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30 April 2026
25 Defendants Convicted in International $215M Scam That Targeted 1,000+ VictimsRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – After a four-day trial, a federal jury found two men and a woman guilty of involvement with an international email hacking scheme that defrauded more than 1,000 victims out of approximately $215 million. The scheme spanned 47 states and 19 countries.
On April 24, 2026, a jury in Toledo, Ohio, convicted Oluwafemi Michael Awoyemi, 40, of Romeoville, Illinois, Aruan Drake, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Peter Reed, 35, of Oak Forest, Illinois, of Wire Fraud Conspiracy. Additionally, Awoyemi and Drake were convicted of a Money Laundering Conspiracy. U.S. District Judge James R. Knepp II presided over the trial.
In total, 25 defendants have been convicted for their roles in this fraud and money laundering scheme, commonly referred to as a “business email compromise.”
According to court documents and evidence presented in court, individuals, businesses, and other organizations in the United States, were targeted and hacked by Nigerian-linked fraud organizations. Their objective was to gain access to e-mail accounts held by individual users. The co-conspirators would then monitor the communications, and other activities of the individual email users to learn about their business practices and contacts. After gaining sufficient intelligence about the nature of a hacking victim’s activities, the co-conspirators would send a fraudulent e-mail to either the hacking victim, or to someone communicating with the hacking victim, requesting payment. Because the co-conspirators were familiar with the victims’ activities, the fraudulent e-mails were crafted in a way to convince recipients that the request for payment was for legitimate business activities. Once members of the conspiracy obtained payment from victims, conspiracy members used a web of fraudulently created bank accounts and cash transfer systems to launder and distribute the funds.
Approximately $50 million of the stolen money was used to purchase cashier’s checks that were presented for payment to the New Dolton Currency Exchange, a Chicago-area money service business owned and operated by co-defendant Lon Goodman. Goodman accepted cashier’s checks from co-conspirators who presented false identifications or presented checks payable to others. Goodman routinely accepted false know-your-customer information and continued doing business with individuals after being warned by banks that checks were obtained with stolen funds or otherwise returned as fraudulent. When it became too risky to accept cashier’s checks in an individual’s name, Goodman would nonetheless accept checks from those individuals payable to shell companies that those individuals controlled.
In Ohio, victim businesses affected were in Norwalk, Kent, Akron, Hudson, Maple Heights, Westfield Center, New Riegel, and Greenwich.
Outside Ohio, victims were identified in New York, California, Texas, Kansas, North Carolina, Florida, Arizona, Michigan, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Delaware, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, New Jersey, and numerous other states.
International victims were identified in Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, Malaysia, Panama, Bermuda, Romania, and other countries.
The wire transfers sent by the victims ranged from tens of thousands, to millions of dollars. In one instance, a victim business sent $2.7 million to a shell company bank account that was controlled by a conspiracy member.
Among the items seized or subject to forfeiture during the investigation included:
- Nearly $1.2 million worth of cashier’s checks, cryptocurrency, and cash
- Patek Philippe Nautilus watch, $45,000 value
- Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch, $30,000 value
- Richard Mille Felipe Massa watch, $140,000 value
- 4,423 square foot residence in Lawrenceville, Georgia
In addition to the convictions obtained after trial of Awoyemi, Drake, and Reed, the following defendants pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Money Laundering Conspiracy:
- Ayobami Osas Christopher, aka Lovely Man, 30, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Lawrenceville, Georgia
- Emmauel Okereke, aka Omo Igbo, 42, a Nigerian national, residing in Atlanta,
- Olalekan Bashiru, aka Ola Bash, 36, a Nigerian national, residing in Chicago
- Mark Dabney, 26, of Chicago
- Casey Adesulu Jr., 28, of Houston
- Jeremiah Agina, 29, a Nigerian national, residing in Houston
- Ayorinde Emmanuel Adebayo, 35, a naturalized U.S. citizen, residing in Olympia Fields, Illinois
- Emily Agyemang, 35, of Joliet, Illinois
- Ademola Balogun, 43, a Nigerian national, residing in Chicago
- Olabode Bankole, 37, a naturalized U.S. citizen, residing in Loganville, Georgia
- India Barnes, 37, of Atlanta
- Emmanuel Essilfie, 28, a Ghanaian national, residing in Naperville, Illinois
- Chukwuemeka Evulukwu, 35, a naturalized U.S. citizen, residing in Atlanta
- Jeremiah Glinsey, 32, of Chicago
- Lon Goodman, 69, of Whiting, Indiana
- Shaquille I. Jackson, 33, of Chicago
- Mikhail Keize, 31, of Loganville, Georgia
- Katiera Lackey, 25, of Houston
- Kingsley Owusu, 37, a naturalized U.S. citizen, residing in Chicago
- Anton Parker, 37, of Chicago
- Carlton Pruitt, 27, of Bellwood, Illinois
- Ronnell Spencer, 35, of Chicago
Each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to the case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
The investigations leading to the indictment were conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Border Patrol Sandusky Bay Intelligence Unit.
Assistant United States Attorneys Gene Crawford and Robert Melching led this prosecution for the Northern District of Ohio.
29 April 2026
USP McCreary Inmate Convicted of Attempted MurderRead the Press Release
LONDON, Ky.- Mufid Elfgeeh, 42, was convicted by a federal jury in London for attempted murder. Elfgeeh was convicted following a two-day trial.
While serving a 270-month sentence for attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, United States Penitentiary McCreary staff observed Elfgeeh attacking his cellmate. Elfgeeh had requested a private cell and was upset that BOP had not complied with his request. Elfgeeh used an improvised weapon to stab his cellmate at least 30 times as he ignored numerous verbal commands to stop the attack, continuing the stabbing through three sprays of OC spray, OC vapor grenades, being struck by a foam baton, pepper balls, and hornet nest munitions. Elfgeeh’s assault continued until staff outfitted with protective gear breached the cell, restrained him, and removed the weapon.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the conviction.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pearce Nesbitt.
Elfgeeh will appear for sentencing on September 1, 2026. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes Organizations, Federal Personnel for their Service to Victims of CrimeRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona joined communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 19-25.
As part of that observation, the Office recognized individuals and organizations from Arizona for their dedicated work to support victims of crime. The Salt River Police Department Honor Guard began the ceremony with the posting of the colors. Afterward, U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Macdonald, guest speaker for the event, thanked those in attendance for their commitment to the justice system and for their work with victims.
“The Crime Victims’ Rights Act gives victims the legal right to be heard, to be informed, to be present, and to be treated with fairness and respect," said U.S. Magistrate Judge Macdonald. "These are not courtesies. They are rights—enforceable, codified, and hard won through decades of advocacy by people like all of you in this room.”
“To our survivors,” he said, “Your voice has shaped every reform in this space. Every meaningful change in how this country treats victims of crime has been driven at its core by someone who refused to be silenced. You are not peripheral to this movement. You are its foundation.”
Following the judge’s remarks, U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine and his leadership team recognized the following individuals and advocacy groups for their work in support of victims of crime:
- FBI Victim Specialist Katie Lawler received the Advocacy and Direct Services Award. Katie Lawler was recognized for her commitment to ensuring victims receive essential services, are afforded their rights, and are treated with dignity and respect during periods of vulnerability. She works with compassion and builds trust with victims as an investigation moves forward and eventually enters the federal court system. Her exemplary advocacy and professionalism have been lauded by FBI special agents, victim specialists, and federal prosecutors.
- Team members from Homicide Survivors, Inc. were recognized with the Service Coordination Award. Homicide Survivors, Inc., located in Tucson, advocates for and supports families who have suffered the loss of a loved one to murder. The team provides compassionate, trauma-informed response to survivors, linking families to critical resources and tools to help them in their healing journey. Through their understanding that grieving is a lifelong journey, Homicide Survivors, Inc. has created a safe space for survivors to grieve, heal and transform.
- Julian Garcia, Founder and CEO of the Bryan Brown Foundation, received the Leadership Award. Julian Garcia leads the Bryan Brown Foundation, named after Tohono O’odham Nation Police Officer Bryan Brown, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty as he neared retirement in 2020. For nearly 20 years, Officer Brown was a mentor and leader, believing strongly in community policing and the importance of guiding the next generation toward success. Through the foundation, Garcia, a retired detective for the Tohono O’odham Nation, continues Officer Brown’s mission. Through outreach, to include community gatherings and the Bryan Brown Academy, the foundation seeks to foster youth and leadership development, to promote careers in public service, and to address mental health challenges faced by Native American youth today.
- Vida and Alexus Garbo, founders of the Michael Garbo Foundation, received the Courage in Action Award. Vida, wife of DEA Special Agent Michael Garbo, and their daughter, Alexis, started the Michael Garbo Foundation in 2022 in honor of Agent Garbo after he made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty in 2021. The two women were recognized for the foundation’s work that brings awareness to the devastating effects of drug trafficking on children, families, and the American people. The foundation also offers educational and Jiu-Jitsu scholarships to young people and carries on Agent Garbo’s fight to improve security on public transportation.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Simon received the Sustained Excellence Award. Assistant U.S. Attorney Simon was recognized for being a driving force and advocate for victims of violent crime in Indian Country, consistently explaining federal court processes and providing dignity to victims and their families. He is often described as empathetic, responsive, relentless, and fair and as an expert at navigating difficult cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Simon values input from victims, their advocates, law enforcement, and other prosecutors.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Powell and FBI Special Agent L. N. received the Brett Day Legacy Award. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Day was a relentless advocate for exploited children and a steady leader and mentor to young federal prosecutors. The award that was created to carry on his legacy recognizes federal prosecutors and law enforcement who go above and beyond the call of duty, specifically in support of vulnerable victims. Both men were honored for their work during an especially complex murder investigation and prosecution. Withstanding countless challenges, the two men remained persistent and relentless in their pursuit of justice on behalf of the vulnerable victim. They garnered second degree murder convictions in the case, with one defendant being sentenced to 26 years and the other 30 years in federal prison.
In 1981, Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week, putting crime victims' rights, needs and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims.
The Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, supports victim assistance programs and victim compensation programs in every state and U.S. territory. Funds for these programs come from the Crime Victims Fund, which is made up of federal criminal fines and penalties.
Learn more about the Office for Victims of Crime and the assistance it provides for victims here.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-068_National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
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For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Mississippi recognizes National Fentanyl Awareness DayRead the Press Release
OXFORD, MS – United States Attorney Scott F. Leary announced today that the Northern District of Mississippi, recognized the fourth annual National Fentanyl Awareness Day on April 29, 2026. This awareness helps to inform communities about the fentanyl crisis in the United States.
Our office is joining a coalition of issue area experts, corporations, nonprofits, schools, families and elected officials who are coming together to raise public awareness of the urgent problem: people are dying at alarming rates due to illicitly manufactured fentanyl and fake prescription pills. Organized by the national nonprofit Song for Charlie, National Fentanyl Awareness Day uses education as the first step in preventing tragic outcomes.
U.S. Attorney Leary stated, “In 2020, our borders opened up and fentanyl poured into our country. Within a year a thirty-dollar contraband fentanyl pill was selling on our streets for mere dollars. Fentanyl now shows up in all kinds of different drugs. Kids made the immature decision to take a pill that resulted in death. Tens of thousands of families throughout our nation were left devastated. Several things can be done now to slow this continued tragedy. First, close our border and slow the flow of fentanyl and illegal drugs onto our streets. Prosecute fentanyl traffickers to the full extent of the law. And finally, get the word out - recreational drug use can be fatal. The National Fentanyl Awareness Day is part of this response. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi will do our part in putting these traffickers behind bars. Please join us in spreading the word about the dangers of drug use.”
