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10 April 2026
Dallas Federal Jury Convicts Four Deuce Oakland Crips Gang Member of Multiple Drug Trafficking and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
A Dallas federal jury convicted a Four Deuce Oakland Crips gang member of multiple drug trafficking and firearms crimes, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Following a four-day trial, the jury convicted Jamarian Augustus Hewitt (a.k.a. “Zillionaire JJ”), 40, of Dallas, Texas, on Thursday, April 9, 2026, of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, two counts of firearm possession in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, one count of using a cell phone in furtherance of a drug offense, and one count of illegal firearm possession by a convicted felon.
“The residents living and working in the Malcolm X Boulevard neighborhood had been living in fear due to the havoc wreaked by the Four Deuce Oakland Crip gang members’ criminal activities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “With this verdict, Hewitt has been held accountable and faces a potential lifetime sentence, which should restore a sense of peace to the Malcolm X Boulevard neighborhood.”
“Today’s verdict sends a clear and unequivocal message: those who choose to flood our neighborhoods with drugs and arm violent criminal enterprises will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner of ATF Dallas. “By dismantling this trafficking network, Operation Blue Laces reflects the power of intelligence-driven investigations and strong law enforcement partnerships. ATF remains committed to targeting the most violent offenders and working alongside our partners to protect the citizens of Dallas.”
Court records reveal that Hewitt was one of several Four Deuce Oakland crip gang members charged as part of “Operation Blue Laces.” Additional gang members were charged with numerous drug and firearm offenses, as well as carjacking.
According to court documents, in January 2024, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents initiated “Operation Blue Laces” to identify gang members who were engaged in criminal conduct along two main intersections within the Malcolm X Boulevard corridor of Dallas, Texas. The operation, in part, addressed numerous complaints from residents living and working in the neighborhood who advised that Four Deuce Oakland Crip gang members had taken over the area and had created an environment of fear and lawlessness.
Evidence at Hewitt’s trial demonstrated that the gang members were using multiple storefronts and residences along the Malcolm X corridor to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, PCP, marijuana, codeine and prescription drugs to customers daily. Hewitt, a convicted felon, operated Zillionaire Exotic Pop, a storefront located at 3401 S. Malcolm X Blvd. in South Dallas, from which Hewitt sold quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and 200 to 300 pounds of marijuana per week. He also sold codeine that was mixed with premium sodas referred to as “purple drank.” Social media posts on an account linked to Hewitt were also presented to the jury. Those posts contained images of Hewitt and a caption that read “I am a drug lord.” Other posts advertised the sale of marijuana from his shop and promoted the activities of the Four Deuce Oakland Crip gang.
The jury also heard evidence that during a search of Hewitt’s business, agents recovered one kilogram of methamphetamine pills, distribution quantities of marijuana that Hewitt marketed as “Zillionaire Marijuana,” as well as multiple firearms. Searches of other storefronts and gang member residences revealed multiple pounds of marijuana, kilogram quantities of PCP, distribution quantities of cocaine, more than two dozen firearms, and a live alligator. Among other exhibits, the government introduced at Hewitt’s trial photos of pills and a firearm found during the investigation:
Hewitt is set for sentencing on August 12, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr, who presided over the trial. Hewitt faces a sentence of at least 20 years to life in federal prison on the drug trafficking and firearms charges and a $10 million fine.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force 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 Dallas includes agents and officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Dallas Field Division and the Dallas Police Department, who conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Calvert and Ashley Koos of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas prosecuted the case.
D.C. Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for June 2021 Killing of Innocent Bystander Out Having Dinner with Wife and FriendsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Dearay Wilson, 30, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 18 years in prison today for shooting and killing 53-year-old Jeremy Black in June 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Wilson pleaded guilty on February 13, 2026, to second-degree murder while armed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Neal E. Kravitz ordered Wilson to serve his 18-year prison term to be followed by five years of supervised release and must also register as a gun offender.
“This sentencing sends a clear and necessary message: violent crime will not go unanswered,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Dearay Wilson and other shooters indiscriminately fired over 45 rounds into a busy public street, killing Jeremy Black—an innocent man walking with his wife and friends after dinner. Our thoughts remain with his loved ones, and this office remains committed to stopping outrageous killing on the streets of the District.”
