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11 May 2026
Man Sentenced to 12 years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child PornographyRead the Press Release
U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today that Saul Salazar-Leon, 46, of Mexico, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for crime of Receiving Child Pornography.
According to court records, in December of 2024, a woman contacted law enforcement after discovering a hidden camera in a bathroom in her home in Idaho. The woman found the camera while cleaning the bathroom her 12-year-old daughter uses. Suspecting Salazar-Leon, the woman called and confronted him about secretly recording her daughter. Salazar-Leon claimed he made a mistake and requested the woman not notify law enforcement.
Based on the woman’s report, law enforcement immediately began an investigation. The Nampa Police Department searched Salazar-Leon’s residence where they found a USB thumb drive containing hidden recordings of child pornography. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement arrested Salazar-Leon. Upon his arrest, law enforcement found an SD card in his pocket which also contained hidden recordings of child pornography.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Salazar-Leon to serve 15 years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Salazar-Leon pleaded guilty to the charge on January 7, 2026. As a result of his conviction, Salazar-Leon will be required to register as a sex offender.
U.S. Attorney Davis made the announcement and commended the work of Nampa Police Department, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Robins prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice, 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.
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Man Charged with Drug Trafficking After Investigators Seize 84 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Cleveland, Mo. man was charged by criminal complaint after investigators seized 86 pounds of methamphetamine.
Russell D. Kircher, 41, was charged in a one-count criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint on May 4, 2026, investigators of the Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force (MOWIN) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Kansas City Interdiction Task Force (KCITF) were working at the “sort” at a UPS center when they identified a parcel being shipped from Los Angeles, Ca., to Cleveland, Mo. Investigators observed the parcel to be consistent with attempted concealment of illegal drugs and obtained a search warrant for it. Investigators opened the parcel and observed an orange-colored FIFA HOME DEPOT bucket. The bucket contained approximately 22 pounds of methamphetamine.
On May 5, 2026, an undercover investigator delivered the parcel to the delivery address in Cleveland, Mo. Investigators obtained a search warrant from the Cass County, Mo. Circuit Court. Kircher was arrested and investigators recovered approximately 2.24 grams of methamphetamine and a glass pipe from Kircher’s person.
After obtaining another search warrant, investigators searched Kircher’s property and located a large plastic tote, approximately six to eight inches deep in the ground, containing 27 sealed packages of methamphetamine, weighing approximately 62.88 pounds.
In total, investigators seized approximately 84 pounds of methamphetamine.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Jennings. It was investigated by the Cass County, Mo. Sheriff’s Office, Cass County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, DEA Kansas City Interdiction Task Force, and Missouri Western Interdiction and Narcotics Task Force.
Operation Take Back AmericaThis 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.
Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of A 12-Year-Old and Recording the Abuse in Order to Trade It for Other Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the filing of a Complaint charging BRYAN CRUZ SOLANO with sexual exploitation of a minor. CRUZ SOLANO was arrested on Saturday, May 9, 2026, presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo in Manhattan federal court and ordered detained pending trial by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas on May 12, 2026.
“As alleged, Bryan Cruz Solano sexually abused a 12-year-old child and, even more disgusting, recorded that abuse in order to trade it for other child pornography,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “We have heard it clear and strong from all New Yorkers, particularly New York families: Use all available resources to get sexual predators off our streets. And New Yorkers should know, predators often act with others, and we are committed to destroying these child sexual abuse networks. Help us if you can. Be vigilant. There may be additional victims in this case. If you have information to report about this or any other matter of child sexual abuse, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.”
As alleged in the Complaint:[1]
On or about May 1, 2026, an individual (“Witness-1”) reported to New York State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) that CRUZ SOLANO had sent child pornography to Witness-1, including videos depicting CRUZ SOLANO engaging in sexual acts with a minor (“Victim-1”).
A video was recovered from Witness-1’s cellphone depicting a recording of a video on another device depicting a prepubescent female’s hands stroking the erect penis of an adult male (“Video-1”). At the end of the recording, the video transitions to an electronic messaging conversation on Snapchat, which includes, in substance and in part, the account name “lil_cruzyyyy.” CRUZ SOLANO later admitted that the Snapchat account was his.
Law enforcement acted to address the possibility of potentially ongoing harm to Victim-1 and assumed control of Witness-1’s Telegram account to begin communicating directly with CRUZ SOLANO. From May 4 to May 8, 2026, law enforcement engaged in multiple discussions with CRUZ SOLANO over Telegram, during which CRUZ SOLANO stated, among other things, that he had “new stuff” of himself and Victim-1 that he wanted to “trade,” that he would not send content without first receiving child pornography from Witness-1, and that Witness-1 should “make sure to sen[d] babies.”
On May 8, 2026, law enforcement executed a search warrant at CRUZ SOLANO’s residence. Officers obtained a cellphone from CRUZ SOLANO, which included, among other things, video recordings of child pornography involving Victim-1, including acts performed by Victim-1 at CRUZ SOLANO’s direction.
During an interview, CRUZ SOLANO admitted that he had engaged in sexual acts with Victim-1 on approximately 25 occasions in the past year, including at least as recently as two to three weeks ago. CRUZ SOLANO indicated that he had recorded these acts on at least approximately five occasions, while in Middletown, New York, and sent them to Witness-1. Further, on approximately 20 occasions, CRUZ SOLANO made FaceTime video calls to Witness-1 while engaging in sex acts with Victim-1. CRUZ SOLANO told law enforcement that he secured Victim-1’s cooperation by enticing Victim-1 with gifts.
There may be other victims. If you have information to report, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or https://tips.fbi.gov.
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CRUZ SOLANO, 20, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.
The statutory maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of the FBI New York Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, the FBI New Haven Child Exploitation Task Force, the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit - Troop F, the Orange County Child Abuse Unit, the Orange County Child Advocacy Center, and the Hartford Police Department.
The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P. Ferrara is in charge of the prosecution.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Man Accused of Stealing $735,137 from Retired St. Louis TeacherRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis has been accused of stealing $735,137 from a retired St. Louis teacher.
Michael N. Jones, 40, was indicted April 29 with eight counts of wire fraud. He pleaded not guilty Monday.
The indictment says Jones was named as the victim’s power of attorney in March of 2023, and began stealing from her that same month. He made over $12,000 in purchases using her checking account and used her credit card for OnlyFans purchases, the indictment says. The victim was admitted to an assisted living facility on April 25, 2023. Jones put the proceeds of the sale of her home and two certificates of deposit into her checking account, and used that account to buy four properties in St. Louis, one in Hillsboro and two in East St. Louis, the indictment says. He also transferred $20,000 to his personal bank account and $140,000 to his Cash App account, using the Cash App money for food, trips, life coaching and OnlyFans, the indictment says.
From April 2024 to November 2024, Jones made only one payment to her assisted living facility and the victim was evicted owing $38,535, the indictment says. In November of 2024, Jones moved her into another facility but failed to pay costs that grew to $52,502 a year later, it says.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both.
The U.S. Secret Service, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolene Taaffe is prosecuting the case.
Madison Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Willie U. Mills, 31, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced on May 6, 2026, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 77 months in federal prison for possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution. Mills’s prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Mills pleaded guilty to this charge on February 18, 2026.
On October 1, 2025, Madison police officers arrested Mills on an active probation warrant for numerous felony convictions. Officers searched Mills, his vehicle, and his possessions following the arrest. Law enforcement found approximately 9 grams of fentanyl in his pocket, 59 grams of methamphetamine inside a backpack, various pills, and multiple digital scales in his car. They also found just over $9,400 in cash inside his backpack.
At sentencing, Judge Conley considered Mills’s lengthy and varied criminal history, expressing concern that Mills had “escalated to worse and worse drugs.”
The charge against Mills was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, the Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Kent, Washington, man indicted for production and possession of child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 32-year-old Kent, Washington man who was identified by law enforcement after he sought to entice a young girl to send him sexually explicit images, was arraigned on the seven-count indictment today in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Mordien Kan Thach pleaded not guilty to three counts of production of child pornography, attempted enticement of a minor, possession of child pornography, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and unlawful possession of firearms. Trial is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Tana Lin on July 6, 2026.
“This case is part of Iron Pursuit, a one-month, nationwide enforcement surge to find child victims of sex abuse and arrest child sex predators,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “In April 2026, more than 200 child victims were located and over 350 child sexual abuse offenders were arrested. In this Western Washington case, four victims were identified, and the investigation remains ongoing. If you abuse children, we will find you.”
According to records filed in the case, in August 2025, the FBI in Wisconsin was contacted by a young teen about an adult who had sent and requested sexually explicit images. Ultimately the adult was identified as Thach, and law enforcement obtained a court authorized search warrant for Thach’s residence in late January 2026.
In the search, law enforcement seized dealer quantities of cocaine, and ketamine as well as numerous firearms – two of which were reported stolen. On Thach’s electronic devices were images of child sexual abuse created by Thach with young teens he met via the internet. Two of the teens reside in Western Washington and a third resides in North Dakota.
Thach remains detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac.
Production of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum fifteen years in prison and up to 30 years in prison. Attempted enticement of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and up to life in prison. Possession of Child pornography is punishable by up to twenty years in prison. Possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute is punishable by up to twenty years in prison and unlawful possession of firearms is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI as part of Operation Iron Pursuit.
The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org.
The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov, or by calling your local FBI field office.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
Justice Department Files Statement of Interest Highlighting Importance of Enabling Competition and Innovation in the Seeds IndustryRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in Corteva Agriscience LLC, et al. v. Inari Agriculture Inc. et al. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The statement of interest reaffirms the importance of the public’s ability to access and read patented biological material, which promotes follow-on innovation and competition in the seeds industry.
“The need for an affordable and secure food supply chain is vital for every American, and that begins with the seeds on which American farmers rely,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Dina Kallay of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Ensuring that the path to innovation is accessible for businesses, both big and small, is essential for enabling robust competition in the seeds industry and benefits consumers.”
Intellectual property and antitrust laws are aligned in their goal of promoting dynamic competition through innovation. While taking no position on the ultimate disposition of the case, the statement of interest explains that the Patent Act represents a balance of incentives: inventors gain the benefit of exclusivity over the life of the patent but, in exchange, they must publicly disclose their invention to promote the state of the art and enable follow-on innovation. The public’s ability to understand a claimed invention is thus critical.
