Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
5 June 2026
Jury finds previously convicted felon guilty of 3 armed robberiesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A federal jury found a previously convicted felon guilty of seven federal robbery and firearms charges.
James Lockridge, 40, of Cincinnati, committed three armed robberies in February 2024.
“Lockridge fired shots during each robbery, endangering lives and terrorizing the workers and customers in the gas stations he robbed,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “My Office will not tolerate such violence in our communities. We will continue to aggressively prosecute—and win trials against—defendants like Lockridge. Thank you to the prosecutors and investigators on this case for their excellent work.”
The verdict was announced today following a trial that began on June 1 before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole.
According to court documents and trial testimony, on Feb. 5, Feb. 10 and Feb. 21, 2024, Lockridge robbed a Cincinnati Marathon gas station. The first and third armed robberies occurred on Gilbert Avenue and the second robbery took place on Montgomery Road.
At each of the robberies, Lockridge was masked and brandished the same silver firearm. He fired his weapon and pointed it at store clerks. He also wore the same boots during each robbery and fled on foot towards a nearby apartment complex after the first and third robberies.
Lockridge was arrested 11 minutes after the third robbery. Officers discovered the firearm in his waistband.
After his arrest, officers located the boots, gloves and other clothing items used during the robberies, as well as a cash register, in and around the space where Lockridge had been residing.
As a previously convicted felon, Lockridge is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Lockridge was convicted of three counts of robbery, three counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence and one count of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces up to 20 years in prison for reach robbery and an additional 10 years in prison for using a firearm during the robberies. Illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) announced today’s verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley N. Brucato and Danielle E. Margeaux are representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Jury Finds Former Sacramento Man Guilty for Knowingly Misusing Money Stolen from a School DistrictRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a four-day trial, a jury found former Sacramento resident, William A. Sassman, 58, guilty of knowingly engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to the evidence at trial, in September 2019, the Tukwila School District in Washington mistakenly wired more than $6.5 million into Sassman’s bank account. District employees were duped into sending the funds to Sassman’s account instead of the account of a legitimate construction contractor.
Sassman then used part of the stolen funds to buy two luxury watches — a Patek Philippe for $195,000 and a Richard Mille for $318,324 — plus other personal items. After the school district discovered the fraud and reported it to Sassman’s bank, the bank froze Sassman’s account and informed Sassman that it had been funded with fraudulent proceeds. Even after knowing the money was stolen, Sassman resold the watches and deposited the resulting checks into an account at another bank in Sacramento.
“The evidence at trial showed that after being told by his bank that this money didn’t belong to him, Sassman nevertheless chose to spend it on high-end watches rather than return it to its rightful owner,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Today’s verdict demonstrates that those who knowingly profit from stolen funds will be held accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Veronica M.A. Alegría and Zachary B.L. Malinski are prosecuting the case.
Sassman is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins on Sept. 25, 2026. Sassman faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or up to twice the amount of the laundered money. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
Joplin Man Charged with Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo. man was charged in federal court for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Andre E. Swindell, 41, was charged in a one-count criminal complaint and had his initial appearance in federal court this morning.
The complaint alleges that officers with the Joplin Police Department located firearms connected to Swindell while executing search warrants at his residence in connection with a homicide investigation on Feb. 28, 2026.
The charges contained in this indictment 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 Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Joplin, Missouri Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Jacksonville Serial Robber Convicted by Jury for Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – A federal jury has found John Flowers Grissom (55, Jacksonville) guilty of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and possession of an unregistered, short-barreled rifle without a serial number. Grissom faces a minimum of 15 years, and up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 30, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
Grissom was initially charged by criminal complaint on November 20, 2024.
According to evidence presented at trial, on September 30, 2024, three young men were playing basketball in Jacksonville when one of them discovered he had lost his keys. While retracing his steps, the young man encountered Grissom and asked whether Grissom had seen his keys. Later, as the young man circled the block in a vehicle, they observed Grissom hiding outside of his residence with a short-barreled rifle equipped with a red laser. As the young men drove by Grissom’s residence, Grissom pointed the short-barreled rifle at the young men.
Fearing for their lives, the young men called the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) and provided officers with detailed physical descriptions of Grissom, his residence, and his firearm. JSO officers responded to the residence in an attempt to make contact with Grissom. Upon arriving at the residence, the officers observed Grissom’s window lit up from inside and observed his door quickly open and shut. The officers proceeded to bang on his door and window and announced their presence outside. For more than two hours, Grissom pretended not to be home.
Ultimately, Grissom exited the home and was arrested. When interviewed, Grissom stated that he was on heavy medication and did “it” because he was scared due to recent robberies in his neighborhood. A lawful search of his residence was conducted, and officers located rifle ammunition in Grissom’s toilet, an upper receiver for an AR15-style rifle underneath the covers of his bed, and the lower receiver and stock for the rifle inside a hole in his box spring. A bolt carrier and ammunition magazine were found in the trash. The barrel of the rifle measured approximately 8.5 inches, subjecting it to regulation under the National Firearms Act (NFA). A search of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record revealed that the firearm was not registered to Grissom. The firearm had been privately made and did not bear a serial number as required under the NFA. As an eleven-time convicted felon, Grissom is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
The jury further found that Grissom had three or more convictions for robberies that were committed on different occasions, thus subjecting him to an enhanced penalty as an Armed Career Criminal.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and Rick Lasseter.
Iranian national pleads guilty in scheme to smuggle military related technology to Iran via ChinaRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 44-year-old citizen of Iran pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to federal felonies related to his scheme to violate trade sanctions against Iran, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Reza Dindar, aka Renda Dindar was indicted by the grand jury in August 2014. Dindar was arrested in Panama in July 2025 at the request of the United States. Dindar was extradited to the U.S. in April 2026. Today he pleaded guilty to two counts of export to an embargoed country and two counts of smuggling goods from the United States. U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez scheduled sentencing for August 28, 2026.
According to records filed in the case, the smuggling in this case violates sanctions against Iran imposed by the President’s Executive Order in March 1995 and reimposed in 2001. The orders prohibit the unauthorized exportation, re-exportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran; as well as the exportation or supply of goods, technology, or services to persons in third countries knowing or with reason to know that the goods, technology or services are intended for supply, trans-shipment, or re-exportation to Iran.
According to the plea agreement, between 2010 and 2014, Dindar managed a business called New Port Sourcing Solutions in Xi’an, China. The company hid the fact that it was procuring items in the U.S. for companies in Iran. It fraudulently claimed the goods were destined for China. In 2011 and 2012, Dindar and his coconspirators used deception to purchase parts for three military sonar systems from a business in the Western District of Washington. Dindar and his coconspirators claimed the systems would be used by a company in China. In fact, the plan was to ship the parts through China to Iran in violation of export controls.
Dindar pleaded guilty to two counts of export to an embargoed country and two counts of smuggling goods from the United States.
Export to an embargoed country is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Smuggling goods from the U.S is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security - Office of Export Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is being prosecuted by assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Panama to secure the arrest and extradition from Panama of Dindar. Significant assistance was provided by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
Illegal alien admits to exploiting fraudulent U.S. citizenship to access restricted offshore oil platformsRead the Press Release
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A 52-year-old Mexican national unlawfully residing in the United States in Brownsville has pleaded guilty to using a stolen identity to fraudulently obtain an official permit to access offshore oil platforms, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Ezequiel Escamilla Martinez admitted he was born in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and not a U.S. citizen born in Brownsville.
From Sept. 23, 2022, to Feb. 12, 2025, he used the false identity to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential card granting access to offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of America as well as a Texas driver’s license and U.S. passport.
Martinez used the fraudulently obtained passport to cross the U.S.-Mexico border more than 80 times from 2024 through 2025.
“For years, Martinez deliberately exploited a fraudulent American identity to gain access to restricted offshore oil platforms, a U.S. passport, and a driver’s license—privileges reserved for lawful residents of this country,” said Marck. “This was a calculated scheme carried out with complete disregard for the American citizens whose livelihoods were put at risk and the security of our offshore facilities, which he had no legal right to enter. Those who abuse our immigration system to fraudulently obtain federal credentials and access our sensitive infrastructure will face the full force of federal prosecution in the Southern District of Texas”
“The Coast Guard Investigative Service remains steadfast in its mission to protect the integrity of critical infrastructure and uphold federal security regulations,” said Special Agent in Charge Damon J. Youmans, CGIS. “Following a comprehensive investigation, CGIS agents apprehended the individual responsible for fraudulent activity involving access to a federally regulated facility. We are grateful for the collaboration of our partners at the Department of Justice throughout this process and look forward to the continued prosecution of these cases to ensure the security and safety of our nation’s infrastructure.”
Sentencing is set for or Aug. 26. At that time, Martinez faces up to eight years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
CGIS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Honduran National Sentenced to Six Months Imprisonment After Guilty Plea to Illegal Entry into United StatesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –MAYCOL JAVIER CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ (“CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ”), age 21, a native of Honduras, was sentenced on June 4, 2026 to six (6) months imprisonment by U.S District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown after pleading guilty to illegal entry into the United States, and avoidance of examination and inspection by U.S. immigration officials, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1325(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ, an illegal alien, was ordered removed from the United States on January 8, 2026 by an immigration judge in New Orleans. On April 15, 2026, at approximately 7:00am, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers located CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ in a vehicle in Tangipahoa Parish. Officers attempted to apprehend and arrest CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ but he accelerated his vehicle away from the officers, eventually disembarking and barricading himself inside a trailer residence in Tangipahoa Parish for over 13 hours. Immigration enforcement officers then acquired a signed criminal Complaint and Search Warrant, entered the residence and arrested CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Rick Veters, of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
Homeland Security Task Force Case Results in 30-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Oklahoma Drug TraffickerRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – An Oklahoma man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 360 months in prison for trafficking cocaine from Mexico into the United States, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. The Homeland Security Task Force investigation was led by ICE Homeland Security Investigations.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jordy Alexander Amaya, 28, approached the Eagle Pass Port of Entry on Sept. 16, 2024. During an inspection of his vehicle, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered approximately 1.9 kilograms of cocaine. Testimony during the trial revealed Amaya had ties to a Texas-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributes methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. Records also indicate that Amaya previously crossed into the U.S. in a known DTO vehicle in 2022 and 2023.