According to the government’s evidence, in the evening hours, on June 29, 2021, Wilson and three other individuals, armed with firearms, drove to Johnson Avenue Northwest. Once in the area, they fired multiple shots at a group of people outside an apartment building in the 1400 block of R Street Northwest. Jeremy Black was an innocent bystander walking through the area with his wife and two friends following dinner at a local restaurant. Black and a friend were crossing Johnson Avenue when Wilson and the other shooters indiscriminately fired over 45 rounds on a busy public street. Black was struck once in his left torso and died at the scene. After the shooting, Wilson and the other shooters fled the scene in the stolen vehicle.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the work of former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sitara Witanachchi, who indicted the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Merikas, Kathleen Gibbons, and Sarah Santiago, who prosecuted the case.
2021 CF1 006737
Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Escaping from FCI DanburyRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that XIAOQIN YAN, 32, a citizen of China, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to escape from the custody of the Attorney General.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 10, 2024, Yan escaped from the Federal Satellite Low facility at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury (FCI Danbury) where she was serving a federal prison sentence imposed in the Middle District of Alabama for arson and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien.
Yan was apprehended on December 10, 2024, and has been detained since her arrest.
Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for July 21, at which time Yan faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.
This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Danbury Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.
Chelsea Man Sentenced for His Role in a Mail Theft and Check Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chelsea man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for fraudulently depositing checks stolen from the mail.
Josman Romero-Delgado, 24, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to time served (approximately four months in prison) and three years of supervised release. Romero-Delgado was also ordered to pay $39,157 in restitution. In November 2025, Romero-Delgado pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to steal and possess stolen mail.
From at least June 2023 until February 2024, Romero-Delgado and his co-conspirators stole mail from USPS collection boxes, looking to steal checks. After they stole these checks, they washed the hand-written ink from the checks using commercially available chemicals. The checks were then re-issued to the co-conspirators or other bank accounts that they controlled. After the checks were fraudulently deposited, the defendants and their co-conspirators withdrew money from ATMs or bought money orders with the fraudulently obtained funds. A review of the co-conspirators’ cellphones revealed that they had collaborated to advance this criminal scheme.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge for the Boston Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston and Wellesley Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucy Sun and Philip C. Cheng of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
California Man Pleads Guilty to Cross-Country Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A California man pled guilty in federal court today, to charges stemming from his involvement in a cross-country money laundering conspiracy involving proceeds from marijuana trafficking.
Nicholas Parks, 53, of Winnetka, California, admitted to conspiring to commit money laundering. Parks acknowledges that he and his co-conspirators laundered $329,071 between October 2020 and January 2021 in connection with the scheme.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland.
According to the guilty plea, Park admits that from October 2020 through January 2021, he participated in a conspiracy to launder proceeds he and his associates generated through selling marijuana in Maryland. As part of the conspiracy, female co-conspirators transported marijuana from California to Maryland, usually via commercial air travel. Parks traveled separately from the co-conspirators to Maryland, but he sold the marijuana with local co-conspirators after arrival.
When the co-conspirators finished distributing the drugs, Co-Conspirator 1 used a couple of methods to launder the funds. Co-Conspirator 1 either drove U.S. currency across the country to California or provided the proceeds to a Maryland laundering contact. The contact then moved the money through financial institutions, resulting in two levels, or layers, of laundering transactions.
HSI agents identified several occasions that the co-conspirators laundered marijuana trafficking proceeds. Law enforcement used evidence obtained through multiple methods, including controlled money drops, text messages between co-conspirators, along with recorded calls and meetings, to link the co-conspirators to the conspiracy.
On October 15, 2020, Texas Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop of Co-Conspirator 1 in Carson County, Texas. During the stop, officers recovered approximately $109,071 in U.S. currency from Co-Conspirator 1’s vehicle. Officers also seized Co-Conspirator 1’s cell phone.
Following a search of Co-Conspirator 1’s phone, law enforcement uncovered a lengthy text message exchange between Parks and Co-Conspirator 1. The text-message exchange appeared to show Parks’ involvement in the money laundering and drug trafficking conspiracy.