The U.S. seed industry is highly concentrated and characterized by high barriers to entry. The statement of interest explains that, for entry by new competitors to be possible, it is especially important that intellectual property protections are interpreted in a way that strikes the right balance between rewarding innovators and allowing follow-on innovation. In the seeds industry, reasonable access to patented seeds is crucial to enabling follow-on innovation which, in turn, paves the way for small businesses and new entrants to enter and compete in the market.
The Antitrust Division has established a Food Supply Chain Security Task Force to investigate anticompetitive behavior in food-related industries pursuant to the Executive Order on “Addressing Security Risks From Price Fixing and Anti-Competitive Behavior in the Food Supply Chain.”[1] The Antitrust Division routinely files statements of interest and amicus briefs in federal court.
[1] Exec. Order No. 14,364, Addressing Security Risks From Price Fixing and Anti-Competitive Behavior in the Food Supply Chain, 90 Fed. Reg. 57349 (Dec. 6, 2025).
Illegal alien ordered to federal prison following repeated illegal reentriesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 38-year-old illegal alien from Mexico has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States after removal, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Esequiel Rueda-Ramirez pleaded guilty to this offense on Nov. 13, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Hanen has now ordered Rueda-Ramirez to serve 48 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to again face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard evidence regarding Rueda-Ramirez’s criminal history while unlawfully present in the United States.
Rueda-Ramirez has prior convictions for evading arrest, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and illegal reentry.
Authorities first removed Rueda-Ramirez from the United States in February 2010, and he repeatedly returned illegally. On June 2, 2022, law enforcement again discovered him in the country without authorization.
Rueda-Ramirez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Hostetter prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal Alien from Mexico Indicted for Unlawfully Possessing Ammunition in Bay County, FloridaRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Emiliano Rafael Hernandez Escamilla, Jr., 30, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession of ammunition by an illegal alien. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge.
Hernandez appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida. Trial is scheduled for June 22, 2026, at 8:30 am in Tallahassee before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker.
If convicted, Hernandez faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. Ravelo.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Huntington Woman Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tabatha Rae Gardner, 35, of Huntington, was sentenced today to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 31, 2024, Gardner sold approximately 3.47 grams of fentanyl to a confidential informant in a garage behind the residence of Gardner’s grandmother in Huntington. As part of her plea agreement, Gardner admitted to conducting the transaction.
Law enforcement conducted a total of seven controlled buys with Gardner between December 2023 and October 2025, at two residences in Huntington where Gardner lived at the time. Officers executed two search warrants at one of the residences, in March 2025 and October 2025, and seized more than 40 grams of fentanyl, approximately 3.5 grams of cocaine base, a quantity of methamphetamine, and nearly $19,000 in drug proceeds.
Gardner’s mother and co-defendant, Tina Marie Dixon, 53, of Huntington, was sentenced on April 13, 2026, to five years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack.”
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin 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. 3:25-cr-172.
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Honduran National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Pleads Guilty to Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Marvin Yahir Izaguirre-Varela, 22, a Honduran national unlawfully residing in the United States, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents, on February 18, 2026, a drug detection K9 alerted to the presence of drugs in Izaguirre-Varela’s bag at the entrance of the Portland train station. Law enforcement officer searched Izaguirre-Varela’s bag and found over one kilogram of fentanyl that he was transporting for the purpose of distribution in Portland.
On March 18, 2026, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Izaguirre-Varela with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Izaguirre-Varela faces a maximum sentence of up to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment, a $10 million fine, and 5 years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on August 3, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Portland Police Bureau Narcotics and Organized Crime Division, and the Amtrak Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Kilcup is prosecuting the case.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
Honduran Illegal Alien Charged with Illegal EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –MAYCOL JAVIER CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ (“CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ”), age 21, a native of Honduras, was charged by bill of information on May 7, 2026, for 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 found in Tangipahoa Parish on April 15, 2026.
If convicted, CARCAMO-ANTUNEZ faces a maximum penalty of 6 months of imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $10 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven 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 (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.
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Honduran Illegal Alien Charged with Illegal EntryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – EZEQUIEL LARA-REYES (“LARA-REYES”), age 27, a native of Honduras, was charged by bill of information on May 7, 2026, for 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, LARA-REYES, an illegal alien, was found in Tangipahoa Parish on April 15, 2026.
If convicted, LARA-REYES faces a maximum penalty of 6 months of imprisonment, up to a $5,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $10 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven 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 (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.
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Homeland Security Task Force investigation leads to arrest of uncle & nephew, seizure of more than 80 kilograms of suspected cocaineRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Two Southwest Ohio relatives were arrested by federal agents for allegedly conducting large-scale cocaine trafficking.
Damian Galan, 31, of Cincinnati, and Diego Galan, 19, of Fairfield, will appear in federal court today for initial appearances.
According to charging documents, the DEA Cincinnati District Office, the Cincinnati Police Department and other agencies within the Cincinnati Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) received information regarding the Galans’ potential drug trafficking throughout the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere.
Surveillance of the men, as well as additional investigation, led law enforcement officials to a Holiday Inn Express in Columbus on May 9. Damian and Diego Galan allegedly traveled to the hotel in tandem and obtained four 17-gallon storage containers from two Hispanic males staying at the hotel. The storage containers were placed in the trunk and backseat of Damian Galan’s vehicle.
The defendants then allegedly traveled to Diego’s residence in Fairfield, where they moved the four storage containers.
Law enforcement officials executed search warrants at both Galan residences. They discovered four kilograms of suspected cocaine and a firearm at Damian Galan’s home. The search of Diego Galan’s residence recovered the storage bins – which contained approximately 77 kilograms of suspected cocaine – along with bulk cash, firearms and suspected methamphetamine.
The men were arrested in the early morning hours of May 10.
They are each charged with conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, a federal crime punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio and members of the HSTF, including the DEA, Cincinnati Police Department, FBI, HSI and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office’s Regional Narcotics Unit (RENU), announced the charges. Executive Assistant United States Attorney Christy L. Muncy is representing the United States in this case.
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 Cincinnati comprises agents and officers from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Hilliard man sentenced to 14 years in prison for using AI to morph images of real minors into child pornographyRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Hilliard man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 168 months in prison for two child pornography crimes.
Austin Pittman, 35, admitted to distributing images of real child pornography and using AI to morph videos and photos of real children to whom he had access into images of child pornography.
According to court documents, in January 2025, the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force received multiple cyber tipline reports regarding Pittman’s activity on Kik messenger. On the instant messaging app, Pittman distributed child pornography depicting an adult sexually abusing a child.
Further investigation revealed that, in 2024, Pittman was the target of an investigation at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where he uploaded 47 files of child pornography to Kik.
A search warrant executed at Pittman’s residence in April 2025 led to the seizure of numerous devices. During a review of Pittman’s cell phone, law enforcement officials discovered images and videos of real children to whom Pittman had access. Some of the files Pittman had secretly recorded and created some of the images and videos himself. Pittman then used AI programs to alter these images so that the minor females depicted in them now appeared fully nude. He also distributed this content he morphed to others in online chat platforms dedicated to child sexual abuse material.
Pittman was charged federally and arrested in April 2025 and pleaded guilty in December 2025.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin; and other members of the Franklin County ICAC Task Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
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HSTF: Chinese National and Las Vegas Man Charged in Scheme to Import Deadly Synthetic Opioid into USRead the Press Release
Law Enforcement in the People’s Republic of China Confirmed That a Defendant Was Arrested as Part of a Parallel Investigation
MIAMI – A Chinese national and a Las Vegas man have been charged by federal indictment for their roles in a scheme to import large quantities of the powerful synthetic opioid protonitazene in the U.S. and distribute it as counterfeit pills. These charges stem from an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), with assistance and collaboration with the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Public Security.
According to court records, beginning in approximately September 2024, Jia Guo, a/k/a “idmaster21,” a/k/a “imyourBDOguy,” a/k/a “OXY GUY,” of China, and Seven Schmidt, a/k/a “Vegas,” of Nevada, operated a drug trafficking organization that sourced protonitazene overseas and shipped it into the U.S. for distribution. Protonitazene — often used in counterfeit pill production — is significantly more potent than fentanyl. A quantity as small as 200 grams can produce hundreds of thousands of pills, each potentially lethal.
“This case shows why President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Force matters,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The indictment alleges that a China-based supplier and a domestic distributor worked together to bring a deadly synthetic opioid into the United States and turn it into counterfeit pills for distribution across the country. These pills are made to look familiar, but one pill can kill. If you use South Florida as a gateway to import synthetic opioids, make counterfeit pills, or profit from addiction, you will face federal prosecution. The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.”
“The bilateral investigation with the Chinese Ministry of Public Security underscores DEA Asia Pacific Division’s unwavering commitment to the protection of American lives: disrupting criminal organizations responsible for distributing dangerous synthetic opioids across the United States is one of DEA’s main priorities,” said Special Agent in Charge David L. King of the DEA Asia Pacific Division. “We commend the Chinese Ministry of Public Security for their thorough and swift investigative work on this case, which was initially presented at the February 2026 Bilateral Drug Enforcement Intelligence Working Group, hosted by DEA Asia Pacific Division in Colorado.”
“This was the very definition of agents and officers working in unison to bring these criminals to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the DEA, Miami Field Division. “Lives will be saved because of their efforts.”
“The US Postal Inspection service remains committed to removing these poisons from our communities,” said Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the USPIS, Miami Division. “These charges serve as a warning to others that, using the US Mail to distribute dangerous drugs has consequences.”
Guo allegedly coordinated the illegal procurement and shipment of protonitazene from China to co-conspirators, including an associate in Miami-Dade County. That associate allegedly used pill presses to manufacture counterfeit pills, which were then distributed to drug dealers throughout the U.S.
Schmidt allegedly ordered distribution quantities of the counterfeit pills and arranged for their shipment from South Florida to Nevada using the U.S. Postal Service.
As part of the investigation, China’s Ministry of Public Security took law enforcement action in China against Guo. In April 2026, Chinese officials arrested Guo and the freight forwarder, who Guo conspired with to send controlled substance parcels to the U.S. As part of the investigation, the Ministry of Public Security seized 10 parcels filled with controlled substances that Guo sent which were for recipients in the U.S. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Public Security for its assistance and coordinated efforts.
