Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
13 April 2026
Justice Department Announces Compensation Process for OneCoin Fraud Victims with Funds Recovered Through Asset ForfeitureRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice announced the beginning of the remission compensation process to provide recovery for victims of the international investment scheme involving OneCoin Ltd.
Between 2014 and 2019, Ruja Ignatova and Karl Sebastian Greenwood, co-founders of OneCoin Ltd. (OneCoin), and others orchestrated a large, international cryptocurrency investment scheme defrauding investors from around the globe. OneCoin, which began operations in 2014 and was based in Sofia, Bulgaria, marketed and sold a fraudulent cryptocurrency by the same name through a global multi-level-marketing (MLM) network. As a result of misrepresentations made about OneCoin, victims invested over $4 billion worldwide in the fraudulent cryptocurrency. The Department of Justice filed a number of OneCoin-related prosecutions in the Southern District of New York. Several key figures involved in the scheme have been sentenced, and the Department pursued criminal forfeiture of property derived from the proceeds of the fraud scheme. More than $40 million in forfeited assets are currently available for victim compensation.
Through the remission process, victims who purchased the fraudulent OneCoin cryptocurrency between 2014 and 2019 may be eligible for compensation. Individuals who believe they may be victims may obtain a petition form online at www.onecoinremission.com. Victims may also call, email, or write to the Remission Administrator to request that a Petition Form be sent to them. The deadline for filing a petition is June 30. The Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section manages the remission compensation process.
“Victims are at the core of everything we do at the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. “As we did in this complex investment fraud case, the Department pursues forfeiture to take the profit out of crime and then use that money to compensate victims wherever possible. I commend the efforts of our colleagues in the Southern District of New York, our law enforcement partners, and our Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, which manages the Asset Forfeiture Program, for all of their work on behalf of the victims in this important case.”
“Between 2014 and 2019, OneCoin’s founders sold a lie disguised as cryptocurrency, costing victims more than $4 billion worldwide,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “Today’s announcement marks an important step toward returning funds to those harmed. While no recovery can fully undo the damage, our Office will continue working to seize criminal proceeds and prioritize getting money back into the hands of victims. If you believe you may be a victim of OneCoin, you may obtain a petition form online at www.onecoinremission.com.”
“The victim losses accrued in this case are monumental,” said Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr of the FBI New York Field Office. “Misled by falsified statements and empty promises, many unknowingly depleted their savings for a fraudulent investment scheme in an emerging financial ecosystem that would never pay out. With the unwavering support from the Department of Justice, the FBI maintains its commitment to returning these stolen funds to their rightful owners. Our office will continue its investigative pursuit of these criminal fraudsters — especially locating Ruja Ignatova, an FBI Top Ten Fugitive — alongside our partners at the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the Southern District of New York. Any information concerning this fugitive can be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov or via our tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.”
“The victims of the OneCoin scheme were misled and financially devastated by promises that were never real,” said Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of IRS-CI. “Alongside our law enforcement partners, we worked tirelessly to trace illicit funds and recover them for victims. This compensation process represents a critical step toward returning stolen assets to those who were deceived. IRS-CI remains steadfast in its mission to follow the money and dismantle complex financial fraud schemes like OneCoin.”
More information regarding the remission process, including eligibility criteria, updates, and frequently asked questions are available at www.onecoinremission.com or by calling 1-833-421-9748. Kroll Settlement Administration LLC is serving as the remission administrator in this matter.
The FBI and IRS-CI conducted the criminal fraud investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance.
The Department of Justice, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to compensate victims of crime. Since 2000, the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF), which oversees the Asset Forfeiture Program’s victim compensation program, has returned more than $12.5 billion in forfeited assets to victims of crime. MNF Attorney Advisor Drew Halter with the section’s Program Management and Training Unit is leading the remission process.
Neither the Remission Administrator nor the Department of Justice will ask for any payment to participate in this remission process. Please be cautious of any individual or organization claiming to represent the Remission Administrator or the federal government in this matter. If you are a victim, any communications will come directly from the Remission Administrator or from government representatives with whom you have already had contact.
PSA: FBI Warns of the Impersonation of Law Enforcement and Government Officials https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250418
PSA: Fictitious Law Firms Targeting Cryptocurrency Scam Victims Combine Multiple Exploitation Tactics While Offering to Recover Funds https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250813
How To Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-government-impersonation-scam
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Offense and Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in Dorchester, Mass. has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for unlawfully reentering the United States and for possessing child sexual abuse material. A second individual was also charged and deported from the United States.
Miguel Gomez-Lopez, a/k/a Miguel Hernandez, 32, was sentenced on April 9, 2026 by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to 13 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of the imposed sentence. In December 2025, the Gomez-Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien and two counts of possession of child pornography. The defendant was arrested and charged in June 2023 and has remained in custody since.
In June 2023, local law enforcement in Boston conducted a well-being check on a minor 14-year-old female who was believed to be in danger at Gomez-Lopez’s Dorchester apartment. When officers arrived, they discovered not one, but two, missing 14-year-old females at Gomez-Lopez’s apartment. One of the minors (MV-2) was exiting the apartment with Gomez-Lopez as police were arriving. The other minor (MV-1) was eventually located in a bedroom in Mr. Gomez-Lopez’s apartment. She appeared intoxicated and naked from the waist down. A search of Gomez-Lopez’s phone revealed nude photographs and videos of MV-2. A second individual was charged with crimes against MV-1 and has since been deported.
Following his arrest, it was determined that Gomez-Lopez was a citizen of Guatemala unlawfully present in the United States. Gomez-Lopez was first ordered removed from the United States in September 2017. Just six weeks later, in October 2017, Gomez-Lopez was again encountered by U.S. Border Patrol and subsequently deported from the United States a second time.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and David T. Wesling, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Riley, Jessica L. Soto and Mark Grady of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Bank Larceny on Behalf of Foreign Terrorist OrganizationRead the Press Release
DETROIT -Yosue Manuel Gonzalez-Moy, an illegal alien from Venezuela, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit bank larceny on behalf of Tren de Aragua, a designated foreign terrorist organization, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Field Office.
On October 12, 2025, Gonzalez-Moy and a co-conspirator drove from Illinois to Dexter, Michigan to break into and steal money from an ATM at the Chelsea State Bank. Gonzalez-Moy used a counterfeit key and a cordless drill to open the ATM. He then connected a device to the ATM that would have allowed him to access the ATM remotely and force the ATM to dispense all of its stored currency, a crime commonly referred to as “ATM Jackpotting.” Gonzalez -Moy and the coconspirator fled without obtaining any money after an alarm went off. While fleeing from the scene, the co-conspirator crashed his vehicle into a tree and later died at the hospital from his injuries. During a post-arrest interview, Gonzalez-Moy admitted that he was associated with Tren de Aragua (TdA) – a designated foreign terrorist organization – and that he attempted to break into the ATM at the request of other TdA members.
United States Attorney Gorgon stated, “People sometimes think that the dangers of illegal immigration are a faraway problem that don’t impact us here at home. Today’s conviction shows this is untrue. Tren de Aragua is a vicious and violent foreign terrorist cartel that has victimized numerous communities throughout the United States. Now they have come to Michigan to do the same. But they will find no sanctuary here.”
"Criminals who target financial systems through schemes like ATM Jackpotting will be identified and brought to justice,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The defendant, who was identified as an illegal alien and associate of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a transnational organized crime syndicate from Venezuela, manipulated an ATM machine in our community, in an attempt to unlawfully access currency. I want to be clear: No matter the scheme, when there is a federal nexus, the FBI will work with our partners to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle operations of those involved. I commend the dedicated members of FBI Detroit, and our law enforcement partners for their work in holding this individual accountable and protecting our homeland.”
Gonzalez-Moy faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.
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 Detroit comprises agents and officers from various law enforcement agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The investigation was conducted by the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Bilkovic and Tim McDonald.
Huntington Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tina Marie Dixon, 53, of Huntington, was sentenced today to five years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 25, 2026, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a garage structure behind Dixon’s residence in Huntington. As part of her guilty plea, Dixon admitted that she consented to a search of her bedroom in her residence during the execution of the search warrant and that officers found 37.1 grams of a substance containing fentanyl and 2.7 grams of crack in her bedroom. Officers also found $18,984 in her bedroom during the search. Dixon further admitted that officers saw her distribute a quantity of crack to an individual standing outside her residence when they arrived to execute the search warrant for the garage structure.
Dixon’s daughter and co-defendant Tabatha Rae Gardner, 35, of Huntington, pleaded guilty on January 28, 2026, to distribution of fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2026.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-172.
###
Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Lovus Austin Brewer, 28, of Huntington, was sentenced today to six years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 4, 2025, law enforcement officers responding to reports of shots fired at a Huntington apartment building encountered Brewer and ordered him to raise his hands in the air. When Brewer complied, officers saw a black pistol with an extended 30-round magazine on his right rear hip. Officers recovered a 9mm pistol from Brewer and 17 spent shell casings and one live, unfired round near the apartment building. Security camera footage captured Brewer walking to the front of the building and opening fire. Several residents reported that the gunfire struck the apartment building, and officers observed bullets holes in the building’s windows and walls.
Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Brewer knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in Wayne County Circuit Court on August 21, 2017, and fleeing with reckless indifference to the safety of others in Cabell County Circuit Court on September 22, 2022.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-149.