Messages included detailed ledgers of drug sales Parks and his associates conducted along with the money owed to each of them for their participation. The most recent messages showed that Parks provided Co-Conspirator 1 with U.S. currency to transport from Maryland back to California. Additionally, the text messages revealed that Co-Conspirator 1 was supposed to drop off a portion of the proceeds to a location in Oklahoma. Based on the messages, the amount of U.S. currency found in Co-Conspirator 1’s vehicle was consistent with the remaining money bound for California and money he was paid for his services.
Co-Conspirator 1 later confirmed to HSI agents that the money found in his vehicle consisted of proceeds from the marijuana trafficking conspiracy in Maryland. He also admitted he was driving the money back to California and was supposed to make a drop in Oklahoma.
Then between December 2020, and January 2021, HSI agents conducted three controlled money drops. Co-Conspirator 1 unknowingly used confidential informants (CI) to receive and launder the drug trafficking proceeds from Maryland. On each occasion, Co-Conspirator 1 provided U.S. currency to one of two CIs, who then deposited the funds in a bank account HSI controlled. Then co-conspirators withdrew the funds in California and transported it to other individuals who were believed to grow marijuana in the state. Over the course of the three controlled money drops, Co-Conspirator 1 provided the CIs with approximately $220,000.
Parks faces a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for Monday, July 27, at 2:30 p.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI for its work in the investigation and Texas Highway Patrol for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Levin who is prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Business Owner Charged with Treasury Check FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A ninth defendant has been charged as part of an ongoing investigation into the theft of U.S. Treasury tax refund checks in eastern and central Massachusetts.
Victor Vasquez, 40, of Gardner, was charged by complaint with the theft of approximately $988,000 in government funds. Vasques was arrested yesterday and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston. In June 2025, eight others were charged with theft of government funds or bank fraud related to approximately $8.8 million in stolen Treasury checks.
According to the charging documents, in June 2024, Vasquez deposited a Treasury check for $988,744 that had been issued to another taxpayer but altered to bear Vasquez’s name as the payee. Vasquez allegedly deposited the check into a credit union account in the name of a business he had closed years earlier, Victor Northeast Construction, LLC. Shortly after depositing the check, Vasquez allegedly transferred $8,000 to another bank account he controlled in order to pay outstanding loan balances. When the credit union spoke with Vasquez by telephone and asked about the source of the deposited funds, it is alleged that Vasquez falsely stated that the check was a tax refund for his business, despite the fact that his business had not yet been incorporated during the tax year associated with the Treasury check and that he never filed a tax return on its behalf.
The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Frauds Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Border enforcement efforts result in another 354 people charged in SDTXRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – In support of Operation Take Back America, the Southern District of Texas has filed another 353 cases in immigration and border-security related matters, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Of those charged from April 3-9, 114 are alleged to have illegally entered the United States, while another 212 face allegations of felony reentry after prior removal. Many have prior felony convictions involving narcotics, violent crimes and immigration offenses. An additional 25 people are accused of engaging in human smuggling, while the remaining three cases relate to other immigration crimes.
One illegal alien charged this week has a prior conviction for assault of a public servant, according to the charges. Authorities allegedly found El Salvadorian national William Alexander Morataya near Roma, despite having been removed March 3.
Charges also allege law enforcement found three others, all from Mexico, near the McAllen area without legal authorization to be in the United States. Omar Alejandro Valdez-Ornelas and Jose Antonio Romero-Uribe were previously removed Feb. 2 and March 13, respectively, according to court records. Criminal complaints allege Valdez-Ornelas has a prior felony sexual offense conviction, while Romero-Uribe allegedly assaulted a family member. Authorities had previously removed Javier Alegria-Ortega Oct. 19, 2025, following a conviction and sentence for bank fraud, according to his charges. However, law enforcement allegedly discovered him near Havana.
If convicted, all four men face up to 20 years in federal prison.
In addition to the new cases, another Mexican national who had illegally reentered the United States received a 495-month sentence for distributing drugs and machine guns from his South Texas residence. Carlos Alberto Garcia-Guajardo acted as a broker for selling narcotics and machine guns. The court heard how he emulated the “gangster” lifestyle and saw images of a Scarface poster hung in Garcia-Guajardo’s bedroom. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Garcia-Guajardo’s illegal status, the number of drugs and weapons involved, that he was a leader in this criminal enterprise and the dangerousness of his actions to include discharging firearms near children and from moving vehicles.