Guo and Schmidt are charged with conspiracy to import protonitazene into the United States from China and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute protonitazene. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each of the two counts.
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones, Special Agent in Charge Aley, Special Agent in Charge King, and Inspector in Charge Rojo made the announcement.
DEA Miami, USPIS Miami, and DEA Beijing are investigating the case with the assistance from and in collaboration with China’s Ministry of Public Security. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Homestead (FL) Police Department, the Henderson (NV) Police Department, DEA Dallas, DEA Las Vegas, DEA Seattle, the Miami-Dade Sherriff’s Office, and the Miami Beach Police Department also provided invaluable assistance.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman is handling asset forfeiture. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Prosecutorial, Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) Beijing Resident Legal Advisor, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter.
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 Miami comprises of agents and officers from DEA and USPIS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-cr-20161.
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Fourteen New Indictments & Seven Illegal Aliens Convicted of Immigration, False Document Offenses in AprilRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Pensacola and Gainesville – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced that fourteen previously deported illegal aliens have been separately indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States, and seven illegal aliens were convicted of federal crimes in the month of April.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office remains committed to fulfilling the mission of Operation Take Back America to protect our communities by aggressively prosecuting the criminal illegal aliens who brazenly ignore and violate our nation’s immigration laws. America is a nation of laws, and we will continue to enforce those laws against anyone who mistakenly believes they can violate our laws with impunity.”
According to court records, the fourteen illegal aliens indicted in the month of April include:
- Leonel Morales-Gaytan, 33, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Bay County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2020 and 2022. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge Mark Walker.
- Isidro Ramirez-Lopez, 50, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Gulf County in March 2026, after previously being deported in 2002 and 2011. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge Mark Walker.
- Moises Siquic-Tiul, 39, of Guatemala, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Walton County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2015 and 2017. Trial is set for June 15, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Gabriel Garcia Hernandez, 41, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2024. Trial is set for June 15, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Simon Mateo-Simon, 36, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in March 2026, after previously being deported in 2015. Change of plea and sentencing scheduled for May 19, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Moises Lopez Zenteno, 37, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Alachua County in September 2025, after previously being deported in 2016. Trial is set for May 27, 2026, before United States Chief Judge Allen Winsor.
- Jose Mendez Pena, 35, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2009. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Noe Alexis Lopez Suarez, 27, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Santa Rosa County in April 2026, after previously being deported in 2022. Change of plea and sentencing are set for May 27, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Alcides Miguel Martinez-Martinez, 42, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in March 2026, after previously being deported in 2009 and 2015. Trial is set for June 15, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
- Alex Joel Maldonado-Erazo, 38, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in March 2026, after previously being deported in 2015. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Miguel Ico Martinez, 29, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in March 2026, after previously being deported three times in 2024. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Wily Antonio Escobar-Canterelo, 29, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in April 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2016. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Dania Chaver-Pereira, 31, of Honduras, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Okaloosa County in April 2026, after previously being deported twice in 2017 and once in 2019. Trial is set for June 22, 2026, before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
- Jose Hernandez-Perez, 23, of Mexico, allegedly reentered the United States illegally and was located in Escambia County in March 2026, after previously being deported in 2022. Trial is set for June 15, 2026, before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
The penalty for illegally reentering the United States after deportation is a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Gabriel Garcia Hernandez faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine pursuant to allegations of prior convictions qualifying for an increased maximum sentence.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
In addition to the indictments filed, seven previously indicted defendants were convicted in the month of April for being unlawfully present in the country after a prior removal. The illegal aliens convicted in the month of April include:
- Nicolas Jorge-Garcia, 41, of Mexico, who was previously removed in November 2007, February 2012, April 2012, May 2012, and October 2015. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on November 25, 2025.
- Joel Perez Vasquez, 42, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in January 2013 and April 2013. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on February 17, 2026.
- Jose Rodas-Castillo, 37, of Honduras, who was previously removed in September 2016. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on February 14, 2026.
- Jairo Leonel Calel Vicente, 30, of Guatemala, who was previously removed in October 2025 and January 2026. He was encountered in Escambia County on February 26, 2026.
- Andres Martin Valdivia Moran, 43, of Mexico, who was previously removed in November 2017 and July 2019. He was encountered in Escambia County on December 10, 2025.
- Delmer Francisco Garcia-Palma, 29, of Honduras, who was previously removed in January 2017, June 2019, and June 2020. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on January 13, 2026.
One alien was also convicted of false document crimes:
- William Gary Perez Perez, 23, of Guatemala.
The cases involved investigations by Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with the assistance of the Florida Highway Patrol, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Port St. Joe Police Department, the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Gainesville Police Department, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Gulf Breeze Police Department, the Fort Walton Beach Police Department and the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Walter E. Narramore, Alicia H. Forbes, Christopher C. Patterson, Eric W. Welch, Michelle Spaven, Jessica S. Etherton, Tyler A. Fleming, Jeffrey M. Tharp, Brooke DiSalvo, and Thomas S.P. Geeker are prosecuting the cases.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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.
Former federal inmate sentenced to 30 years for his third child pornography violationRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A former federal inmate will return to federal prison for 30 years for his third child pornography violation, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Keanu Deavan Wesley Ortiz, 32, of Vernon, Texas, pleaded guilty to distribution of child pornography and was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker on May 11, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in the fall of 2024, Ortiz was subject to federal supervision, following his release from the Bureau of Prisons for a child pornography conviction. During that time, he engaged in online communications with another sex offender in which he discussed his sexual interest in children and child pornography. Ortiz ultimately distributed child pornography to the sex offender, who was then located in the Eastern District of Texas. The distributed video files depicted prepubescent females (including infant and toddler-aged children) being subjected to violent sexual abuse. As part of his plea, Ortiz admitted to distributing the child pornography videos in and affecting interstate and foreign commerce, between September 2024 and April 2025. This is Ortiz’ third federal conviction for child pornography violations.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa Miller.
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Former President and CEO of Failed Oklahoma Bank Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – DANNY SEIBEL, the former president and CEO of the now-defunct First National Bank of Lindsay (FNBL), has pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to court documents, Seibel, 55, of Lindsay, Oklahoma, was an executive at FNBL from in or around February 2007 until his termination in September 2024. As alleged, Seibel caused FNBL to issue loans to certain customers, many of whom were his personal friends and neighbors, that the borrowers never repaid. Seibel then manipulated the bank’s records and falsified various bank reports to falsely overstate the performance of the loans, including by using new loans or transfers of the bank’s own funds to cover overdrafts of outstanding loans.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency appointed a receiver for the bank in October 2024.
On December 3, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Seibel with bank fraud. Yesterday, Seibel pleaded guilty and admitted he knowingly executed a scheme to defraud the First National Bank of Lindsay. At sentencing, he faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Robert Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma; Acting Special Agent in Charge Joseph Melle of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher Altemus of IRS – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Special Agent in Charge Korey Brinkman of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General (FHFA-OIG) made the announcement.
FDIC-OIG, FBI, IRS-CI, and FHFA-OIG investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia E. Barry and Jackson D. Eldridge for the Western District of Oklahoma, and Trial Attorneys Mark Goldberg, Elysa Q. Wan, and J. Ryan McLaren of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.
The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers and employees whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.
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.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Former Central Valley Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal Building Materials from a Tulare County CompanyRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — David Theron Ross, 64, of Sparks, Nevada, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud as part of a two-person scheme to defraud a homebuilding company of building materials worth up to $1.5 million, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between March 2021 and December 2023, Ross and Eduardo Jara, 37, of Lindsay, conspired to defraud a construction company of building materials. Jara utilized his role as Assistant Purchasing Manager of the company to order building materials. Ross, a forklift driver for the same company during parts of the conspiracy, would pick up the materials to sell to local companies and share the proceeds with Jara. Jara would then complete the required purchase orders, purchase receipts, and purchase invoices to fictitiously show that the building materials were obtained by the company. This paperwork was turned into accounts payable and submitted to the company’s headquarters in Troy, Michigan, for payment. The company would then pay their supplier based on the fraudulently created documents.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chan Hee Chu is prosecuting the case.
Jara pleaded guilty on April 20, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 27, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff.
Ross is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Sherriff on Aug. 24, 2026. Both defendants face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 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.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Postal CrimesRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Antrell Jermaine Hillard, 33, of Live Oak, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to steal postal keys, theft of postal keys, and postal robbery/assault. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This defendant wasn’t just stealing keys from postal carriers, he was attempting to steal from everyone who relies upon the U.S. Postal Service for mail delivery. Protecting the safety of our postal carriers and the security of our mail delivery is of the utmost importance, and my office will ensure this defendant is swiftly delivered to federal prison for his crimes.”
Court documents reflect that between March 21, 2025, and March 29, 2025, the defendant conspired with others to steal Postal Service keys in Gainesville and Ocala. The defendant planned and participated in three separate incidents involving the theft of keys directly from United States Postal Service carriers while they were delivering mail. In one of the incidents, the defendant snatched a key that was still physically connected to the carrier’s belt, causing it to break from the carrier’s belt.
Hillard faces up to 5 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, 10 years’ imprisonment for theft, and ten years’ imprisonment for robbery/assault.
The case involved a joint investigation by United States Postal Inspection Service, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2026, at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before United States Chief District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
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.
Five Defendants Charged Following Investigations by the Nashville Homeland Security Task ForceRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Five defendants – including suspected associates of Tren De Aragua (“TdA”) or “Anti-Tren,” a splinter faction of TdA comprised of current and former members of TdA – have been charged with multiple felonies, including drug trafficking conspiracy, firearms trafficking conspiracy, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee.