###
Honduran National Unlawfully Residing in Oregon Found Guilty of Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Portland Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A federal jury in Portland found Hugo Gomez-Soto, 51, a Honduran National unlawfully residing in Oregon, guilty today for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the fatal overdose death of a Portland man.
“This case highlights the devastating toll of fentanyl in our community. Fentanyl claims too many lives and leaves families heartbroken,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We remain committed to fighting this epidemic and holding fentanyl traffickers in Oregon accountable.”
As presented at trial, Gomez-Soto sold illicit fentanyl in the form of powder and counterfeit pills to a 29-year-old resident of Southwest Portland. The following day, the victim overdosed on the illicit fentanyl, dying just moments after using it, despite life-saving measures, including Narcan, by those on scene. On January 25, 2024, Gomez-Soto was arrested on state charges. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of both fentanyl powder and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.
On June 18, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a two-count indictment charging Gomez-Soto with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Gomez-Soto faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. He will be sentenced on July 10, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Portland Police Bureau Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit and Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott M. Kerin and Nicole Bockelman.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.
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.
Honduran Illegal Alien Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the CountryRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A Honduran man pleaded guilty and was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for reentering the United States after a prior removal.
After accepting his plea, U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Marlon Rene Avila-Cruz, 32, to a time-served sentence. Avila-Cruz was originally arrested on December 21, 2025, and has been in federal custody since that time.
According to court records, on December 21, 2025, a Farmington police officer pulled over a car that Avila-Cruz was driving for a traffic violation. Avila-Cruz informed the officer that he was from Honduras but could only provide a piece of paper from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. U.S. Border Patrol Agents were then called to the scene. Records checks revealed that Avila-Cruz had been previously deported from the U.S. and returned to Honduras.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
###
Honduran Illegal Alien Guilty of Illegal Reentry of a Deported AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARVIN NECTALI MORADEL-VELASQUEZ (“MORADEL-VELASQUEZ”), age 40, plead guilty on April 9, 2026, to illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, MORADEL-VELASQUEZ, an illegal alien, was found in the Eastern District of Louisiana on December 31, 2025. He had previously been removed from the United States to Honduras on or about October 11, 2016. MORADEL-VELASQUEZ also has a previous conviction for domestic abuse and child endangerment. Because of these past charges, MORADEL-VELASQUEZ faces a sentencing enhancement.
MORADEL-VELASQUEZ faces a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
MORADEL-VELASQUEZ’s sentencing is set for July 2, 2026, before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick W. Veters Jr., of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
* * *
Gun-Toting Felon Who Ran from Officers Pleads Guilty in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
A felon who ran from officers and dropped a gun pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Darrell Jawon Wilson, age 18, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence at a prior court hearing demonstrated that on October 1, 2025, in Waterloo, Iowa, officers went to a liquor store because of a report that two men, wearing masks, were walking around the area and looking in cars. Officers arrived and located the two men. One man, later identified as Wilson, ran. An officer chased him and saw him pull out a gun from his waistline. Wilson fell and dropped the gun. After Wilson was taken into custody, officers retraced the path of the pursuit and found the gun. Wilson has felony convictions for conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and going armed with intent.
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.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Wilson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Wilson faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Waterloo Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-2067. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Guatemalan National Sentenced in Federal Court for Illegal Reentry after DeportationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY – U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Guatemalan man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation. The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026.
Mario Zetino-Alvarez, 25, was sentenced to time served. He was then immediately deported and has arrived back in Guatemala.
Zetino-Alvarez was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in November 2025. He pleaded guilty on December 19, 2025.
On October 21, 2025, law enforcement discovered Zetino-Alvarez in South Dakota. They learned he is an alien unlawfully present in the United States having been previously deported from the United States in 2024. Zetino-Alvarez did not receive permission to reenter the country. Reentering the United States after deportation is a federal felony.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry after DeportationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY – U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Guatemalan man convicted of Illegal Reentry after Deportation. The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026.
Wilber Zetino-Alvarez, 29, was sentenced to time served. He was then immediately deported and has arrived back in Guatemala.
Zetino-Alvarez was indicted for Illegal Reentry after Deportation by a federal grand jury in November 2025. He pleaded guilty on December 19, 2025.
On October 21, 2025, Zetino-Alvarez was found in the United States in South Dakota by law enforcement. Law enforcement learned he is an alien unlawfully present in the United States. He had been deported from the United States twice before. Zetino-Alvarez did not receive permission to reenter the country. Reentering the United States after deportation is a federal felony.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Graduate Student from Colorado Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Minors and CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 7, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Chandan M. Bhangale (age: 29) with two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of minors from the Fox Valley region and one count of cyberstalking.
According to court records, Bhangale was a graduate student studying computer science at Colorado State University. He is originally from Pune, Maharashtra, India, and is legally present in the United States via a student visa.
Bhangale is alleged to have targeted minors through popular social media and online messaging platforms to groom and extort them. Court records indicate that Bhangale gained the victims’ trust, collected personal information about them, induced them to produce child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”), and then used blackmail to coerce their compliance with his demands. It is further alleged that Bhangale convinced the underage victims that if they did not comply with his demands, there would be serious consequences, ranging from public disclosure of their explicit videos to death or serious bodily harm to the victims or their immediate family members. Through his manipulation, Bhangale coerced the victims to engage in self-harm, cut their own hair, and produce and transmit CSAM.
If convicted of either count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, Bhangale faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a minor. He also faces up to 5 years in prison if convicted for cyberstalking.
This case was investigated by the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Denver Field Office, Milwaukee Field Office, and Green Bay Resident Agency), the Appleton Police Department, the Colorado State University Police Department, the Hortonville Police Department, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alex Duros.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative led by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
# # #
For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on X
Former Sacramento County Mail Carrier Arrested for Stealing Checks and Credit Cards from the Mail to Pay for Gambling and Personal ExpensesRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment against Jimbert Escalicas, 41, of Sacramento, charging him with bank fraud, identity theft, misuse of a Social Security Number, aggravated identity theft, and mail theft by a postal employee, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Escalicas began working for the U.S. Postal Service in September 2023. His duties included delivering mail to routes in Sacramento County. From November 2023 through October 2024, Escalicas stole checks, gift cards, debit cards and credit cards from mail destined for Postal Service customers on his routes. Escalicas forged the account owners’ signatures on checks he stole and altered checks to make them payable to himself. He then deposited the forged and altered checks into accounts he controlled. At times, Escalicas sold stolen checks to others. To activate and use the credit cards he stole, Escalicas contacted the issuing financial institutions and provided the card owners’ personally identifiable information. Escalicas stole no less than 130 checks and cards with a total value of more than $620,000.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is conducting the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Moody is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Escalicas faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the bank fraud charges, five years in prison and a $250,000 on each of the charges for identity theft, Social Security Number misuse, and mail theft, and a two-year mandatory prison sentence and a $250,000 fine on the aggravated identity theft charge. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Former Nurse Practitioner Pleads Guilty to Possessing Controlled Substances with the Intent to Unlawfully Distribute ThemRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Andrew Catalone, age 72, of Youngsville, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026 to unlawfully possessing controlled substances with the intent to distribute them. The announcement was made by First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Farhana Islam, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) SAC Naomi Gruchacz.
Catalone was a nurse practitioner who owned a medical practice with offices in Auburn and Fulton, NY. Catalone regularly prescribed controlled substances to his patients. He also collected from patients drugs that he had prescribed and which they had not used. Catalone was not authorized by federal law to collect these drugs. Catalone then distributed some of those drugs to other patients in the form of loose pills, without a prescription. Catalone failed to document these encounters in the patients’ medical files or record any treatment rationale for providing the controlled substances. He also failed to check the Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing (I-Stop), which is New York State’s prescription monitoring program, and which Catalone was required by state law to consult every time he dispensed a controlled substance. As Catalone knew, each distribution of returned pills was not for a legitimate medical purpose and not in the usual course of Catalone’s professional practice.
On February 22, 2022, Catalone possessed approximately 32 grams of oxycodone that he had received from patients to whom he had previously prescribed the oxycodone. He stored the oxycodone in his Auburn office. Catalone intended to distribute at least some of that oxycodone in the same illegitimate manner as described above.
Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Anthony Brindisi in Utica, NY on August 18, 2026. If the court accepts the parties’ plea agreement, Catalone will receive a term of imprisonment of 52 months and a 3-year term of supervised release.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “Medical professionals are entrusted with ensuring that dangerous controlled substances, like oxycodone, are distributed in a safe and appropriate manner. Catalone abused that trust and put his patients and the public at risk. Now he will pay the price.”
“Health care professionals are not above the law and must be held to the highest standards, especially when dealing with controlled substances,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “Andrew Catalone knowingly chose to put profits above the health and well-being of those lives he took an oath to help. His actions are no different from those of any drug trafficker. The DEA remains steadfast to in targeting those fueling an already deadly and highly addictive opioid crisis.”
“The defendant in this case, a nurse practitioner, took advantage of his privileges as a medical provider and intentionally diverted controlled substances and ignored the safeguards in place to prevent their flow into the community,” stated SAC HHS-OIG Gruchacz. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect essential programs and hold accountable those whose actions could result in potential patient and community harm.”
The DEA’s Albany Diversion Group investigated this case. HHS-OIG, the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, and the Auburn Police Department also assisted with the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe is prosecuting the case.
###
Former Loveland, Colorado Police Department Officer Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting a Minor ChildRead the Press Release
Today, a federal judge in Denver, Colorado, sentenced Dylan Miller, 30, a former Loveland, Colorado Police Department (LPD) officer, to 17 years in prison and five years of supervised release for sexually assaulting a minor while he was on duty.