“We’re encouraged by recent signs of progress in reducing overdose deaths,” said Ed Ternan, co-founder of Song for Charlie. “But our work isn’t done. With our expanded educational resources like our new film for teens, Real Talk about Fake Pills, we’re working to reach every student, parent, family and community with the knowledge they need to navigate today’s drug landscape safely. No family should lose a child because they didn’t know a pill was fake.”
Song for Charlie is the leading national, family-led nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about "fentapills"—fake pills made of fentanyl. Ed and Mary Ternan created Song for Charlie after losing their son Charlie to a fentapill in 2020. Song for Charlie partners with experts, educators, parents and other influencers to reach the most vulnerable group: young people between the ages of 13-24. Its programs highlight the emerging dangers of self-medication and casual drug use in the fentanyl era and encourage healthier strategies for coping with stress. For more information, please visit www.songforcharlie.org
Two men charged in West Seattle drug rip-off that ended in homicideRead the Press Release
Seattle – Two men who traveled to Seattle from Texas to rob a marijuana dealer in November 2022, were indicted this week by the federal grand jury for additional federal felonies connected to the robbery and fatal shooting in West Seattle, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Carlton Pierre Mitchell, 30, and Aaron Thompson, 42, will be arraigned on the superseding indictment on May 7, 2026. The men are charged with conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and crime of violence.
A third defendant, Samuel Solomon, was charged by Superseding Information with conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to commit robbery and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime. Solomon pleaded guilty to these crimes on April 27, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison when sentenced.
According to records filed in the case, on November 2, 2022, Mitchell, Thompson, and Solomon, flew into Portland, Oregon, with a plan to rob the victim who had previously sold Solomon and Mitchell marijuana. The men rented cars and drove up to West Seattle where Mitchell had arranged for an Airbnb rental. At the Airbnb, all three men were armed with handguns. Thompson hid in one of the bedrooms so that the victim would not know he was there.
During the marijuana deal, Thompson came out of the bedroom with a firearm and told the victim not to move. Shots were fired and the victim was fatally injured. Solomon fled the house and caught a flight home. Mitchell and Thompson took the victim’s marijuana, fled the house, and drove home.
Seattle Police responded to 911 calls about the gunshots and found the victim lying injured and alone inside the Airbnb. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Solomon, Thompson, and Mitchell were originally indicted on March 12, 2025. Solomon and Thompson were arrested in March 2025. Mitchell made his initial appearance on the original indictment in September 2025.
Conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit robbery are both punishable by up to five years in prison. Robbery is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Because the firearm was discharged, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking or a crime of violence is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life 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 was investigated by the Seattle Police Department and the FBI, with valuable assistance provided by the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Todd Greenberg and Jessica Manca.
Two Seattle men charged in separate indictments for sex trafficking conspiracy involving adults and teensRead the Press Release
Seattle – A leader of a Seattle street gang and one of his co-conspirators are now both federally indicted for using force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion to commit sex trafficking, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Leanthony Palmer, 34, was indicted last October, and a superseding indictment was returned this week adding additional charges. Branden Barnett, 38, has been in state custody since November 24, 2025, and was indicted federally this week for six counts related to trafficking both adults and minor victims.
“These men exploited vulnerable women for their own financial gain,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “They used their power – physical, psychological, and economic -- to subject these victims to modern day slavery. We are determined to obtain justice and ensure the safety of these victims and all members of our community.”
According to the superseding indictment returned by the grand jury, Leanthony Palmer used force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion to sex traffic at least three different adult victims and engaged in a conspiracy to transport them in Washington, Alaska, Oregon, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevado, Massachusetts, Montana, Minnesota, Texas, and other foreign countries to engage in commercial sex acts. The nine-count indictment also charges Palmer with conspiracy to commit money laundering for his use of the proceeds of his sex trafficking scheme.
Branden Barnett is charged in a six-count indictment with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking through force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion; sex trafficking an adult female through force, threats of force, fraud, or coercion; conspiracy to transport an adult victim for purposes of prostitution; transporting an adult female for prostitution through coercion and enticement; and two counts of attempted sex trafficking of a minor.
Both indictments describe how the men kept their victims under their control by using violence or threats of violence, providing or denying drugs, and providing or withholding food and shelter. The indictment alleges women were “purchased” by one trafficker from another, and that the men used “off the books” rooms at a SeaTac motel to keep the women isolated or for them to perform sex dates. The men set the rules of what the women were to charge for sex acts, to whom they could speak and how to turn over the entirety of their earnings to the trafficker. The men transported the women to Aurora Avenue North in Seattle and other locations for the sex workers to contact potential sex buyers. The men obtained fraudulent identification documents for their victims so that they could more easily travel and avoid detection by law enforcement. The men used the false identities to obtain rental properties and rental cars that were further used in the sex trafficking scheme.
“This work done by SeaTac Police and our Street Crimes Unit is critically important to the safety of our community and to women who may fall victim to this kind of dangerous and depraved criminal activity,” said King County Sheriff Patti Cole-Tindall. “These indictments and the arrest of Branden Barnett, shows painstaking, diligent work by a team dedicated to ensuring people like this are taken off the street. It also sends the message that abuse and exploitation will not be tolerated.”
“We appreciate the work of SeaTac Police for addressing human trafficking, which is a disturbing and far too prevalent crime,” King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion said. “In addition to the work by federal prosecutors, there are also two co-defendants of Mr. Barnett charged by my office in Superior Court. While the details of these ongoing cases are difficult to hear, it is important to bring that information before a judge to seek clear accountability.”
“HSI plays an integral role in combating human trafficking by working with its law enforcement partners to deter, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks that engage in it,” said acting HSI Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “In this case it was a Seattle street gang trafficking both adult and minor-aged victims to multiple states and even foreign countries. We will do everything we can to bring justice to human traffickers and bring a safe resolution to the victims.”
If convicted the men face mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years to life 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.
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. HSTF Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
The case is being investigated by the King County Sheriff’s Office, Seattle Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Whatcom Regional Drug Task Force.
The King Couty Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is working closely with federal prosecutors on the case. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Braelah McGinnis is working with Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary Dillon and Kate Crisham on the case.
palmer_superseding_indictment.pdf barnett_indictment.pdfThree Nigerian Nationals Charged in Online Romance and Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Three Nigerian nationals have been charged in federal court in Rhode Island for their roles in an alleged online romance and wire fraud scheme.
William Elvis, 35, Moses Kolawole Hezekiah, 34, and Destiny Okobeni Oghentega, 30, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to court documents, beginning in or around early 2021, Elvis, Hezekiah, Oghentega, and others engaged in a scheme to defraud individuals through online impersonation and romance-based scams. Victims, including an elderly Rhode Island resident, were contacted by individuals who falsely portrayed themselves as professionals working overseas and, over time, developed relationships with them.
The conspirators then made repeated requests for money under false pretenses, including claims of financial hardship, legal issues, or medical emergencies. Victims were directed to send funds through gift cards, Bitcoin transactions, and other means, including transfers to accounts controlled by participants in the scheme.
Victims sent substantial sums of money over the course of the scheme. The investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) determined that the identities used were misappropriated, used without the individuals’ knowledge, and that communications and financial activity were traced to the defendants in Nigeria.
A federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The mission of the Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. Learn more about the Justice Department’s efforts to protect older Americans from exploitation here.
Three Individuals Federally Charged with Assault and Intimidating Turning Point USA Journalist by ForceRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen today announced the unsealing of a federal grand jury indictment charging Christopher Ostroushko, Deyanna Ostroushko, and Paige Ostroushko with assaulting a journalist while she was reporting on an anti-ICE protest on federal property in St. Paul Minnesota on April 11, 2026. Christopher Ostroushko and Paige Ostroushko are also charged with willfully and forcefully injuring and intimidating that journalist.
“These three individuals were indicted by a grand jury for allegedly assaulting journalist and Turning Point USA contributor Savannah Hernandez, while she was lawfully reporting on anti-ICE protests outside a federal building in St. Paul,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
“Hernandez was allegedly surrounded, physically assaulted, and shoved to the ground — simply because she was identified by the defendants as a conservative journalist. That is NOT ‘peaceful protest.’ These deplorable actions as charged in the indictment will not be tolerated in America, and this Department of Justice will always punish unhinged acts of political violence.”
“Political violence is a national scourge,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen, “and federal law enforcement will not tolerate it.”
FBI, HSI and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
dkt_1_-_indictment_-_26-cr-86_neb-jfd_0_0.pdfThree Individuals Federally Charged with Assault and Intimidating Turning Point USA Journalist by ForceRead the Press Release
The Department of Justice today announced the unsealing of a federal grand jury indictment charging Christopher Ostroushko, Deyanna Ostroushko, and Paige Ostroushko with assaulting a journalist while she was reporting on an anti-ICE protest on federal property in St. Paul Minnesota on April 11, 2026. Christopher Ostroushko and Paige Ostroushko are also charged with willfully and forcefully injuring and intimidating that journalist.
“These three individuals were indicted by a grand jury for allegedly assaulting journalist and Turning Point USA contributor Savannah Hernandez, while she was lawfully reporting on anti-ICE protests outside a federal building in St. Paul,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Hernandez was allegedly surrounded, physically assaulted, and shoved to the ground — simply because she was identified by the defendants as a conservative journalist. That is NOT ‘peaceful protest.’ These deplorable actions as charged in the indictment will not be tolerated in America, and this Department of Justice will always punish unhinged acts of political violence.”
“Political violence is a national scourge,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota, “and federal law enforcement will not tolerate it.”
FBI, HSI and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Statement from Special Attorney and First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. CalendaRead the Press Release
“Effective today, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has appointed me Special Attorney and First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island. I am grateful to the Acting Attorney General and the Trump administration for their continued support in allowing me to lead the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island. While my title may have changed, my goals and the mission of this Office have not.
Since I was appointed in December, 2025, I have endeavored to run the Office at the highest levels of efficiency, integrity and professionalism. The Court’s Order acknowledges those same goals for the Office and in declining to exercise its appointment authority, that the Office’s continued professionalism and non-partisan work, along with continuity of leadership, are paramount to ensuring the Office remains focused on the best interests of the people of Rhode Island.
The support of the Administration, this Office, my colleagues, my family, and my friends, are what enable me to continue my service to the people of Rhode Island. Without that support, my service would be ending today. Instead, that support has been overwhelming, and I intend to continue to lead this Office in my new role unless directed otherwise by the President or the Department of Justice.
We have a great deal of work ahead, and I will remain focused on keeping Rhode Islanders safe and secure from those who wish to do harm. For however long I serve this District, I will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners for the betterment of our state. Dulce Donovan, formerly the First Assistant United States Attorney, has been appointed Executive Assistant United States Attorney. All other supervisory personnel remain in the same positions with the same titles.”
Stamford Resident Charged with Child Exploitation, Destruction of Evidence OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment yesterday charging ADAM WOLFE, 27, of Stamford, with child exploitation and destruction of evidence offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in November 2023, HSI and Ridgefield Police began investigating Wolfe for possessing child sex abuse material. On November 22, 2023, investigators interviewed Wolfe at his former residence in Ridgefield and Wolfe gave consent for a search of his iPhone and laptop. Forensic analysis of the laptop revealed thousands of individual child sex abuse images that were recovered from the “recycle bin” of the laptop. Analysis of the iPhone revealed that Wolfe had deleted a TOR browser, which is often used to access child pornography on the dark web, during his interview with law enforcement on November 22, 2026.
Wolfe was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on September 30, 2024.
The indictment charges Wolfe with one count of receipt of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; one count of possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and one count of destruction, alteration, or falsification of records, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
Wolfe has been released on a $50,000 bond since his arrest. His arraignment is not yet scheduled.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Ridgefield Police Department, and the Watertown Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.
St. Clair County tax preparer pleads guilty to filing hundreds of false tax returns resulting in over $600,000 in loss and will remain in custody pending sentencingRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A tax return preparer who worked in St. Clair County appeared in district court to plead guilty to federal charges for making intentional false statements on tax return forms to defraud the Government.