Since approximately September 2025, Nashville HSTF agents have been investigating Maikel Jesus Albornoz-Jimenez (“ALBORNOZ”), Eduard Jesus Velasquez-Matute (“VELASQUEZ”), Faren Aldahir Marquez-Cruz (“MARQUEZ”), Jose Luis Baza-Rodriguez, a/k/a “Yonce” (“BAZA”), Luis Manuel Tovar-Virguz (“TOVAR”), and others for trafficking in firearms and narcotics throughout the Middle District of Tennessee (“MDTN”) and across the country. Over the course of the investigation, agents identified ALBORNOZ as a supplier of firearms and narcotics in the MDTN, as well as a facilitator of deals across the country, meaning that ALBORNOZ would often connect others with his co-conspirators located in other states that ALBORNOZ knew had firearms or narcotics available for sale. ALBORNOZ would often receive a kickback for facilitating the deal. VELASQUEZ and MARQUEZ were sources of supply for firearms sold by ALBORNOZ in the MDTN. Some of the firearms supplied by VELASQUEZ and MARQUEZ and sold by ALBORNOZ were previously reported stolen or associated with other acts of violence, including shootings. BAZA acted as a source of supply and facilitator of narcotics deals in Washington state, including on deals brokered by ALBORNOZ. And TOVAR engaged in trafficking methamphetamine with ALBORNOZ and supplied one firearm to ALBORNOZ for sale in the MDTN.
Charges against the Defendants
ALBORNOZ, BAZA, and TOVAR are charged with a drug trafficking conspiracy involving more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing cocaine, more than 50 grams or a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, and other controlled substances; ALBORNOZ, VELASQUEZ, and MARQUEZ are charged with a firearms trafficking conspiracy; and the defendants also face individual charges relating to using and carrying a firearm during an in relation to a drug trafficking crime, drug trafficking offenses, firearms trafficking offenses, and being an alien in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, the drug conspiracy charged in the Middle District of Tennessee involved approximately 112 grams of methamphetamine, 340 grams of MDMA and Ketamine, and 870 grams of cocaine. The charged gun trafficking conspiracy resulted in the seizure of 25 firearms, with several more firearms being seized in other jurisdictions as a result of gun deals brokered by ALBORNOZ. Of the 25 firearms seized in MDTN, 8 firearms were previously reported as stolen, and 2 have been tied to other crimes of violence based upon NIBIN results. Specifically, a Glock .40 caliber pistol has been preliminarily associated with a shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, that occurred on November 30, 2023. And a Canik 9x19mm pistol has been preliminarily associated with a shooting involving multiple victims in Nashville, Tennessee, on September 17, 2024.
Gang affiliations
Evidence recovered during this investigation has revealed that some defendants may be associates of Tren De Aragua (“TdA”), a trans-national criminal organization from Venezuela that was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States on or about February 20, 2025, and/or associates of a TdA splinter faction known as “Anti-Tren” – comprised of current and former members of TdA who are operating without or against the authority of TdA leadership in Venezuela. Members of TdA and Anti-Tren have been identified and arrested across the United States in other cases, including in Colorado, Tennessee, New York, Florida, Illinois, New Mexico, Washington, Georgia, and elsewhere.
Members of TdA and Anti-Tren are known to engage in gun trafficking, drug trafficking – particularly in “Tusi,” a drug made from various controlled substances including Ketamine and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (“MDMA”) – and to coordinate their criminal activities with each other across state lines, as was done in this case.
Additionally, in ALBORNOZ’s Apple iCloud return, Agents observed a picture of ALBORNOZ wearing what appears to be a Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales de la Policía Nacional Bolivariana (“FAES”) uniform. The FAES was a special action police force that acted in coordination with former Venezuelan President Maduro, the Colectivos, and TdA. The FAES conducted operations against the Venezuelan people who opposed the Venezuelan government and its illicit activities.
“The Homeland Security Task Force is the tip of the spear in law enforcement’s efforts to stop Transnational Criminal Organizations like TdA, ‘Anti-Tren,’ and others from further victimizing our community,” said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek, “and HSTF-Nashville is the sharpest point in the country. Illegal firearms and narcotics trafficking like the activity charged in this indictment is dangerous, enables other violence, and puts Tennesseans at risk. Thanks to the cooperation of our partner law enforcement agencies, we have all the tools we need to put these illegal gun traffickers and drug traffickers out of business for good.”
“The collaborative efforts of the Homeland Security Task Force are vital in disrupting dangerous criminal networks like Tren De Aragua and its factions,” said Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson. “By combining resources and expertise, we continue to target drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and other threats to our communities. This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to protecting the public and holding those who endanger our neighborhoods accountable.”
“Gang members and violence, combined with firearms and drug trafficking, damage entire communities and pose a threat to public safety. The ATF along with our local, state, and federal partners will continue to dismantle these criminal networks through persistent investigation, collaboration, and enforcement in order to protect the safety and security of our citizens,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet.
“This case highlights the power of partnership, combining federal, state, and local resources to fight against violent gangs and transnational criminal organizations that illegally traffic firearms and dangerous drugs across our borders,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to stop threats before more lives are put at risk and ensure criminal organizations are held accountable.”
“This investigation is about violent criminals who posed a real threat to Nashvillians and our city’s neighborhoods,” said Nashville Police Chief John Drake. “In fact, we know from ballistic testing that one of the guns seized was used in a September 17, 2024, shooting case on Mt. View Road in which two men were wounded. Our police department will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and hold accountable those who choose to commit or promote violence in this city.”
“IRS‑CI special agents are proud to stand with our partners on the Nashville Homeland Security Task Force as we follow the financial trails that expose violent gangs, firearms traffickers, and narcotics networks operating across the country,” said Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Charlotte Field Office. “By uncovering how these criminal organizations move and profit from illicit activity, we help dismantle the operations that threaten the safety of communities across the United States.”
“Drugs and violence often go hand-in-hand, tearing families apart and destroying our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “This case shows how effective law enforcement can be when agencies at every level work together; I’m very proud of the work being done by DEA and our partners on the Homeland Security Task Force to shut down criminal organizations and bring the bad actors to justice.”
Defendants’ Status to be in the United States
ALBORNOZ is a citizen of Venezuela who unlawfully entered, and admitted to illegally entering, the United States near El Paso at a time and place other than as designated by the DHS Secretary.
VELASQUEZ is a citizen of Venezuela who entered, and admitted to entering, the United States illegally on or about August 8, 2022, after crossing the Rio Grande River near Eagle Pass, Texas.
MARQUEZ is a Legal Permanent Resident originally from Honduras. On or about October 29, 2025, MARQUEZ received an Order of Deferral (Judicial Diversion) after pleading guilty to Felony Reckless Endangerment with an offense date of on or about January 9, 2025. MARQUEZ received a sentence of 18 months, beginning on October 29, 2025, and ending on April 29, 2027. As a condition of his judicial diversion, Marquez could not receive, possess, ship, or transport any firearms, ammunition, or weapons. During a search of Marquez’s residence, law enforcement seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition, two loaded firearms, extended magazines, a drum magazine, and more than $7,000 cash.
BAZA was born in Venezuela and is presently a citizen of Colombia who has admitted to entering the United States illegally on or about July 31, 2023, near Tecate, California.
TOVAR is a citizen of Venezuela who arrived at the Brownsville, Texas, Port of Entry on or about September 27, 2023, without documents sufficient for lawful entry into the United States. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered approximately $1,000 and drug paraphernalia. TOVAR has admitted to being in the United States illegally and to knowing that he cannot possess firearms.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
The Nashville HSTF comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshals Service (USMS), United States Secret Service (USSS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other federal agencies, working in collaboration with our state and local partners, with the prosecutions being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.
These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katy Risinger and DOJ Trial Attorney Katelan Doyle. AUSA Risinger is the Lead HSTF Attorney for the Nashville Homeland Security Task Force. Katelan Doyle is a trial attorney with Joint Task Force Vulcan.
A criminal Indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Felon Who Possessed Gun Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a gun was sentenced on May 7, 2026, to more than two years in federal prison.
Christopher Dante Roby, age 34, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 8, 2025, guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
At the guilty plea, Roby admitted that in December 2024, he illegally possessed a Taurus 9mm pistol. Roby had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including first degree burglary, domestic abuse assault strangulation with injury, felon in possession of a firearm, and intimidation with a weapon.
Roby was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Roby was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Roby is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa C. Williams and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 25-CR-2043.
Federal Prisoner Convicted of Involuntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – A federal jury has found Brandon Ejae Elliot (35, Tampa) guilty of one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of possession of contraband (a weapon) by a federal prisoner. Elliot faces up to 13 years in federal prison. A federal grand jury indicted Elliot on December 17, 2024. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the evidence presented at trial, on December 3, 2022, Elliot was a federal inmate in the United States Penitentiary-II at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Sumter County, Florida. During a routine count of the prisoners, Elliot and his cellmate, C.W.J., were locked in their cell at 9:30 AM. When corrections officers opened the cell at 11:00 AM, they found C.W.J. unresponsive with multiple puncture wounds to his body. A sharpened metal shank lay nearby on the cell floor. C.W.J. was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. A medical examiner determined that C.W.J. had been stabbed 12 times by an object matching the appearance and dimensions of the shank. Elliot admitted to stabbing the victim in the heart during a struggle for the weapon.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hannah Nowalk Watson and William S. Hamilton.
Federal Jury finds Dyersburg Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – On May 5, 2026, after a 3-day trial, a federal jury found Vinson Brent Taylor, 46, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, guilty of two counts of federal drug trafficking offenses. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.
The trial was bifurcated and proceeded in two phases. According to evidence presented in court during Phase I of the trial, on the night of August 8, 2024, an officer with the Dyersburg Police Department was on patrol duty when he encountered two men fighting in front of Taylor’s residence. Both of the men fled. While investigating the scene, the officer discovered a rental vehicle that was left running and had its driver-side door wide open.
The vehicle contained various quantities of crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, methamphetamine, and ecstasy. Near the center console of the vehicle were Taylor’s cellphone and a car rental agreement in his name. A hat with distinctive embroidery was also found several feet away from the vehicle. The hat was later determined by a forensic analyst to contain Taylor’s DNA. Evidence at trial also showed that Taylor had appeared on the scene of a car accident on August 7, 2024, wearing the same hat that was found at the crime scene.
During Phase II of the trial, the government presented evidence of Taylor’s prior significant criminal history which will subject him to an enhanced punishment under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 10, 2026, before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson. Taylor faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Drug trafficking offenses are at the root of some of the gravest problems facing our country. The ‘fruit’ of the drug plague is everywhere; it fills our streets, our jails, our hospitals, our morgues, and our nurseries. Federal law applies in every square inch of this district, and dealers who distribute harmful drugs in our rural communities can no longer hide.”