The sentence comes after a jury returned a guilty verdict on Dec. 2, 2025, on the one-count indictment charging Miller with depriving the victim of her civil rights while acting under color of law.
The evidence presented at trial showed that Miller was on duty as a LPD officer the evening of Aug. 3, 2023, through the early morning of Aug. 4, 2023. Miller contacted the victim and her friend in North Lake Park and told the victim’s friend to leave. Miller then guided the victim to a more secluded area of the park, where he sexually assaulted her.
“Dylan Miller abused his power as a police officer to target, isolate, and sexually assault a minor in his care,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that the Civil Rights Division will continue to hold accountable law enforcement officers who betray their duty to protect and serve.”
“Dylan Miller sexually assaulted a minor while on duty as a sworn law enforcement officer. His abuse of power and betrayal of trust are abhorrent,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado. “Today, I think of the victim and hope she takes some solace knowing that a jury unanimously condemned the defendant’s criminal conduct and the court has now expressed how serious that conduct was with this lengthy prison sentence.”
“The actions of Mr. Miller were not only harmful to the individual he swore under oath to protect, but they also undermined public trust and confidence in law enforcement. The FBI will not tolerate those who abuse their positions of authority,” said Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski of the FBI Denver Field Office. “Thank you to Larimer County Sheriff's Office for their participation in the joint the investigation, as well as to Loveland Police Department for their cooperation.”
The FBI’s Denver Field Office, Loveland Resident Agency and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with cooperation from the Loveland Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Sarah E. Howard of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Former Loveland Police Department Officer Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting a Minor ChildRead the Press Release
DENVER - Today, a federal judge in Denver, Colorado, sentenced Dylan Miller, 30, a former Loveland, Colorado Police Department (LPD) officer, to 17 years in prison for sexually assaulting a minor while he was on duty.
The sentence comes after a jury returned a guilty verdict on Dec. 2, 2025, on the one-count indictment charging Miller with depriving the victim of her civil rights while acting under color of law.
The evidence presented at trial showed that Miller was on duty as a LPD officer the evening of Aug. 3, 2023, through the early morning of Aug. 4, 2023. Miller contacted the victim and her friend in North Lake Park and told the victim’s friend to leave. Miller then guided the victim to a more secluded area of the park, where he sexually assaulted her.
“Dylan Miller abused his power as a police officer to target, isolate, and sexually assault a minor in his care,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that the Civil Rights Division will continue to hold accountable law enforcement officers who betray their duty to protect and serve.”
“Dylan Miller sexually assaulted a minor while on duty as a sworn law enforcement officer. His abuse of power and betrayal of trust are abhorrent,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado. “Today, I think of the victim and hope she takes some solace knowing that a jury unanimously condemned the defendant’s criminal conduct and the court has now expressed how serious that conduct was with this lengthy prison sentence.”
“The actions of Mr. Miller were not only harmful to the individual he swore under oath to protect, but they also undermined public trust and confidence in law enforcement. The FBI will not tolerate those who abuse their positions of authority,” said Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski of the FBI Denver Field Office. “Thank you to Larimer County Sheriff's Office for their participation in the joint the investigation, as well as to Loveland Police Department for their cooperation.”
United States District Judge Nina Y. Wang presided over the sentencing.
The FBI’s Denver Field Office, Loveland Resident Agency and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with cooperation from the Loveland Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alecia L. Riewerts for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Sarah E. Howard of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Case Number: 24-cr-00083-NYW
Farmington Woman Sentenced for Assault on MotorcyclistRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington woman was sentenced to five years of probation for intentionally causing a motorcyclist to crash following an argument
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on September 2, 2024, Tenille Quintawna Peshlakai, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, argued with the victim at a gas station before driving away. Peshlakai then turned around, caught up to the victim, and swerved her vehicle to block his path. This forced the victim to lay down his motorcycle and crash into Peshlakai’s vehicle. Peshlakai fled the scene before law enforcement or medical personnel arrived.
Peshlakai subsequently pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon.
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 FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case.
Farmington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Charge After Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington man has pleaded guilty in federal court to federal firearms offenses following a 2022-armed carjacking in which he discharged a weapon.
According to court documents, on April 10, 2022, Myles Cordelle Dan Padilla, 34, took a motor vehicle from John Doe by force with a firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Padilla is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Padilla pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and 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 FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case.
Etowah County Man Sentenced to More than 17 Years in Prison for Trafficking DrugsRead the Press Release
ANNISTON, Ala. – An Etowah County man has been sentenced for trafficking drugs, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Crosby.
U.S. District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Tostig Denard Moore, 41, of Gadsden, Alabama, to 214 months in prison. In December 2025, Moore pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to the plea agreement, between December 2024 and February 2025, Moore sold approximately 495 grams of methamphetamine to a law enforcement source over a series of controlled purchases. On March 4, 2025, deputies with the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Moore and later arrested him after finding over a kilogram of fentanyl in his vehicle. Post-arrest, Moore admitted to travelling to Georgia to resupply on illegal narcotics.
This case is part of Operation Tres Hermanos. That 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, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the Internal Revenue Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
The FBI investigated the case along with the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carson R. Gilbert prosecuted the case.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Stolen AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Eagle Butte, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of Stolen Ammunition. The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026.
Nathanal Benoist, age 26, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, ordered to forfeit a firearm and ammunition, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Benoist was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pleaded guilty on July 28, 2025.
The conviction stems from Benoist breaking into a store in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, in the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation on November 1, 2024, while the store was closed. Benoist shot out the front window of the store, entered the store through the broken window, and stole ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Benoist was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Detroit Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Darnell Marice McCarver, also known as “WAP,” 19, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distribution of 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. McCarver admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 27, 2025, McCarver arranged the sale of approximately 63.5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. As part of his guilty plea, McCarver admitted that he communicated with the confidential informant while he was in Detroit via a FaceTime video call, and that he directed the confidential informant to a Huntington, West Virginia, residence where another individual conducted the transaction with the confidential informant. McCarver also admitted that he coordinated the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl on multiple occasions between April 2025 and August 2025.
On September 10, 2025, law enforcement officers arrested McCarver and executed a search warrant at his Detroit residence. Officers seized approximately $4,479 from McCarver’s person and approximately 950 grams of methamphetamine, 48 grams of fentanyl, four firearms, and $8,764 at the residence during the search. McCarver admitted that he stored drugs at his residence for distribution in the Southern District of West Virginia and elsewhere, that he possessed and intended to distribute the seized methamphetamine and fentanyl, and that the seized cash was proceeds from drug distributions.
McCarver is among 10 defendants indicted on charges alleging they participated in the DTO. McCarver and four co-defendants pleaded guilty. The charges against the other defendants remain pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-154.
###
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty in $1.9M in Unemployment Insurance and Pandemic Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A Detroit resident pleaded guilty today related to an extensive unemployment insurance and Paycheck Protection Program fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr.
Tauheed Salik Wilder, 43, pleaded guilty today before Judge Brandy R. McMillion to one count of wire fraud.
Joining in the announcement was Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation and Jason Palmer, Director, Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.
According to court records, Wilder filed hundreds of false claims for unemployment insurance benefits in multiple states, including Michigan and California, in numerous other individuals’ names and without their consent. Wilder used, or arranged for others to use, ATM cards issued in the names of identity theft victims to withdraw the fraudulently obtained unemployment funds. In total, Wilder's conduct caused actual UI benefit losses of $1.8 million. Further, Wilder accepted responsibility for two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans he applied for and received in his own name, totaling approximately $84,000. In total, Wilder’s scheme caused actual losses of $1.9M.
U.S. Attorney Gorgon stated, “Fraud against the government is itself a pandemic. One that hurts the American taxpayer and undermines the strength of our economy. Each of these prosecutions is a dose of justice.”
“Tauheed Wilder’s guilty plea sends a clear message: the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General will relentlessly pursue those who steal from taxpayers through fraudulent unemployment insurance claims. Protecting the integrity of these programs for American workers in need remains one of our highest priorities,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we are going on offense against fraud—tracking down bad actors who try to game the system and line their pockets at taxpayers’ expense.”
“This guilty plea is an important victory for America’s taxpayers who play by the rules and don’t use assistance programs as a cash slush fund,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “Today’s plea is also part of a much larger and coordinated effort by the IRS-CI and Department of Justice to aggressively find and crack down on fraudsters misusing taxpayer dollars. For those still hiding in this shadowy world, know that we will find you and hold you fully accountable.”
“Mr. Wilder joins a growing list of fraudsters who thought they could get away with fleecing the unemployment insurance program in Michigan,” said Michigan UIA Director Jason Palmer. “He should be ashamed of his failed scheme to steal money from hard-working Michiganders and businesses who support the unemployment insurance program. He may have thought he got away with it, but in the end he and other bad actors will learn the Unemployment Insurance Agency will come after them and hold them accountable for their crimes.”
Wilder will be sentenced by Judge McMillion on July 30, 2026. He faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the wire fraud charge.
The Department of Justice has created 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.
This case was investigated by special agents of the Department of Labor Office of the Inspector General (DOL-OIG), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Michigan UIA. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Particka.
Defendant Pleads Guilty to Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Bradley Gonzales, a/k/a Christopher Bradley Robison, age 32, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country, punishable by up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on June 21, 2025, Gonzales assaulted the victim, resulting in serious bodily injury.