Dormeshia A. Haire, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of false statements on tax return, one count of wire fraud, and three counts of aiding and abetting in submitting false and fraudulent returns. Charged originally in April 2024, a federal grand jury later returned a nine-count superseding indictment in March 2026. The counts stem from falsifying her personal income and clients’ business expenses.
Haire owned and operated tax return preparation businesses known as Dormeshia Taxes, Dormeshia Haire Taxes, Dormeshia Haire Tax Services and One Tax Guru Financial Services, Inc. According to court documents, Haire admitted to filing hundreds of false returns. Haire’s under reporting of income for her and her clients resulted in an outstanding tax obligation owed to the Internal Revenue Service of more than $600,000 with an additional $48,000 owed to the State of Illinois.
“Dormeshia Haire cheated the tax system twice over. She falsified her own returns and then worked with clients to file hundreds of other fraudulent returns,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “This crime represents a toxic ‘free-money mentality’ that leads people to fleece public programs. With the 2026 tax filing season now concluded, this Office remains vigilant and will continue to prosecute those who think they can game the system.”
Also on April 6, the District Court found clear and convincing evidence that Haire violated her bond conditions. Haire’s bond was revoked, and she was taken into custody. Haire’s sentencing is scheduled for August 5, 2026 at the federal courthouse in Benton.
"Ms. Haire admitted that she helped prepare and submit false returns on behalf of clients. We let the public know about such cases to sound a warning that taxpayers must do their due diligence when selecting a return preparer," said IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “Although the 2026 tax filing season has ended, our commitment to tracking fraudulent return preparers and bringing them to justice has no end."
Convictions for false statements on tax returns and aiding and abetting in submitting false tax returns are punishable by a maximum of 3 years imprisonment. Convictions for wire fraud are punishable by a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.
IRS Criminal Investigation is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Howard is prosecuting the case.
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.
St. Charles Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting During 2023 Marijuana DealRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Wednesday sentenced a man to 20 years in prison for fatally shooting someone during a marijuana deal in 2023.
The shooting occurred on May 25, 2023, in an alley behind the 4800 block of Farlin Avenue in St. Louis. Trevon Carson, now 32, of St. Charles, drove the marijuana buyer, Earl S. Hill, to the alley. Carson was armed despite having been convicted multiple times of felonies, including assault and robbery. The marijuana seller’s friend stepped out of his own car holding an AR-style firearm and began to approach Carson’s car. Carson got out of his vehicle, fatally shot the victim and took his gun.
“Carson never called for help. Carson never rendered aid. Carson simply left the victim to die in the alley,” a sentencing memo filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen says.
On June 13, 2023, the FBI and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, having learned of Carson’s involvement, conducted a court-approved search of his home and found three loaded handguns and an AR-style firearm.
Carson pleaded guilty in November in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana and one count of discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime resulting in death.
Hill, 33, of Maryland Heights, was sentenced in February to 127 months in prison after pleading guilty to the conspiracy charge and one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen prosecuted the case.
St. Charles County Bartender Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Child Pornography OffenseRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Divine on Wednesday sentenced a former bartender who admitted possessing child sexual abuse material and installing hidden cameras in the bedroom and bathroom of a former residence to 13 years in prison.
Judge Divine also ordered Anthony Thomas, 49, of St. Charles County, to pay $104,500 to victims who appeared in the child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he downloaded.
Thomas possessed thousands of media files containing CSAM and thousands more containing pornography where the age of those depicted is difficult to discern. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations found Thomas after learning that someone in St. Charles County was making CSAM available for download via the BitTorrent peer-to-peer network.
Thomas also admitted installing hidden cameras in a bedroom and bathroom of a former residence. Both captured images of a 14-year-old girl.
Thomas pleaded guilty in January to one count of receipt of child pornography.
“Anthony Thomas committed egregious crimes that exploited and harmed children,” said HSI St. Louis Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gregory Paris. “I am extremely proud of our agents’ diligent work in bringing his criminal conduct to an end. As a bartender, Thomas interacted with countless individuals who, I imagine, were unaware of the serious crimes he was committing. Parents and guardians can take comfort in knowing Thomas is off the streets”.
Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Charles County Regional SWAT Team investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
South Texas man gets 120 months for leadership role in human smuggling organization that led to deathRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 21-year-old Penitas resident has been ordered to federal prison for his role in bringing in and harboring illegal aliens, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Jesus Grimaldo aka Chuy pleaded guilty Oct. 22, 2025.
U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Grimaldo to serve the maximum of 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release.
The court enhanced the sentence, finding Grimaldo responsible for smuggling more than 100 illegal aliens during the conspiracy, using or brandishing a firearm during the smuggling operations, recklessly placing smuggled aliens in danger of injury or death, kidnapping and leading the conspiracy by recruiting drivers and coordinating smuggling trips. Grimaldo was also held responsible for being a leader of the alien smuggling organization and conspiracy.
In handing down the sentence, the court noted a death that occurred during the scheme, further commenting that it would not have happened but for Grimaldo’s role as the leader in the conspiracy.
The investigation began May 8, 2024, when authorities responded to a report of a deceased man on the side of the road in Brooks County. Authorities later identified him as an illegal alien from Mexico who died from heat exposure.
An analysis of the deceased man’s phone revealed multiple payments through CashApp and Zelle to Grimaldo.
Further investigation revealed Grimaldo coordinated multiple smuggling events between June 2022 and April 2025 with drivers he recruited. He received illegal aliens after they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and arranged trips from the Rio Grande Valley past Border Patrol checkpoints.
Law enforcement discovered Grimaldo received substantial payments for leading the organization and arranging dangerous smuggling trips, including transporting the aliens in trunks of vehicles during extreme heat.
Grimaldo will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Gould and Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case.
The 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.
South Carolina Man Charged with Trafficking Firearms from South Carolina to New York CityRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Michael Alfonso, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Task Enforcement Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Farhana Islam, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), Bryan DiGirolamo, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging DARYL RUTHERFORD with firearms trafficking, the unlicensed dealing of firearms, interstate transportation and distribution of firearms, and possession of firearms and ammunition after a felony conviction for his involvement in illegally transporting over a dozen firearms, as well as ammunition, from South Carolina to New York City. RUTHERFORD was arrested earlier today in South Carolina and is expected to be presented tomorrow morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge William S. Brown in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.
“Gun trafficking into New York fuels violent crime and New Yorkers want it stopped,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “As alleged, Daryl Rutherford contributed to the illegal flow of guns into New York City, endangering New Yorkers for nothing more than personal, financial gain. New Yorkers deserve to live in communities free from illegal firearms and those who use them to commit crimes. So, anyone who is thinking about trafficking firearms to New York should think again. We and our law enforcement partners are watching, and we will hold you accountable.”
“As alleged, this defendant turned the South Carolina-to-New York City corridor into a freeway of illegal guns—smuggling semiautomatic pistols, rifles, and a high-capacity drum magazine through several states, and into the hands of an individual he believed was a criminal with bad intentions,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. “This alleged reckless behavior arms criminals, endangers families, and fuels violence. Each illicit weapon intercepted in this case prevents potentially tragic shootings that can destroy families and children’s futures. HSI New York, together with HSI Greenville and our Homeland Security Task Force partners, will relentlessly target and dismantle gun pipelines that threaten the safety of all individuals residing in our communities.”
“Illegal interstate firearm trafficking schemes are a significant driver of gun violence in New York City and put communities at risk,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo. “The conduct alleged—a convicted felon transporting and selling an array of illegal firearms for profit—demonstrates a clear disregard for public safety & had the potential to cause devastating harm. This case reflects the strength of coordinated law enforcement efforts—ATF NY Crime Gun Enforcement Team working with HSI, DEA, NYPD, and our prosecutorial partners—to disrupt these dangerous networks and hold offenders accountable.”
“Gun violence has plagued our city streets, many times fueled by illegal firearms being funneled into New York City by individuals who operate with no regard for human life, driving violence, turmoil, and fear in our neighborhoods,” said DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “Today’s arrest and indictment of Daryl Rutherford expose a dangerous pipeline responsible for trafficking multiple semiautomatic pistols and rifles, and other illegal firearms from South Carolina to New York City. The DEA, along with our federal, state, and local partners, will continue to identify and target these criminal organizations at every level. Let our message be clear: whether you traffic guns or drugs into New York City, you will be held accountable and justice will be delivered. DEA New York’s Enforcement Division remains committed to protecting our communities and saving lives.”
“The defendant allegedly transported a large cache of firearms—including semiautomatic rifles and a shotgun—along with ammunition across state lines and sold them illegally on our streets for profit,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Thanks to the work of our NYPD investigators, law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, this interstate gun trafficking pipeline has been shut down, dangerous firearms are off our streets, and this alleged criminal is being held accountable.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and in public court proceedings:[1]
From at least in or about December 2025 through at least in or about February 2026, RUTHERFORD, a convicted felon, illegally transported firearms and ammunition from South Carolina to New York City and sold them to a purchaser whom RUTHERFORD understood to be a prohibited person and an unlawful reseller of firearms. Specifically, in four transactions, RUTHERFORD illegally sold approximately 14 firearms to an undercover law enforcement agent. The firearms included multiple semiautomatic pistols, semiautomatic rifles, including one with a high-capacity drum magazine, as well as a 12-gauge shotgun.
Firearms RUTHERFORD sold on December 12, 2025
Firearms RUTHERFORD sold on December 18, 2025
Firearms RUTHERFORD sold on February 17, 2026
Firearms RUTHERFORD sold on February 24, 2026
* * *
RUTHERFORD, 51, of South Carolina, is charged with one count of firearms trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; one count of unlicensed dealing of firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of illegally transporting and distributing firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of possession of firearms and ammunition after a felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The statutory maximum and minimum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the HSI New York Field Office, ATF, DEA New York Division, the NYPD, HSI Greenville, the New York Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Union Public Safety Department.
The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Diarra M. Guthrie is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Sixteen Individuals Indicted in Takedown of East Alabama Drug Trafficking Organization as part of a Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal grand jury has indicted 16 individuals in separate-but-related indictments for drug trafficking and illegal firearms’ possession, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
Three indictments filed in U.S. District Court charge the following individuals:
Aumori Jaimon Willis, 22, Nasir Ahmad Fluker, 22, Jarek Ahmad Burroughs, 21, and Robert Blake Stovall, 33—all of Anniston, Alabama—and Edward Damon Wade, 32, of Jacksonville, Alabama, were charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine. The alleged incidents occurred between September 2025 and March 2026, in Calhoun County, Alabama. The indictment also charges Stovall with using and carrying a firearm during and relation to a drug-trafficking crime and Willis and Burroughs with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Logan Chase Turner, 28, of Boaz, Alabama, and Mary Ann Alexander, 60, of
Eastaboga, Alabama, were charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine. The alleged incidents occurred in January 2026 in Calhoun County, Alabama. The indictment also charges Turner with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.
Bradderick Dewayne Nolan, 52, Barry Eugene Nolan, 58, Cederick Lamon Woolverton, 57, Dantreas Thomas, 42, and Leiquore Tavera Crook, 42—all of Anniston, Alabama— Robert Jamiel David, 43, Toshi Maurice Holliday, 48, and Jermaine Jenkins, 51—all of Munford, Alabama—and Gregory Lee Burnett, 48, of Gadsden, Alabama, were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine. The alleged incidents occurred between June 2025 and March 2026, in Calhoun County, Alabama. The indictment also charges Bradderick Nolan with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Bradderick Nolan, Barry Nolan, Holliday, Jenkins and David were also charged with use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime.