Amaya was indicted in October 2024 on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of conspiracy to import cocaine, and one count of importation of cocaine. He was convicted of all four counts after a jury trial concluded on August 27, 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Warsame Galaydh and William Golden prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Border Patrol; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety; as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
###
High-Speed Pursuit Leads to Nine-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Lawton Man Fleeing with Methamphetamine and FirearmRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – CEDRIC MICHAEL VOS, 31, of Lawton, has been sentenced to serve 108 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and illegal possession of a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on May 16, 2025, officers with the Lawton Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Vos on SW 16th Street. Vos refused to stop and a high-speed pursuit ensued, during which Vos weaved in and out of traffic, ran stop signs, sped through residential areas, and endangered numerous motorists before jumping out of the vehicle while it was still in drive and running into a field. Officers stopped the vehicle, and after a brief foot pursuit, arrested Vos. More than 18 grams of methamphetamine was recovered from Vos’s person and a stolen, chamber-loaded firearm fitted with a 30-round magazine was found inside the vehicle.
Public records further reflect that Vos has prior felony convictions in Comanche County District Court, including convictions for possession of a firearm after previous adjudication and unlawful possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in Case No. CF-2012-505, and possession of a firearm after previous adjudication in Case No. CF-2013-164.
On July 16, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Vos for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Vos pleaded guilty on September 15, 2025, and admitted that he knowingly possessed methamphetamine that he intended to distribute and possessed a firearm despite his prior felony convictions.
At a sentencing hearing on June 4, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Vos to serve 108 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the need to promote respect for the law and the defendant’s history of repeated acquisition of firearms in spite of his prohibited status.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lawton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Greece woman sentenced for her role in retail theft ring involving hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen merchandiseRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Amanda L. Reeves, 43, of Greece, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced to serve 42 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Reeves was also ordered to pay $92,903.34 in restitution to various retailers, including Best Buy, Home Depot, Kohls, Lowes, Macy’s, Target, and Walmart.
Between December 2021, and October 17, 2024, Reeves conspired with others to engage in an ongoing retail theft conspiracy involving the New York Gold Diamond Pawn Shop (NYGDPS). The pawn shop was owned and operated by co-defendant Dominic Sprague and managed by co-defendant James Civiletti. Reeves and her co-conspirators stole new-in-box items from store shelves on a weekly, and sometimes daily, basis. They then sold the stolen goods to the pawn shop for a fraction of the actual retail value. The pawn shop then resold the stolen merchandise on eBay at much higher prices, resulting in significant profits. The pawn shop purchased 37,936 stolen new-in-box items from Reeves and the others on more than 670 occasions, for which Reeves and the others were paid $290,000.00. The actual losses to the victim-retailers were approximately $1,160,000.00.
In addition, Reeves unlawfully used an ID belonging to another person to engage in transactions at NYGDPS. She recklessly created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person in the course of fleeing from law enforcement while the scheme was ongoing. Specifically, in 2019 and 2024, Reeves led police on high-speed car chases, which police discontinued because of the threat that the defendant posed to other motorists.
Dominic Sprague and James Civiletti were previously convicted.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle P. Rossi. The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Harry T. Chavis, Jr., the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Ryan Parina, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter.
# # # #
Former Kokomo Police Department Officer Convicted of Sexually Assaulting Minor, Lying to Investigators, and Destruction of RecordsRead the Press Release
After a five-day trial, a federal jury in the Southern District of Indiana convicted Sinmi Asomuyide, 33, a former Kokomo Police Department officer today of charges related to his on-duty sexual assault of a 14-year-old and related obstruction.
“Police officers are entrusted with extraordinary authority and responsibility to protect the public. The defendant’s reprehensible actions betrayed that trust,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This verdict sends a clear message: officials who abuse their power and violate the constitutional rights of children will be held accountable.”
“While this administration strongly supports the men and women of law enforcement who are steadfastly committed to making our communities safe, we will not tolerate those who abuse the powers entrusted to them,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas Wheeler II for the Southern District of Indiana. “The defendant used those powers to sexually abuse a 14-year-old girl and then lied and destroyed evidence to cover up his crimes. The jury saw through his lies and held him accountable for his crimes,”
“The defendant used his position of trust and the appearance of assistance to isolate and assault a child, then took steps to obstruct the investigation by destroying records and lying to law enforcement. These actions reflect a complete disregard for the law, the victim, and the public trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue justice for victims and hold offenders fully accountable.”
In particular, jurors found Sinmi Asomuyide, 33, guilty of willfully depriving the victim, who was then 14 years old, of her constitutional rights by sexually assaulting her. The jury found that the defendant’s conduct included kidnapping and abusive sexual contact of a child under the age of 16.
Jurors also found Asomuyide guilty of lying to the Indiana State Police in attempt to cover up the assault by denying having sexual contact with the victim and lying about the presence of other corroborating evidence. Jurors also found Asomuyide guilty of deleting a messaging application he had been using to communicate with the minor victim prior to the sexual assault in attempt to cover up the assault.
Asomuyide faces up to life in prison at sentencing.
The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Blackett for the Southern District of Indiana and Senior Sex Crimes Counsel Tara Allison are prosecuting the case.
Five Men Plead Guilty to Distributing Large Quantities of Child Sexual Abuse Material on Peer-to-Peer NetworksRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – This week, five men pleaded guilty to distributing thousands of violent and sadistic child sexual abuse material (CSAM) across peer-to-peer networks.
“The relentless pursuit of child sex predators is one of the FBI's top priorities,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “Victimization and abuse of our most vulnerable, our community's innocent children, is unacceptable. Through initiatives such as Project Safe Childhood, we are committed to identifying, investigating, and bringing to justice anyone who violates federal laws designed to protect our children.”
- On June 1, Andrew Padilla, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network more than 4,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Padilla admitted that he possessed about 160 images and videos depicting sadistic or masochistic, including infants and toddlers and children under the age of 12. Padilla pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
- On June 1, Jimmy Franklin Dearman, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network approximately 239 files of child sexual abuse material and distributing at least 39 of the files. Additionally, he admitted to possessing over 1,600 images and 242 videos of child sexual abuse material depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct of infants and toddlers, and children under the age of 12. Dearman pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
- On June 5, James Donovan, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material at least 11 times with other users and channels of the social media application Discord. Donovan admitted that he also transported child sexual abuse material to an Amazon Cloud account using the internet. He also possessed about 70 printed images and over 50,000 digital images and videos of child sexual abuse material depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence, infants and toddlers, and prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Donovan pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography, 20 years for the transportation of child pornography, and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
- On June 5, Randall William Rushton, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download, on two separate occasions, over 600 total images and videos of child sexual abuse material for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network. He also admitted that he possessed over 11,000 images and videos depicting sadistic or masochistic, including infants and toddlers and children under the age of 12. Rushton pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
- On June 5, Travis Ehlers, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to making available for download by other users of a peer-to-peer network more than 500 images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Ehlers admitted that he possessed approximately 13,420 images and about 1,784 videos of child sexual abuse material depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence, infants and toddlers, and prepubescent minors under the age of 12. Ehlers pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The statutory maximum penalty is 20 years for distribution of child pornography and 20 years for possession of child pornography.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting these cases.
These cases are a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
###
Five Massachusetts and Rhode Island Men Indicted for Operating Cross-State Drug Dispatch Network That Flooded New Hampshire with Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, in New Hampshire Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
Five Massachusetts and Rhode Island Men Indicted for Operating Cross-State Drug Dispatch Network That Flooded New Hampshire with Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, in New Hampshire Homeland Security Task Force Investigation
CONCORD – Five men have been indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation for their roles in a 30-month cross-state drug trafficking conspiracy that targeted Manchester and Seabrook communities with more than three pounds of methamphetamine and more than a half kilogram of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Reimon Pena Rodriguez, 34, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Hansel Rodriguez Arias, 41, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; Johan Peguero Santana, 25, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; Arismendy Paulino Paulino, 37, of Lawrence, Massachusetts; and Yomar Mercedes Medina, 36, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Pena Rodriguez was originally charged by complaint and has been in federal custody since his arrest on April 2, 2026. Rodriguez Arias and Peguero Santana are in New Hampshire state custody on related charges. Paulino Paulino and Mercedes Medina have not yet been arrested.
According to the charging document and statements made in court during prior related proceedings, from September 2023 through April 2026, Pena Rodriguez ran a drug dispatch network using six dedicated phone lines to accept narcotics orders and direct co-conspirators Rodriguez Arias, Peguero Santana, Paulino Paulino, and Mercedes Medina to complete street-level drug sales at prearranged locations in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Law enforcement conducted numerous undercover purchases from the organization during the course of the investigation, seizing more than three pounds of methamphetamine and more than a half kilogram of fentanyl.