This case was investigated by the Dyersburg Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Immanuel Chioco and Adam Davis prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Edmond Doctor Pays $110,000 to Settle Civil Penalty Claims Stemming from Allegations of Controlled Substance Recordkeeping ViolationsRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – Edward Shadid, MD (“Dr. Shadid”), paid $110,000 to settle civil penalty claims stemming from allegations that he violated the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (“Act”) and its regulations, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
Recordkeeping is a vital part of managing controlled substances. Complete and accurate records help avoid diversions and losses of controlled drugs. A Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) registrant who transfers controlled substances between locations must comply with the applicable requirements as well as register with the DEA for each principal place of business or professional practice where controlled substances are stored. Registrants must also follow the inventory requirements when purchasing and storing controlled substances. Failure to do so subjects the registrant to civil monetary penalties.
Dr. Shadid is a board-certified spinal surgeon who operates the Spine & Pain Care of Oklahoma clinic in Edmond, Oklahoma (“Spine & Pain Edmond”) and the Spine & Pain Care of Oklahoma clinic in Lawton, Oklahoma (“Spine & Pain Lawton”). The United States alleges that from January 2024 through July 2025, Dr. Shadid failed to use DEA Form 222s when transferring Schedule II controlled substances from Spine & Pain Edmond to Spine & Pain Lawton. Dr. Shadid also failed to maintain accurate records of transfers of Schedule IV controlled substances between the same clinic locations. In addition, Dr. Shadid failed to obtain a separate DEA registration for Spine & Pain Lawton and maintain a biennial inventory of the controlled substances stored at the clinics. To resolve these allegations, Dr. Shadid agreed to pay $110,000 to the United States.
In reaching this settlement, Dr. Shadid did not admit liability, and the government did not make any concessions about the legitimacy of the claims. The agreement allows the parties to avoid the delay, expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty involved in litigating the case.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald R. Gallegos and Amanda R. Johnson prosecuted the case.
Eden Prairie Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Setting Fire to a Townhome with Children InsideRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS –An Eden Prairie man has been sentenced to 180 months in prison for setting fire to a townhome while five people, including an infant, were inside, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
According to court documents, on May 31, 2024, at 11:27 a.m., the Eden Prairie Fire Department responded to a fire in a townhome. When the fire started, there were five people in the house, including one adult man and four children. When emergency responders arrived, they met the adult male occupant and three children outside, but the fourth child, a nine-month-old baby (Minor A), was still in the burning house. Eden Prairie firefighters entered the residence and found Minor A, who survived the fire but needed to be transported by ambulance to the hospital.According to court documents and the record at sentencing, Abdirahman Abdi Abdullahi, 23, was on probation for violating a restraining order that prohibited him from contacting Minor A’s mother, who lived in the burned home. Two days before the fire, Abdullahi sent a threatening message to Minor A’s mother stating, “when I see u I’m smoke u.” On that same day, Abdullahi arrived at the door of the house and threatened to kill Minor A’s mother. The day of the fire, Abdullahi used rental car rented by a third party. He traveled to a nearby gas station with a red gas can, which he filled with gasoline. He then parked the car in a parking lot down the street from the burned home where it was hidden by a row of hedges. Wearing plastic gloves, he carried the gas can and a large plastic bag, later found to be full of clothes, through the hedges to the victim’s home. A fire investigation showed that Abdullahi used that gas can to douse the bag of clothes, which he set fire to at the entrance of the home. The flames collapsed the garage roof, melted the front doorknob, and ultimately destroyed the home. The fire damaged neighboring townhomes, as well.
Abdullahi pleaded guilty to Arson Resulting in Personal Injury as charged in the Indictment. At sentencing, the Court found that Abdullahi’s intended to cause the death of Minor A’s mother when he set the fire. The Court noted Abdullahi’s level of planning and his “calculated, cold” preparation. As a result, the sentence for Arson followed the sentencing guidelines for Attempted Murder.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minnesota State Fire Marshal, the Eden Prairie Police Department, and the Eden Prairie Fire Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William C. Mattessich and Matthew C. Murphy prosecuted the case.Department of Justice Files Complaint Against B.E.S.T. GDR, LLC, Doing Business as Premium Home Service, and its CEO Yosef Bernath for Violations of the FTC Act and Related LawsRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice, acting on a referral from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), along with the Attorney General of Illinois and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, announced today the filing of a civil complaint to stop an Illinois company and its owner from deceiving consumers in connection with the sale of home repair and improvement services in violation of federal and state law. The matter was investigated by the FTC and the Office of the Illinois Attorney General.
The Department of Justice filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, against B.E.S.T. GDR, LLC, doing business as Premium Home Service, and its founder and CEO, Yosef Bernath. As alleged in the complaint, the defendants orchestrated a nationwide scheme which deceived consumers who sought local home services, such as plumbing, heating, or electrical work. According to the complaint, the defendants fabricated local identities nationwide by creating over 15,000 fake business profiles on Google Search and Maps. These profiles allegedly used brick-and-mortar addresses often belonging to unrelated businesses and local phone numbers that routed to overseas call centers. The complaint further alleges that the defendants posted fake consumer reviews which praised their fake business profiles. In doing so, the defendants allegedly misappropriated the images of people from the staff directories of unrelated websites.
According to the complaint, the defendants collected fees by claiming to be a local company that provided services directly to the consumer. Instead, the defendants referred the work to third-party contractors. Posing as the defendants’ employees, many of these contractors lacked proper qualifications, performed substandard work, arrived late, or failed to appear at all. The complaint alleges that this conduct violates the FTC Act, the FTC Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials, the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, and the Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Additionally, the complaint alleges that the defendants violated the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act because they obtained consumers’ debit and credit card numbers by making false statements or representations about the nature and value of the defendants’ fees.
“When Americans shop for home services, they are not just choosing the lowest price; they are investing in their home and assessing the reliability of the person they let through the front door,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice is committed to working with the FTC to protect consumers from businesses that misrepresent their identities and the quality and reliability of their services.”
“Premium Home Service’s use of fake business profiles and reviews violates federal and state laws, harming consumers and businesses,” said Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The Trump-Vance FTC is committed to addressing deceptive conduct that harms the American people and undermines competition.”
“Premium Home Service spent years establishing fake businesses with fake reviews to lure in customers who were in need of home repairs,” said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. “Individuals who scam the unsuspecting public have no place in our communities, and I appreciate the partnership of the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice in working to hold this company accountable.”
The complaint seeks a permanent injunction to prohibit the defendants from future violations, monetary civil penalties, and redress for injury caused to consumers.
The United States is represented in this action by Assistant Director Patrick R. Runkle, Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson, and Trial Attorneys Cadesby B. Cooper and Colin W. Trundle, from the Civil Division’s Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch. The FTC is represented in this action by William J. Hodor and Karen D. Dodge. The Office of the Illinois Attorney General is represented by Assistant Attorneys General Amanda Palmer, Dale Lichtenstein, Thomas P. James, and Janice Parker.
Additional information about the Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/enforcement-affirmative-litigation-branch.
Dangerous Felon Sentenced After SWAT StandoffRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- Al Stevenson McGhee, 47, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to two years and seven months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty possession of firearms by a felon. His federal sentence will run consecutively to any sentence imposed in his pending Marion County case, which includes charges of criminal confinement with a deadly weapon, intimidation, criminal recklessness for shooting into a building, and unlawful carrying of a handgun.
According to court documents, on November 6, 2024, McGhee pointed a silver revolver at his girlfriend when she returned home from work. After threatening to shoot her if she left her bedroom, the victim escaped through a window, fled down the street, and contacted her sister, who called 911.
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to investigate the reported intimidation and confinement. When officers attempted to contact McGhee, he refused to respond. A perimeter was established, and repeated attempts were made to gain compliance. As IMPD SWAT officers approached to breach the door, McGhee threatened to shoot them and fired multiple rounds, including one that struck near the front door of the home. The standoff continued for several hours, during which McGhee repeatedly threatened officers and fired additional shots, including at a police drone. He was taken into custody in the early morning hours of November 7, 2024, without officers discharging their weapons.
A search of the residence revealed four rounds fired above the doorway where officers had been standing and a bullet hole within two feet of their position. No officers were harmed during the standoff.
McGhee has a troubling criminal history, including convictions for cruelty to an animal, invasion of privacy involving a protected victim, carrying a handgun without a license, and felony criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. During the last incident, officers had responded to multiple reports of shots fired. Witnesses reported McGhee making threatening statements from his porch, and neighbors provided videos showing him brandishing and waving weapons. A search warrant executed at his residence uncovered approximately 35 spent casings scattered outside and multiple firearms inside, including an assault-style pistol, several handguns, and a revolver. McGhee had been discharged from probation for this prior felony conviction on November 23, 2023.
“McGhee poses an extreme danger - not only to the community at large, but to the individuals he targets, ranging from neighbors to romantic partners to law enforcement officers. He is an unpredictable, violent felon with a history of rapidly escalating situations through threats and the reckless use of firearms,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Thank you to the brave IMPD officers for protecting both the victim and the general public, along with the ATF for holding McGhee accountable.”
“The ATF is pleased with the outcome of this case and relieved that no one was injured during this dangerous incident. We remain committed to supporting the IMPD and all our local law enforcement partners in holding violent armed offenders accountable and ensuring the safety of our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge, Jorge Rosendo.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela Domash, who prosecuted this case.
The case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.
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.
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Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Fully Automatic Firearm and Drum Magazine While on Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man has pleaded guilty in federal court today for illegal possession of a firearm.
Terrquan J. Beasley, 27, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Jan. 16, 2026, officers from the Sugar Creek Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a car Beasley was driving because it had a license plate belonging to a different car. Beasley fled from law enforcement and crashed his vehicle into trees during the flight. After his arrest, officers located a loaded Glock handgun in Beasley’s vehicle, which had a machine gun conversion device (MCD) attached to the slide, making the Glock a fully automatic weapon. The Glock also had a 50-round drum magazine attached to it, loaded with 26 rounds in it. Beasley admitted to possessing that firearm.
At the time he had this firearm, Beasley had already been convicted of being a felon in possession and was on supervised release for that offense.
Under federal statutes, Beasley is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentence of the defendant will be determined by the court based upon the advisory sentencing guidelines and other factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Foley. It was investigated by the Sugar Creek, Missouri Police Department and the United States Marshals Service.
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.