This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Alabama HSTF comprises agents and officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service (USMS), and the Internal Revenue Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
ATF and DEA investigated the case, with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service, USMS, HSI, the 7th Judicial Major Crimes Unit, Anniston Police Department, Oxford Police Department, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office, Talladega Drug Task Force, West Alabama Narcotics Task Force, Irondale Police Department, and Pell City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison J. Garnett and Brittany T. Byrd are prosecuting the cases.
An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Six California Men Plead Guilty to Federal Charges Stemming from Violence Against CHP Officers Trapped Under Freeway OverpassRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Three California men pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for throwing rocks, fireworks, and ignited debris at California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers trapped underneath a downtown Los Angeles freeway overpass – with a CHP vehicle set ablaze – during anti-immigration law enforcement rioting last year.
Federal prosecutors have secured a total of six guilty pleas stemming from violence that occurred at the Main Street overpass on the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles during the evening of June 8, 2025, when rioters targeted law enforcement officers during a protest against enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.
Guilty pleas were taken today from the following defendants:
- Ismael Vega, 41, of Westlake, who pleaded guilty to one felony count of obstructing, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder;
- Balton Montion, 25, of Watsonville but who was a Los Angeles County resident during last year’s attack, who also pleaded guilty to one felony count of obstructing, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder; and
- Junior Roldan, 27, of Hollywood, who pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of simple assault on a person assisting a federal officer,
On Monday, the following three defendants pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges stemming from the same incident:
- Adam Charles Palermo, 40, of Rampart Village, who pleaded guilty to one felony count of assaulting, resisting, and impeding persons assisting federal officers and employees with a deadly or dangerous weapon;
- Yachua Mauricio Flores, 23, of Lincoln Heights, who pleaded guilty to one felony count of obstructing, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder; and
- Ronald Alexis Coreas, 23, of Westlake, who pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of simple assault on a person assisting a federal officer.
According to court documents, the defendants were present at a civil disorder, a public disturbance involving acts of violence by an assemblage of more than three individuals that caused immediate danger and resulted in damage to property or person of another individual.
Palermo, Vega, and Flores were part of a group of protestors who knowingly picked up debris – including cardboard and vegetation – and fireworks, lighting them on fire and dropping them over the railing of the freeway overpass aiming for a nearby CHP vehicle – which was within feet of CHP officers trapped under the overpass – and later caught fire. Flores poured a liquid increasing the size of the flames. Montion, Coreas, and Roldan threw rocks at law enforcement officers who attempted to clear the freeway overpass.
United States District Judge John F. Walter scheduled sentencing hearings in the coming months for these defendants. Palermo faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Vega, Montion, and Flores will each face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. Roldan and Coreas will face a statutory maximum sentence of one year in federal prison.
Palermo has been in federal custody since August 2025. The other defendants remain free on bond.
Another defendant, Jesus Gonzalez Hernandez, Jr., 22, of Las Vegas, is scheduled to plead guilty on May 4 to one misdemeanor count of simple assault on a person assisting a federal officer.
The FBI, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Police Department, investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jenna W. Long of the National Security Division and Sebastian Bellm of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.
Shiprock Man Pleads Guilty to Violent AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty to an assault that left a victim with life-threatening injuries.
According to court documents, on November 18, 2025, Darrell Joe Ben, Jr., 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted the victim while intoxicated. Officers detained Ben at the scene. The victim was transported to a local hospital and received treatment for critical injuries before being transferred to an intensive care unit in Albuquerque.
Ben pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault resulting in substantial bodily injury of a dating partner. He faces up to 15 years in prison at sentencing.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Teleky is prosecuting the case.
Romanian Nationals Unlawfully Residing in the United States Plead Guilty to Conspiring to Steal Snap BenefitsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—Two Romanian nationals unlawfully residing in the United States pleaded guilty for their role in a conspiracy to steal benefits from low income and food insecure individuals and families.
Aramis Manolea, 35, and Cristina Manolea, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States.
According to court documents, from April 2025 through November 2025, A. Manolea and C. Manolea conspired to use stolen Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) account information and PINs to fraudulently purchase SNAP-eligible items, like infant formula. The stolen goods were packaged in storage units and loaded into vans and trucks for shipment to California. In total, A. Manolea and C. Manolea are responsible for stolen benefits valued at almost $27,000.
On November 12, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 26-count indictment charging A. Manolea, C. Manolea and their co-conspirators with conspiracy to defraud the United States, unauthorized use of access devices, possession, production, and trafficking of device-making equipment, and aggravated identity theft.
A. Manolea and C. Manolea face a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. C. Manolea will be sentenced on May 22, 2026, and A. Manolea will be sentenced on May 29, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
As part of the plea agreement, A. Manolea and C. Manolea agreed to pay restitution in full.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation are investigating the case with assistance from the United States Marshals Service for the District of Oregon, Eastern District of California, and the Central District of California, and the Oregon Department of Human Services. Geoffrey A. Barrow and Nicholas D. Meyers, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Romanian Citizen Sentenced in D.C. for ‘Swatting’ Members of Congress, Churches, and Former U.S. PresidentRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Thomasz Szabo, 27, of Romania, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 48 months in prison for his role as leader of an online swatting ring that targeted more than 75 public officials, four religious institutions, and multiple journalists in a nationwide threat spree, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Szabo, aka “Plank,” “Jonah,” and “Cypher,” pleaded guilty June 2, 2025, to one count of conspiracy and one count of threats involving explosives. In addition to the 48-month prison term, District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ordered Szabo to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 57-month prison sentence.
“Members of Congress, cabinet officials, the heads of federal law enforcement agencies, churches, journalists — Thomasz Szabo and his followers targeted them all with swatting calls and fake bomb threats designed to send armed police to their doors,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This administration will not tolerate attacks on the institutions and individuals who serve this country. Szabo was extradited from Romania to face justice in an American courtroom, and today he has reaped the consequences of his actions.”
“Mr. Szabo deliberately wasted public resources and recklessly put the lives of innocent people at risk for his own amusement,” said Tara McLeese, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office. “Today’s sentencing reaffirms that swatting is not a prank, and those that perpetrate this crime will be held accountable. We are thankful to our U.S. and international law enforcement partners as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this case.”
“Swatting is not just a nuisance – it’s extremely dangerous,” said U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan. “I am proud of our investigators, as well as thankful for our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their steadfast efforts to ensure justice is served. This shows that we will cross the globe to track threats down.”
“Mr. Szabo’s and his co-conspirators’ incessant swatting attacks created a tremendous drain on law enforcement resources and taxpayer dollars and put innocent civilians in harm’s way,” said Michael Burgwald, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterterrorism Division. “Today’s sentencing is an important step toward ensuring that those who believe swatting is just a prank will be disabused of that notion and making it clear that those who engage in it will face justice.”
“For years, Thomasz Szabo sought to stoke fear and incite panic in victims from afar," said FBI Minneapolis Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "Now, he will spend the next 48 months in a federal prison. The sentence handed down by the Court today serves to demonstrate that the FBI and our partners will track down offenders wherever they may be and hold them responsible for their crimes. We will take all available steps to identify and bring to justice those who put lives at risk by making false threats of violence.”
According to court documents, Szabo was the founder and leader of an online community that, starting in late 2020, engaged in a pattern of bomb threats and “swatting,” that is, falsely reporting an ongoing threat of violence at a victims’ home address for the purpose of provoking a police response there.
As leader of the group, Szabo made false reports to U.S. law enforcement including a threat in December 2020 to commit a mass-shooting at New York City synagogues, and a threat in January 2021 to detonate explosives at the U.S. Capitol and kill the President-elect. Szabo publicized his “swatting” activity to his followers and encouraged them to engage in similar behavior.
Beginning on Dec. 24, 2023, and continuing through early January 2024, subordinate members of Szabo’s group perpetrated a spree of swatting and bomb threats that included, as its victims, at least 25 Members of Congress or family members of Members of Congress; at least six then-current or former senior U.S. Executive Branch officials, including multiple cabinet-level officials; at least 13 then-current or former senior federal law enforcement officials, including the heads of multiple federal law enforcement agencies; multiple members of the federal judiciary; at least 27 then-current or former state government officials or family members of such officials; at least four religious institutions; and multiple members of the media.
During that time period, one of those subordinates bragged to Szabo: “I did 25+ swattings today,” and “creating massive havoc in [A]merica. $500,000+ in taxpayers wasted in just two days.”
Szabo was extradited from Romania in November 2024.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Washington Field Office and Criminal Investigative Division, the FBI’s Washington and Minneapolis Field Offices, and the U.S. Capitol Police.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing Szabo’s arrest and extradition and assisted with securing evidence from abroad, including through mutual legal assistance requests. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Secret Service’s Bucharest Resident Office, Miami Field Office, Syracuse Resident Office, and Springfield Resident Office; the FBI’s Legat Office in Bucharest; the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Washington, the District of South Dakota, the Middle District of Florida, the Southern District of Florida, the Southern District of Illinois, and the Northern District of New York. The Romanian authorities’ assistance was critical to the successful investigation of the case and extradition of Szabo.
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Repeat Child Sex Offender Sentenced to 25 Years’ Imprisonment for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A repeat child sex offender was sentenced to 300 months’ imprisonment after he produced sexually explicit images and videos of a seven-year-old victim with his cellphone.
Andrew Craig Petersen, 36, of Salt Lake City, pleaded guilty on August 26, 2025, to production of child pornography.
In addition to Petersen’s term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Jill N. Parrish, sentenced Petersen to a lifetime of supervised release. Mandatory restitution will be set at a later date.
According to court documents and admissions made at Petersen’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, beginning on June 14, 2023, in the District of Utah, while Petersen was on Utah state court probation for attempted sexual exploitation of a child, he used his cell phone to produce child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Specifically, he took pictures and videos of a seven-year-old female, the child of a woman with whom he was in a relationship. Petersen then uploaded the sexually explicit photos and videos to an online internet address he maintained. As a result, the national Center for Missing and Exploited Children received and relayed information that the defendant was uploading child sexual abuse material.
“Petersen is a repeat child sex offender who preyed on a seven-year-old; he has proven again that he cannot be trusted around children,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “His 25-year sentence is appropriately severe and serves as a stern reminder that crimes against children will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The case was investigated by the West Jordan Police Department.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Carl R. Hollan and Assistant United States Attorney Carol A. Dain of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Red Lodge man pleads guilty to child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
BILLINGS - A Red Lodge man who was under investigation for drugs and was found with images and videos depicting sexually explicit conduct involving children admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
The defendant, Jeremy Dean Ruby, 50, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. Ruby faces 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years to a lifetime of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing has been set for August 26, 2026. Ruby remained detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that from approximately July 2024 through March 2025 law enforcement officers collected information connecting Ruby to the distribution of illegal drugs. As such, on March 20, 2025, a search warrant was executed on Ruby’s residence in connection with a narcotics investigation. His cellular phone was collected.
On or about March 27, 2025, law enforcement searched Ruby’s phone in connection with the drug investigation. During the review, Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) was discovered. The phone contained hundreds of images and videos depicting sexually explicit conduct involving children. The age of the children in the videos ranged from approximately two to 12 years old. Also discovered were search terms indicative of an interest in child pornography, including searches for peer-to-peer applications. Finally, while reviewing jail calls following the search, law enforcement heard Ruby make vague references to electronic evidence he wanted to dispose of.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Red Lodge Police Department conducted the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Nursing director sentenced for tampering with drugsRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Sand Springs woman who tampered with drugs at a local health care center was sentenced today to 3 years of probation, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
Kailyn Marie Smotherman, 35, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of tampering with consumer products.
“When a healthcare professional tampers with medications and diverts controlled substances for personal use, they not only violate federal law but also put patients at serious risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Iwanicki, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Los Angeles Field Office. “The FDA will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who compromise the safety and security of our healthcare system.”