The charge against the defendants carries a penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, at least 5 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $10,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
DEA and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is prosecuting the case.
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 New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
Five Atlanta Men Arrested on International Firearms Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Five Atlanta men, including a U.S./Jamaican dual citizen, have been charged with numerous offenses involving the alleged trafficking of hundreds of stolen firearms to the Caribbean.
“These defendants allegedly perpetrated a multi-year crime spree in the city of Atlanta—breaking into vehicles and stealing guns—to source firearms to be smuggled out of our country, fueling violence overseas,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thanks to the collaboration between a wide range of federal law enforcement agencies through our Homeland Security Task Force and the Atlanta Police Department, the trafficking ring allegedly responsible for these crimes has been dismantled.”
“This multi-agency operation underscores HSI’s commitment to combat the illegal trafficking of firearms and protect our communities both domestically and abroad,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. We will continue to pursue transnational criminal networks who threaten public safety and violate U.S. laws, wherever they operate.”
“Among ATF’s top priorities is ensuring that firearm traffickers are aggressively investigated and swiftly brought to justice. This investigation is an excellent example of multiple partner agencies working collaboratively to achieve outstanding results,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Atlanta Field Division.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is devoted to defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. We remain steadfast in our resolve to seek justice to the end and to keep communities safe,” stated Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division. “This goal is achieved through collaborative investigative efforts with fellow law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: On April 2, 2025, HSI and CBP agents at Miami International Airport interdicted a package destined for Georgetown, St. Vincent. The package contained three 9mm pistols, which had not been declared as required by law, hidden in a package containing a queen air mattress. One of the three handguns was reported stolen on March 1, 2025, in Atlanta.
A multi-agency investigation conducted by HSI, ATF, and U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security special agents, USPIS inspectors, and Atlanta Police Department officers revealed that the stolen handgun seized at the Miami airport was one of dozens of guns taken during a rash of car break-ins and burglaries allegedly perpetrated by Lorenzo Harris-Brown, D’Anthony Varner, and Albert Brown in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Harris-Brown, Varner, and Brown allegedly broke into scores of vehicles, stole the vehicles’ contents, including firearms, and provided the stolen firearms to Sanchaz Turner. After receiving the guns, Turner allegedly contacted Andre Lalor to sell the firearms. A court-authorized search of Turner’s cell phone allegedly led to the discovery of text messages between Turner and Lalor in which Turner sent Lalor photographs or descriptions of more than 350 firearms. After acquiring firearms from Turner, Lalor allegedly tried to send those guns to contacts in the Caribbean and Canada, but several of Lalor’s alleged shipments were intercepted, resulting in the seizure of dozens of stolen weapons.
On May 27, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Andre Lalor, a/k/a “Plug Dre,” 48, of Conyers, Georgia, and Sanchaz Turner, a/k/a “Chezz,” 20; D’Anthony Varner, 23; Lorenzo Harris-Brown, 21; and Albert Brown, 21, all of Atlanta, Georgia, with conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking, trafficking in firearms, possession of stolen firearms, and dealing in firearms without a license. The indictment also charged Lalor with attempted smuggling goods from the United States, failure to notify a common carrier, and failure to file electronic export information. Andre Lalor, Sanchaz Turner, and Lorenzo Harris-Brown appeared in federal court last week following their arrests, and Albert Brown was arraigned yesterday. D’Anthony Varner will be arraigned at a later date.
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 Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Atlanta Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Smith and Jamil Favors are prosecuting the case.
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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
For 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.
First week of June brings 291 charged in relentless border enforcement actionsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – The Southern District of Texas has filed 285 cases in immigration and border security-related matters from May 29-June 4, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Of those charged, 79 people face illegal entry charges, while another 179 allegedly reentered the United States after prior removal. Many have felony convictions involving narcotics trafficking, violent crimes and immigration offenses. An additional 27 people face charges of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining six cases are related to other immigration offenses.
Among the new matters are three men from various countries, all charged with felony reentry into the United States after removal.
Authorities allegedly found Guatemalan national William Perez-Perez and Mexican national Edgar Guadalupe Cruz-Velasco in the McAllen area without legal authorization to be in the United States. According to the criminal complaints, both had been previously removed April 17 and April 19, respectively. Perez-Perez has a prior conviction for battery on law enforcement, while Cruz-Velasco was convicted of first degree assault and battery.
Law enforcement also allegedly discovered Honduran national Osman Adalid Soto Benites near Progreso after he was removed Oct. 31, 2025. Court records reflect he has a prior conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.
Another illegal alien charged in a separate case is Mexican national Rafael Pineda-Ruiz. According to the complaint, authorities removed him in September 2005. The charges allege Pineda-Ruiz has a prior conviction for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Law enforcement allegedly discovered him near Roma without legal authorization to be in the country.
If convicted, all four face up to 20 years in prison.
In addition to the new cases, Mexican national Cruz Alberto De La Garza pleaded guilty to harboring illegal aliens in a Laredo stash house under dangerous conditions that resulted in the death of an individual. The investigation began after two illegal aliens were dropped off at an emergency room, one of whom was pronounced dead. Authorities later discovered 30 additional illegal aliens in a tractor-trailer’s sleeper compartment and determined they had been housed in extreme heat with little to no air conditioning, limited food and water and inadequate ventilation. He faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
A federal jury in Corpus Christi found a mother and daughter guilty of human smuggling. Evidence showed Enedelia Garcia and Ashley Garcia drove the illegal alien through the Border Patrol checkpoint near Kingsville. The illegal alien later testified he had been smuggled into the United States and expected the pair to transport him to Houston. The jury saw evidence Ashley Garcia texted a friend during the smuggling event and said “not to ask” about her trip to Houston. Both women face up to 10 years in federal prison.
The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, BP, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Federal grand jury indicts Jamestown man on narcotics conspiracy chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Joseph Fontanez Walker, 35, of Jamestown, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, which carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a 10,000,000 fine.
According to the indictment, between 2019 and January 2022, Fontanez Walker conspired with others to sell fentanyl and heroin in the Jamestown area.
Fontanez Walker was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and is being held pending a detention hearing on June 8, 2026.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of 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 Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Emergency Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti. The indictment is the result of an investigation by Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
# # # #
Federal Prosecutors Add Nearly 300 New Immigration Cases in Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 297 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from May 29 to June 4, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for numerous DWIs, violent crimes and unlawful carrying of weapons, thefts, sex crimes, and multiple prior removals.
In Austin, illegal alien Hilario Benitez-Mondragon was charged with illegal re-entry after being found in the Travis County Jail. According to publicly available Travis County court records, in May, he was convicted of second-degree felony sexual assault and sentenced to 10 years deferred adjudication in Travis County’s 299th District Court. He was previously removed from the U.S. to Mexico in 2014.
Of the nearly 300 new cases, 172 were filed in Del Rio, including an illegal re-entry charge against Neptaly Reyes-Reyes, an illegal alien from Honduras. U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended Reyes-Reyes near Eagle Pass and discovered that he has been previously deported three times, the last being on March 14, 2025, through Louisiana. Reyes-Reyes is a convicted felon with a criminal record that includes multiple petit theft convictions, third degree grand theft, illegal re-entry, and cocaine possession.
Miyagui Maclen Aleman Herrera, also an illegal alien from Honduras, was arrested near Eagle Pass on May 30 after being deported for the third time on Feb. 25. Aleman Herrera was previously convicted of indecency with a child by exposure and sentenced in Harris County to two years in prison.
An illegal alien from Nicaragua was also arrested by USBP agents near Eagle Pass. Jimmy Jose Mena-Aleman has been convicted of multiple felonies in Miami, Florida, including carrying a concealed weapon robbery, burglary of a motor vehicle/grand theft, and aggravated battery. He was deported for the second time on Sept. 5, 2024.
In San Antonio, Adolfo Lopez-Alcaraz aka Adolfo Lopez was encountered at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center following his arrest for unlawful carrying of a weapon. Lopez was convicted on May 29 and subsequently transferred to ICE custody on June 1. Lopez now faces a federal charge of illegal re-entry. He was previously removed from the U.S. in November 2019.
Illegal alien from Mexico, Jorge Jesus Cuellar-Ortiz, was charged in El Paso with fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents after he allegedly presented a Texas driver’s license bearing the personal information and photo of another person at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges Cuellar-Ortiz told the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer that he was an El Paso-born U.S. citizen who was traveling to work construction after visiting family in Mexico. According to the complaint, further inspection resulted in Cuellar-Ortiz admitting his true identity as a Mexican national. The complaint also alleges he had previously lived illegally in the U.S. for 21 years. Cuellar-Ortiz’s criminal record contains two DWI convictions.
Florentino Soto-Esquivel aka Florentino Escobar, an illegal alien from Mexico, was charged with illegal re-entry in Austin. Soto-Esquivel has been removed from the U.S. only one time, but has been previously convicted of assault and four DWIs.
