashed north of the Guatemala/Mexico border near Tuxtla Guiterrez, Chiapas, Mexico, resulting in deaths and serious bodily injury.
Canil De Zavala and Chitic pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring and attempt to bring an illegal alien to the United States, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injury, and resulting in death. They will be sentenced on Sept. 9 and each will face a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Canil De Zavala, Chitic and three other Guatemalan nationals: Daniel Zavala Ramos, 41, Tomas Quino Canil, 37, and Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, 25, were extradited from Guatemala in 2025 to face charges. U.S. authorities arrested an additional Guatemalan national illegally present in the U.S., Jorge Agapito Ventura, 33, at his residence in Cleveland, Texas, in December 2024. Ramos entered a guilty plea in April. The others are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
HSI’s Counter Proliferation Investigations Group in Washington D.C. investigated the case in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; HSI Houston; HSI Laredo; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions of the defendants. Guatemalan prosecutors from the Office of Public Ministry and Mexican prosecutors from the Republic of Mexico’s Federal Prosecutions Office, with the support of law enforcement officials from both countries, were also instrumental in furthering the investigation.
Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Lou Castillo and Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean, and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 458 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 408 U.S. convictions; more than 357 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is also 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
GoodFellas Gang Members Sentenced to Federal Prison for Crimes of Violence, Firearms Offenses, and Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Five members of the GoodFellas criminal street gang, four of whom were convicted felons, have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking, armed robbery, and firearms offenses.
“These gang members maimed children in a drive-by shooting, beat and robbed a man, introduced poisonous drugs into a state prison, trafficked cocaine, and unlawfully possessed firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “We will continue to partner with federal and local law enforcement to dismantle the GoodFellas gang and prosecute its members who engage in violence or traffic drugs in our community.”
“Violent gangs like the Goodfellas terrorize local communities and threaten everyone’s safety,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI and its local, state, and federal partners will remain relentless in the fight to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent criminal organizations.”
“Violent gangs that engage in shootings, armed robberies, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses have no place in our communities,” said Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum. “These sentences send a clear message that individuals who use violence and intimidation to further criminal enterprises will be brought to justice. We are proud of the collaborative work with our federal and local partners that helped secure these outcomes and make Atlanta safer for our residents.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: The GoodFellas is an Atlanta-based gang that primarily recruits members in Atlanta neighborhoods as well as jails and prisons within Georgia. The gang generates money through, among other criminal activities, drug trafficking, robbery, carjacking, fraud, and firearms trafficking. The gang protects its operation, turf, and reputation through violence and threats of violence.
This week, three GoodFellas gang members were sentenced after pleading guilty to federal crimes tied to their gang activity. Additionally, two other gang members were sentenced previously, and a sixth gang member is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
De’Andre Jackson
On January 17, 2021, Jackson and other armed members of the GoodFellas gang drove to an Atlanta apartment complex, where they intended to shoot a woman who they believed was not loyal to their gang. Jackson and the others discharged multiple firearms—striking the intended target, her 6-year-old son, and a 14-year-old child—after the mother and son walked to a mailbox to retrieve their mail. The intended target was shot more than six times; her son was shot three times, including in the abdomen and knee; and the 14-year-old victim was shot in the ear. Approximately 50 shell casings were recovered from the scene. Each victim survived.
Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Geraghty sentenced De’Andre Jackson, also known as “Gen,” “Glock,” and “Glizzy,” 23, of Clarkston, Georgia, to 15 years and six months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Jackson was convicted of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence after he pleaded guilty on March 9, 2026.
Trayvon Hawkins
On April 17, 2024, Hawkins went to a relative’s home in Atlanta, Georgia and struck a man there in the head with a firearm. During the attack, two additional males arrived, kicked down the front door, and joined in attacking the victim. Before leaving, Hawkins stole a backpack from the victim that contained narcotics. During a later search of Hawkins’s residence in Atlanta, law enforcement agents found four firearms that Hawkins was prohibited from possessing due to his violent criminal history.
Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen sentenced Trayvon Hawkins, a/k/a “Baby Cold World” and “Freeze,” 27, of Atlanta, Georgia, to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Hawkins was convicted of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence after he pleaded guilty on February 24, 2026.
Daquan Cosby, Jerrell Rucker, Bentorrey Moore, and Tavarus Beard
On August 3, 2023, Cosby and a co-conspirator, Jerrell Rucker, used a drone to drop contraband into Telfair State Prison from a nearby car. After law enforcement attempted to stop the vehicle, Cosby and Rucker sped off, and a chase ensued. When the vehicle hit a ditch, Cosby and Rucker fled on foot. Rucker was apprehended but Cosby escaped. A search of the vehicle revealed a drone and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. During a subsequent search of Cosby’s residence in Decatur, Georgia, law enforcement agents arrested Cosby and recovered a dozen firearms and a kilogram of cocaine that belonged to co-defendants Bentorrey Moore and Tavarus Beard, who were both convicted felons prohibited from possessing firearms.