Another illegal alien was sentenced for her role in a multi-year cartel-linked human smuggling conspiracy. Giovana Lozano Hernandez served as the organization’s de facto chief financial officer, managing payments and records while working with Cartel del Noreste to smuggle more than 1,900 illegal aliens for profit. Authorities tied her to multiple smuggling incidents, including one involving 101 illegal aliens found inside a trailer, several of whom reported difficulty breathing and feared for their lives. A search of her residence uncovered cellphones, ledgers, more than $36,000 in proceeds and digital evidence documenting transportation, housing and payment tracking.
Also in Laredo, Guatemalan human smuggler Daniel Zavala Ramos aka Dany ZR pleaded guilty in a scheme tied to a tractor-trailer crash that killed more than 50 people and injured over 100 more. He and others transported illegal aliens, including unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States. They recruited individuals, collected payment and arranged travel via foot and various other forms of transportation. In some cases, they provided scripted language if authorities apprehended them. He faces up to life at the time of his sentencing.
In Corpus Christi, Christopher Henson received 36 months for smuggling aliens in a disguised fishing trip. The investigation revealed Henson used his boat to bypass interior Border Patrol checkpoints while transporting illegal aliens along coastal waters. He posed trips as fishing excursions, sailing south to pick up illegal aliens at Port Mansfield, then traveling north to dock at locations beyond the checkpoints.
Also of note was the sentencing of Mexican national Miguel Carreon in Houston. The court imposed a 57-month sentence, noting how he chose to reenter the United States illegally and commit other crimes. Carreon has a previous conviction for conspiracy to distribute meth and was first removed in 2016.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Baltimore Man Convicted for Armed Gas Station CarjackingRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man is headed to prison after a federal jury convicted him in connection with an armed carjacking at a local gas station.
The jury found Ron Wardlow, 26, guilty of carjacking, using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. Wardlow was previously convicted of a robbery at the same Baltimore gas station where he was later arrested.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty verdict with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD), and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
According to evidence presented at trial, on February 27, 2025, Wardlow approached Victim 1 and Victim 2 at a Fells Point gas station. Wardlow, who was wearing a mask and gloves, approached the victims and asked them for a ride.
When Victim 1 refused, Wardlow followed Victim 1 around the car and pulled out a 9mm Glock loaded with an extended magazine that held 31 rounds. Wardlow then pointed the gun at Victim 1 and demanded the car keys. Victim 1 complied and gave Wardlow the keys. Wardlow entered the car and drove off. Then the victims called 911 to report the carjacking.
Some of the victims’ digital devices remained in the car, which enabled them to track the devices. Activity stopped in the Liberty Heights neighborhood, so the victims assumed Wardlow tossed them from the car.
Later, the victims went to the spot where the devices were. There, they found Victim 1’s car still running, but then the car backed up and drove away. Victim 1 again called the police to alert law enforcement to the car’s location.
Then officers from the Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATT) located the car at a nearby gas station. When law enforcement arrived at the gas station, Wardlow saw them and fled on foot.
Officers pursued Wardlow with the assistance of aerial surveillance. Law enforcement eventually found Wardlow hiding in the cellar entryway of a nearby residence. When officers searched Wardlow, they found the mask and gloves he wore during the carjacking. Additionally, officers found a bag in the car that contained the loaded Glock 9mm Wardlow pointed at Victim 1.
Wardlow faces a minimum of seven years and a maximum of life in federal prison for the brandishing of the firearm during the carjacking, which is to be imposed consecutive to any other sentence. Wardlow faces a maximum of 15 years for the carjacking and 15 years for possessing a firearm as a felon. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for Wednesday, July 29, at 11 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, BPD, and BCPD for their work in the investigation and RATT for its valuable assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Levin and John Sippel who are prosecuting the case.
For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Asian Boyz Gang Member and Second Gang Associate from Lowell Plead Guilty to Methamphetamine Pill Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Lowell men with allegiances to the Asian Boyz gang have pleaded guilty to distributing and conspiring to distribute thousands of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine.
Owen Landry, a/k/a “Oski,” 24, pleaded guilty on April 8, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; and two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2026.