In Austin, illegal alien Hilario Benitez-Mondragon was charged with illegal re-entry after being found in the Travis County Jail. According to publicly available Travis County court records, in May 2026, he was convicted of second-degree felony sexual assault and sentenced to 10 years deferred adjudication in Travis County’s 299th District Court. He was previously removed from the U.S. in 2014.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
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.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Federal Jury Convicts Pennsylvania Man for Making Death Threats Against Chief Executive Officer of Tampa General HospitalRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Lawrence Brunn (63, Pennsylvania) guilty of cyber harassment. The defendant faces a maximum of five years in federal prison. His sentencing will be set at a later date. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Brunn began harassing J.C., the CEO of Tampa General Hospital, at least as far back as 2022. Brunn’s online harassment increased in frequency and intensity over the last two years. Brunn’s threats called for the execution of J.C. and frequently referred to J.C.’s beheading utilizing a guillotine. In one post from April 9, 2025, Brunn stated that J.C. “should have his head chopped off” and further stated that J.C. “should be scared…of we the people.” In addition to online postings, Brunn also sent mailings to J.C.’s private residence, as well as J.C.’s neighbors’ residences, and members of the Board of Trustees for Tampa General Hospital.
This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.
FBI Special Agent selected as WDNY 2026 Hometown HeroRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that FBI Special Agent Randall Garver has been awarded the 2026 Hometown Hero award for the Western District of New York.
The Hometown Hero award commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. It honors the enduring ideals of Liberty, Service, and Civic Responsibility. This award is dedicated in recognition of a steadfast commitment to these ideals and an embodiment of the spirit upon which our Nation was founded.
“Special Agent Garver is relentless and tireless in his work on behalf of the most vulnerable members of our community, our children,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “He has been a trusted law enforcement partner to the WDNY for many years and has garnered the universal respect of every Assistant U.S. Attorney that he works with. Special Agent Garver is truly a ‘Hometown Hero.’”
Special Agent Garver is head of the Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) Squad. From securing evidence and obtaining search warrants, to assisting prosecutors through litigation, he spends an enormous amount of time ensuring that justice is served. But, in addition to building a successful case, Special Agent Garver is unrelenting in his care for victims, staying in constant contact with victims and their families, earning their trust, and guiding them through a very difficult process. Special Agent Garver is a graduate of West Point and a combat veteran. He spends a great deal of his free time volunteering for veteran organizations and as a youth athletics coach.
The Hometown Hero Award is presented to individuals who have made significant and measurable contributions to preserve and/or improve their community.
For more information on Freedom 250 and the Hometown Hero award, go to https://freedom250.org/.
# # # #
Daleville Resident Receives 35 Year Prison Sentence for Role in Large‑Scale Methamphetamine and Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott of the New Orleans Field Division announced that a Daleville, Alabama man has been sentenced for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization operating in Alabama’s Wiregrass region.
On June 3, 2026, Eric Demetrius King, 42, was sentenced to 420 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. King will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This case demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement work together,” said United States Attorney Thomas Govan. “Our partners played a critical role in dismantling this drug trafficking network, and we will continue working side by side to combat the flow of illegal narcotics into the Middle District of Alabama.”
"Today's announcement reflects the tireless dedication of investigators who spent years unraveling a sophisticated network responsible for trafficking vast quantities of meth and cocaine into Alabama,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge John P. Scott. “With the organization's leader facing 35 years in federal prison, and 18 additional defendants being held accountable, we have dealt a substantial blow to drug trafficking in the Wiregrass region. The DEA New Orleans Field Division remains deeply committed to keeping our communities safe and ensuring that those who profit from the illicit drug trade face the full weight of federal justice."
According to court documents, in the spring of 2022, DEA, working in coordination with multiple local law enforcement agencies, began investigating a suspected drug trafficking operation in southeast Alabama. Investigators determined that at least 19 individuals, including King, were part of a conspiracy responsible for transporting and distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine into the Wiregrass.
During the investigation, agents identified King as a major participant who exercised a leadership role within the conspiracy.
To date, eight of King’s co-conspirators have been sentenced:
• Marco Lionel Agee, 51, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida – 276 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Curtis Antonio Fitzpatrick, 44, of Elba, Alabama – 151 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Alexander Travarez Richardson, 34, of Daleville, Alabama – 135 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Cristion Martinez, 32, of Ellenwood, Georgia – 120 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Steven L. Cole, 50, of Enterprise, Alabama – 97 months in prison; four years of supervised release
• Benjamin Maurice Sanders, 51, of Chancellor, Alabama – 78 months in prison; five years of supervised release
• Tavon Marquis Davies, 30, of Enterprise, Alabama – 48 months in prison; four years of supervised release
• Freddy Rodriguez, 68, of Daleville, Alabama – 15 months in prison; two years of supervised release
Sentencing hearings for the remaining ten defendants are pending.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Eufaula Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, the Dothan Police Department, the Geneva Police Department, the Dale County Sheriff’s Office, the Geneva County Sheriff’s Office, theOkaloosa County, Florida Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Chelsea Wilson is prosecuting the case.
Company Ordered to Pay $500,000 Criminal Fine for Violating Asbestos Regulations in MichiganRead the Press Release
Note, the press release has been updated to include a quote from EPA.
Applied Partners LLC was sentenced today to pay a $500,000 fine and complete a two-year term of probation for the company’s illegal handling of regulated asbestos containing material (RACM) at a site in Saginaw, Michigan.
The company had previously pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act’s asbestos work practice standards for its role in demolishing a structure in 2019. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer or noncancerous conditions like asbestosis.
According to court documents, Applied Partners acquired a defunct industrial site in Saginaw in 2018 with the intention of demolishing and scrapping structures on the property before reselling it. In fall 2019, despite knowing that RACM remained in a structure called the Power House, Applied Partners directed another company to begin demolition.
Between about Sept. 19 and Oct. 24, 2019, employees of the company performing the demolition used heavy machinery to break apart brick walls and to pull down at least one large facility component covered in RACM from the upper floors of the structure. The demolition was done in violation of numerous asbestos work practice standards. Demolition ceased once regulators performed sampling and informed Applied Partners that it would need to perform remediation of remaining RACM before demolition could continue.
“Applied Partners knowingly disregarded asbestos work practice standards designed to protect human health,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Today’s sentence demonstrates that public health is among our highest priorities, and we will prosecute those who violate environmental laws.”
“By demolishing an old industrial site with intentional disregard of the asbestos at the site, Applied Partners exposed workers to hazardous asbestos fibers. The asbestos regulations and work practice standards protect Americans from cancer and other harm from asbestos,” said EPA’s Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This prosecution and sentencing shows that companies that profit off of exposing American workers or communities to hazardous air pollutants will be held accountable.”
The EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, Environmental Investigation Section, assisted with the investigation.
Trial Attorney Rachel Roberts of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Hemann for the Eastern District of Michigan, and EPA Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel Samuel Cardick prosecuted the case.
Columbia Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Federal Prison for Guns and DrugsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Christopher Kentrell Jones, 33, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted four controlled purchases of cocaine and two controlled purchases of firearms from Jones at a residence on Colleton St. in Columbia. During one of the purchases, Jones sold both a firearm and approximately one ounce of cocaine in a single transaction. A grand jury indicted Jones for charges related to the controlled purchase, and when members of the ATF and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department arrested Jones on that indictment, he was found in possession of 125 oxycodone pills and approximately 1 ounce of crack cocaine.
While Jones was in custody on his federal charges, he used phone calls and messages to recruit a coconspirator to continue to traffic cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana on his behalf from his residence in Columbia. ATF executed a search warrant on Jones’ residence and found approximately 1 ounce of crack cocaine, 5 ounces of cocaine, 22 ounces of marijuana, and five firearms.
Jones has prior convictions for possession of crack cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Christopher Jones to 148 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.###
Collin County man arrested and charged in the Eastern District of Texas with making threats against the President of the United StatesRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A Collin County man has been arrested and charged in the Eastern District of Texas with making threats against the President of the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Ronnie “Chip” Austin, Jr., 56, of Allen, was charged in a criminal complaint with making threats against the President of the United States and transmitting threats in interstate commerce. Austin was arrested on June 4, 2026, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Aileen Goldman Durrett on June 5, 2026.
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, to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Rapp.
A federal indictment or complaint is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Chiropractor and Former CEO Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A Puerto Rican chiropractor pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return related to his use of an illegal tax shelter.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Stuart Bernsen, formerly of Westmont, Illinois, was the former CEO and co-founder of a company that managed a network of over 50 chiropractic clinics across the Midwest. Bernsen paid to establish an illegal tax shelter, which he used to conceal income through a series of abusive trusts and a fraudulent charitable foundation. From 2019 through 2021, Bernsen used this tax shelter to avoid paying nearly $1.3 million in tax.
The tax shelter was designed to make it appear as if Bernsen had permanently transferred to his trusts and charitable foundation his ownership interest of various business entities, including his chiropractic business. In reality, Bernsen maintained control of the chiropractic business and other business entities, and he continued to benefit from the income they generated. Bernsen used the trusts to make various personal purchases, including personal residences, credit card bills, a luxury vacation and a boat. Bernsen also filed false tax returns for the trusts, erroneously claiming that his personal purchases were tax-deductible expenses related to the administration of the trusts.
Bernsen pleaded guilty to one count of willfully filing a false tax return.
Bernsen is scheduled to be sentenced on October 2 and faces a maximum of three years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros for the Northern District of Illinois made the announcement.
IRS-CI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Boris Bourget and Mahana K. Weidler of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
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.
Camden County Pharmacist Charged with Illegally Dispensing Oxycodone; Wife Charged with Making False Statements on Naturalization ApplicationRead the Press Release
CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County pharmacist was charged in an indictment with unlawfully distributing oxycodone, and his wife was separately charged in a criminal complaint with making false statements on her naturalization application, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
According to the indictment, Charles Suh, 63, was a pharmacist at a pharmacy in Voorhees, New Jersey. On 15 occasions between June and November 2021, Suh illegally dispensed oxycodone based on prescriptions that he knew or should have known were forged.