On June 8, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Leigh Martin May sentenced Daquan Cosby, 28, of Decatur, Georgia, to nine years in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. Cosby was convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after pleading guilty on November 7, 2024. Chief Judge May previously sentenced Rucker to 10 years in prison and Moore to 5 years in prison. On February 17, 2026, Beard pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, and felon in possession of a firearm. His sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 13, 2026.
All of these cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Renaud. Additionally, Trial Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section prosecuted the Jackson case, and the Atlanta Police Department investigated the Hawkins case.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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.
Four Individuals Arrested for Conspiracy to Commit Identity Theft, Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, Social Security Misuse, Aggravated Identity Theft and Forced LaborRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On June 10, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a 21-count indictment charging six individuals with conspiracy to commit identity theft, wire fraud, bank fraud, social security misuse, aggravated identity theft, and forced labor. The following agencies partnered with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate the case and execute the arrests today: Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), with the collaboration of the U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the United States Secret Service.
According to court documents, defendants
- Josué A. Marrero-Otero (fugitive)
- Yesenia Marrero-Collazo (arrested)
- Anthony Marrero-Rosario (arrested)
- Vivian D. Marrero-Ginés (arrested)
- José A. Vilorio-Figuereo (arrested)
conspired with each other and a sixth defendant (not identified publicly or arrested) to produce and transfer identification documents, authentication features and false identification documents including, Puerto Rico birth certificates, social security cards, and Puerto Rico driver’s license, that appeared to have been issued by or under the authority of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and were in and affected interstate commerce, knowing that such documents and features were stolen and produced without lawful authority. As noted above, defendant Josué A. Marrero-Otero remains a fugitive from justice.
To execute the fraudulent scheme, defendant Anthony Marrero-Rosario produced the documents with identifying information belonging to real individuals, provided them to his brother Josué A. Marrero-Otero who knowingly transferred and used the falsified documents to fraudulently apply for bank loans with Bank A and Bank B using the stolen identities. Marrero-Otero and his partner Yesenia Marrero-Collazo forced vulnerable victims to fraudulently apply for bank loans with Bank A and Bank B using the stolen identities; and along with defendant Vivian D. Marrero-Ginés forced vulnerable victims to fraudulently apply for lines of credit with Bank C and Bank D and retail stores, using the stolen identities. The defendants obtained approximately $114,559.49 in money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.
Josué A. Marrero-Otero and Yesenia Marrero-Collazo are facing one count of forced labor. From September 2023 through December 2023, these defendants forced Victim-1 through threats of physical violence to submit false information using false and fraudulent identification documents to obtain commercial credit and property for the benefit of Marrero-Otero and Marrero-Collazo.
Defendant José A. Vilorio-Figuereo participated in the conspiracy and knowingly transferred false identification documents by mail to the continental United States.
“Financial fraud is one of the largest challenges facing American citizens and businesses today. Prevention and prosecution of crimes of this nature will remain a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said United States Attorney, W. Stephen Muldrow. “The defendants took advantage of vulnerable victims and used them to get loans and credit lines fraudulently, to enrich themselves. We understand there may be more victims, so if you suspect you could be one, or know about other victims, please contact HSI at (787) 729-6969 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).”
“Today’s arrests demonstrate HSI San Juan’s steadfast commitment to protecting our communities from those who exploit the most vulnerable for financial gain,” said Yariel Ramos, HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge. “This criminal organization not only stole identities and defrauded financial institutions, it preyed on people experiencing homelessness and coerced them into participating in its schemes. Thanks to the outstanding collaboration between our federal, state, and local partners, we have dismantled a dangerous network and sent a clear message that those who engage in identity theft, document fraud, and forced labor will be aggressively investigated and brought to justice.”
"In this case vulnerable individuals were exploited through identity theft, fraud, and coercion for personal gain," said Carlos R. Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's San Juan Field Office. "The FBI remains committed to protecting our communities from those who seek to profit by manipulating and victimizing others, and we will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who seek to enrich themselves through fraud, and the victimization vulnerable members of our communities.” The defendants will make their initial court appearances today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mariana Bauzá-Almonte of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a mandatory consecutive sentence of at least two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft charges. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa D. Bonano-Rodríguez from the Social Security Administration is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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