Zachary Hansen, 31, pleaded guilty on March 31, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine. Judge Burroughs scheduled sentencing for March 31, 2027.
The defendants were among five charged in January 2025.
In 2021, an investigation began into the Asian Boyz gang to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine pills impacting Lowell.
The investigation revealed that Landry, an Asian Boyz gang member, and Hansen, a gang associate, allegedly formed a conspiracy with another gang member, Sovath Yern, a/k/a “Stryke”, to profit from the sales of bulk quantities of the counterfeit Adderall pills. Hansen agreed to let Landry use his residence in Lowell, as one of the group’s storage and distribution centers. At Landry’s direction, Hansen also sold the counterfeit Adderall pills and collected payments.
Specifically, Landry negotiated two large counterfeit Adderall pill deals in July and August 2024 and directed the buyers to Landry’s Lowell residence to complete the transactions. Unbeknownst to Landry and Hansen, the pill deals were part of law enforcement operations to surveil and record the purchases. In July 2024, a cooperating witness met Hansen inside the Lowell residence and paid him $2,000 in exchange for 5,000 pills. In August 2024, a co-conspirator was observed, travelling back and forth from Landry’s residence in Lowell during a deal with a second cooperating witness, who paid another $2,000 in exchange for 2,000 pills.
Later in 2024, Landry himself sold pills he had allegedly obtained from Yern’s apartment in Billerica to a cooperating witness. Specifically, on two separate occasions in November 2024 and December 2024, Landry directed the cooperating witness to meet him in the garage of Yern’s apartment complex. After meeting the cooperating witness and taking the cash payments, Landry then entered the building where Yern allegedly escorted him inside. Landry was seen entering Yern’s apartment with the money and then leaving with large bags of pills. Landry then returned to the cooperating witness to deliver methamphetamine pills – 4,000 pills in the November 2024 instance, and 5,000 pills in the December 2024 instance.
The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine, each provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to life in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Greg C. Hudon, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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).
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant in the case is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Wyoming!Read the Press Release
A Casper man who unleashed a string of antisemitic threats against the Anti‑Defamation League (ADL) has been sentenced to federal prison. U.S. Attorney Darin Smith announced that Derek A. Fulfer, 31, will serve 12 months and one day behind bars, followed by two years of supervised release. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl on April 3. Fulfer was ordered to self‑surrender to the Bureau of Prisons by June 1, 2026.
Federal prosecutors said Fulfer made four rapid‑fire phone calls on March 5, 2025, to ADL offices located in Colorado and Texas. When no one picked up, he left voicemails packed with antisemitic slurs and explicit threats of violence targeting people of Jewish faith. Staff immediately alerted federal law enforcement.
The FBI quickly launched an investigation, traced the calls back to Fulfer, and confirmed his identity as the voice behind the threats. When questioned by agents, Fulfer admitted making the calls and claimed his threats of violence were protected speech. A federal criminal complaint was filed on August 19, 2025, charging him under 18 U.S.C. § 875(c) — transmitting threats in interstate commerce. Fulfer later waived indictment and pleaded guilty before Judge Skavdahl on January 8, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Darin Smith was unequivocal:
"Jewish Americans have every right — not as a courtesy, not as a privilege, but as Americans — to live, to worship, and to serve their communities free from threats of violence.
Let there be no confusion about what happened here. This was not political commentary. This was not satire. This was not protected speech. This was a calculated attempt to terrorize people because of their faith. And it failed.
To those who would threaten the Jewish community — or any community of faith — in Wyoming or anywhere else in this country: we see you, we will find you, and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of federal law.
Not on my watch. Not in this district. Not in America." — U.S. Attorney Darin Smith, District of Wyoming
Ansonia Man Admits Distributing Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw today announced that JOSUE MUNIZ, 35, of Ansonia, pleaded guilty yesterday in New Haven federal court to a fentanyl and cocaine distribution offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Stamford Police Department learned that an individual, subsequently identified as Muniz, was trafficking fentanyl and cocaine in the Naugatuck Valley. Investigators conducted multiple undercover purchases of narcotics from Muniz in November and December 2024. On December 20, 2024, after investigators coordinated a purchase of narcotics, Muniz was arrested at a car dealership in Milford where he was employed. Muniz possessed approximately 58 grams of fentanyl at time of his arrest, and related searches of his vehicle and Ansonia residence revealed quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine.