According to the criminal complaint in a separate case, So Yong Suh, 62, who is the wife of Charles Suh, applied to become a United States citizen by submitting an application for naturalization (an “N-400”). An N-400 requires the applicant to swear under penalty of perjury that the information she provided in the application is complete, true, and correct. In her N-400, Mrs. Suh falsely claimed that she had never been arrested or convicted of a crime when, in fact, she had been arrested at least four times. In addition, Mrs. Suh falsely stated that she had never provided any false or misleading information to the United States when, in fact, she failed to disclose a civil suit settlement in her bankruptcy proceeding. Her bankruptcy proceeding was dismissed because she had failed to disclose the settlement.
Charles Suh and So Yong Suh made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Skahill in federal District Court in Camden on May 27, 2026. If convicted of unlawfully dispensing a controlled substance, Charles Suh faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment per count. If convicted of making false statements, So Yong Suh faces a maximum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James; and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy, with the investigations.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane in Camden.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment and the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
###
ssuh.complaint.pdf csuh.indictment.pdfBuffalo man pleads guilty to gun possessionRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Nazir Binhuguley, 24, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of life.
On May 6, 2025, law enforcement executed the search warrant at Binhuguley’s Trent Square apartment, seizing three firearms, ammunition, a high-capacity pistol magazine, drug paraphernalia, a quantity of suspected fentanyl, and approximately $2,165 in cash.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 28, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara.
# # # #
Buffalo man going to prison on cocaine chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.–U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Rodney Pierce, 38, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.
In February 2020, investigators with the Erie County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit identified Pierce as an individual who delivered cocaine for co-defendant David Burgin. Law enforcement then set up a controlled purchase of cocaine from Pierce, at which time he was arrested. A subsequent search of his vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,250 grams of cocaine. Investigators then searched a Grimes Street residence associated with the drug dealing activities, seizing four firearms and ammunition, approximately two kilograms of cocaine, approximately 45 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 17.5 pounds of marijuana, approximately 100 grams of fentanyl, approximately $260,000 in cash, and drug paraphernalia.
David Burgin was previously convicted and sentenced.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of 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 Buffalo comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Emergency Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Diplomatic Security Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy C. Lynch and Evan K. Glaberson. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Erika Shields, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Brendan Dunford, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Anthony Patrone.
# # # #
Bristol Man Sentenced for Attempted Murders of ATF AgentsRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – John Caleb Allen, 26, of Bristol, Florida, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for two counts of attempted murder of a federal agent; two counts of forcibly assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon; two counts of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; two counts of transfer of a machinegun; possession of an unregistered or unmarked silencer; and making a false statement to a federal firearm licensee. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The case exemplifies the incredible danger our brave men and women in law enforcement face as they keep our communities safe from violent offenders like this defendant. The bravery of these ATF agents is matched only by the incredible professionalism with which they acted when they came under withering fire from the defendant. As the substantial sentence imposed on this defendant shows, attacks on law enforcement will be prosecuted by my office to the fullest extent of the law.”
Evidence at trial demonstrated that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) had been investigating the defendant for the illegal sale of machine gun conversion devices (MCDs). On June 3, 2025, ATF used a confidential source to purchase a firearm and a MCD from the defendant. One June 23, 2025, ATF used a confidential source to purchase 13 MCDs and two firearms from the defendant. Officers watched the defendant pick up the two firearms he sold to the confidential source from a federal firearms licensee (FFL), where he lied on ATF Form 4473. Based on their investigation, ATF obtained a federal search warrant for the defendant’s house.
While attempting to execute the search warrant, the defendant fired at the ATF agents approximately 14 times as they approached his front door. One of the officers had a bullet pass through his shirtsleeve and another officer was struck by a bullet in his body armor, but neither was seriously injured. Without returning fire, agents were able to get the defendant to peacefully exit the residence with his hands up several minutes later.
Agents located numerous firearms, including an unregistered firearm silencer, during the residential search.
“This investigation revealed extreme criminal behavior deserving of a steep penalty,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “Florida residents are much safer with violent criminals like this individual in federal prison.”
Liberty County Sheriff Dusty Arnold said: “This sentence sends a clear message that violence against law enforcement officers will not be tolerated. Every day, law enforcement officers at the local, state, and federal levels put their lives on the line to protect our communities. In this case, ATF agents came under gunfire while simply carrying out their sworn duties, yet they responded with incredible professionalism, restraint, and courage.
I am grateful that no officers lost their lives during this incident and commend the ATF, DEA, and all agencies involved for their outstanding work throughout this investigation. The Liberty County Sheriff's Office was proud to assist in this case, and we remain committed to standing alongside our law enforcement partners to ensure violent offenders are held accountable for their actions.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case.
“The men and women in law enforcement serve daily to protect our communities, state, and nation. Attacks on law enforcement officers, like the one committed in this case, will not be tolerated.” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass “The safety of our law enforcement brothers and sisters is essential to our families, communities, visitors, and the great state of Florida.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Boston Man Sentenced for Threatening a Federal Law Enforcement OfficerRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for threatening a federal law enforcement officer.
Kenneth Pacheco, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to 16 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2028, Pacheco pleaded guilty to one count of threatening a federal law enforcement officer. Pacheco was arrested and charged in October 2025.In May 2025, law enforcement received a tip from an anonymous complainant alleging that an individual using the online moniker “Amir Haqqani” was using a Facebook account to make threats against the complainant and other individuals. In response, Pacheco was interviewed by law enforcement. In July 2025, a relative of Pacheco expressed concern that Pacheco may pose harm to himself and in response law enforcement spoke with Pacheco again. On Oct. 7, 2025, Pacheco responded to these interventions by lashing out with threats aimed at friends, acquaintances and a federal agent. Specifically, Pacheco threatened that people would “get hurt,” that he would “put people in the [] hospital” and that he would “blow” the agents “brains out.”
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Looney of the National Security Unit prosecuted the case.
Billings man sentenced to more than 11 years in prison on drug trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Billings man who tried to collect a package from the post office with 6,000 carfentanil pills hidden inside a stuffed animal was sentenced today, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Timothy Christopher Payne was sentenced to 140 months in prison with five years of supervised release on one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He was also sentenced to 48 months in prison on one count of using a communication facility in a felony act related to a controlled substance. The two sentences will run concurrently.
Payne, 39, pleaded guilty in February 2026 to the two counts.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that a suspicious package addressed to Payne’s residence on Lewis Avenue in Billings held just over a pound of carfentanil that Payne intended to traffic.
On Oct. 17, 2025, the U.S. Postal Service flagged a package as suspicious that had been mailed to a “George Pina” but addressed to a residence associated with Payne. Investigators filed for a search warrant to open the package and as they waited for approval Payne arrived at the post office to pick up the parcel, using the name George Pina.
The day before, a mail carrier had attempted to deliver the package to Payne’s residence but it was too large to fit in his mailbox. The carrier continued on with her route and a few minutes later Payne flagged her down and attempted to retrieve the package. The carrier told him he would have to pick it up at the post office, which is what Payne tried to do the next day.
At the post office Payne was told the package had yet to arrive and so he left his phone number, requesting a call once it was ready for pickup. In the meantime investigators received their warrant and opened the package. Inside they found a stuffed animal that concealed a baggie of approximately 6,000 blue pills marked “M 30.” Technicians tested the pills, which together weighed approximately 575.6 grams or 1.2 pounds, and found they contained carfentanil, a synthetic fentanyl analogue.
Agents then called Payne and told him his package had arrived. Payne returned to the post office, picked up his parcel and walked back outside. Agents at that point arrested him, to which Payne responded repeatedly, “I knew you guys were here. I knew you guys were coming.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The United States Postal Inspection Service, Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and the Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
Asheville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Assault with Intent to Commit Murder and Firearms Offenses on the Blue Ridge ParkwayRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – James Tyler Lynch, 23, of Asheville, was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release last Thursday, for assault with intent to commit murder and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence stemming from a shooting incident that occurred on the Blue Ridge Parkway, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
“The Blue Ridge Parkway is a treasured place where families should feel safe,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “The federal government has a special interest in the safety of our national lands, and this 20-year sentence makes clear that violence will not be tolerated. I very much appreciate the National Park Service for all they do, but particularly for keeping our national lands as the peaceful sanctuary they should be.”
“The National Park Service’s Investigative Services Branch has a dedicated team of special agents who partner closely with the Department of Justice, working tirelessly to protect victims and ensure justice is served. America’s National Parks are some of the most extraordinary and pristine places in the country, but crimes can still occur. This sentencing reflects our agents’ unwavering commitment to pursuing justice when they do,” said Neil Gardner, Chief of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, National Park Service.
According to court documents and court proceedings, on May 29, 2024, Lynch met the victim at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in Asheville. Lynch brought with him a loaded Kahr Arms, Model P380, .380 caliber pistol which he had concealed from the victim. After a brief conversation, Lynch told the victim they would give the victim a ride. Lynch instructed the driver of the vehicle to drive to Blue Ridge Parkway, while Lynch and the victim rode as passengers. Near milepost 399 along the Parkway, Lynch told the driver to pull off the roadway onto a dirt pullout, where Lynch told the victim to get out of the car. As the victim was walking away Lynch fired at least six shots seriously injuring the victim. After shooting the victim, Lynch and the driver fled the scene.
Court documents show that rangers responded to reports of a gunshot victim lying in the roadway. When they arrived, rangers found the victim who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, hand, and pelvis. The victim was taken to the hospital and treated for permanent and life-threatening bodily injuries he sustained as a result of the shooting. Special Agents with the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch investigated the case that ultimately led to Lynch’s arrest.