Cleburne County Man Sentenced to 36 Years in Prison for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ANNISTON, Ala. – A Cleburne County man has been sentenced for his involvement in crimes against children, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Magnus Clark, 31, of Heflin, Alabama, to 432 months in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. In January, Clark pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. These convictions will require Clark to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to the plea agreement, between November 2023 and June 2024, Clark uploaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to Snapchat and Kik social media applications. During a federal search warrant for Clark’s residence executed in June 2024, Clark admitted to federal agents that he viewed CSAM and used various file sharing applications to trade CSAM videos and images with others. A forensic analysis of Clark’s devices revealed more than 1,000 videos and 761 images of CSAM.
FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case along with the ALEA SBI, and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.
If you suspect or become aware of the possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Canadian Illegal Alien and Co-Conspirator Charged in $13 Million Cryptocurrency Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned an indictment charging a Canadian illegal alien and his alleged co-conspirator for their roles in a cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering scheme that caused more than $13 million in losses.
According to court documents, Trenton Richard David Johnston, 19, of Canada, who overstayed his visa and remained in the U.S. unlawfully, operated a sophisticated fraud scheme while living in the Miami area. Johnston and other co-conspirators allegedly impersonated support representatives from a popular search engine and cryptocurrency-related companies to gain unauthorized access to victims’ digital accounts and cryptocurrency wallets. Once access was obtained, the conspirators allegedly transferred victims’ cryptocurrency holdings for their own benefit. Investigators estimate that victims have suffered losses exceeding $13 million, with additional victims continuing to be identified.
The indictment further alleges that Brandon Michael Tardibone, 28, of Miami, knowingly harbored Johnston while Johnston was unlawfully present in the U.S. by providing him lodging at a luxury Miami-area residence in an effort to evade immigration authorities.
In addition, Johnston and Tardibone are accused of laundering proceeds of the fraud scheme through a series of financial transactions designed to conceal the nature and source of the funds. Trenton and Tardibone allegedly used more than $1 million in illicit proceeds to lease luxury vehicles, purchase high-end jewelry, and finance an extravagant nightlife and entertainment lifestyle.
Johnston is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Tardibone is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and harboring an alien in the U.S. If convicted, Johnston faces up to 20 years in prison on the conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering counts. Tardibone faces up to 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy charge and up to 10 years in prison on the harboring charge.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.
HSI Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Golden Beach Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson K. Dering V and Robert F. Moore are prosecuting the case.
An indictment/complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov, under case number 26-cr-20181.
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Canadian American Man Pleads Guilty for Role in Deadly Alien Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A dual Canadian American Citizen pleaded guilty today for his role in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of a family, including two children under the age of three, in the St. Lawrence River.
According to court documents, Timothy Oakes, 35, from the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Territory in Canada, was a key facilitator in a human smuggling organization (HSO) that smuggled aliens from Canada into northern New York. Oakes, working with the HSO, routinely smuggled aliens into the United States by piloting boats across the St. Lawrence River. Additionally, Oakes used his home on Cornwall Island, Ontario as a staging area for aliens before the HSO smuggled them into the United States. Oakes earned approximately $1,000 for every alien whom he smuggled into the United States.
Beginning in and around 2023, the defendant worked with an HSO that smuggled aliens from mainland Cornwall, Ontario, Canada to Cornwall Island and through the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian reserve into the Northern District of New York. The organization routinely smuggled aliens from various countries, to include Romania and India. The organization arranged for aliens to stay in local motels in Cornwall before they were transported to the border area of the reserve. The organization would then transport aliens from mainland Cornwall to Cornwall Island and stage the aliens along the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Other members of the organization would then transport the aliens by boat over the St. Lawrence River to drivers who transported them further into the Northern District of New York. The defendant’s role in the organization was to stage aliens at his home and, at times, transport the aliens by boat across the river.
On the night of March 29, 2023, Oakes transported a family of four Romanian nationals to a public boat launch on the tip of Cornwall Island.At approximately 9:30 p.m., Oakes brought his boat to the boat launch where he left it and the Romanian family for his brother Casey Oakes to use to bring the aliens across the river into the United States. While in transit, and shortly thereafter, the boat capsized due to severe weather. As a result, the Romanian family and Casey Oakes died. The defendant proceeded with the transport despite members of the alien smuggling organization being aware of the dangerous weather conditions on the St. Lawrence River, specifically high winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility.
Oakes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain, and four counts of alien smuggling resulting in death. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 11 and faces a minimum penalty of five years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Co-conspirators Dakota Montour, 32, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, 45, both of the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian reserve, New York, and Janet Terrance, 46, of Hogansburg, New York, entered guilty pleas on Jan. 23, 2025, Oct. 8, 2024, and March 6, 2025, respectively. Co-conspirators Stephanie Square, 53, and Rahsontanohstha Delormier, also known as Storm, 31, both of the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Territory in Canada, were extradited to the United States from Canada in 2025 at the request of the U.S. government and are awaiting trial.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York and Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo Field Office made today’s announcement.
HSI Massena engaged in an extensive years-long investigation of the case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, New York State Police, Canada Border Services Agency, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Cornwall Police Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Square and Delormier.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; and more than 350 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Trial Attorney Lindsey Roberson of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
Bath Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing $225,200 from an Elderly Disabled VeteranRead the Press Release
Bath Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing $225,200 From an Elderly Disabled Veteran
CONCORD – A Bath man was sentenced today in federal court for stealing $225,200 from an elderly disabled veteran, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Donald Estes, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 21 months in prison and 1 year of supervised release. He was also sentenced to pay $225,200 in restitution. On February 2, 2026, Estes pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud.
“The defendant stole almost a quarter million dollars from an elderly disabled veteran to squander on things like a snowmobile and jewelry. Today’s sentence shows that those who victimize the men and women who served our country face federal imprisonment,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan.
“Every American owes a debt of gratitude to those who served our country, and this sentence sends a clear message that individuals who commit fraud against veterans will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Algieri with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts on this investigation.”
“Postal Inspectors, alongside our federal law enforcement partners, uncovered Donald Estes’ egregious scheme to steal from a vulnerable victim, all to line his own pockets and bank accounts with money he stole from a veteran,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Jason Buckley of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. “Today’s outcome reinforces our resolve to pursue those who exploit our service members. We remain committed to investigating those who prey on our veterans instead of respecting the sacrifices they have made for this country.”
The victim was an elderly disabled veteran who was living in a nursing home. The victim was unable to manage his own money or make decisions. Each month, the Department of Veterans Affairs deposited disability benefits into the victim’s bank account. Initially, the victim’s mother served as the victim’s legal guardian until she passed away. After, the victim’s nursing home reached out to Estes asking whether he would serve as the victim’s legal guardian. Estes never applied to serve as the victim’s legal guardian. Instead, Estes had the victim sign an agreement adding Estes to the victim’s bank account. Between August 2020 and December 2023, Estes proceeded to steal $225,200 from the bank account. Estes misspent the stolen funds on items such as a snowmobile, jewelry, and vacation, and deposited approximately $85,000 of the stolen funds into bank accounts he controlled.
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.
Arcadia, California, Mayor Federally Charged with Acting as Illegal Agent of the People’s Republic of ChinaRead the Press Release
The mayor of Arcadia, California, has been charged in federal court with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Justice Department announced today.
Eileen Wang, 58, of Arcadia, is charged via information with one count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
In a related filing, Wang has agreed to plead guilty to the felony count, which comes with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
She is expected to make her initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Wang is expected to plead guilty in the coming weeks.
Wang was elected in November 2022 to the Arcadia City Council, a five-person governing body from which the mayor is selected on a rotating basis.
“Individuals elected to public office in the United States should act only for the people of the United States that they represent,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “It is deeply concerning that someone who previously received and executed directives from PRC government officials is now in a position of public trust at all, but particularly so because that relationship with that foreign government had never been disclosed.”
“Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “This plea agreement is the latest success in our determination to defend the homeland against China’s efforts to corrupt our institutions.”
“By her own admission, Eileen Wang secretly served the interests of the Chinese government,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Let this serve as a clear warning: individuals who act on behalf of foreign governments to influence our democracy will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice. Protecting the rule of law and the transparency of our democratic process remains at the core of the FBI’s mission, and we will continue working alongside our partners to safeguard the integrity of our elections and keep hostile actors from undermining the voices of the American people.”
According to her plea agreement, from late 2020 through 2022, Wang and Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 65, of Chino Hills, California, worked at the direction and control of PRC government officials and coordinated with U.S.-based individuals to promote the PRC’s interests by, among other things, promoting pro-PRC propaganda in the United States. Sun is serving a four-year federal prison sentence after he pleaded guilty in October 2025 to acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
Wang and Sun worked together to operate U.S. News Center, a website that purported to be a news source for the local Chinese American community. Wang and Sun received and executed directives from PRC government officials to post pro-PRC content on the website.
For example, in June 2021, a PRC official contacted Wang and other individuals via the WeChat encrypted messaging application with pre-written news articles, including a PRC official-written essay in the Los Angeles Times that stated: “China’s Stance on the Xinjiang Issue – There is no genocide in Xinjiang; there is no such thing as ‘forced labor’ in any production activity, including cotton production. Spreading such rumor to do defame China, destroy Xinjiang’s safety and stability, weaken local economy, suppress China’s development[.]”
Minutes later, Wang posted the article on her own website and responded to the PRC official with a link to the article on her website. The others in the group chat did the same. The PRC official responded: “So fast, thank you everyone.”
In August 2021, Wang and three other members of the same group chat shared links to the same article on their respective “news” websites, after which the PRC official thanked them for their “reporting.” At the PRC official’s request, Wang made edits to the article, sent the official a link to the article reflecting the requested change, then sent the official a screenshot showing the article had been viewed 15,128 times. In response, the official messaged, “Great!,” Wang replied, “Thank you leader.”
In November 2021, Wang communicated with John Chen, a high-level member of the PRC intelligence apparatus, who regularly attended elite Chinese Communist Party functions, including military parades, and met personally with PRC President Xi Jinping, according to court documents. Wang asked Chen to post a “news” article from her website, and wrote, “This is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to send.”
Chen was sentenced in November 2024 to 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in the Southern District of New York to acting as an illegal agent of the PRC and conspiracy to bribe a public official.
Wang admitted in her plea agreement that she did not notify the Attorney General that she was acting in the United States as an agent of the PRC, that she was located in the United States when she engaged in these acts, and that did she not disclose on her website that some of its content had been posted at the direction of members of the PRC government.