Muniz pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
Muniz, whose criminal history includes state felony convictions for narcotics offenses, has been detained since his arrest.
This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Stamford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lembo.
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.
Anchorage man guilty of drug trafficking crimesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man yesterday for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy targeting Alaska.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, James Barber, 44, conspired with the organization’s leader, Aaron Washington, 59, and multiple other people, who have already pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, to import drugs, mainly fentanyl, from Phoenix and Seattle and distribute the drugs in Alaska.
Evidence presented at trial showed that between November 2024 and March 2025, Barber regularly went to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport to pick up luggage containing one to two kilograms of fentanyl on behalf of the drug trafficking conspiracy.
On one occasion, Washington flew from Anchorage to Phoenix on Nov. 14, 2024, to purchase fentanyl from a codefendant. Washington flew back to Anchorage on Nov. 18. Surveillance video showed Washington bypassing the luggage carousel and heading for the taxi line, while Barber picked up a checked suitcase and left separately.
On another occasion later that month, Washington again flew to Phoenix and returned with two kilograms of fentanyl purchased from a co-conspirator. Law enforcement seized the fentanyl pursuant to a search warrant at the airport. Texts between Washington and Barber indicated that Barber was planning to pick up the luggage at the airport but failed to do so. Washington took the bag and took a taxi home.
Law enforcement recorded at least seven other trips with similar circumstances to both November incidents. At the time of these offenses, Barber was released on pretrial supervision in a prior federal criminal case.
The jury found Barber guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. The jury also found Barber guilty of an enhancement because he committed the crimes while he was on federal supervised release for a separate criminal matter. Barber faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Co-defendants in this case are as follows:
- Washington, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 17, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 28, 2026.
- Charlotte Hill, 55, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 6, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2026.
- Erika Willers, 28, of Tukwila, Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 5, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2026.
- Glenn Cooper, 44, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on March 27, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2026.
- Kenneth Degroff, 38, of Anchorage, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 5, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2026.
- Afshin Manzar, 46, of Phoenix, Arizona, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on Dec. 17, 2025, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2026.
U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police Department as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, and from the Mat-Su High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) team. Additional assistance was provided by the Airport HIDTA team and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Bradley and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case.
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Alabama Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Leadership Role in Alien Smuggling OrganizationRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – An Alabama man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 96 months in prison for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens placing lives in jeopardy, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, Joel Contreras Jr., 33, of Albertville, Alabama, was a member of the Guzman Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO), an international criminal enterprise operating in Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana and Mexico. Directly connected to the Cartel De Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), the organization traffics guns and drugs and smuggles illegal aliens into the United States.
From May 2021 through June 1, 2022, Contreras communicated with other members of the criminal conspiracy, including the head of the Guzman TCO. Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers conducted a traffic stop on Contreras on May 9, 2022, after noticing that the rear quarter panel of his vehicle was sitting low and showing little to no room between the tire and the wheel well of the vehicle. During the traffic stop, the troopers noticed human bodies concealed by a blanket in the second row of the vehicle as well as within the rear hatch area of the vehicle. The concealed individuals were identified as illegal aliens whom Contreras had picked up at an Eagle Pass gas station and was transporting to either Houston or San Antonio. Upon delivery of the aliens, Contreras was to be paid $500 per alien. He was charged by the state for smuggling of persons with a likelihood of serious bodily injury or death—charges which were ultimately dismissed.
Contreras was again arrested in September 2024 for alleged forgery and obstruction of justice in Marshall County, Alabama. While in custody, Conteras admitted to his role in the Guzman TCO and his participation in alien smuggling events. A search of his phone revealed various photos, phone numbers, and pin drop locations related to the TCO’s smuggling ventures.
Contreras was transferred to ICE custody on Nov. 22, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Feb. 18, 2025. He is one of 14 defendants charged, and the first to be sentenced, in the large-scale TCO. It is estimated that the TCO moves 50-100 illegal aliens per month through the Western District of Texas. To date, law enforcement has been able to attribute more than 1,000 illegal aliens and 400 failed smuggling events to the Guzman TCO. Contreras was held accountable for smuggling 655 illegal aliens.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Miner 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.