Lynch will remain in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex M. Scott of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.
Arrests, Drug Seizures, and Federal Drug Trafficking Charges Surge in San Francisco Through Coordinated Federal-Local Law Enforcement EffortsRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners announced today the results of a surge in federal drug enforcement measures in San Francisco. Between early October 2025 to the end of May 2026, coordinated federal and local law enforcement efforts resulted in the seizure of over 2.2 kilograms of fentanyl, over 840 grams of methamphetamine, over $38,000 in drug proceeds, and approximately 89 arrests in San Francisco. Over the same period, the U.S. Attorney’s Office brought federal criminal charges against more than 40 defendants for drug trafficking in San Francisco.
“There are some problems that cannot be solved alone and this was one of them. San Francisco’s open-air drug markets were rending the fabric of the city, but working together with our federal, state, and local partners we have made significant progress cleaning up the streets of our great city and we will continue this important work. We owe the people who live and work here nothing less,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “As we come off a successful Super Bowl and look forward to welcoming the world for FIFA, we hope that visitors will see what our citizens already know that our city and region are stronger and safer than ever.”
“The DEA is proud of our relationships with our federal, state, and local task force officers. These partnerships provide a force multiplier in the fight against Drug Trafficking Organizations to save American lives, “ said DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris.
“The FBI remains fully committed to working side by side with our federal, state, and local partners to disrupt the criminal networks responsible for bringing dangerous drugs into our community. These results demonstrate what we can accomplish when we combine our authorities, intelligence, and resources toward a shared mission. Every arrest and every seizure represents a meaningful step toward improving the safety and well being of the people of San Francisco, and we will continue this coordinated effort with urgency and resolve,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble.
“Selling and using deadly narcotics in San Francisco will never be tolerated, and the San Francisco Police Department will continue to work closely with our federal partners to crack down on illegal drug markets across our city,” said SFPD Chief Derrick Lew. “I want to thank our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the DEA for their close partnership in this vital work. While we have more work to do, today’s announcement shows the progress San Francisco is making in taking major quantities of drugs off our streets and holding traffickers accountable.”
Many of the federal cases recently charged or resolved involve large quantities of drugs and carry mandatory minimum sentences for the offenders under federal drug statutes. Examples include:
- Kiet Ly, 46, of San Francisco, who was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 9, 2025. Ly pleaded guilty on December 10, 2025, to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B) and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition as a felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), as well as to related supervised release violations. According to the plea agreement, on or about July 19, 2025, law enforcement searched the car that Ly was driving in San Francisco and found 117 grams of methamphetamine and a Glock pistol loaded with seven bullets. Ly was sentenced to ten years in federal prison on May 14, 2026.
- Martha Alvarado Rodriguez, 50, and Solis Soto Alvardo, 35, both from Oakland, who were each charged by information with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). According to court documents and proceedings, Rodriguez and Alvardo sold fentanyl to undercover police officers on more than one occasion in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. A search of their car found 73.9 gross grams of fentanyl, 33.5 gross grams of methamphetamine, and 16.2 grams gross of cocaine base. Rodriguez and Alvardo pleaded guilty on November 5, 2025, and were each sentenced to three years in federal prison on April 22, 2026.
- Andy Cruz, 40, of Oakland, who was charged on January 29, 2026, by a superseding information with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(B) and failure to appear in court as required. According to court documents and proceedings, Cruz had been selling drugs in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco and elsewhere since 2008. An earlier search of his home discovered nearly one kilogram of fentanyl, 76 grams of heroin, and 25 grams of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison on March 25, 2026.
These efforts expand upon the U.S. Attorney’s Office-led “All Hands on Deck” law enforcement initiative to address endemic drug dealing – in particular of fentanyl and methamphetamine – in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. Since its inception, the initiative has resulted in over 200 federal drug prosecutions and over 160 convictions, with cases still pending.
The recent increased operations involved coordination among the U.S. Attorney’s Office, DEA, FBI, ATF, IRS Criminal Investigations, the San Francisco Police Department, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, and California Highway Patrol. Additional operations are planned in the coming months.
A criminal complaint, information, or indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
18th Street Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An illegal alien has pleaded guilty to illegally selling a firearm and ammunition while he was unlawfully residing in Chelsea, Mass. The defendant, a Mexican national, was previously deported from the United States twice.
Luis Angel Rodriguez-Celaya, a/k/a “Menor,” a/k/a “La Gargola,” 27, pleaded guilty to one count of being an alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. United States District Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Sept. 22, 2026.
According to charging documents, Rodriguez-Celaya met with a cooperating witness in Chelsea on Feb. 26, 2025 to conduct an illegal firearm transaction. Rodriguez-Celaya sold the witness a .22 caliber semiautomatic “Draco” pistol and eight rounds of .22 caliber ammunition for $1,500 cash. Rodriguez-Celaya was illegally present in the United States at the time of the transaction. He was deported from the United States twice before and warned not to return: first in March 2017 and again in May 2022.
The charge of being an alien unlawfully present in the United States in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations; Suffolk County and Middlesex County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, Medford, Nantucket and Revere Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Wyshak of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
4 June 2026
Worcester Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Pill OperationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Worcester man was sentenced today in federal court in Worcester for drug offenses involving methamphetamine and materials used for pressing illicit pills.
Tong Tran, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to 138 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In March 2026, Tran pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances after being charged in April 2025.
On or about Sept. 19, 2024, Tran was identified shipping a package at a Worcester Post Office. A search of the package revealed approximately 2.4 kilograms of orange pills containing methamphetamine – concealed in the packaging of a children’s toy. A partial fingerprint on the wrapping materials inside the box belonged to Tran. Tran was also photographed shipping two other packages containing methamphetamine pills.
On April 14, 2025, during a search of Tran’s residence, a pill press, binding agent and additional equipment used to manufacture pills, including pill dyes were located. The search also resulted in the seizure of 3.3 kilograms of methamphetamine and approximately $8,000 in cash.United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jennifer De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office; Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Auburn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Wood County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Christian Gale Biles, 21, of Vienna, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 29, 2024, law enforcement officers intercepted a suspicious package that had been shipped from California through the U.S. Mail and addressed to Biles’ residence in Vienna, West Virginia. Officers obtained and executed a search warrant for the package and found it contained approximately 5 pounds of methamphetamine. Officers resealed the package and conducted a controlled delivery of about 49 grams of methamphetamine. On March 4, 2024, Biles took possession of the package when it was delivered to the Vienna address. Officers arrested Biles later that day during a traffic stop, obtained and executed a search warrant for his residence, and found the package of methamphetamine on the kitchen counter.
As part of his guilty plea, Biles admitted that he knew the package contained methamphetamine in advance of his receiving it, that he took possession of the methamphetamine contained in the package, and that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to another individual.
Investigators determined that Biles previously took possession of a package shipped from California to his address that contained approximately 4 pounds of methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force.
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-164.
###
West Mifflin Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Davion Xavier Thompson, 22, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on January 23, 2026, Thompson—who has several prior firearms-related felony convictions—possessed an unserialized Glock-style handgun with an extended magazine. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Hornak scheduled sentencing for October 20, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Pending sentencing, Thompson will remain detained.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Narcotics Task Force, Allegheny County District Attorney’s Narcotics Enforcement Team (DANET), Stowe Township Police Department, and McKees Rocks Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Thompson.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Warwick Man Sentenced to 140 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Warwick man convicted of production and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island.
Jeremy Giguere, 38, was sentenced on June 3, 2026, by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 140 years of imprisonment to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Giguere pleaded guilty on December 11, 2025, to four counts of production of CSAM and one count of possession of CSAM.
According to court documents, in September 2024, the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received a report regarding disturbing CSAM videos uploaded to Giguere’s online photo storage account, linked to devices belonging to him. A state search warrant was executed at his residence on October 16, 2024. As a result of the search, almost five hundred CSAM videos and images were recovered from Giguere’s personal devices. Law enforcement determined through diligent investigation that Giguere also produced videos of himself sexually abusing a minor child and uploaded those videos to the storage account.
“The sentence imposed in this case reflects the depravity of these offenses and the devastating harm caused by the sexual exploitation of a child,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “By sentencing this predator to 140 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release, the Court has ensured that he will never again prey on an innocent child. Our message is clear: engaging in the sexual exploitation of a child will result in this Office using every resource at its disposal to ensure the end result is a very long sentence in federal prison.”
“This sentence underscores the extraordinary gravity of this defendant’s conduct and stands as a powerful reflection of the lifelong harm he inflicted on a child,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. “It sends a clear message that those who prey on children and create or trade in this kind of material will face the full force of federal prosecution. Homeland Security Investigations New England will continue to leverage every lawful investigative method and strengthen our partnerships at all levels of government to safeguard our neighborhoods and shield our most vulnerable from exploitation.”
“I commend the investigators, forensic examiners, and prosecutors whose dedication and professionalism helped bring this case to a just conclusion,” said Colonel Darnell S. Weaver, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety. “The lengthy sentence reflects the abhorrent nature of these crimes and our collective commitment to protecting children from exploitation.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White.
The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Rhode Island State Police, the Rhode Island ICAC Task Force, and the Warwick Police Department.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc
To report suspected online child sexual exploitation and/or abuse, call the Know2Project Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline® at https://report.cybertip.org/.