“The arrest of this medical provider reflects DEA’s unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of the healthcare system and holding accountable those who violate public trust,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Cesar Avila.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on January 19, 2023, Kailyn Marie Smotherman was discovered to have been tampering with controlled substances at the Garfield County Health Center, where she worked. After a search of her office, staff and law enforcement found numerous vials of fentanyl that had been tampered with (caps removed and replaced) or had been emptied. They discovered other controlled substances that had been replaced along with supplies for tampering with the containers of the controlled substances.
The discovery of Smotherman’s conduct occurred when staff had entered her locked office to retrieve a narcotics log. The office was in disarray and had hospital stock narcotics present, an IV pole, tourniquets, needles, IV equipment, replacement vial caps, replacement medication labels, and what appeared to be blood on many surfaces. A search warrant was executed and multiple types of drugs were recovered, in liquid and tablet form, from Smotherman’s desk, floor, trash and filing cabinets. Law enforcement also found items from the pharmacy med room that had been tampered with.
Staff reported being concerned patients may have received saline solution instead of pain medication in the months preceding the search of Smotherman’s office on January 19, 2023.
A forensic chemist with the Food and Drug Administration conducted an analysis of the controlled substance containers confiscated from Smotherman’s office for tampering and/or adulterating of substances and concluded such tampering and adulterating had occurred.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The DEA, FDA and Garfield County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
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New Orleans Businessman Guilty of Covid-19 Relief Fraud totaling approximately $712,212.84 in losesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that ARTHUR ALLEN (“ALLEN”), age 53, of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on April 22, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey, to providing a false statement to a federal agency. Sentencing is set for July 28, 2026.
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.
According to court documents, on or about May 7, 2020, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, ALLEN provided a materially false statement to the Small Business Administration in an application to obtain a government sponsored loan designed to assist small business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the application process, ALLEN falsely claimed his bed and breakfast company received gross over $425,000 in gross receipts and revenue in 2019. ALLEN also claimed he deducted and submitted payroll taxes on behalf of his employees in 2019; however, an investigation of bank records revealed the ALLEN business generated no receipts or revenue in 2019 and failed to pay any employees in 2019. Further results of the investigation confirmed that ALLEN is responsible for a total loss of approximately $712,212.84.
The maximum penalty for false statements to a federal agency is five years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of one hundred dollars.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney, Richard R. Pickens, II, of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.
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Nehalem Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing from the U.S. Postal ServiceRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A former Postal Service employee pleaded guilty yesterday for engaging in a scheme to steal money orders from the U.S. Postal Service.
Jessica Alires, 46, of Nehalem, Oregon, pleaded guilty to misappropriation of postal funds.
According to court documents, from September 2024 through December 2024, as a U.S. Postal Service employee in Wheeler, Oregon, Alires voided money orders in the U.S. Postal Service electronic system after issuing them to paying customers. She then reissued the money orders and took them for herself. Alires also issued herself money orders reporting false cash and debit and credit payments to cover the cost of the money orders she issued to herself.
In addition to her money order scheme, Alires stole a credit card in the mail and charged $500 to purchase a money order and stole a letter from the mail containing $200 in cash.
On February 19, 2026, Alires was charged by information with misappropriation of postal funds.
Alires faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. She will be sentenced on October 14, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
As part of the plea agreement, Alires has agreed to pay restitution in full.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Cardani is prosecuting the case.
Multi-Year Drug Investigation in Central Wisconsin Successfully Concludes After Last Defendant SentencedRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced the successful conclusion of a multi-year drug trafficking investigation in central Wisconsin, following the sentencing of the last of thirteen defendants.
U.S. Attorney Elgersma praised the collaborative efforts of the law enforcement agents involved, “This outcome is the result of years of dedication, coordination, and trust among our law enforcement partners. I want to thank all the agents from around the state who worked tirelessly to identify and hold this criminal organization accountable for distributing large quantities of dangerous narcotics in our communities. Their collective efforts stand as a powerful example of what can be achieved when federal and state agencies work together.” He also reaffirmed his office’s commitment to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations in the Western District of Wisconsin.
In February 2022, officers with the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force began investigating a methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking organization led by Tommie L. Haney and Quo Vadis Lewis operating in Marathon County, Wisconsin. The investigation involved the seizure of drug-laden packages from the mail, thirty-two controlled purchases of narcotics, and search warrants executed at residences. As part of the investigation, officers seized over 12 kilograms of cocaine, 285 grams of crack cocaine, 6 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of marijuana, 14 firearms, and $47,405. Haney and Lewis, the leaders of the conspiracy, were sentenced to 14 years and 12 ½ years respectively. Photos from the case include:
Photo of ten pounds of methamphetamine found in mail parcel on March 17, 2022 Photo of firearms, cocaine, marijuana, and U.S. currency seized on June 28, 2023The following defendants were sentenced as part of the federal prosecution:
• Lawrence E. Lavergne, 44, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced in June 2023 to 9 years in federal prison, followed by 8 years of supervised release, for distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a felon.
• Jaison L. Coleman, 44, Marshfield, Wisconsin, was sentenced in October 2024 to 8 ½ years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon.
• Teala L. Kumbera, 29, Schofield, Wisconsin, was sentenced in November 2024 to 4 ½ years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute cocaine.
• Shandel L. Mohr, 33, Marshfield, Wisconsin, was sentenced in December 2024 to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine.
• Quo Vadis Lewis, 41, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced in January 2025 to 12 ½ years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine and for possessing firearms as a felon.
• Troy C. Olsen, 51, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced in January 2025 to 45 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
• Craig C. Gates, 48, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced in January 2025 to 106 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possessing cocaine intended for distribution and possessing a loaded firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Tommie L. Haney, 46, Wisconsin, was sentenced in February 2025 to 14 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of both methamphetamine and cocaine.
• Edwin Lewis, 44, Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced in March 2025 to 12 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and cocaine.
• Johntay L. Johnson, 41, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced in September 2025 to 8 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for maintaining a drug-involved premises, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and distributing cocaine.
• Samuel A. Teague, 43, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced in January 2026 to 8 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine.
• Travis L. Ingram, 38, Mosinee, Wisconsin, was sentenced in March 2026 to 52 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for distributing cocaine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and money laundering.
• Markqui R. White, 39, Weston, Wisconsin, was sentenced in March 2026 to 70 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for distributing cocaine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and money laundering.
A fourteenth defendant, Shelby Gutch, 31, Neillsville, Wisconsin, entered into a 24-month diversion agreement in January 2025 for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.
The charges against these individuals were the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force, the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Marshfield Police Department. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven P. Anderson, Corey C. Stephan, and Daniel R. Humble (Eastern District of Wisconsin) prosecuted these cases.
The FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force is comprised of agents from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Wood County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department, and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents from ATF and task force officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin.
This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Program initiative. 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 federal 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.
Missouri Man Sentenced to 29 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of TeenRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Cristian M. Stevens on Wednesday sentenced a Washington County, Missouri man to 29 years in prison for sexually abusing a girl and soliciting child sexual abuse material from her.
William R. Murphy, 41, engaged in sexual contact with a juvenile when she was between the ages of 13 and 17. Sometimes Murphy threatened the victim to take sexually explicit photos of herself.
Murphy pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of production of child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor.
“William Murphy’s abhorrent crimes were uncovered because a vigilant mother trusted her instincts and took action to protect her child,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Child predators often rely on fear and manipulation to silence their victims. Parents must remain engaged; set clear expectations and monitor your child’s online activity to help keep them safe.”
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Mexican illegal alien & Dayton man indicted by grand jury for allegedly attempting to bring more than a kilogram of fentanyl from Philadelphia to DaytonRead the Press Release
DAYTON, Ohio – An illegal alien from Mexico and a Dayton man have been charged in the Southern District of Ohio for a fentanyl crime.
Luis Gomez-Andres, 27, and Jonathan Salomon-Muguel, 22, were allegedly caught traveling with more than a kilogram of fentanyl they obtained in Philadelphia to bring back to Dayton.
They are each charged with charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, a federal drug crime that carries a penalty of at least 10 years and up to life in prison. Gomez-Andres is also charged by a bill of information with eluding inspection as an illegal alien.
According to charging documents, Gomez-Andres had been stopped by law enforcement in Dayton in September 2025 and was deported at that time as he lacked legal status in the United States.
Four months later, in January 2026, law enforcement observed that Gomez-Andres had returned to the Dayton area, and they obtained a warrant for his arrest.
On Jan. 21, 2026, the defendant was stopped while driving in the state of Delaware for a traffic violation. Gomez-Andres and Salomon-Muguel were both present in the vehicle, where officers located more than a kilogram of fentanyl – which was intended for distribution in Dayton – in a black metal safe on the backseat of the SUV.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit announced the charges returned on April 28. Assistant United States Attorney Rob Painter is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Maryland Resident Pleads Guilty in D.C. to Coercing and Enticing a MinorRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Andrew Jacobson, 25, of Great Mills, Maryland, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to coercing and enticing a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
Jacobson pleaded guilty before Judge Rudolph Contreras who scheduled sentencing for Sept. 2, 2026.
According to court documents, between October 2025 and January 2026, Jacobson traveled from Maryland to the District of Columbia at least three times to sexually abuse a minor child. On a fourth occasion, Jacobson lured the minor child to Maryland and sexually abused the child in his Maryland home and filmed that act of sexual abuse.
Jacobson also communicated with the minor child over various messaging applications, where Jacobson would ask the minor child to engage in sexual conduct with him, discuss sexual acts he wanted to perform on the minor child, and even at one point encouraged the minor child to engage in sexual acts for money and offered to post on a messaging app advertising that she was selling content.
This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Kelley.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Man Subject to No-Contact Order Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Kenneth Thompson, age 24, from Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced April 28, 2026, to 7 years in federal prison, after a September 19, 2024, guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Drug User and One Subject to an Order of Protection.
Evidence in the case revealed on July 15, 2021, Thompson was a passenger in a vehicle subject to a traffic stop and found in possession of marijuana and a pistol, but Thompson denied the firearm was his. He was warned he could not lawfully possess firearms. On August 19, 2022, Sioux City police responded to a report of a burglary and that a Glock handgun had been stolen. On October 15, 2023, Woodbury County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in Moville where Thompson was not allowing a female victim to leave the residence. The victim had a valid no-contact order against Thompson. Thompson was arrested for possession of marijuana and violation of a no-contact order. Once Thompson was transported away from the scene, the victim reported Thompson had a firearm in the house and had pointed a gun at her and assaulted her. Law enforcement located a Glock handgun with a loaded, extended magazine. Deputies ran the serial number and learned this firearm was reported stolen on August 19, 2022, in Sioux City. While deputies were transporting Thompson, he made threats against law enforcement.
On November 10, 2023, Sioux City Police were dispatched to a neighborhood to locate Thompson, who had an active warrant for violation of a no-contact order. While Thompson was being taken into custody, he admitted to having a firearm on him. Officers located a fully loaded pistol.
Thompson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 84 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Thompson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was investigated by Woodbury County Sheriff’s Department, Sioux City Police Department, and the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4013.
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Las Vegas Homeland Security Task Force Hosts Cryptocurrency PanelRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – The Las Vegas Homeland Security Task Force held a panel discussion Monday on criminal charging and asset forfeiture involving cryptocurrency, as well as how digital currency continues to evolve. The panel brought together federal and local law enforcement partners to share information, discuss recent cases, and strengthen coordination in identifying and stopping criminal activity involving cryptocurrency.
Panelists discussed trends in cryptocurrency-related crimes, tools used to investigate these cases, and the legal process for seizing digital assets. The group also talked about the challenges posed by transnational criminal organizations that use cryptocurrency to move and hide illegal proceeds, and ways agencies can continue working together to address those threats and recover funds for victims.