The FBI is investigating this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda B. Elbogen for the Central District of California is prosecuting this case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
Arcadia Mayor Federally Charged with Acting as Illegal Agent of the People’s Republic of ChinaRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – The mayor of Arcadia has been charged in federal court with acting as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Justice Department announced today.
Eileen Wang, 56, of Arcadia, is charged via information with one count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
In a related filing, Wang has agreed to plead guilty to the felony count, which comes with a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
She is expected to make her initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Wang is expected to plead guilty in the coming weeks.
Wang was elected in November 2022 to the Arcadia City Council, a five-person governing body from which the mayor is selected on a rotating basis.
“Individuals in our country who covertly do the bidding of foreign governments undermine our democracy,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “This plea agreement is the latest success in our determination to defend the homeland against China’s efforts to corrupt our institutions.”
“Individuals elected to public office in the United States should act only for the people of the United States that they represent,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “It is deeply concerning that someone who previously received and executed directives from PRC government officials is now in a position of public trust at all, but particularly so because that relationship with that foreign government had never been disclosed.”
“By her own admission, Eileen Wang secretly served the interests of the Chinese government,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “Let this serve as a clear warning: Individuals who act on behalf of foreign governments to influence our democracy will be identified, investigated, and brought to justice. Protecting the rule of law and the transparency of our democratic process remains at the core of the FBI’s mission, and we will continue working alongside our partners to safeguard the integrity of our elections and keep hostile actors from undermining the voices of the American people.”
"All Americans should be alarmed to learn an elected official was brazenly spreading propaganda on behalf of the Chinese government," said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. "The FBI is dedicated to rooting out those illegally acting as agents of a foreign government as they do the bidding of America’s adversaries."
According to her plea agreement, from late 2020 through 2022, Wang and Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 65, of Chino Hills, worked at the direction and control of PRC government officials and coordinated with U.S.-based individuals to promote the PRC’s interests by, among other things, promoting pro-PRC propaganda in the United States. Sun is serving a four-year federal prison sentence after he pleaded guilty in October 2025 to acting as an illegal agent of a foreign government.
Wang and Sun worked together to operate U.S. News Center, a website that purported to be a news source for the local Chinese American community. Wang and Sun received and executed directives from PRC government officials to post pro-PRC content on the website.
For example, in June 2021, a PRC official contacted Wang and other individuals via the WeChat encrypted messaging application with pre-written news articles, including a PRC official-written essay in the Los Angeles Times that stated: “China’s Stance on the Xinjiang Issue – There is no genocide in Xinjiang; there is no such thing as ‘forced labor’ in any production activity, including cotton production. Spreading such rumor to do defame China, destroy Xinjiang’s safety and stability, weaken local economy, suppress China’s development[.]”
Minutes later, Wang posted the article on her own website and responded to the PRC official with a link to the article on her website. The others in the group chat did the same. The PRC official responded: “So fast, thank you everyone.”
In August 2021, Wang and three other members of the same group chat shared links to the same article on their respective “news” websites, after which the PRC official thanked them for their “reporting.” At the PRC official’s request, Wang made edits to the article, sent the official a link to the article reflecting the requested change, then sent the official a screenshot showing the article had been viewed 15,128 times. In response, the official messaged, “Great!,” Wang replied, “Thank you leader.”
In November 2021, Wang communicated with John Chen, a high-level member of the PRC intelligence apparatus, who regularly attended elite Chinese Communist Party functions, including military parades, and met personally with PRC President Xi Jinping, according to court documents. Wang asked Chen to post a “news” article from her website, and wrote, “This is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wants to send.”
Chen was sentenced in November 2024 to 20 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in the Southern District of New York to acting as an illegal agent of the PRC and conspiracy to bribe a public official.
Wang admitted in her plea agreement that she did not notify the Attorney General that she was acting in the United States as an agent of the PRC, that she was located in the United States when she engaged in these acts, and that did she not disclose on her website that some of its content had been posted at the direction of members of the PRC government.
The FBI is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Amanda B. Elbogen of the National Security Division is prosecuting this case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
Apopka Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID-19 FraudRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – Emmet Bowens (57, Apopka) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dalton to 63 months in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $739,582, the proceeds of the offenses. Bowens pleaded guilty on January 26, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on May 5, 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bowens submitted a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan application claiming to own the business “Buccaneer Technologies.” The PPP was a provision of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act enacted to provide immediate assistance to individuals, families, and organizations affected by the COVID-19 emergency. Under the terms of the program, the loans were backed by the United States Small Business Administration and the full principal amount of could qualify for forgiveness.
As part of his application, Bowens certified that Buccaneer Technologies had 102 employees with an average monthly payroll of $295,883. In support of his loan application, Bowens submitted fraudulent tax records. Bowens also filed Articles of Incorporation for his sham business six days after his loan application was filed. The IP address used to submit the loan application was registered to Bowens’ residential address. The application information included Bowens’ social security number and a copy of his drivers license.
The loan was approved in the amount of $739,582 which was disbursed to Bowens’ personal checking account. Bowens then further distributed the funds into various accounts, including funding three new accounts with $250,000, $250,000 and $115,000, respectively. Bowens spent some of the funds on across-country road trip, during which he and his wife were captured on bank surveillance withdrawing $44,000 in cash.
After being charged and released on bond conditions, Bowens cut off his ankle monitor and fled the jurisdiction. Bowens was a fugitive for a year and a half before being located and arrested in the Northern District of Mississippi.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Small Business Administration. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel S. Lyons and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Testerman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Andrejko.
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.
Albuquerque Man Convicted of Fentanyl Trafficking Following Multi-City High-Speed PursuitRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – After a four-day trial, a federal jury convicted an Albuquerque man of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl following a high-speed pursuit through multiple New Mexico cities.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Tevin King, 33, was the subject of an active federal arrest warrant on August 19, 2024, related to a supervised release violation. Surveillance indicated King was in Hobbs, New Mexico, where agents observed a black Malibu departing a residence and tracked it as it traveled to Portales, New Mexico.
Law enforcement followed the vehicle to a Stripes gas station in Portales. There, the passenger exited the driver’s seat and entered the store, creating an opportunity for agents to move in on the vehicle. King, who had been concealed inside, then moved into the driver’s seat and fled as agents attempted to contain the car.
During the pursuit, King drove at high speed while attempting to evade law enforcement. As agents followed closely, King discarded canvas tote bag from the driver’s side window near Eastern New Mexico University. The bag was observed by law enforcement and also by a civilian who retrieved the bag and delivered it to campus police. The bag contained approximately 16,000 fentanyl pills.
The pursuit continued into Clovis, New Mexico, where King’s vehicle collided with a law enforcement unit in a residential area, ending the chase and resulting in King’s arrest.
King was convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Following the verdict, the Court ordered that King remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, King faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho of Homeland Security Investigations El Paso made the announcement today.
Homeland Security Investigations El Paso investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Portales Police Department, Clovis Police Department, the Lea County Drug Task Force, and the Region V Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Mease and Natasha Moghadam are prosecuting this case.
8 May 2026
“Operation Red Card”Read the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Over the past week, federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, with the help of prosecutors, cleared 442 warrants, most of which are for violent crimes.
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the results of “Operation Red Card”, a multi-agency law enforcement operation that identified, apprehended, and initiated prosecution against some of the most violent offenders in the Greater Kansas City, Mo. metro area. Its mission was straightforward: use existing Missouri and Kansas City-based law enforcement resources in a coordinated way to serve warrants across partner agencies, arrest individuals wanted for serious crimes and identify additional evidence that supports successful prosecution.
This effort resulted in 442 warrants being cleared, and 170 defendants charged with various offenses, involving firearms and narcotics. During the investigations into these matters, law enforcement seized a total of 8.8 pounds of fentanyl, 418 pounds of methamphetamine, 247 firearms, 52 pounds of ketamine, 15 pounds of MDMA, 6 pounds of cocaine, and $460,872. In addition, five warrants were cleared for individuals wanted for homicide,
“Operation Red Card represents the tremendous progress that occurs when federal, state, and local agencies collaborate and align their priorities, resources, and focus to confront violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price for the Western District of Missouri. “Through this unified effort, people across greater Kansas City, and visitors this summer, can rest easier knowing that dangerous individuals have been removed from our streets.”
U.S. Attorney Price thanks the partner agencies in this coordinated effort including:
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Homeland Security Investigations
- Independence Police Department
- Jackson County Drug Task Force
- Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
- Kansas City Kansas Police Department
- Kansas City Missouri Police Department
- United States Marshals Service
- And the United States Postal Inspection Service
“The idea behind Operation Red Card is simple. When company is coming over, our home should be a place where guests feel welcomed and able to safely enjoy themselves. We are doing no different on both sides of the state line here in Kansas City with this operation.” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Since becoming the U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas, I’ve prioritized strengthening the relationship between the federal government and our local and state law enforcement partners. Operation Red Card has continued these efforts by reinforcing that unified communication and combined muscle memory in anticipation of the World Cup. The entire Kansas City metropolitan area can rest assured that we are doing everything in our power to ensure we have a safe and historic international sporting event.”
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.
The charges contained in any charging document are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Woonsocket Man Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Woonsocket man was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for receiving, possessing, and accessing with intent to view child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Jerry Lee Davenport, 51, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to ten years of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $6000 restitution to the victims.
Davenport pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025, to possessing child pornography.
According to court documents, in March 2023, members of Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information that Davenport had received and viewed images containing child sexual abuse material. During a search of Davenport’s Woonsocket residence, law enforcement located several thumb drives in a locked drawer in Davenport’s bedroom containing numerous images of CSAM.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
The matter was investigated by members of Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
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/
Woman Indicted and Arrested for Lying to the FBIRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On April 30, 2026, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging a San Juan woman with providing false statements to the FBI. According to court documents, Joely Rodríguez-Villega, 28, willfully and knowingly made materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the Government of the United States, all in violation of Title 18, USC, Section 1001. Rodríguez-Villega is charged with lying to FBI Agents regarding her whereabouts during the evening hours of March 29, 2024.
The defendant made her initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mariana Bauzá of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted, she faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Carlos Goris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI made the announcement.