Uzbek Nationals Charged in Human Smuggling and Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Pete Gizas, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging AKMAL RASULOV and ISKANDER SHUKUROV, both Uzbek nationals, with alien smuggling and money laundering. RASULOV and SHUKUROV were arrested this morning. SHUKUROV was ordered detained, and RASULOV has been released on bond. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.
“Smuggling foreign nationals into the United States is a serious crime that puts every American at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Human smuggling also often involves exploitation, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse. It must be stopped. Drug cartels, foreign terrorist organizations, and anyone else who seeks to undermine our sovereignty and security through human trafficking and smuggling will be prosecuted.”
“Akmal Rasulov and Iskander Shukurov allegedly jeopardized our country’s security by providing foreign nationals illegal entry into the United States for a hefty fee,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Alongside our federal partners, the FBI is committed to disrupting networks attempting to infiltrate our nation's borders.”
“These charges reflect an alleged calculated effort to move people illegally into this country and wash the profits through our financial system, with no regard for the risks to our communities or our national security,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Pete Gizas. “By arresting these defendants, we are cutting into the command structure of an alleged smuggling operation that treated our borders as a business model. HSI New York, as a leading member of the Homeland Security Task Force, will continue to relentlessly pursue human smugglers and the money they need to operate.”
As alleged in the Indictment:
Between at least 2021 and 2025, RASULOV and SHUKUROV operated an alien-smuggling business. RASULOV, SHUKUROV, and others charged thousands of dollars per person for each foreign national—principally citizens of Uzbekistan—in order to illegally transport them into the United States. RASULOV, SHUKUROV, and their co-conspirators arranged for the foreign nationals to either arrive at a U.S. port of entry without prior permission to enter the United States, or sneak across a land border without the required examination or inspection by immigration officers.
RASULOV and SHUKUROV worked with co-conspirators, including a Mexican citizen living in Mexico (“CC-1”). RASULOV and SHUKUROV repeatedly sent money to CC-1 so that CC-1 would connect aliens and smugglers in Mexico and then facilitate the transportation of the aliens from Mexico into the United States. RASULOV and SHUKUROV used international wire transfers to pay CC-1 for these services, including transfers from financial accounts in New York, New York. Some of the wire transfers included false information indicating that the payments were for “loan repayment” or “legal fees” to conceal the true purpose of the transactions.
* * *
RASULOV, 39, and SHUKUROV, 52, both of Brooklyn, New York, are each charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The statutory maximum and minimum penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the FBI and HSI. He added that the investigation is ongoing.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josiah Pertz is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey Named Vice Chair of Washington/Baltimore HIDTARead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - United States Attorney Matthew L. Harvey has been named as Vice Chair of the Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Executive Board, helping to lead efforts in the region to combat fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drug trafficking across multiple states.
The Washington-Baltimore HIDTA is one of 33 HIDTA programs across the country, and supports 29 counties and 12 cities in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and West Virginia. In 2025, Washington-Baltimore HIDTA’s funded task forces dismantled or disrupted 125 drug trafficking/money laundering organizations, seizing more than $84 million in drugs across the region. HIDTA also supports substance use prevention and treatment initiatives, such as ODMAPS (Overdose Detection Mapping Application Program), a free, web-based tool that provides near real-time suspected overdose surveillance data.
“Combatting drug trafficking is at the heart of my work as the U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of West Virginia,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey. “With overdose numbers still high in the Mountain State, there’s more work to do, and this new role will help further that mission.”
Harvey joins an executive board that is responsible for assessing drug threats and determining ways to combat the threats, as well as working on initiatives to help prevent further harm to residents in the region.
“The Washington/Baltimore HIDTA is proud to welcome U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey as Vice Chair of our Executive Board. As the chief federal law enforcement official for the Northern District of West Virginia—and a former prosecutor in both Berkeley and Kanawha Counties—Mr. Harvey brings deep experience, strong leadership, and a proven commitment to public safety. His insight and dedication will be invaluable as he helps guide the work of the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA and advance our mission in the region,” said Jeff Beeson, Executive Director, Washington/Baltimore HIDTA.
The Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force and The Martinsburg Initiative - an evidence-based prevention program that focuses on aiding children in Berkeley County Schools – are both supported by HIDTA funding.
Two South Gate Men Plead Guilty to Federal Robbery Charge, Admit to Armed Robberies of Victims Leaving Local CasinosRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two South Gate men pleaded guilty today to committing more than a dozen armed robberies, stealing gambling winnings from individuals leaving local casinos, stealing at least $274,600 in cash, casino chips, and other property.
Dereck Nathan Lopez, 22, and Juan Gabriel Gonzalez, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act).
Both defendants have been in federal custody since May 2025.
According to their plea agreements, Lopez and Gonzalez entered local casinos under false names to hunt gamblers appearing to win or cash-in many chips. Lopez and Gonzalez then followed the victims’ vehicles from the casino, ambushed them on the highway, brandished firearms, smashed the vehicle’s windows, demanded money or chips, and fled.
Lopez and Gonzalez admitted to 15 robberies and attempted robberies committed in Los Angeles County from May 2023 to December 2023, including three victims leaving a casino on a single night in December 2023.
For example, on October 26, 2023, the defendants, both using fake licenses, followed a victim around a casino in Gardena. Lopez and Gonzalez monitored the victim as he cashed out $11,000 in casino chips and left the Hustler Casino. As the victim drove home on the 110 freeway on ramp from Redondo Beach Boulevard, co-participants in the scheme stopped the victim’s vehicle. The co-participants approached both doors of the victim’s vehicle, pointed guns at him, and demanded money and for the victim to open the trunk. Co-participants stole $1,050 in cash and golf clubs worth $6,000 from the victim.
Lopez further admitted to illegally possessing firearms and ammunition at his home in December 2023. Lopez is not legally permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition because his criminal history includes a conviction in San Bernardino County Superior Court for grand theft in November 2023.
United States District Judge George H. Wu scheduled August 13 sentencing hearings for the defendants, who each will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Lopez and Gonzalez have agreed to serve 14 years in federal prison.
The FBI, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Justice Bureau of Gambling Control, and the Montebello Police Department are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler and Jena A. MacCabe of the Major Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Toledo Assistant U.S. Attorney Recognized at at International Narcotics ConferenceRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank H. Spryszak was recently recognized for his dedication to eradicate illegal narcotics from the U.S. Mail system and noted for his support of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Toledo Field Office.
AUSA Spryszak, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Toledo branch, was presented with the “Prosecutor of the Year” Award from the International Narcotics Interdiction Association (INIA). The award was recently presented at the INIA annual conference held in San Diego, California.
AUSA Spryszak’s efforts to identify, prosecute, and support parcel interdiction has earned him a nickname —“the box guy.”
From February 2023 to March 2025, Spryszak worked side by side with USPIS and DEA agents to support more than 140 seized parcels and nearly 30 search warrants. The combined amounts of narcotics seized from parcels were approximately 72,971 grams of narcotics, including more than 9,300 grams of fentanyl. Law enforcement’s and Spryszak’s efforts resulted in 31 arrests over this approximate two-year period. Several defendants received sentences of 10 years or more in federal prison.
According to one nominator, “AUSA Spryszak’s diligence, perseverance, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and keeping with the highest tradition of being a public servant. The USPIS would not be as effective and successful in Northwest Ohio without his direction and dedication. He is truly a team player.”
About the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
USPIS is the law enforcement branch of the United States Postal Service. To report mail theft or other crimes committed through, or towards, the United States Postal Service, call the USPIS at 1-877-876-2455 or visit uspis.gov/report. For more information about combatting mail theft visit uspis.gov/project-safe-delivery.
Photo L-R:
Gary Barksdale, Chief Postal Inspector, AUSA Frank Spyrszak, and Rafael Nunez, Deputy Chief Postal Inspector
Teen Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery Spree in the Capitol Hill NeighborhoodRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dereon Butler, 18, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to charges related to an armed robbery spree in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, in December 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Ten innocent people on their morning commute were terrorized at gunpoint by these teens who viewed Capitol Hill as their hunting ground,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “These were deliberate, targeted robberies that left residents fearing for their lives. Age does not excuse violent crime and anyone who picks up a gun to commit a robbery in this city will face the consequences and be held to account.”
Butler pleaded guilty to three counts of armed robbery in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Butler was charged as an adult pursuant to Title 16 at the time of the offenses. His co-defendant, Markell Butler, 17, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and was sentenced on May 1, 2026. The Honorable Judge Errol Arthur scheduled sentencing for August 31, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, in the early-morning hours of December 2, 2024, Butler and his co-conspirators utilized a stolen gray Kia Sorento and a stolen red Lexus sedan to go to the Capitol Hill neighborhood with the intention of locating and targeting commuting pedestrians to rob them at gunpoint. In all, ten different unsuspecting pedestrians were approached, across numerous locations, had a firearm brandished at them, and were robbed of their wallets, purses, cellphones, and other personal belongings. Butler then fled each scene before the police could arrive.
Dereon Butler was arrested on July 22, 2025, and has been in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy.
2025 CF3 008425
Stockton Felon Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Sawed-Off ShotgunRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Steven Refugio Rodriguez, 57, of Stockton, today charging him with being a felon in possession of firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on May 7, 2026, Rodriguez was stopped by a deputy sheriff for expired vehicle registration. Because Rodriguez was on parole and subject to a search, the deputy searched the car and found a Harrington and Richardson, 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun with an 8-inch barrel and several 12-gauge rounds. Rodriguez has multiple felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
On May 3, 2021, Rodriguez was sentenced to 21 years in prison for assault with a machine gun on a peace officer. In November 2025, Rodriguez was granted compassionate release in state court on the grounds that he had only a few months to live, could not walk, feed himself, or perform daily tasks without assistance. Yet when deputies pulled him over on May 7, he showed no signs of trouble walking unassisted. While incarcerated in the San Joaquin County Jail, Rodriguez made several calls indicating that he planned to flee from prosecution once he posted bail.