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9 April 2026
Utah Man Indicted for Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute 30 Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned an indictment charging Enrique Chavez-Salas, 60, of Utah, with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
According to court documents, in November 2025, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Task Force Officers began investigating Chavez-Salas for his role in coordinating the distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to Rhode Island.
As part of the investigation, arrangements were made for the delivery of approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine. During a subsequent meeting related to the planned transaction, Chavez-Salas arrived driving a tractor trailer truck and carrying a large black duffel bag. He engaged in a conversation regarding payment for the narcotics before being taken into custody.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan.
The matter was investigated by the DEA and the participating task force agencies.
A federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States Reaches $2.2 Million Settlement over Pandemic LoanRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri has finalized a civil settlement to resolve allegations that a Missouri manufacturer was not eligible for a $2 million pandemic-era loan, U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus announced Thursday.
As part of the settlement, VSM Abrasives Corp. will repay $2,022,250 to the United States. The amount represents a $2 million Paycheck Protection Program loan that VSM received in 2021. The loan, which was intended to save jobs and provide relief to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, was later forgiven.
The settlement resolves allegations brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Blockquote Inc. The qui tam action alleges that VSM was not eligible for the loan because although it certified that its headcount was under 300 employees, VSM and its affiliates, including its German parent company, Vereinigte Schmirgel- und Maschinen-Fabriken AG, employ more than 300.
VSM disputes the allegations. The settlement contains no admission of liability.
“We appreciate the efforts of Blockquote and other companies that are ferreting out problematic pandemic loans, as well as VSM’s cooperation,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus. “This settlement shows our commitment to ensure that government funds are spent appropriately.”
This civil settlement was a result of the combined work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Blockquote Inc. v. VSM Abrasives Corp., Case No. 4:24-cv-00805 in U.S. District Court in St. Louis. Under those provisions, a private party can file a civil action on behalf of the United States, thereby bringing allegations of fraud to the Government’s attention, and share in any financial recovery. Blockquote will receive $224,694 from the settlement and Blockchain’s attorneys will receive $20,000.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects More than $1.5 Billion in Criminal and Civil Actions in Fiscal Year 2025, the Most in the CountryRead the Press Release
NEWARK – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced today that it collected $1,507,147,950.92 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025—the most of any U.S. Attorney’s Office in the country. Of this amount, $1,449,394,479.05 was collected in criminal actions and $57,753,471.87 was collected in civil actions.
The District of New Jersey also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $154,991,037.56 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $63,222.72 was collected in criminal actions and $154,927,814.84 was collected in civil actions. In addition, the District of New Jersey, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $348,488,011 in asset forfeiture actions, the second most in the country.
“In fiscal year 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey outpaced the rest of the country, recovering more than $1.5 billion in criminal and civil actions. The District also recovered more than $348 million in asset forfeiture actions, as well as tens of millions more through other proceedings. As our fiscal year 2025 results demonstrate, the District of New Jersey is dedicated to holding defendants accountable for their wrongdoing, seizing ill-gotten gains from offenders, recovering debts owed to the United States in bankruptcy, and recovering funds for crime victims."
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
Significant recoveries include more than $1.43 billion in fines and more than $328 million in criminal forfeiture from TD Bank, N.A. and TD Bank US Holding Company in connection with the companies’ guilty pleas stemming from their pervasive, systemic anti-money laundering failures. TD Bank was the largest bank in U.S. history to plead guilty to Bank Secrecy Act program failures and the first US bank in history to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The District of New Jersey also had significant recoveries in civil forfeiture actions, including a civil forfeiture complaint to forfeit the proceeds of fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans. In that civil forfeiture action, the government forfeited nearly $7 million in funds, as well as a residential property with an estimated market value of over $2 million.
With respect to the District of New Jersey’s affirmative civil enforcement practice, two Pennsylvania companies and one South Carolina company affiliated with Rema Tip Top of America, Inc. entered into a $13 million settlement agreement with the United States resolving allegations that the companies violated the False Claims Act by taking a total of five Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to which the companies were not entitled.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. Recoveries in bankruptcy are returned to the federal agencies that are creditors in the case.