“The Homeland Security Task Force underscores our shared commitment to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada Sigal Chattah. “Cryptocurrency is evolving, but our task force partners are using every available tool to disrupt money laundering and seize funds for victims.”
“The FBI, along with its local, state, and federal partners have seen actors, across the full spectrum of threats that we investigate, to include criminal, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and cyber threats, leverage the encryption and anonymity that virtual currency offers,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office. “For these actors, virtual currency is just another layering technique, used to obfuscate who the true beneficial owners are. We are committed to any tool and partner that assists us in tracing the money, which illuminates networks and identifies opportunities for asset forfeiture.”
“Cryptocurrency can move quickly,” said Special Agent in Charge John Wester, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF is happy to be a part of this panel and discussion. Technology is constantly evolving, and it is important that members of law enforcement stay knowledgeable about new technology/platforms that may be involved in federal investigations.”
“Cryptocurrency is increasingly being adopted by Transnational Criminal Organizations, as it provides the capability to rapidly and safely transfer capital across borders through an encrypted blockchain,” said Brandon Lesky, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Las Vegas District Office. “We’ve seen this play out in some of our drug investigations. Mexican cartels and other global criminal networks, for example, trade bulk cash for cryptocurrency to facilitate global drug trafficking. Cryptocurrency has become a borderless financial tool. These new tools undoubtedly complicate detection. This is why we must align our efforts and pool resources. This symposium provided an opportunity for law enforcement to collaborate with federal prosecutors and improve their strategy for tracking and prosecuting financial crimes.”
“As cryptocurrency has become an integral part of the global financial system, its mainstream presence unfortunately makes it an attractive vehicle for opportunistic criminals,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Phoenix Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dave Lowe. “But at their core, all financial crimes have the same bones. This is why IRS-CI remains committed to our foundational strength: following the money. By combining our deep financial expertise with cross-agency collaboration, we are uniquely positioned to deconstruct even the most complex transactions to identify stolen funds and hold bad actors accountable.”
Participants included representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, United States Marshals Service, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Law enforcement speak at Cryptocurrency Panel held at U.S. Attorney's Office.
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Kroger Agrees to Settlement Reducing Ozone-Harming Emissions from Grocery Stores NationwideRead the Press Release
Today, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a proposed settlement with The Kroger Company resolving alleged Clean Air Act violations at grocery stores nationwide.
Under the proposed consent decree, Kroger will spend an estimated $100 million over the next three years to reduce coolant leaks from refrigerators and other equipment and improve company-wide compliance with rules protecting the Earth’s ozone layer. The company will also pay a $2.5 million civil penalty.
“Compliance with the Clean Air Act protects human health,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Fixing leaks of ozone-depleting refrigerants makes a real difference in protecting all Americans from the harmful effects of solar radiation.”
The settlement resolves Kroger’s failure to promptly repair refrigerant equipment leaks of the refrigerant R-22, a powerful ozone-depleting hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), between 2014 and 2023. Kroger also failed to keep adequate refrigeration service records.
Damage to the ozone layer results in dangerous increases in the amount of ultraviolet solar radiation that strikes the earth. This radiation has been linked to many harmful effects, including skin cancers and cataracts.
If entered by the court, the settlement requires Kroger to retrofit or replace 600 large commercial refrigeration systems at its stores to reduce ozone-depleting emissions. Kroger must also implement a refrigerant management system to help prevent and repair coolant leaks and keep its corporate-wide average leak rate to no more than 9.5 percent per year.
The consent decree was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio and is subject to a 30-day public comment period. The complaint and proposed consent decree are available at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
The Environmental Protection Agency investigated this matter.
Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section are handling this matter.
Kearney Man Sentenced to 6 1/2 Years for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Jonathan Wagner, 27, of Kearney, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 23, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of transportation of child pornography. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Wagner to 78 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Wagner’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Wagner was additionally ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution.
Law enforcement discovered that Wagner was uploading files containing child pornography online. A federal search warrant was received for one of Wagner’s online accounts. The results revealed 97 image files and 100 video files of child pornography. The account also revealed 269 files depicting child erotica or age difficult files. A federal search warrant was received for Wagner’s residence on March 29, 2024. During the search, Wagner’s devices were seized. A review of those devices revealed 1,424 child pornography images and 15,484 images of child erotica or age difficult files. Wagner’s browser history on his cell phone also showed him accessing child pornography.
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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
Justice Department Sues New Jersey over Attempt to Regulate Federal Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against New Jersey, Governor Mikie Sherrill, and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport challenging their unconstitutional attempt to regulate federal law enforcement officers through the so-called “Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act.”
“The Department of Justice will steadfastly protect the privacy and safety of law enforcement from unconstitutional state laws like New Jersey’s,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.
Not only is the law an illegal attempt to regulate the federal government, but, as alleged in the complaint, the law threatens the safety of federal officers who have faced an unprecedent wave of harassment, doxing, and even violence. Threatening officers with prosecution for simply protecting their identities and their families also chills the enforcement of federal law and compromises sensitive law enforcement operations.
Acting Attorney General Blanche has instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal laws or impede lawful federal operations. Today’s lawsuit is the latest in a series of lawsuits brought by the Civil Division targeting illegal policies designed to thwart federal law enforcement across the country, including in New York, New Jersey, and California.
Justice Department Seeks to Shut Down Florida Return PreparersRead the Press Release
The Justice Department has filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida seeking to enjoin Florida-based return preparers Cedric Reid, Juan Santana, and Reid’s business, Advance Tax Group Inc. (Defendants) from preparing federal income tax returns for others. Defendants’ offices are located in Daytona Beach and Ocala, Florida, the complaint says.
The complaint alleges that Defendants prepare federal income tax returns for customers on which they claim fraudulent deductions and credits, purposely underreporting the tax their customers owe and claiming refunds their customers are not entitled to receive. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Defendants prepared returns that falsified filing status; reported false or inflated business expenses and losses; and claimed false fuel tax credits, education credits, and other credits. According to the complaint, Defendants used the false information they reported to maximize their customers’ earned income tax credit (EITC) and failed to follow the IRS’s EITC due diligence requirements.
The government alleges in the complaint that Defendants caused an estimated tax loss of more than $7 million in 2023 and 2024 alone.
Deputy Assistant Attorney General Joshua Wu of the Civil Division’s Tax Litigation Branch made the announcement. Tax Litigation Branch attorneys Meredith Hollman and Amanda Cornwell are handling the case.
Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers.
In the past decade, the Department of Justice has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Civil Division, Tax Litigation Branch with details.
Justice Department Secures Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Springfield, Missouri LandlordRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that the owners of residential rental properties in and around Springfield, Missouri have agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that the properties’ former owner and manager sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
“A home should be a place of safety, not fear and exploitation,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to vigorously holding landlords accountable when they use their power to violate the rights of vulnerable tenants.”
“No tenant should ever be forced to choose between their safety and keeping a roof over their head,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price for the Western District of Missouri. “Exploiting power for sexual coercion and retaliation is not only immoral, but it’s also illegal. The result of this case makes it clear that the Western District of Missouri will work tirelessly to hold accountable any landlord who violates a tenant’s rights.”
“The Fair Housing Act protects against sex discrimination precisely to prohibit this kind of vile and predatory behavior against vulnerable women,” said Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “When landlords sexually harass their female tenants, they are not only violating the law but undermining the sense of safety, privacy, and security that the home provides. The Trump Administration will always stand with victims and hold perpetrators accountable.”
“Today’s settlement makes clear that landlords who abuse their position of power by exploiting tenants’ basic needs for housing will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG will not tolerate the use of housing as a tool for coercion, harassment, or abuse, and we will continue to work with our partners to hold offenders fully responsible.”
The Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in March 2024, alleges that for over a decade, Jimmie Bell sexually harassed and retaliated against female tenants of rental homes he owned and/or managed in and around Springfield. The suit alleges that Bell’s conduct included making unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances to female tenants, exposing and touching his genitals in front of female tenants, touching and grabbing female tenants in a sexual manner without their consent, requesting sex or sex acts from female tenants in exchange for tangible housing benefits like excusing late or unpaid rent or the opportunity to rent another home, and taking adverse housing actions such as initiating evictions or refusing to make needed repairs against female tenants who refused his sexual advances.
Under the settlement agreement, Defendants must pay $250,000 to former tenants who were harmed by Jimmie Bell’s harassment. Defendants must also make good faith efforts to have all retaliatory evictions against these tenants removed from public court records and credit reports; and Defendants must cease any ongoing efforts to obtain payments from former tenants who faced retaliatory evictions. Finally, the settlement agreement mandates training to prevent future discrimination, including sexual harassment, at Defendants’ residential rental properties. The Department’s lawsuit named Jimmie Bell as a Defendant, as well as Defendants Fourth Bell LLC and the trustee of Second Bell Trust, owners of rental properties that were managed by Jimmie Bell. Jimmie Bell died in February 2025 and his son, Mark Bell, was substituted as his successor Defendant.
The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development received a complaint, completed an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General also participated in the investigation and assisted in the litigation.
If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered approximately $19 million for victims of such harassment.
Justice Department Secures Settlement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Springfield, Missouri LandlordRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that the owners of residential rental properties in and around Springfield, Missouri have agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that the properties’ former owner and manager sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act.
“A home should be a place of safety, not fear and exploitation,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to vigorously holding landlords accountable when they use their power to violate the rights of vulnerable tenants.”
“No tenant should ever be forced to choose between their safety and keeping a roof over their head,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price for the Western District of Missouri. “Exploiting power for sexual coercion and retaliation is not only immoral, but it’s also illegal. The result of this case makes it clear that the Western District of Missouri will work tirelessly to hold accountable any landlord who violates a tenant’s rights.”
“The Fair Housing Act protects against sex discrimination precisely to prohibit this kind of vile and predatory behavior against vulnerable women,” said Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “When landlords sexually harass their female tenants, they are not only violating the law but undermining the sense of safety, privacy, and security that the home provides. The Trump Administration will always stand with victims and hold perpetrators accountable.”
“Today’s settlement makes clear that landlords who abuse their position of power by exploiting tenants’ basic needs for housing will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG will not tolerate the use of housing as a tool for coercion, harassment, or abuse, and we will continue to work with our partners to hold offenders fully responsible.”
The Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in March 2024, alleges that for over a decade, Jimmie Bell sexually harassed and retaliated against female tenants of rental homes he owned and/or managed in and around Springfield. The suit alleges that Bell’s conduct included making unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances to female tenants, exposing and touching his genitals in front of female tenants, touching and grabbing female tenants in a sexual manner without their consent, requesting sex or sex acts from female tenants in exchange for tangible housing benefits like excusing late or unpaid rent or the opportunity to rent another home, and taking adverse housing actions such as initiating evictions or refusing to make needed repairs against female tenants who refused his sexual advances.
Under the settlement agreement, Defendants must pay $250,000 to former tenants who were harmed by Jimmie Bell’s harassment. Defendants must also make good faith efforts to have all retaliatory evictions against these tenants removed from public court records and credit reports; and Defendants must cease any ongoing efforts to obtain payments from former tenants who faced retaliatory evictions. Finally, the settlement agreement mandates training to prevent future discrimination, including sexual harassment, at Defendants’ residential rental properties. The Department’s lawsuit named Jimmie Bell as a Defendant, as well as Defendants Fourth Bell LLC and the trustee of Second Bell Trust, owners of rental properties that were managed by Jimmie Bell. Jimmie Bell died in February 2025 and his son, Mark Bell, was substituted as his successor Defendant.
The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development received a complaint, completed an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General also participated in the investigation and assisted in the litigation.
If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered approximately $19 million for victims of such harassment.