The FBI and the Puerto Rico Police Department are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Díaz-González and Joseph Russell from the Gang Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Vsoft Corporation Agrees to Pay Nearly $2.3 Million to Resolve Allegations It Improperly Obtained A PPP LoanRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced today that VSoft Corporation (VSoft), a banking and payment solutions provider located in Atlanta, Georgia, has agreed to pay $2,291,927.07 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by providing false information to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was not eligible.
This settlement resolves allegations that VSoft misrepresented that it was a small business with less than 300 employees on its application for a second round PPP loan of $1,259,732.00—when instead, VSoft was part of an international corporation with multiple locations worldwide, totaling well over the 300-employee limit for second round PPP loans.
This matter arose from a lawsuit filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit is captioned United States ex rel. GHGH2, Inc. v. Vsoft Technologies Corporation; Case No. 3:24-cv-999 (W.D.N.C.).
The government’s investigation was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Johnson.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.
Vermont United States Attorney’s Office Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
BURLINGTON – National Police Week will be observed from Sunday, May 10, 2026, to Saturday, May 16, 2026. National Police Week is set aside each year to recognize the significant contributions and extraordinary work by law enforcement in keeping our communities safe. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont thanks all federal, state, county, and local law enforcement officers in Vermont for their service and sacrifice.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt stated: “Police officers are vital guardians, essential to maintaining the thriving communities within which we live. Over 1,000 police officers, sheriff’s deputies, troopers, and agents work tirelessly across Vermont to prevent the victimization of the vulnerable and apprehend those who commit crime. These law enforcement officers face dangerous and challenging situations on a daily basis, and their commitment to serving and protecting our community is truly inspiring. I invite all Vermonters to honor the courageous law enforcement professionals who serve the public and call on good men and women to join them in the ranks of this noble profession.”
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Based on data compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), 109 law enforcement officers died in the line of duty in 2025.
Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office encourages Vermonters and citizens across the country to remember and honor those who gave their lives so the rest of us can live safely.
As stated on NLEOMF’s website, the names of all officers killed in the line of duty are engraved on the walls of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington D.C. and will be read aloud during the annual Candlelight Vigil on the National Mall, on May 13, 2026. This year, U.S. Border Patrol Agent David “Chris” Maland’s name will be added to the Memorial. Agent Maland was shot and killed in the line of duty on January 20, 2025, in Coventry, Vermont.
The schedule of National Police Week events is available on NLEOMF’s website.
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Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.
Veazie Man Sentenced for Enticing Minors and Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Veazie man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for two counts of enticing a minor and one count of possessing child pornography.
U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Austin Cocchiaro, 24, to 10 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Cocchiaro pleaded guilty on September 30, 2025.
According to court records, in 2022 and again in 2024, Cocchiaro used his cell phone to induce a minor to participate in the production of child pornography. He also offered to pay for images using an online payment application. On November 14, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at Cocchiaro’s home in Veazie resulting in the discovery of additional child pornography on two cell phones he owned.
The FBI investigated the case.
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’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, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 83 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 83 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On May 1, Alexis Rios, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found two unauthorized immigrants from Guatemala concealed in a non-factory compartment beneath the spare tire wheel well of the defendant’s car at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
- On May 4, Juan Manuel Quintana Amador, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found more than 25 pounds of cocaine concealed in the bathroom wall of a commercial passenger bus applying for entry to the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
- On May 5, Jose Miguel Carcamo Maradiaga, a citizen of Honduras, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, Border Patrol agents found the defendant hiding in the brush approximately one mile north of the border and six miles west of the Tecate Port of Entry He was previously deported to Honduras in August 2024 through Alexandria, Louisiana.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
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.
U.K. Executive Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that RODERIC SAGE pled guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States in connection with a scheme to help high-value U.S. taxpayer-clients conceal more than $60 million in income and assets held in undeclared, offshore bank accounts and evade U.S. income taxes. SAGE was presented yesterday and pled guilty earlier today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods.
“As admitted, Roderic Sage helped U.S. taxpayers conceal more than $60 million in offshore accounts through a scheme designed to hide assets from the IRS,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “For years, Sage and his co-conspirators used layers of nominee accounts and offshore entities to disguise the true ownership of these funds and evade U.S. taxes. Offshore schemes are not beyond the reach of American law enforcement, and this case shows the strength of international cooperation in identifying and dismantling complex financial fraud schemes. It is straightforward: tax fraud is a fraud on your fellow Americans, and they want tax fraudsters brought to justice.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court:
SAGE was the founder and CEO of a Hong Kong financial services firm. From in or about 2008 to in or about 2014, SAGE and his co-conspirators defrauded the IRS by concealing income and assets of high-value U.S. taxpayer-clients with undeclared bank accounts at Privatbank IHAG Zurich AG (“IHAG”), a Swiss private bank. In order to assist the U.S. taxpayer-clients, SAGE and his co-conspirators devised and implemented a scheme dubbed the “Singapore Solution” to fraudulently conceal the bank accounts of the U.S. taxpayer-clients, their assets, and their income from U.S. authorities. In furtherance of the fraudulent scheme, SAGE and his co-conspirators conspired to transfer more than $60 million from undeclared IHAG bank accounts of the U.S. taxpayer-clients through a series of nominee bank accounts in Hong Kong and other locations before returning the funds to newly opened accounts at IHAG in the name of a Singapore-based asset management firm that a co-conspirator helped establish. The U.S. taxpayer-clients paid large fees to IHAG and others to help them conceal their funds and assets and evade taxes.
SAGE was arrested on May 7, 2025, in the United Kingdom and extradited to the United States.
* * *
SAGE, 73, of Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. SAGE is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Woods on July 30, 2026.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of IRS-CI. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, Interpol, and the United Kingdom’s National Extradition Unit and the Crown Prosecution Service for their assistance in the arrest and extradition of the defendant. Mr. Clayton further thanked the Justice Department’s Criminal Division for their partnership on this case.
This prosecution is being handled by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit and the Tax Section of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olga I. Zverovich and Matthew Weinberg and Senior Litigation Counsel Mark F. Daly of the Tax Section are in charge of the prosecution.
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.
Tyler Toomey Sworn in as the Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Attorney’s OfficeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – On May 4, 2026, Tyler Toomey was sworn in as the Public Affairs Specialist for the Northern District Of New York U.S. Attorney’s Office.First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “I am proud to welcome Tyler Toomey to our team and look forward to utilizing his experience and expertise in media relations and community affairs to highlight the good work the men and women of the United States Attorney’s Office and our Federal partners are doing.”
Toomey, a Syracuse-area native who resides in Oswego County, will lead communication and public outreach efforts on behalf of First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District. In this role, he will coordinate media relations and assist in issuing communications about major prosecutions and public safety initiatives in support of the Department of Justice mission. Toomey comes to the U.S. Attorney’s Office after serving as a staffer in the New York State Assembly for former Minority Leader William Barclay and most recently Minority Leader Ed Ra.
Two Men Charged for Illegal Firearms after Harrisonville Traffic StopRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two members of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs were charged by criminal complaint after they were stopped in Harrisonville, Mo. while armed with firearms.
Marvin Paup, aka “Bandido Marv,” 52 and Joseph McCollum, 63, were charged in a two-count criminal complaint. Both individuals are charged with being felons in possession of a firearm.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, a Harrisonville police officer observed motorcycles which were traveling together. The officer observed Paup pull out from a stop sign and cut off a vehicle. The vehicle had to slam on its brakes to avoid colliding with Paup. The officer continued to follow the motorcycles and observed Paup cross the center line and then conducted a traffic stop of the motorcycles.
During the stop, both Paup and McCollum stated they were carrying firearms inside their “cuts” (leather vests). Paup’s cut identified him as the vice president of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, El Dorado, Kan. Chapter. McCollum’s cut identified him as the vice president of the Avispon Motorcycle Club, El Dorado chapter. Both Paup and McCollum were interviewed and admitted to possessing their respective firearms. Both Paup and McCollum were previously convicted of felony offenses.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case was investigated by the Harrisonville, Missouri Police Department and the Independence, Missouri Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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.
Two Illegal Immigrants Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation, Accused of Hiring at Least 10 OthersRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Two illegal immigrants from Honduras were indicted Wednesday and accused of hiring at least 10 other illegal aliens.
Oscar Ruiz-Oliva, 41, and Jorge Manuel Oliva-Paguada, 37, were indicted on one count each of knowingly and intentionally engaging in a pattern of hiring unauthorized aliens, knowingly hiring at least ten unauthorized aliens in a 12-month period and illegal re-entry into the United States after being deported. Ruiz-Oliva was deported in 2009 near Phoenix and Oliva-Paguada was deported in 2013 near Houston. Oliva-Paguada also faces one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, namely a .40-caliber pistol.
A motion to have Ruiz-Oliva held in jail until trial says he employed at least 25 illegal aliens.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Ware and Kyle Bateman 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. HSTF St. Louis comprises agents and officers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Untied States Marshal Service (USMS); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Internal Revenue Service (IRS); and United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Three-time deported illegal alien arrested and charged after assaulting federal immigration officers in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Lewisville, has been arrested and charged following an assault on federal immigration officers in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jose Andres Hernandez Medina, 38, a Mexican national illegally living in the United States, was charged by complaint with assaulting or impeding federal officers in the Eastern District of Texas. Hernandez Medina was in court on May 8, 2026, for an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bill Davis.
The federal complaint alleges that on April 30, 2026, federal officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement were conducting a law enforcement operation near an apartment complex in Lewisville when they identified and attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Hernandez Medina on the I-35 frontage road. The federal officers, in three separate vehicles, all with activated red and blue emergency lights and sirens, attempted to box in Hernandez Medina. Hernandez Medina attempted to flee and aggressively accelerated, rammed one of the law enforcement vehicles, and caused significant injuries to the federal officer, causing the officer to be immediately transported to the hospital. Hernandez Medina continued to evade the stop and collided again with another law enforcement vehicle, causing significant damage and seriously injuring a second federal officer. This officer was also hospitalized. Hernandez Medina then continued to flee, hitting multiple unoccupied vehicles before attempting to flee on foot. A passenger in the vehicle was also apprehended and remains in custody on an immigration hold. A third occupant remains at large.
According to immigration records, Hernandez Medina has been deported from the United States to Mexico on at least three different occasions. Hernandez Medina faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
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 Calli Bailey.
A federal complaint is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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