The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Ada Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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.
Gonzales will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
DC Solar Accountant Is Last to Be Sentenced for the DC Solar Billion-Dollar Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The last defendant in the biggest criminal fraud scheme in the history of the Eastern District of California was sentenced today, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
Ronald J. Roach, 59, of Walnut Creek, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 66 months in prison. Roach and co-defendant Joseph Bayliss were the first DC Solar defendants to plead guilty on Oct. 22, 2019.
“Today’s sentencing marks the final chapter in an extensive fraud that caused significant loss. This outcome reflects years of careful, methodical investigative work and a prosecution built on meticulous attention to detail,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “None of the eight defendants went to trial, but each ultimately accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty. Our office remains committed to holding accountable those who exploit others for personal gain. We will continue to pursue justice with diligence and integrity.”
"As the company’s accountant, Ronald Roach concealed the truth from investors for years, enabling DC Solar to operate on fabricated financials," said FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel. "This fraud permeated nearly every level of the company’s criminal operations. Today’s sentencing reflects the tireless efforts of FBI Sacramento and our partners at IRS-CI, FDIC-OIG, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who spent years methodically dismantling one of the largest fraud schemes in the Eastern District of California."
“The sentencing of Ronald Roach underscores the unwavering pursuit of accountability in this far-reaching fraud scheme,” said Linda Nguyen, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Oakland Field Office. “The DC Solar case revealed a deliberate and sweeping effort to abuse federal tax incentives and deceive investors on an extraordinary scale. IRS‑CI, together with our law enforcement partners, remain firmly committed to ensuring every individual responsible is brought to justice.”
“Mr. Roach ignored his responsibilities as a certified public accountant, conspiring with his co-defendants to defraud individuals, financial institutions, and the U.S. Government,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC OIG). “This case highlights that no matter how complicated the fraud, FDIC OIG and our law enforcement partners will join forces to unravel the scheme, hold the perpetrators accountable, and bring justice to victims.”
According to court documents, Roach played a central role in the DC Solar fraud. As DC Solar’s accountant, he lied to investors and worked with others at the company to conceal the lack of third-party lease revenue. Between 2011 and 2018, DC Solar manufactured mobile solar generators that were mounted on trailers and claimed that they were used to provide emergency power to cellphone towers and lighting at sporting and other events. A significant incentive for investors was generous federal tax credits due to the solar nature of the generators.
A key part of the fraud was that investors would never actually take possession of the generators. Instead, DC Solar typically leased those generators back from the investors and claimed to sublease them to third parties to generate revenue. In reality there was very little actual third-party rental demand for the generators, but the co-conspirators at DC Solar continued to claim that the rental market for the generators was robust. They took new investor money to pay obligations to existing investors.
Between March 2011 and Dec. 18, 2018, investors invested approximately $759.4 million, and several financial institutions and other investors transferred $152.7 million to DC Solar as part of related transactions for the purchase and lease of generators. In total, DC Solar closed transactions with investors that contributed more than $912 million to purchase generators. Those transactions were purported to involve approximately 17,000 generators, at approximately $2.5 billion in value.
During the conspiracy, approximately 94% to 95% of the lease revenue on the books was actually intercompany transfers disguised as new investor money. In truth, third-party end-user demand for generators never exceeded 5% of the revenue that was claimed.
The FBI, IRS-CI, and the FDIC OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Audrey B. Hemesath and Nicholas M. Fogg prosecuted the case.
The status of the other seven defendants is as follows:
- Jeff Carpoff, 55, of Martinez, was sentenced on Nov. 9, 2021, to 30 years in prison and ordered to pay $790.6 million in restitution.
- Paulette Carpoff, 52, of Martinez, was sentenced on June 28, 2022, to 11 years and three months in prison.
- Joseph W. Bayliss, 50, of Martinez, was sentenced on Nov. 16, 2021, to three years in prison and ordered to pay $481.3 million in restitution.
- DC Solar CFO Robert A. Karmann, 59, of Clayton, was sentenced on April 12, 2022, to six years in prison and ordered to pay $624 million.
- Alan Hansen, 54, was sentenced on May 31, 2022, to 39 months in prison.
- Ryan Guidry, 49, of Pleasant Hill, was sentenced on Jan. 31, 2023, to six years and six months in prison and ordered to pay $619,415,950 in restitution.
- Ari J. Lauer, 61, of Lafayette, was sentenced on March 9, 2026, to 11 years and five months in prison. One week before trial, on Oct. 14, 2025, Lauer pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, 12 counts of bank fraud, and 10 counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution.
Convicted Felon Federally Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearms in Connection to Fire in Lexington NeighborhoodRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky.- A federal criminal complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court in Lexington on Monday charging a Lexington man, Jonathan Huff, 37, with illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to the criminal complaint, officers with Lexington Police Department, other emergency personnel, and federal agents were dispatched to a house fire on Orleans Circle in Fayette County. During a preliminary investigation, law enforcement determined Jonathan Huff was a resident of the house and involved in criminal activity. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Huff’s residence and vehicle. Two firearms were found inside the vehicle, and Huff admitted to possessing the firearms. Huff is a convicted felon originally from Indiana and prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The Lexington Police Department’s Hazardous Devices Unit, Lexington Fire Department Arson Investigators, FBI, and ATF are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire.
“This case highlights how vital rapid intervention and coordination is when a threat to public safety emerges,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Thanks to the quick and coordinated efforts of our local and federal law enforcement partners, a dangerous situation was addressed, and a prohibited individual was taken into custody. Our Office will continue to act decisively to protect our communities.”
“The defendant in this investigation is federally prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior criminal conduct,” said John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division. “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) remain committed to prioritizing investigations that hold accountable individuals who pose a threat to public safety and the communities we serve. We are proud to partner with the Lexington Metro Police Department, Kentucky State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this investigation.”
“It takes all of us to keep our communities safe,” said Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department. “I want to thank all of our federal, state, and local partners who worked with the Lexington Police Department to investigate the Orlean Circle explosion. Our continued combined efforts help make a safer community for us all.”
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the criminal complaint. Assistant United States Attorney Cynthia Rieker is representing the United States in this case.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations. The Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law.
— END —
Citizen of Congo Sentenced to Federal Prison for Involvement in Scheme to Defraud the United StatesRead the Press Release
A man who came to the United States in 2022 on a student visa and claimed asylum was sentenced on April 10, 2026, for his involvement in a conspiracy to defraud the government.
Medard Lotahe Elonge, age 40, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and living in Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 8, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to defraud the United States.
In January 2022, Elonge entered the United States on a student visa and later applied for asylum. The mother of his children, who was in the Congo, then participated in a sham or fraudulent marriage in order to come to the United States. Elonge and his co-conspirators helped arrange the fraudulent marriage and filed a fraudulent petition to bring the family to the United States. In a plea agreement, Elonge admitted to having another man marry his wife. Their plan was for the other man to divorce Elonge’s wife six months after Elonge’s family arrived in the United States.
Elonge was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Elonge was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Elonge was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on May 4, 2026. Joseph Onolenga Okamba and Bienvenu Saido Binyangi, who were charged in the same indictment and have also pled guilty, have yet to be sentenced. Joseph Okoko, who was also charged in the same indictment, was previously sentenced to three months’ imprisonment.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. Cole and Nicole L. Nagin and was investigated by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Waterloo Police Department, the Sioux City Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Transportation.
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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-2052.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Cedar Rapids Woman Sent to Federal Prison for Meth TraffickingRead the Press Release
A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison. Rose Lee Beranek, age 44, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 24, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
In a plea agreement, Beranek admitted that in February 2024, she obtained nearly two pounds of methamphetamine in Arizona. She was driving to Cedar Rapids to distribute the methamphetamine, when law enforcement officers pulled over her car in Oklahoma. Law enforcement officers searched her car and found the methamphetamine in vacuum-sealed bags.
Beranek was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Beranek was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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 Kansas City is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, covering Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. HSTF Kansas City is composed of agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the State Investigative Agencies for Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska, and the Kansas City Missouri Police Department.
This HSTF case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by HSTF Kansas City, with the assistance of the Linn County Sheriff’s Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement.
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.
Beranek is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-13.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Career Offender Sentenced to over 22 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Michael Wilson, 54, of Memphis, was sentenced to over 22 years in federal prison for his role in engaging in a long-term conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Memphis, Tennessee. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
Through the utilization of recorded phone calls, traffic stops, physical surveillance, and the execution of search warrants, law enforcement officers were able to determine that Wilson was distributing felony amounts of methamphetamine for more than one year before his federal indictment in March 2025. Wilson has a history of committing crimes involving the distribution of narcotics and is classified as a career offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
Following his guilty plea to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Chief District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced the defendant to 270 months' imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "This defendant’s prior conviction history demonstrates his disrespect for the law and his imminent danger to the public. Wilson presented a triple threat of serious bodily injury and death: a prior violent convicted felon in possession of firearms while distributing highly addictive and deadly substances on the streets. Career offender+guns+drugs = a federal sentence that will remove him from our community and save lives."
“The FBI and our partners brought the full force of resources to bear—putting a career offender behind bars,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “We will continue to root out drug offenders wherever they operate and hold them accountable. Every family in this community deserves to feel safe.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Additionally, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Desoto County Sheriff’s Office, Bartlett Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) all assisted in the investigations of Michael Wilson and his co-conspirators.
Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce Phillips and Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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 Memphis comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies, to include the investigative agencies listed above, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
###
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Stalking, Harassing, and Threatening Women in RI, MA, and ElsewhereRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A California man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to charges related to a scheme in which he made hundreds of obscene and threatening telephone calls to women in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and elsewhere, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
Justin Glauthier, 30, pleaded guilty to four counts of stalking through cellular and internet communications. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 6, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, Glauthier repeatedly called and harassed women whose names, photographs, and other personal information he obtained from the internet.
At the time of his arrest, at least nine women had been identified as receiving harassing and threatening phone calls that a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation determined were made by Glauthier. In dozens of calls to victims, Glauthier made sexually explicit comments, sometimes claimed to know where they lived and/or worked, and threatened to visit them unannounced at their homes or places of employment if they did not remain on the phone with him or cooperate during the calls.
Glauthier was arrested in Anaheim, California on March 5, 2025, by agents from the FBI’s Providence and Orange County, California, Resident Agencies.
The case is being prosecuted in the District of Rhode Island by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton, with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Restrepo in the District of Central California.
The matter was investigated by the FBI.
Butler Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Assault and Murder President Trump, Other U.S. Officials, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement AgentsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Butler, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to making threats to assault and murder President Donald J. Trump, other United States officials, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.
Shawn Monper, 33, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy to two counts of threatening to assault and murder United States officials and federal law enforcement officers with the intent to impede, intimidate, interfere with, and retaliate against the officials and agents while they were engaged in, and on account of, the performance of official duties. As part of his plea agreement, Monper also accepted responsibility for the other counts for which he was charged.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on April 8, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Threat Operations Section (NTOS) received an emergency disclosure regarding threats posted to YouTube by user “Mr Satan.” The subsequent federal investigation affirmed that the internet activity associated with “Mr Satan” corresponded with Shawn Monper’s residence in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The investigation further established that Monper sought and obtained a firearms permit shortly following President Trump’s inauguration. In February 2025, Monper commented using his “Mr Satan” account: “I have bought several guns and been stocking up on ammo since Trump got in office.” Further, in March 2025, Monper posted: “Eventually im going to do a mass shooting.” One week later, Monper commented: “I have been buying 1 gun a month since the election, body armor, and ammo.”
Investigators determined that Monper posted several threatening statements regarding President Trump, other United States officials, and ICE agents during the period between January 15, 2025, and April 5, 2025, including the two to which Monper specifically pleaded guilty: in February, “Nah, we just need to start killing people, Trump, Elon, all the heads of agencies Trump appointed, and anyone who stands in the way…” and, in mid-March, “ICE are terrorist people, we need to start killing them.” On April 9, 2025, law enforcement arrested Monper on federal charges based on these threats, and he has been detained since that time.
Judge Hardy scheduled Monper’s sentencing for August 12, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence on each count of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Butler Township Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Monper.
Brazilian Illegal Alien Indicted for Reentry of Deported AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – WALYSTTON HENRIQUE DE SOUZA (“DE SOUZA”), age 32, a native of Brazil, was indicted on April 9, 2026, for reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, DE SOUZA, an illegal alien, was found in St. Tammany Parish on March 31, 2026. He had previously been convicted of violating 8 U.S.C. § 1326, Illegal Re-entry of Removed Alien and was removed back to Brazil on July 2, 2021.
If convicted, DE SOUZA faces a maximum penalty of two (2) years, followed by up to one (1) year of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Frederick W. Veters Jr., of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
* * *
Bluefield Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Landon Joseph Cartwright, 23, of Bluefield, was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 13, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Cartwright’s residence in Bluefield and seized approximately 443 grams of methamphetamine. As part of his guilty plea, Cartwright admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, which consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Bluefield Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-115.
###
Bangladeshi national extradited from Brazil to SDTX to face human smuggling chargesRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 39-year-old man from Bangladesh is set to make his initial appearance in U.S. federal court for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled numerous illegal aliens through Central America to the United States, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Saiful Islam was extradited from Brazil April 10 and is scheduled to be in Laredo federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher dos Santos at 9:30 a.m.
The indictment alleges Islam assisted other smugglers by facilitating the travel of illegal aliens from San Paolo, Brazil, and other locations through South America, Central America and Mexico to reach the United States.
According to the charges, they were taken to the southern border and instructed to enter the country by wading across the Rio Grande or jumping a border fence. Islam allegedly carried out the scheme for payment.
If convicted, Islam faces up to 15 years in federal prison for human smuggling and up to 10 years for conspiracy to bring and/or conspiracy to encourage and induce and alien to enter the United States as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Cortez is prosecuting the case along with Joint Task Force Alpha detailee/Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix, Arizona, conducted the investigation along with HSI Laredo and assistance from the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., Customs and Border Protection’s Counter Network Division, HSI Mexico City, HSI Brasilia, HSI Calexico, HSI Monterrey, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Marshals Service and Interpol.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Islam’s arrest and extradition from Brazil. The Justice Department thanks its Brazilian law enforcement counterparts for making the extradition possible.
The investigation and charges are a result of the coordinated efforts of JTFA, a partnership with Department of Homeland Security which has been elevated and expanded with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, including the Southern District of California, Districts of Arizona and New Mexico and Western and Southern Districts of Texas. Dedicated support is provided by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Office of Enforcement Operations and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 450 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 395 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 450 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 395 U.S. convictions; more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
13 Members of Armed Drug Trafficking and Dog Fighting Ring SentencedRead the Press Release
INDIANAPOLIS- 13 defendants have been sentenced for their roles in an armed international drug trafficking and dog fighting ring in central Indiana.
10 defendants remain to be sentenced in this case. To date, more than 100 dogs have been rescued from these criminals.
DefendantCharge(s)SentenceCharles Richardson III, 46
Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture; Exhibit Animal in Animal Fighting Venture; and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon3 years, 10 months’ imprisonment
3 years of supervised release
Christopher Norfolk, 51Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting VentureTime Served
Three years of supervised release
Brent Hutchinson, 45Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture; Exhibit Animal in Animal Fighting Venture (x2); Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or more of Cocaine5 years, 6 months’ imprisonment
4 years of supervised release
Daymond Mason, 51Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture; Exhibit Animal in Animal Fighting Venture2 years, 10 months’ imprisonment
2 years of supervised release
Donovan Tipler, 33Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture; Exhibit Animal in Animal Fighting Venture8 months’ imprisonment
2 years of supervised release
Edward Bronaugh, 60Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture and Exhibit Animal in Animal Fighting Venture3 years, 6 months’ imprisonment
2 years of supervised release
James Croons, 37Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture; Exhibit Animal in Animal Fighting Venture (x2)8 months imprisonment
2 years of supervised release
Marven Carswell, 73
Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture; Exhibit Animal in Animal Fighting Venture (x2Time Served
2 years of supervised release
Marvin Johnson Jr., 49Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture8 months’ imprisonment
2 years of supervised release
Maurice Ervin, 46Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture; Exhibit Animal in Animal Fighting Venture (x4).2 years’ imprisonment
3 years of supervised release
Robert Hamer III, 43Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture; Exhibit Animal in Animal Fighting Venture (x3); and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon5 years, 5 months’ imprisonment
2 years of supervised release
Ryan Hicks. 39Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture; Exhibit Animal in Animal Fighting Venture (x7); Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon5 years’ imprisonment
3 years of supervised release
Willie Lee, 59Conspiracy to Engage in a Dog Fighting Venture1 year, 9 months’ imprisonment
2 years of supervised release
According to court documents, in September 2023, investigators uncovered a large‑scale dog‑fighting and illegal gambling operation based in Indianapolis during the course of a broader drug trafficking investigation.
The defendants listed above played various roles within the dog‑fighting enterprise. All thirteen maintained dogs for the purpose of fighting or served as handlers, responsible for provoking and motivating dogs during fights.
Maurice Ervin also acted as a referee, weighing dogs and holding gambling proceeds. Christopher Norfolk provided locations for the fights. Willie Lee trained and bred fighting dogs, selling offspring to other dog fighters and attending fights. Edward Bronaugh transported dogs used in fights through his business, Roll & Hold Pet Express LLC. Investigators determined he transported more than 100 dogs, many of which were used in dog‑fighting ventures.
More than a dozen videos of dog fights recovered from the defendants’ cell phones and Facebook messages show extremely violent encounters lasting several minutes, during which the dogs suffer significant injuries across their bodies. Their distress is immediately apparent, with yelps and cries audible within seconds. Some videos also reveal evidence of dogs that were killed in the defendant’s care-an all‑too‑common outcome for animals deemed to have underperformed in these fights.
Through the course of this investigation, law enforcement officers found and dismantled six dog fighting pits and seized a variety of dog fighting paraphernalia. More than 150 dogs trained for dog fighting were taken from dog fighters. Many of these dogs had severe scaring from past fights. These dogs are now being cared for through a program designed to re-train the dogs and find them new homes through adoption.