Jury convicts illegal alien from Honduras for unlawfully possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Honduran national today on charges of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, in 2016, law enforcement encountered Joel L. Ayala-Rivera, 22, near Hidalgo, Texas, after he unlawfully crossed the border as an unaccompanied juvenile. He was placed in removal proceedings and was released from custody to the care of his mother. In or about February of 2023, Ayala-Rivera was again encountered and taken into custody by Border Patrol in Texas. In May of 2023, an immigration judge adjudged him to be an alien present in the United States without being admitted or paroled. The judge released Ayala-Rivera from immigration detention on a cash bond.
On April 15, 2024, at an apartment in Richmond, the FBI conducted a controlled purchase in which Ayala-Rivera sold a handgun. As an illegal alien, Ayala-Rivera cannot lawfully possess firearms.
Ayala-Rivera faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced on Aug. 25, and he remains subject to the prior order of removal. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI’s Richmond Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Richmond Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angela Mastandrea and Patrick J. McGorman are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-14.
Jefferson County felon sentenced to federal prison for firearms violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas –A Beaumont convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
John Edwin Redeaux, 32, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale April 29, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on November 17, 2024, Redeaux was stopped in Beaumont for a traffic violation and gave permission to search his vehicle after officers observed baggies on the floorboard of the vehicle that are commonly used to store and sell illegal drugs. A search of the vehicle revealed a firearm, a box of ammunition, a bag of marijuana, a black ski mask and a digital scale. Further investigation revealed Redeaux is a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James.
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Intercepted Package Containing 1.6 Pounds of Fentanyl Leads to ConvictionRead the Press Release
Intercepted Package Containing 1.6 Pounds of Fentanyl Leads to Conviction
CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jaquan Marquis Brock, 29, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today to attempted possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, U.S. Postal Inspectors intercepted a package mailed to an apartment in Morgantown from an address in Scottsdale, Arizona. A search warrant for the package was executed and investigators found more than 1.6 pounds of fentanyl. The Postal Inspection Service worked with the Mon Metro Drug Task Force to deliver the package. Brock retrieved the package and was arrested in the parking lot.
Brock faces 10 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Mon Metro Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.
Indian National Pleads Guilty to Role in Illegal Gambling RingRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Indian national pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri.
Rahulkumar D. Patel, 41, a citizen of India residing in the state of Washington, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Patel admitted that he and his co-conspirators obtained approximately $7,696,085 in gross proceeds from their wire fraud scheme and illegal gambling businesses and then conducted various financial transactions for the purpose of laundering the proceeds.
On May 14, 2025, Patel was charged, along with eight other individuals, in a 72-count superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in Springfield. The federal indictment charges all nine defendants with one count each of participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and operating illegal gambling businesses from July 1, 2022, to May 13, 2025. In addition to the conspiracy counts, all nine defendants were charged with at least one count of wire fraud, and eight defendants were charged with money laundering.
Through Patel’s guilty plea, he admitted that he and his co-conspirators ran illegal gambling businesses under the guise of internet amusement arcade games, skill game arcades, and adult arcades. Patel and his co-conspirators hired local employees to work in their businesses, which operated contests of chance, gambling devices, and slot machines in violation of Missouri and Federal law. There were four locations that operated in Springfield: Big Win Arcade #1 at 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Big Win Arcade #2 at 1135 E. Commercial St., Spin Hitters at 838-840 S. Glenstone Ave., and Vegas Arcade at 615 S. Scenic. They also opened Spin Zone at 2331 E. 7th St. in Joplin, Mo., and Vegas City Arcade at 16585 Missouri Highway 13, Branson West.
Under federal statutes, Patel is subject to a sentence of up to 20, five, and 20 years in federal prison without parole, respectively, for each count to which he pleaded guilty. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, the Greene County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney, the Jasper County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney, and the Johnson County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney.
Homeland Security Task Force
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 Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.
Illegal Alien from Romania Sentenced for Role in SNAP Benefits Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – An illegal alien, who is a citizen of Romania, will serve more than two years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Maria Roza Tomescu, 22, to 28 months in prison for her role in a Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits fraud conspiracy.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region; Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Chief Gregory Der, Howard County Police Department (HCPD).
SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, was a federally funded, national program established by the United States to alleviate hunger and malnutrition among lower income families. Each SNAP recipient receives an EBT authorization card that acts as a debit card and which electronically stores personal identifying information and other data concerning the applicant.
According to her plea agreement, Tomescu participated in a conspiracy to defraud the United States and multiple recipients of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) benefits. In 2022, Tomescu and her co-conspirators obtained EBT information from victims throughout the U.S., including in Maryland, California, Kentucky, Tennessee, New York, and other states. They used skimming devices and other means to carry out the conspiracy.
The co-conspirators played various roles in skimming operations, including acquiring skimming equipment, shipping equipment to co-conspirators, and installing or removing the equipment at the point of sale (POS) terminals at various commercial establishments. They also monitored the activity at POSs where skimming equipment was installed and duplicated victims’ EBT cards using the information collected from the skimming devices. Co-conspirators then fraudulently purchased large bulk items using cloned EBT cards containing numerous victims’ personal identifying information.
On August 5, 2022, Tomescu and two co-conspirators entered two stores — a Columbia Wal-Mart and a Laurel 7-Eleven — and placed skimming device on the point-of-sale terminals at the front of the stores. At both stores, Tomescu served as the diversion as a co-conspirator installed the device. Then on August 27, Tomescu used a stolen Maryland EBT number and PIN to spend more than $900 of a victim’s benefits on Red Bull at a Severn, Maryland, Sam’s Club.
In 2025, Baltimore County Police Department officers stopped a vehicle Tomescu was driving. She then presented officers with a false Italian driver’s license. After law enforcement discovered Tomescu’s identity, officers arrested her. Then through further investigation, law enforcement discovered Tomescu opened two bank accounts using the false identity. Tomescu used the bank accounts to deposit checks that parishioners issued to churches. Through her criminal activities, Tomescu obtained $7,457.50 in fraudulent funds.
Due to the loss of their SNAP benefits, at least 15 victims were unable to obtain food items until after the replenishment of their funds the following month. The total loss attributed to the conspiracy in Maryland is approximately $343,756.
Judge Rubin previously sentenced co-conspirator Fabritio Sardaru, 22, an illegal alien who is a citizen of Romania and Ireland, to two years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USDA-OIG, MCPD, and HCPD for their work in the investigation, along with the Maryland Department of Human Services, Office of Inspector General, for their valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Higgins who prosecuted the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Illegal Alien Who Led Massive International Drug and Firearms Trafficking Ring from Behind Bars Sentenced to Federal Prison with 14 OthersRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Servando Corona Penaloza, who is a Mexican illegal alien and Georgia state prison inmate, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for orchestrating the sale of more than 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl and the purchase of over 200 military-style firearms that were transported to Mexico for use by Mexican cartels. Fourteen other members of Corona Penaloza’s organization have been convicted and sentenced, with two defendants awaiting sentencing in the coming months.
“These defendants flooded our community with deadly drugs and used the proceeds of their drug deals to arm narco-terrorist Mexican cartels with high-powered weapons of war,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “As a result of the exceptional and dedicated work by our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners under the auspices of Atlanta’s Homeland Security Task Force, there are no more drugs coming in—or firearms going out—at Corona Penaloza’s direction.”
“This investigation reflects strong coordination among agencies at every level. Through that collaboration, we disrupted a dangerous operation and enhanced the safety of our communities,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ryan Todd.
“This operation not only prevented a massive quantity of methamphetamine from reaching our streets but also took firearms out of the hands of individuals who pose a serious threat to public safety,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Every kilogram seized, and every weapon recovered, is a step toward safer communities.”
“This case demonstrates Homeland Security Investigations’ determination to root out violent gangs and criminal cartels from our communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “By working side-by-side with our federal, state, and local partners, we have stopped the flow of deadly drugs and weapons and delivered a clear message: We will relentlessly pursue those who threaten the safety of American families.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In March 2024, federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) identified numerous cash purchases of M249S firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers in the Atlanta area. M249S firearms are belt-fed, single shot, civilian versions of the U.S. Army’s Squad Automatic Weapon, with a retail cost of $10,000 to $12,000 per unit. Throughout its investigation, the ATF determined that numerous individuals were purchasing, or coordinating the purchase of, M249S firearms and other military-style weapons in the Atlanta area on behalf of Corona Penaloza, who organized the smuggling of those firearms to Mexico for use by Mexican narcoterrorists.
In March 2024, while ATF investigated Corona Penaloza for firearms trafficking, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) began investigating him for large-scale drug trafficking. During its investigation, the DEA learned that Corona Penaloza had brokered several large-scale cocaine and methamphetamine transactions and coordinated the importation and distribution of hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl and thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine on behalf of a large Mexican drug cartel. For instance, on October 23, 2024, the DEA identified and seized a shipment of over 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine delivered to an auto mechanic shop in DeKalb County, Georgia.
The investigation revealed that Corona Penaloza coordinated the drug and firearm sales by using a contraband cell phone while serving a 30-year state prison sentence. To source firearms, he worked with certain individuals who acted as firearms purchase coordinators. Those coordinators then instructed numerous other individuals to buy the firearms at various FFLs in the Atlanta area and deliver them to the coordinators. Some of the purchasers facilitated smuggling the firearms to Mexico by wrapping them in plastic bags and hiding them in trap compartments in vehicles, including in the gas tanks of a recreational vehicle.
During the investigation, the ATF determined that Corona Penaloza and his conspirators organized the purchase and trafficking of at least 223 firearms to Mexico. The value of these firearms was over $700,000, and the vast majority of the firearms were purchased with cash obtained through the sale of narcotics. In the United States, agents seized 105 firearms purchased by members of the conspiracy. Mexican authorities recovered an additional 20 firearms in Mexico that were connected to this investigation. An M2 belt-fed .50 caliber rifle, a M240 7.62mm belt-fed rifle, eleven M249S belt-fed rifles, and a Barrett .50 caliber rifle were among the firearms recovered in the United States. An additional Barrett .50 caliber rifle and seven more M249S belt-fed rifles were recovered by Mexican authorities.
Two illegal aliens, Teresa Gonzalez Hoopo and Berenice Macias Montes, laundered Corona Penaloza’s drug proceeds for him, exchanging money through CashApp and other applications, so they could provide funds to the firearms purchase coordinators and straw purchasers.
Today, U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen sentenced Servando Corona Penaloza, a/k/a Armani, 38, of Mexico, to 25 years in prison—at least 15 years of which will be served consecutively to his state sentence—to be followed by ten years of supervised release. On November 13, 2025, Corona Penaloza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, and conspiracy to engage in concealment money laundering.
In addition to Corona Penaloza, the following defendants were previously sentenced in this case:
- Ulises Hernandez-Pineda, 38, of Suffolk, Virginia, was sentenced to 10 years, and one month in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms, and conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
- Jared Thompson, 41, of Snellville, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
- Carlos Sambrano, 29, of Rex, Georgia, was sentenced to nine years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Kevin Delrio-Oliva, 23, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years, and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms and money laundering.
- Marlon Geovanie Chen, 33, of Belize, was sentenced to five years, and three months in prison, to be followed by deportation proceedings, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Jairo Najera, 26, of Conyers, Georgia, was sentenced to four years, and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms.
- Teresa Gonzalez-Hoopo, 57, of Mexico, was sentenced to three years, and ten months in prison, to be followed by deportation proceedings, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in concealment money laundering and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
- Berenice Macias Montes, 32, of Mexico, was sentenced to three years, and ten months in prison, to be followed by deportation proceedings, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in concealment money laundering and making false statements to a licensed firearms dealer.
- Torres Simmons, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to three years, and ten months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to making false statements to a licensed firearms dealer.
- Timothy Dennis, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to three years, and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to making false statements to a licensed firearms dealer.
- Cameron Vick, 23, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was sentenced to three years, and five months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to making false statements to a licensed firearms dealer.