The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zulkar Khan is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Rodriguez 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.
Southeast Missouri Man Admits Victimizing Five ChildrenRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A Southeast Missouri man on Thursday admitted recording his sexual abuse of five young girls in 2024 and 2025.
Lantz D. Crawford, 26, of Ripley County, near Doniphan, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to five counts of production of child pornography. He admitted recording his sexual abuse of five girls, ages 2, 4, 5, 6 and 6, between the summer of 2024 and late 2025. In December of 2025, the mother of the 4-year-old girl contacted the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office after her daughter reported the abuse. Crawford’s phone was seized and investigators found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) involving young children.
Crawford faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison at sentencing, scheduled for September 3. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will recommend 60 years in prison.
The Ripley County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Controlled Substance OffenseRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Michael Carpenter, 39 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Carpenter was sentenced to 151 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
“The Defendant will spend over twelve years in prison because he chose to distribute about 352 grams of methamphetamine. Thanks to the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse, the Defendant was prosecuted and sentenced for peddling this poison,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse.
Shelton Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud Offense Stemming from $739K Embezzlement SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PAMELA AGUILAR, 65, of Shelton, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to an offense stemming from her embezzlement of more than $739,000 from a Connecticut company.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Aguilar was employed as Chief Financial Officer of a Danbury-based software company, identified in court documents as “Company A.” Between approximately 2018 and 2025, Aguilar defrauded Company A by making ACH and wire transfers from Company A’s account to personal bank accounts, writing checks and making cash withdrawals from Company A’s account, and by making PayPal and credit card payments from Company A’s account for her own benefit.
Through this scheme, Aguilar stole more than $739,466.44 from Company A. She attempted to cover up her criminal behavior by providing false weekly cash reports and false monthly financial statements to Company A’s Chief Executive Officer.
Aguilar pleaded guilty to wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Aguilar is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for August 27.
This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.
Seymour Man Charged with Defrauding Wholesale Food SuppliersRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General, Northeastern Region, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford has returned a 10-count indictment charging MICHAEL SALVAGGI, 61, of Seymour, with offenses related to his alleged defrauding wholesale food companies of hundreds of thousands dollars.
The indictment was returned on May 28, 2026. Salvaggi has been detained since March 7, 2026, when he was arrested in St. John’s County, Florida, pursuant to related state charges in Pennsylvania. He is scheduled to be arraigned in New Haven on June 18.
As alleged in court documents, Salvaggi, representing that he owned trucking and wholesale food businesses in various names, including “A.J. Produce LLC,” “Express Transportation,” “Salvaggi Brothers Trucking,” and “Express Fresh Produce & Dairy,” contacted wholesale food suppliers in Connecticut and elsewhere and arranged to purchase quantities of food on credit or payment on delivery or pickup. After the suppliers provided him with food, he paid them with fraudulent checks. Numerous wholesale food companies suffered total losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars are a result of this scheme.
The indictment charges Salvaggi with eight counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count, one count of mail fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of interstate transport of property taken by fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile.
Investigators are seeking to identify victims of this alleged fraud scheme. Victims and individuals with information that may be helpful to the investigation are encouraged to complete and submit the form at this link.
Seven Charged with Scheme to Cash Stolen U.S. Treasury Checks Throughout New EnglandRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on May 28, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Davon Olin, 36, of Hackensack, New Jersey and The Bronx, New York; Corey Vasquez, 35, of The Bronx, New York; James Michael Roosevelt Williams, 34, of The Bronx, New York; Mark Ochoa, 34, of The Bronx, New York; Lindsay Sheehan, 37, of The Bronx, New York, and two others with wire fraud conspiracy, bank fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. Olin appeared in United States District Court for the District of New Jersey on June 3, 2026, and was detained pending further proceedings to occur on June 8, 2026. Ochoa and Williams appeared in United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on June 3, 2026, and were ordered released upon satisfaction of conditions. Sheehan is expected to appear later today. Vasquez was previously arrested on state charges in Kentucky, and Vasquez’s appearance in federal court has not yet been scheduled. Two additional defendants have not yet been arrested.
According to court records, from approximately August 2024 to August 2025, Davon Olin obtained stolen, legitimate U.S. Treasury checks in the names of various individuals. Olin then obtained false identification documents, including driver’s licenses, using the names, dates of birth and social security numbers of the intended U.S. Treasury check recipients and photographs of Vasquez, Ochoa, Sheehan and other group members. Working with Vasquez and Williams, Olin provided the false identification documents to check depositors, including Vasquez, Ochoa, and Sheehan, who then presented the stolen U.S. Treasury checks and their false driver’s licenses to banks in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and elsewhere to open accounts and deposit the stolen checks, thereby fraudulently obtaining government funds. The scheme involved more than $500,000.00 in stolen U.S. Treasury checks.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that the seven defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Each defendant faces up to 30 years of imprisonment if convicted. Cory Vasquez, Mark Ochoa, and Lindsay Sheehan also face aggravated identity theft charges which carry a mandatory 2-year consecutive sentence. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the United States Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Eugenia A. P. Cowles. The seven defendants have not yet retained nor been appointed counsel.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
San Diego CPA Pleads Guilty to $5 Million Tax Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Oladapo Olagbemi, a longtime certified public accountant, pleaded guilty in federal court today, admitting that he filed thousands of false income tax returns on behalf of clients that resulted in more than $5 million in improper deductions and credits.
Olagbemi, who managed San Diego-based D.A.O. Accounting, Consulting, and Taxation, pleaded guilty to four counts of aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns. Shortly before tax day, April 15, 2026, he signed a plea agreement in which he admitted to multiple schemes between tax years 2019 and 2023 to help clients get illegitimate refunds by claiming business expenses, charitable gifts, and energy credits to which the taxpayers were not entitled.
Olagbemi is scheduled to be sentenced on August 28, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro.
Based on Olagbemi’s plea agreement, one of his schemes was preparing false Schedules 1, C, and E accompanying his client’s individual income tax returns between at least 2020 and 2023. He prepared returns that reported false business losses totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. Taxpayer clients had no such reportable business, and the expenses he claimed for them were non-deductible personal expenses. Olagbemi knew the taxpayers were not entitled to report such losses or the resulting decreases in taxable income. During that four-year period, he prepared at least 5,470 Form 1040 returns with Schedules C. At least 3,981 of those had no gross receipts for the falsely claimed businesses.
Another of Olagbemi’s schemes was preparing false Forms 2106 to accompany taxpayers’ Form 1040 returns. On this form, Olagbemi advised and presented to the IRS purported business expenses and resulting decreases in taxable income, even though he knew the taxpayer was not permitted to use the 2106 form because they were not a fee-based state or local government official. Between 2020 and 2023, Olagbemi was involved in presenting to the IRS at least 1,684 Forms 2106 with individual clients’ tax returns. After Olagbemi became aware of the IRS’s investigation of his fraudulent use of Schedule C returns, he increased his use of fraudulent use of Forms 2106—and prepared several of them even after being notified by the IRS about the proper uses of this form.
Olagbemi also used Schedules A to prepare and submit false income tax returns. On these documents, he falsely claimed or overstated gifts to charity and corresponding itemized deductions of tens of thousands of dollars, even though he knew the taxpayer was not entitled to report such charitable contributions.
Further, based on the plea agreement, Olagbami prepared individual tax returns falsely claiming residential energy credits. He prepared and presented false Forms 5695 to accompany Form 1040 tax returns between at least 2021 and 2023. On these Forms 5695, he advised a taxpayer client to falsely claim solar water heating property costs, even though he knew the client did not purchase or have any such costs and was not entitled to report them or the corresponding tax credits.
Based on the plea and restitution agreements, Olagbemi agreed to restitution of least $1,522,794 based on his schemes and resulting tax losses between 2018 and 2023. He also agreed to be permanently prohibited from preparing, assisting in, directing, or supervising the preparation or filing of federal tax returns for anyone other than himself.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Horn.
DEFENDANT Case Number 26CR1982-RBM
Oladapo Olagbemi Age: 72 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Aiding and Assisting in Preparation of False Income Tax Returns – Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2)
Maximum penalty (per count): Three years in prison; fine of up to $250,000
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
Sacramento Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Shipping Half-a-Million Fentanyl Pills Across the United States Following Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Reginald Jones, 36, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty today to 15 counts of drug trafficking offenses and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Jones and his fellow conspirators shipped hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills around the country for more than a year. On several occasions, law enforcement seized packages shipped by Jones and his co-conspirators, and found fentanyl pills, often hidden inside children’s toys. In total, law enforcement seized approximately 450,000 fentanyl pills connected to the conspiracy through seized shipments and search warrants. Based on additional evidence, law enforcement estimates that members of the conspiracy have shipped more than one million fentanyl pills to customers in several different states.
During searches connected to the conspiracy, agents found hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills, more than $80,000 in cash, and 17 firearms. Some of the pills and a firearm were hidden inside a secret compartment in Miller’s vehicle.
Jones is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on Oct. 8, 2026. Jones faces a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of 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 Sacramento is composed of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the Sacramento Police Department, the Folsom Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Citrus Heights Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Pearson is prosecuting the case.