During searches of the defendants’ residences, law enforcement seized multiple firearms, ammunition, and extensive dog‑fighting paraphernalia:
- Assorted dog collars, chains, tie‑downs, and weights
- Multiple flirt poles/flirt sticks
- Bite sticks and a dog bite sleeve
- Training equipment, including training ropes, balls, vests, pull sleds, and Dog Pacer treadmills
- Weigh scale
- Assorted canine medical supplies, including syringes, sprays, wound‑care creams, penicillin injectables, supplements, and a horse joint supplement
- Trophies and ribbons
- Century Arms Centurion 39 Sporter rifle
- Taurus semi-automatic
- Springfield Armory XDS-40 semi-automatic
- American Tactical Imports Mil-Sport rifle
- Ruger 57 semi-automatic firearm
- Glock l9 GEN5 9mm pistol
- Glock l7 CEN5 9mm pistol
“These sentences mark a significant step toward securing justice against an escalating criminal threat. Dog fighting is not only an unspeakable cruelty; it also harms the communities where it occurs by fueling illegal gambling and often intersecting with other criminal activity,” said Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The individuals involved in this operation demonstrated a shocking disregard for the suffering of these animals- conduct that aligns with the well‑established link between animal abuse and violence against people. Our office will continue to prioritize animal welfare and target those who engage in the deliberate abuse of innocent animals for the entertainment and profit of others.”
“Subjecting dogs to cruelty for spectacle is inhumane and against the law. This case demonstrates the depravity of those that engage in animal exploitation who often commit other dangerous crimes that undermine law and order in our communities and compromise public safety. USDA OIG will continue to prioritize allegations of violations of animal welfare laws administered by USDA and will pursue investigations that result in justice against those criminally responsible for dogfighting,” said USDA Inspector General John Walk. “I commend our OIG special agents, law enforcement partners, and the United States Attorney’s Office for working together to disrupt the criminal enterprise, bring accountability to the perpetrators, and rescue more than 100 dogs from horrendous abuse.”
“This case exposed a brutal criminal network driven by greed - trafficking drugs, fueling violence, and engaging in the cruel exploitation of animals,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “Today’s sentence holds these individuals accountable and underscores the FBI’s commitment to targeting complex, transnational criminal enterprises. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to dismantle organizations like this - no matter where they operate - and ensure justice is served.”
“This case illustrates the connection between drug trafficking and other deplorable crimes. Most importantly, this case shows the resolve of Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement to cooperatively work together to seek out and prosecute the individuals involved in these organizations,” said Gerald C. Dooley, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for DEA Indianapolis District Office.
FBI Indianapolis, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation, Indiana Gaming Commission, and IMPD investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge James R. Sweeney II.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Brady, Lindsay E. Karwoski, Adam Eakman, Kelly Rota, and Bob Wood, who are prosecuting this case.
A February 18, 2026, memorandum from Attorney General Pam Bondi entitled “Prioritization of Animal Welfare Enforcement” announced a historic plan to combat animal welfare crimes and to strengthen coordination and enforcement efforts between federal agencies, including the Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. The plan consists of five parts: (1) A one-week Animal Welfare Summit at the Department’s National Advocacy Center to train federal prosecutors and federal agents from across the country in prosecuting animal welfare crimes; (2) the creation of a multi-agency Animal Welfare Executive Strategy Committee to develop and implement a National Strategy for Combatting Animal Welfare Crimes, to be chaired by Adam Gustafson, who leads the Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division; (3) the creation of a law enforcement “Tiger Team” to participate in and assist with the execution of search warrants and seizures in animal welfare cases; (4) the continued use of the Asset Forfeiture Fund to help pay for the evaluation, care, and feeding of animals seized in the course of animal welfare investigations; and (5) the offering of grants, through the Office of Justice Programs, to animal welfare groups, and state and local law enforcement agencies that are taking action to combat animal cruelty
###
10 April 2026
Wood County Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Abuse ChargesRead the Press Release
TOLEDO, Ohio – A 49-year-old man has pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving and distributing files depicting the sexual abuse of children throughout a nearly seven-year period.
Brian C. Sargent, of Bowling Green, Ohio, pleaded guilty to Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM).
According to court documents, in July 2025 agents were conducting an investigation to identify offenders sharing CSAM on a peer-to-peer platform and Sargent was identified as a suspect. In August 2025, a search warrant was executed at his residence and agents seized his personal laptop. During a forensic analysis, almost 700 CSAM files were located that depicted minors engaged in sex acts and bondage. Sargent’s cellphone was also seized, and it contained similar material. The investigation revealed that he had been receiving and distributing CSAM from November 2018 to August 2025. During the time period in which these offenses occurred, Sargent was employed with the Ohio Investigative Unit which enforces laws regarding alcohol, tobacco, and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
Sargent is scheduled to be sentenced July 22 and faces a minimum of five—and up to 20—years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the United States Secret Service and members of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Assistant United States Attorney Tracey Ballard Tangeman for the Northern District of Ohio leads the prosecution.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Winthrop Man Charged with Receiving Stolen Government Money and Social Security FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Winthrop man was arrested today for Social Security fraud over a period of more than four years.
Kenneth Riel, 51, was charged by Indictment with one count of receiving stolen government money or property and one count of Social Security fraud-concealment. The defendant was arrested today and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon.
As alleged in the Indictment, Riel received approximately $88,383 in stolen Social Security retirement benefits from February 2019 through November 2023. Additionally, Riel allegedly concealed and failed to report to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that an individual receiving retirement benefits had died so that he could fraudulently receive the improper benefit payments.
The charge of receiving stolen government money or property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of Social Security fraud-concealment provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the SSA Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit 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.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
West Tennessee Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Gregory Lynn Bond, 33, of Denmark, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for distribution of methamphetamine. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
Bond was charged with three counts of distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Bond pled guilty to all three counts. According to the information presented during the sentencing hearing, agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the 26th Judicial District Drug Task Force initiated a joint investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in Denmark, Tennessee.
Through the investigation, agents identified Bond as a methamphetamine distributor for this drug trafficking organization. The investigation of Bond involved several controlled purchases, a traffic stop, and several searches of property used by Bond. At sentencing, Bond was held responsible for trafficking over 3 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Following his guilty plea for distribution and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Bond to 30 years in prison and five years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Use and trafficking of methamphetamine continues to destroy lives, families, and communities across West Tennessee. The significant sentence in this case sends a clear message to those drug dealers who distribute poison in West Tennessee: You cannot prey upon our citizens for your selfish personal gain with impunity; there will be a reckoning."
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and the 26th Judicial District Drug Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Adam Davis prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
###
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Webster Man Pleads Guilty to Building and Detonating Pipe Bombs in WeareRead the Press Release
Webster Man Pleads Guilty to Building and Detonating Pipe Bombs in Weare
CONCORD – Dale G. Stewart, Jr., 57, of Webster, pleaded guilty today in federal court to three counts of possessing an unregistered firearm, specifically a destructive device, United States Erin Creegan announces.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Stewart detonated two pipe bombs on Dustin Tavern Road and Sugar Hill Road in Weare, New Hampshire, on the evening of April 26 and on the morning of April 27, 2023. As part of the emergency response to these explosions, on the evening of April 27, 2023, law enforcement agents located and searched Stewart’s vehicle on South Stark Highway in Weare, where they recovered an undetonated pipe bomb, constructed of white PVC pipe, with glued end caps, wrapped in black electrical tape, with a green hobby fuse protruding from one of the end caps. The undetonated pipe bomb contained more than 4 ounces of an explosive material, consistent with the manufacturing of the two pipe bombs that Stewart had detonated earlier. During police questioning, Stewart indicated he built these destructive devices at his home in Webster.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, and a fine of up to $10,000. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott scheduled sentencing for July 30, 2026.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Weare Police Department; and the Federal Protective Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cesar Vega and Anna Krasinski are prosecuting the case.
Wagoner Resident Sentenced for Felony Assault and Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kelly Justin Van Lewis, age 35, of Coweta, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 26 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, and to 26 months in prison for one count of Possession of Ammunition While Subject to Protective Order. The Court ordered the terms to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Coweta Police Department.
On August 21, 2025, Van Lewis pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on April 30, 2024, Van Lewis threatened and pointed a firearm at the victim, then racked the slide of the firearm three times after an apparent malfunction. Law enforcement arrested Van Lewis the same day, and the victim obtained a protective order which included a prohibition against Van Lewis possessing firearms or ammunition. In June of 2025, ATF Special Agents executed a search warrant at Van Lewis’ residence and seized 980 rounds of ammunition Van Lewis possessed in violation of his protective order.
The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to join forces with the ATF and with all local, state, Tribal, and federal agencies to investigate and prosecute perpetrators who wrongfully use firearms to jeopardize the peace and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson.
“This conviction and federal sentence make clear that those who use firearms to threaten and terrorize intimate partners will be held fully accountable under the law,” said ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner. “ATF plays a critical role in enforcing the firearm prohibitions established under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), working alongside federal, state, and Tribal partners to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. This work is essential not only to protecting victims and preventing further violence, but also to upholding our trust responsibilities to our tribal partners by ensuring safer communities and respect for the rule of law.”
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Van Lewis will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 111 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 111 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On April 7, Daniel Lopez Patino, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found 124 pounds of cocaine concealed in the door panels and rear quarter panels of Lopez Patino’s vehicle when he applied for entry at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
- On April 8, Jesus Obed Mejia Cortez, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Attempted Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain. According to a complaint, the defendant was captain of a fishing vessel that was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard with three undocumented aliens on board, including a man who could not swim and was not given a life vest. Also charged was passenger Diana Eloisa Huerta De Los Santos with Attempted Entry after Deportation.
- On April 9, Jorge Madrid, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, a Border Patrol agent found the undocumented alien hiding behind a rock, about a half mile north of the U.S.-Mexico border, east of Tecate. He was previously deported in 2023 from Nogales, Arizona.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Adds 261 New Immigration Cases in Western District of TexasRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 261 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 3 to April 9, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons.
Charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens who, as a group, had the following prior convictions: DWI (19), aggravated assault (1), evading arrest/detention (5), assault family violence (1), theft (1), possession with intent to distribute (2), burglary of a habitation (2), possession of a controlled substance (6), rape (1), failure to register as a sex offender (1), voter retaliation (1), reckless driving (1), resisting arrest (1), assault family violence-impeding breath (1), failure to ID (3), assault bodily injury (1), fictitious license plate (1), failure to appear (1), and aggravated robbery (1). The vast majority of these crimes were committed by illegal aliens found in and around Austin.
Among the new cases, convicted sex offender Jorge Guerrero-Martinez, an illegal alien from Mexico, was arrested near Val Verde. Guerrero-Martinez was recently deported for the third time on March 13, after being charged in Missouri for failing to register as a sex offender. In 2010, he was convicted of second-degree statutory rape and sentenced to five years in prison. He was then convicted in 2017 of illegal re-entry and sentenced to 57 months confinement.
U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Mexican national Enrique Eleuterio Lopez-Rocha for illegal re-entry near Maverick. Lopez-Rocha was deported for the second time in May 2025 following a six-month prison sentence for probation violation. His criminal record includes cocaine trafficking in 2020, along with three DWIs.
Samuel Castro, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with alien smuggling in El Paso on April 6. USBP agents apprehended an illegal alien approximately half a mile east of the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges that during the apprehension, the agents observed a vehicle parked nearby and questioned its two occupants. Castro was the driver of the vehicle, who allegedly told agents that he intended to pick up and transport two illegal aliens and expected to be paid $500 for each. Castro allegedly claimed to be involved in alien smuggling since 2023, operating as a coordinator and a driver. In October 2024, he was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest with a vehicle.
In San Antonio, Miguel Manzano-Ramirez was encountered after he was arrested by Hollywood Park Police on a public intoxication charge on April 5. He was determined to be an illegal alien from Mexico and later transferred to ICE custody. A review of his criminal history revealed that Manzano-Ramirez has been convicted of three DWIs.
Mexican national Arturo Castro Hernandez was transferred to federal custody on April 6 after being found in Bastrop County. He has been removed from the U.S. twice, and previously convicted of three DWIs, evading arrest, reckless driving, and failure to identify. He now faces an illegal re-entry charge in Austin.
Also found in Bastrop, Adan Tolentino Guerrero is an illegal alien from Mexico with two prior removals. He was arrested and convicted in 2025 for fleeing from a police officer and his third DWI. He was also convicted of possession of a controlled substance in 2018 and illegal re-entry in 2020.
Honorio Victorino-Rebollar, another illegal alien from Mexico with three prior DWI convictions, was charged with illegal re-entry for the third time after he was found in Travis County on April 5. His last removal was Sept. 5, 2018.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes ReportRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies.
In the one-week period ending April 10, 2026, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico:
- 106 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326)
- 8 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324)
- 84 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325)
- 87 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico.
Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 8 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for second degree murder, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, vehicle theft, immigration documents fraud, possession of a firearm by an alien, and prior immigration offenses.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.
Two Sentenced to over 46 Years for Drug MurderRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A Hallandale woman and California man have been sentenced to 230 months and 330 months in prison, respectively, for the 2022 killing of a man in relation to a drug trafficking conspiracy. Both defendants had pleaded guilty to using a firearm to cause death and conspiring to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Tsvia Kol, 37, of Hallandale, and Jimmy Sanchez, 38, of Spring Valley, California, murdered a Miami man in connection with a missing package containing about 11 pounds of methamphetamine, the street value of which totaled approximately $90,000. Kol and Sanchez believed that the victim stole the package of drugs, but in fact the drugs had been seized by law enforcement.
Kol and Sanchez confronted the victim in a hotel room that they had rented, and Kol provided Sanchez with a firearm. While inside the room, the victim called 911 and attempted to provide his location. The recorded 911 call captured the sounds of a physical altercation and gunshots.
Hotel security footage revealed Kol and Sanchez fleeing the property after the shooting, and the victim’s body was not discovered in the hotel room until the day after. Sanchez admitted that he shot and murdered the victim and Kol admitted that she had been an accomplice.
“Suspecting that the victim had stolen drugs from them, these defendants committed an execution-style murder,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The drug business is a dangerous game that too often results in death. The Criminal Division will continue to prosecute drugs crimes, especially those involving violence.”
“This started as a drug deal gone wrong and ended in an execution,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The defendants armed themselves, set up the victim, and carried out a killing over a missing drug package that had already been seized by law enforcement. The prison sentences, over 19 years and over 27 years, reflect the seriousness of that violence. As a career prosecutor and former trial judge, I’ve seen how often drug trafficking turns deadly. In South Florida, we pursue long federal sentences that keep violent criminals off the streets and protect our community.”
“These defendants ruthlessly murdered someone whom they thought had stolen from their own illegal drug trafficking network. Today their sentence ends this cycle of violence,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The FBI, with our federal, state and local partners work around the clock to ensure these destructive criminals with no regard for a human life are found and held accountable with the goal of making our communities safer and free from drug-related crimes like this.”
“Drug trafficking and violence unfortunately go hand-in-hand,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division. “DEA Miami Agents are working tirelessly to bring justice and safety to our community.”
“In this case the defendants decided the contents of a package were worth more than the victim’s life. It’s a decision they will pay for,” said U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division. “The Postal Inspection Service works tirelessly to eliminate narcotics from our postal system, working with our federal, state, and local partners to make sure those who profit from violence, drug sales, and the abuse of the postal system feel the full weight of the law.”
In January 2026, Kol and Sanchez each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and causing the death of a person during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense.
The DEA, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Miami Dade Sherriff’s Office, the Hialeah Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Miami. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute offenders and prevent violence.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20264.
###
Two Sentenced to over 46 Years for Drug MurderRead the Press Release
A Florida woman and California man have been sentenced to 230 months and 330 months in prison, respectively, for the 2022 killing of a man in relation to a drug trafficking conspiracy. Both defendants had pleaded guilty to using a firearm to cause death and conspiring to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Tsvia Kol, 37, of Hallandale, Florida, and Jimmy Sanchez, 38, of Spring Valley, California, murdered a Miami man (the victim) in connection with a missing package containing about 11 pounds of methamphetamine, the street value of which totaled approximately $90,000. Kol and Sanchez believed that the victim stole the package of drugs, but in fact the drugs had been seized by law enforcement.
Kol and Sanchez confronted the victim in a hotel room that they had rented, and Kol provided Sanchez with a firearm. While inside the room, the victim called 911 and attempted to provide his location. The recorded 911 call captured the sounds of a physical altercation and gunshots.
Hotel security footage revealed Kol and Sanchez fleeing the property after the shooting, and the victim’s body was not discovered in the hotel room until the day after. Sanchez admitted that he shot and murdered the victim and Kol admitted that she had been an accomplice.
“Suspecting that the victim had stolen drugs from them, these defendants committed a callous murder,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The drug business is a dangerous game that results in death, ruined lives, and torn families. The Criminal Division prioritizes prosecuting drug crimes, especially those involving violence.”
“This started as a drug deal gone wrong and ended in an execution,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “The defendants armed themselves, set up the victim, and carried out a killing over a missing drug package that had already been seized by law enforcement. The prison sentences, over 19 years and over 27 years, reflect the seriousness of that violence. As a career prosecutor and former trial judge, I’ve seen how often drug trafficking turns deadly. In South Florida, we pursue long federal sentences that keep violent criminals off the streets and protect our community.”
“These defendants ruthlessly murdered someone whom they thought had stolen from their own illegal drug trafficking network. Today their sentence ends this cycle of violence,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The FBI, with our federal, state and local partners work around the clock to ensure these destructive criminals with no regard for a human life are found and held accountable with the goal of making our communities safer and free from drug-related crimes like this.”
“Drug trafficking and violence unfortunately go hand-in-hand,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Miami Field Division. “DEA Miami Agents are working tirelessly to bring justice and safety to our community.”
“In this case the defendants decided the contents of a package were worth more than the victim’s life. It’s a decision they will pay for,” said U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Miami Division. “The Postal Inspection Service works tirelessly to eliminate narcotics from our postal system, working with our federal, state, and local partners to make sure those who profit from violence, drug sales, and the abuse of the postal system feel the full weight of the law.”
In January 2026, Kol and Sanchez each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and using a firearm to cause death during a drug trafficking offense.
The DEA, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Miami Dade Sherriff’s Office, the Hialeah Police Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
Trial Attorney Jessica A. Massey from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Monique Botero for the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Miami. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute offenders and prevent violence.
Two Illegal Aliens from Mexico Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking in West TennesseeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Brothers, Julio Cesar Garcia, 45, and Juan Carlos Garcia, 41, both of Chiapas, Mexico, were sentenced following their 2023 trial conviction. In 2021, these individuals were indicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.
According to information presented at trial and sentencing, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information that Julio Cesar Garcia was facilitating narcotics transactions from the Bureau of Prisons Great Plains Correctional Institution in Hinton, Oklahoma. Investigators determined that Julio Cesar Garcia would locate buyers in the Western District of Tennessee, utilize a prison contraband phone to set up methamphetamine deliveries, and his brother Juan Carlos Garcia would accept payment.