- Adalberto Alexander Avila Antuuez, 23, of Honduras, was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by deportation proceedings, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
- Jason Castillo, 22, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced to one year, and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to making false statements to a licensed firearms dealer.
- Jessica Smith, 41, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to one year, and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to making false statements to a licensed firearms dealer.
Additionally, two defendants are awaiting sentencing:
- Victor Mendoza-Ortiz, 25, of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a licensed firearms dealer, and will be sentenced on May 19, 2026.
- Salvio Garcia, 25, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms, and money laundering, and will be sentenced on June 11, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations. Valuable assistance was provided by the Georgia Department of Corrections, DeKalb County Police Department, Gwinnett County Police Department, Atlanta Police Department, South Fulton Police Department, Lilburn Police Department, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Henry County Police Department, Lake Charles (LA) Police Department, and the Refugio County (TX) Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Calvin A. Leipold III, Dwayne A. Brown Jr., and Bethany L. Rupert prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Evert substantially assisted with the judicial forfeiture of the seized firearms and drug proceeds.
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 Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Raciel Osorio Lopez, a/k/a Raciel Osoriolopez, a/k/a Raciel Osorio-Lopez, age 33, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Atoka, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Stringtown Police Department.
The Indictment alleged that on March 27, 2026, Osario Lopez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on April 28, 2015, August 19, 2015, and March 9, 2017.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Osorio Lopez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Hyde Park Man Arrested and Charged with Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Hyde Park man has been arrested and charged for allegedly possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM).
Nicholas J. McDonagh, 25, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession of child pornography. McDonagh was arrested on April 23, 2026 and remains in federal custody pending further order by the court.
According to the charging documents, in June 2025, investigators with the Delaware State Police identified McDonagh as the potential suspect behind sexually explicit messages, photos and videos that had been sent to a 12-year-old Delaware girl via Snapchat earlier that year. It is alleged that McDonagh had been communicating with this girl over Snapchat from approximately January to March 2025, and that the two had engaged in “nude video chats.”
During subsequent searches of McDonagh’s residence and person on Aug. 6, 2025, several cellphones were seized. It is alleged that the devices were found to contain approximately 24 video files depicting CSAM, including several videos depicting girls who appear to be younger than 12 years old. It is further alleged that one of the devices contained several Snapchat messages with the minor victim from Delaware. The defendant was arrested and charged by state authorities that same day, on Aug. 6, 2025, and later released on bail with pretrial conditions, including GPS monitoring, internet restrictions and refraining from any unsupervised contact with minors.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael A. Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Potapchuk of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney’s 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.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Houston men sentenced to lengthy federal prison terms as part of Homeland Security Task Force for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas – Five members of a Houston drug trafficking organization have been sentenced to lengthy terms in federal prison as part of the Homeland Security Task Force in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Salvador Abraham Gomez, also known as Chop and Chief, 45, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl and was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on April 16, 2026.
Da Neang, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison by Judge Crone on April 7, 2026.
Fernando Adalberto Vazquez-Pardo, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by Judge Crone on March 4, 2026.
Guillermo Alfredo Sisnados, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl and was sentenced to 121 months in federal prison by Judge Crone on April 16, 2026.
Ebony Barber, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a substance containing fentanyl and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by Judge Crone on March 4, 2026.
According to information presented in court, in 2021 federal agents began investigating a drug trafficking scheme in Louisiana and the Eastern District of Texas. The investigation led authorities to Gomez as the source of supply and his associates, Neang, Vazquez-Pardo, Sisnados, and Barber. Further investigation revealed a significant drug distribution network that spanned multiple states. Ultimately, Gomez was found to be responsible for coordinating the distribution of at least 7,805 grams of methamphetamine and 4,907 grams of a substance containing fentanyl.
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 Houston comprises agents and officers from the FBI; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Houston (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Houston Division Office Texas Anti-Gang Enforcement Group 22; DEA New Orleans; Houston Police Department; Beaumont Police Department; Baytown Police Department; Harris County Precinct 5 Constable; Harris County Constable’s Office Precinct 3; Harris County Sheriff’s Office; and Waller County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lee.
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Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Dubbed Operation Crystal Express Results in Convictions for Three Drug TraffickersRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Cyril Kobey, 57, and Israel Montano, 46, both of San Diego, California, and Daniel Beckerman, 59, of Ballston Spa, New York, have pled guilty for their roles in a conspiracy to traffic kilograms of methamphetamine from San Diego, California into the Capital Region. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement.
Kobey and Montano conspired with Beckerman and others to distribute over 3 kilograms of pure crystal methamphetamine to the Northern District of New York between March 2019 and July 2020. The investigation into Beckerman, Kobey, and Montano, dubbed Operation Crystal Express by law enforcement, began in 2019. Law enforcement was able to dismantle the trafficking operation in a matter of months through the use Title III wiretaps and undercover operations.
Beckerman, Kobey, and Montano pled guilty for their roles as follows:
- Beckerman and Kobey pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine. At sentencing on June 11, 2026, they each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, a term of supervised release between 5 years and life, and forfeiture of ill-gotten gains.
- Montano pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 or more grams of methamphetamine. If United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino accepts the parties’ agreed-upon disposition at sentencing on August 27, 2026, Montano will be sentenced to at least 72 months and up to 87 months in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, a term of supervised release between 4 years and life, and forfeiture of ill-gotten gains.
“The defendants’ pipeline of filth from California to Saratoga is officially closed,” FAUSA Sarcone said. “I commend the FBI and my prosecutors for swiftly and completely dismantling this operation and bringing these defendants to justice. As this case shows, our reach does not stop at the borders of our District. If you introduce poison into our communities, we will find you and bring you to justice.”
SAC Tremaroli stated: “These guilty pleas ensure these criminals will spend time in federal prison for trafficking dangerous drugs into our communities. The success of Operation Crystal Express clearly illustrates the strong law enforcement partnerships on our Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). The FBI, together with these partners, will continue to aggressively investigate and dismantle these dangerous criminal enterprises looking to poison our communities through the sale of illegal narcotics.”
The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Paulbeck also prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the HSTF initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Albany comprises agents and officers from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations; FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Internal Revenue Service; ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations; Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – Office of Border Patrol; CBP – Office of Field Operations; Drug Enforcement Administration; Coast Guard Investigative Service; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; U.S. Secret Service; and the Department of State / Diplomatic Security Service. The prosecution is being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
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- Beckerman and Kobey pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 or more grams of methamphetamine. At sentencing on June 11, 2026, they each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison, a fine of up to $10,000,000, a term of supervised release between 5 years and life, and forfeiture of ill-gotten gains.
HSI Arrests Two Men on Child Exploitation ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –Homeland Security Investigations special agents arrested two men on criminal charges related to child exploitation conduct.
A federal grand jury indicted Alen Meléndez-Santiago on April 9, 2026, with three counts of sexual exploitation of children. According to court documents, from November 2025 to January 2026, defendant Meléndez-Santiago, 25, from Toa Baja, induced, enticed and coerced a 14-year-old female minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography. The defendant is charged with one count of production of child pornography, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor and one count of receipt of child pornography.
If convicted, the defendant faces the following penalties: a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years up to 30 years in prison for production of child exploitation material; a maximum sentence of life in prison for the coercion and enticement of a minor; and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child exploitation material. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez-Lora of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting the case.
In a separate case, Edwin Méndez-Pérez, a 50-year-old man from Caguas, was arrested by HSI agents for child exploitation. On April 22, 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Méndez-Pérez with three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, sexual exploitation of children, and receipt of child exploitation material.
According to the indictment, from August 2010 through May 2025, Méndez-Pérez knowingly used electronic devices as well as internet instant messaging services to induce, entice and coerce a female minor when she was between 11 and 15 years of age to engage in sexual activity. The defendant produced and received the child exploitation material.
If convicted, Méndez-Pérez faces the following sentences: 10 years up to life in prison for the coercion and enticement of a minor; 15 to 30 years in prison for the sexual exploitation of children; and a minimum of five up to 20 years in prison for the receipt of child exploitation material. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. AUSA Emelina M. Agrait-Barreto of the Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit is prosecuting the case.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of those who sexually exploit children,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “I am grateful for the efforts of the investigators and prosecutors who continue to work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute those who harm children.”
“Child predators often disguise abuse as a “fun game” to lower a child’s guard - but there is nothing harmless about it. This is deliberate, calculated, predatory behavior. They exploit trust, manipulate innocence, and use every tactic available to target their victims - going so far as to pay to obtain what they want. Not on our watch. HSI remains vigilant, unwavering, and fully committed to protecting our children,” said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos.
Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the cases.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska - April 2026Read the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 19 unsealed Indictments charging 21 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Manjot Singh, age 25, of Sacramento, California, is charged with possession of 5 kilograms or more of cocaine with intent to distribute on or about January 14, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Rolando Jaimes, age 21, of Niobrara, Nebraska, is charged with sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country on or about September 21, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Brian Alexis Baldonado-Belmontes, age 25, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition on or about March 22, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Harol Edwin Cruz Suarez, age 39, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is charged with possession of child pornography between on or about May 19, 2025, and on or about March 26, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Harol Edwin Cruz Suarez, age 39, of Bellevue, Nebraska, is also charged in a separate indictment with possession of ammunition by a prohibited person on or about March 26, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, and a $100 special assessment.
Gabriel Antonio Cordero-Reinoso, age 22, Yoskarlys Estefania Lopez-Guevara, age 22, Carlos Sabino-Parra, age 34, and Alfredo Jose Maita-Acienso, age 22, all of Omaha, Nebraska, have been charged in a two-count indictment. Count I charges Cordero-Reinoso, Lopez-Guevara, Sabino-Parra, and Maita-Acienso with conspiracy to commit bank fraud from at least in or around January 2024 through at least in or around February 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 30 years’ imprisonment, $1,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and $100 special assessment. Count II charges Cordero-Reinoso, Lopez-Guevara, Sabino-Parra, and Maita-Acienso with conspiracy to commit bank burglary and damage to a protected computer from at least in or around January 2024 through at least in or around February 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and $100 special assessment.
Justin A. Dueling, age 41, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Dueling with production of child pornography between on or about December 1, 2023, and on or about November 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less 15 years’ and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Dueling with receipt and distribution of child pornography between on or about November 8, 2024, and on or about November 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 5 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Dueling with possession of child pornography between on or about November 8, 2024, and on or about March 17, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Edward Wayne Webster, age 71, of Winnebago, Nebraska, is charged with failure to register as a sex offender between on or about April 1, 2025, and continuing to on or about April 9, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Rontea Gunn, age 48, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Counts I and II charge Gunn with being a felon in possession of firearms on or about April 7, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Gunn with trafficking firearms on or about April 7, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
Howard Bassette, III, age 45, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Bassette with sexual assault by force or threat on or about April 6, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Bassette with sexual abuse by threat on or about April 6, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Andrew L. Foster, age 41, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Foster with receipt of child pornography beginning on or about July 30, 2025, and continuing until on or about September 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 15 years’ and up to 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Foster with possession of child pornography beginning on or about July 30, 2025, and continuing until on or about September 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment.
Francisco Lopez-Perez, age 39, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Lopez-Perez with false representation of a social security number on or about July 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Lopez-Perez with false claim to United States citizenship on or about July 10, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Lopez-Perez with illegal reentry of a removed alien on or about April 8, 2026. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Acting Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Gustavo Figueroa Arista, age 39
Sebastian Calel-Conoz, age 54
Artemio Avila-Galicia, age 39
Hexbin Carlos Bernal-Sabino, 41
Hugo Lepe-Mora, 39
Gustavo Cruz-Bejines, 40
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
The following individual was charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction and was found in the United States, without the Acting Attorney General of the United States or his designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States:
Israel Gaytan-Cruz, age 45
The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.