Upon further investigation into Julio Cesar Garcia, HSI learned that he was serving prison sentence for a narcotics trafficking offense stemming from a conviction in the Western District of Tennessee. Specifically, on March 7, 2019, Julio Cesar Garcia was sentenced to 120 months' incarceration for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Methamphetamine. His scheduled release date was July 9, 2026.
During the investigation, investigators learned that Julio Cesar Garcia provided tracking numbers to parcels containing kilogram amounts of methamphetamine. The parcels originated from California. Homeland Security Investigations, working with the United States Postal Inspection Service, seized two parcels, one containing 1 kilogram of methamphetamine and the other 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.
On February 24, 2023, following a 4-day trial, a federal grand jury convicted both Julio Cesar Garcia and Juan Carlos Garcia of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
On December 18, 2023, the Honorable Mark S. Norris sentenced Juan Carlos Garcia to 188 months' incarceration and ordered him to not unlawfully re-enter the United States. On December 6, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld Juan Carlos Garcia’s conviction and sentence.
On March 31, 2026, the Honorable Mark S. Norris sentenced Julio Cesar Garcia to 300 months' incarceration and ordered him to not unlawfully re-enter the United States. This sentence is to be served consecutively to the prior sentence Julio Cesar Garcia was serving at the time. There is no parole in the federal system.
Both defendants were unlawfully in the United States at the time of the offenses. Due to the nature of the convictions, both are subject to removal from the United States.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Criminal aliens not only threaten the sovereignty of our nation but also threaten the safety of our communities. Distribution of illegal narcotics is NOT a victimless crime. This case demonstrates our focus on those dangerous criminal aliens who continue to violate our laws after illegal entry by distributing poisonous drugs that cause addiction, injury, and death.”
“Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in its mission to protect communities from the harm caused by drug trafficking and criminal organizations,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson. “This case highlights the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies and our ongoing efforts to hold offenders accountable. HSI will continue to pursue those who endanger public safety and uphold the rule of law.”
"This case exemplifies the spirit of collaboration we share with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. Let these prison sentences serve as a reminder that using the mail to traffic narcotics will be met with serious consequences.” – Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins, USPIS
“Through the Homeland Security Task Force, the FBI is working with our partners to pursue and dismantle the networks responsible for participating in the deadly drug trade,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Together, we will ensure that those who exploit our communities for profit face the full force of the law.”
This case was investigated and assisted in trial by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Also assisting in the prosecution were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Department of Homeland Security Customs and Broder Protection (DHS CBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United States Marshals Service (USMS), and the DeSoto County (MS) Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory D. Allen prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
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 Memphis comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies, to include the investigative agencies listed above, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
###
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Three-Time Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 5 YearsRead the Press Release
Madison, Wis. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Rodney L. Roach, 44, Beloit, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 71 months in federal prison for distribution of cocaine. Roach pleaded guilty to this charge on January 21, 2026.
Roach distributed what he believed to be heroin to a police informant on four occasions. After the last drug sale, police seized a large amount of suspected heroin/fentanyl and cocaine from his home. Crime laboratory testing revealed that the suspected heroin/fentanyl was in fact Metonitazene. Metonitazene is an extremely dangerous synthetic opioid like fentanyl but with a slightly greater potency.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Peterson stated that Roach distributed dangerous drugs that harmed his community. He further stated that Roach had two prior drug trafficking convictions and was an elevated risk to reoffend upon release. Judge Peterson ordered six years of supervision to follow Roach’s prison term to further protect the community.
The charge against Roach was the result of an investigation conducted by the Beloit Police Department, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, and Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Three Family Members Plead Guilty to Smuggling Drugs into PrisonRead the Press Release
A District of Columbia (D.C.) inmate, his mother, and his brother pleaded guilty yesterday to drug conspiracy and the smuggling of contraband into the District of Columbia Central Detention Facility (CDF) in 2023.
According to statements made in court, on May 23, 2023, D.C. correction officers seized approximately 31 sheets of paper soaked in a synthetic cannabinoid and a mixture or substance containing fentanyl and heroin from the cell of Malique Lewis, 28, of D.C., when Malique was an inmate at the CDF. At the time, Malique was awaiting trial on kidnapping, murder, and firearm charges. He has since been convicted of those charges and is serving a life sentence.
In furtherance of the conspiracy and to facilitate the introduction of controlled substances into the CDF, Malique Lewis communicated with his mother, Teleka Lewis, 47, and his brother, Michael Lewis, 32, both of D.C., as well as the drug supplier, through third-party calling prison accounts. Malique and Teleka arranged to have Michael pack an accordion style legal folder with controlled substances that were disguised as “legal papers” to enable their introduction into the CDF and delivery to Malique. Teleka then delivered this folder to Malique’s legal counsel so that it could be covertly introduced into the prison facility and delivered to Malique. There is no evidence that the lawyer knew that the papers were laced with drugs. Malique intended to distribute, and did distribute, controlled substances to other inmates at the CDF.
Teleka, at Malique’s direction, also managed the proceeds and finances derived from the scheme on Malique’s behalf, including by receiving and making payments for the drugs that were sold inside the CDF through online payment services such as Cash App and Apple Pay.
Malique and Teleka pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances, to include fentanyl, heroin, and synthetic cannabinoids, within a federally contracted prison. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21 where they both face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
Michael pleaded guilty to providing contraband in a prison, a misdemeanor crime. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 21 and faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent Jeffrey Lee Tyler of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Washington Field Office and D.C. Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services are investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Jared Hernandez of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.
Thomasville Man with Violent Criminal Past Pleads Guilty to Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A South Georgia man with a prior conviction for rape and kidnapping who was wanted for a north Florida bank robbery and captured in Georgia after attempting to run from deputies while carrying a firearm is facing a maximum of 15 years in prison on a federal gun charge.
Jonathan Lamar Wooten, aka “Chico,” 53, of Thomasville, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on April 9. Wooten faces a maximum of 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Violent felons caught with guns will be prosecuted federally in the Middle District of Georgia, where penalties are tough and there is no parole,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Our office is committed to strictly enforcing federal gun laws and working with law enforcement to bring repeat offenders to justice.”
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, there was a bank shooting in Tallahassee, Florida, on May 5, 2023, in which Wooten was allegedly involved and now is facing state charges in Florida for attempted murder, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt. Florida authorities issued a BOLO for Wooten, with a description of the Ford F-150 he was allegedly driving from the scene of the bank shooting.
Thomas County, Georgia, deputies spotted the F-150 and attempted to pull it over when a chase ensued. After several minutes, Wooten slowed the vehicle, jumped out of the pickup truck and ran. Both officers saw a gun in Wooten’s hand as he fled. Wooten discarded the Glock firearm behind a building on North Boulevard in Thomasville and he was found within minutes, sitting on the ground with his back against the building. The Ford F-150 Wooten drove was stolen in Grady County, Georgia. The Glock was compared to and matched the shell casings collected at the Tallahassee bank shooting. Wooten has a prior conviction in Thomas County Superior Court for rape and kidnapping. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm.
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.
The Thomas County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Tallahassee Police Department, Homicide Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit is prosecuting the case for the Government.
Tax preparers indicted for filing false tax returns causing thousands in fraudulent claimsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – Two area residents are appearing in federal court on charges they willfully helped clients file false tax returns with the IRS, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Elfrin Lee Patten is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m. Laquisha “Cookie” Shelton has already appeared in federal court following her arrest April 9.
A federal grand jury returned the 16-count indictment March 8, which has now been unsealed.
According to the indictment, Patten ran E. Patten Tax Prep in Houston beginning in at least 2019 for approximately seven years, while Shelton worked as a preparer for the business. The charges allege they used false credits and deductions to fraudulently lower their clients’ tax liability. In some cases, refunds exceeded $10,000 and clients were charged thousands in fees, according to court documents.
Patten and Shelton allegedly used false Schedule C losses for nonexistent businesses and fraudulent Sick and Family Leave Credits to inflate refunds.
The charges further allege Patten sent text and WhatsApp messages pressuring witnesses not to cooperate. Shelton also allegedly submitted a false affidavit claiming she had never prepared a tax return.
The IRS identified at least $30 million in Sick and Family Leave Credits tied with the business, according to the allegations.
In addition, Patten’s 2022 return allegedly reported false wages and withholdings and was accompanied by a false W-2 for a business where he did not work. The indictment alleges that return claimed a refund of $18,386.
Patten and Shelton are charged with conspiracy and aiding and various counts of assisting in the preparation of false tax returns. Patten is also charged with filing a false tax return in his own name.
If convicted, both face up to five years in prison for the conspiracy count, as well as three years in prison for each of the tax charges. They also face potential fines of up to $250,000.
IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad Gray is prosecuting the case.
The Department of Justice has created 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.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
St. Thomas Airport Employee Arrested for Possessing Three Kilograms of Cocaine at the Cyril E. King AirportRead the Press Release
ST. THOMAS – U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Aslyn Thomas, 45, of St. Thomas, was arrested for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents, on April 8, 2026, Thomas arrived at the Cyril E. King to report for work as a ramp agent. As part of routine security procedures, Thomas was inspected by security personnel at the entrance. When his backpack was inspected, security personnel observed three bricklike plastic bundles that they deemed suspicious. Virgin Islands Port Authority officers arrived and utilized a K-9 unit which alerted to the presence of narcotics. U.S. Customs and Border Protection was then brought to the scene, and it was discovered that the three bundles weighing over 7 pounds tested positive for cocaine.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Erik Tate is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.