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U.S. Attorney, ATF Offer Law Enforcement Training on Firearms TrendsRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey will open a one-day training about firearms intelligence and trends offered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in Eastern Panhandle today.
“I commend the ATF for keeping our law enforcement partners on the cutting edge of firearms tracing and technology that is critical to solving gun crimes and preventing further violence,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “With effective firearms investigations, we can ensure that those committing violent crimes are held accountable.”
“This eight-hour training course is designed to enhance the capabilities of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting firearm-related violent crime” said ATF Special Agent in Charge John Nokes. “Participants will receive instruction on the latest crime gun investigative tools and techniques, including firearms tracing, emerging firearm and 3D-printing technologies, and advanced resources such as ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN).”
ATF Crime Gun Intelligence-Building a Bulletproof Case will include crime gun trends, effective firearms tracing, and offer a demonstration of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) machine. NIBIN offers national tracing of expended shell casings and ammunition, connecting crimes across the nation by an individual firearm.
The training is free and open to law enforcement, offering 8 hours of education credits through LEPS. It will be held at Jefferson High School in Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia Thursday, April 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Two More Defendants Plead Guilty in Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Two more defendants—Suleman Yusuf Mohamed and his brother Gandi Yusuf Mohamed—have pleaded guilty for their roles in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, announced Colin McDonald, Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division, and U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota.
The number of defendants convicted scheme-wide is now at 65. The brothers were charged in United States v. Mohamed et al., along with five other defendants who pleaded guilty in March. The number of defendants convicted in the Feeding Our Future scheme has now reached 65.
Suleman Yusuf Mohamed, who pleaded guilty on April 2, 2026, participated in the Federal Child Nutrition Program as a vendor under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. As a vendor, Star Distribution was supposed to provide food to meal distribution sites participating in the Federal Child Nutrition Program, including multiple sites operated by his co-defendants. While Star Distribution ultimately received approximately $10.1 million of Federal Child Nutrition Program funds—purportedly for providing food for more than 4.8 million meals—it spent relatively minimal amounts of that money on food. Instead, Mohamed used the money for his own personal expenses and transferred millions of dollars back to others participating in the scheme, including his sister Ikram Mohamed and brother Gandi. Suleman Mohamed pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and has agreed to pay $8,662,287 in restitution.
Gandi Yusuf Mohamed pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering today, April 9, 2016. Through his companies GAK Properties LLC and GIF Properties LLC, Gandi Mohamed owned three different buildings that purportedly housed Federal Child Nutrition Program meal distribution sites, including multiple sites operated by his co-defendants. Gandi Mohamed used those companies to receive and launder approximately $1.3 million of his co-defendant’s fraud proceeds, which he has agreed to pay back to the government as restitution.
Sentencing hearings for both defendants will be scheduled at a later date.
These cases result from an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and HSI.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 43 Months for Role in Feeding Our Future Fraud Scheme
Earlier today in Minneapolis, Abdullahe Nur Jesow of Minneapolis was sentenced to 43 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for his role in a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jesow was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $866,458.
According to court documents, from December 2020 through September 2021, Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 65, purported to operate a Federal Child Nutrition Program meal distribution site from his event space, Benadir Hall, located on Lake Street in Minneapolis. The site was ostensibly operated by a non-profit entity called Academy for Youth Excellence, for which Jesow served as Secretary.
Between December 2020 and September 2021, Academy for Youth Excellence claimed to have served over 1.7 million meals to children at Benadir Hall. In reality, Academy for Youth Excellence only provided a fraction of those meals. Based on these fraudulent claims, Academy for Youth Excellence and its alleged food vendor, S&S Catering, received $4,286,088 in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Rather than feed children during the pandemic, Jesow misappropriated the funds for his own personal benefit, including for the purchase of a home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.
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.
Two More Defendants Plead Guilty in Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS –Two more defendants—Suleman Yusuf Mohamed and his brother Gandi Yusuf Mohamed—have pleaded guilty for their roles in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. The number of defendants convicted scheme-wide is now at 65. The brothers were charged in United States v. Mohamed et al., 24-cr-15 (NEB/DTS), along with five other defendants who pleaded guilty in March. The number of defendants convicted in the Feeding Our Future scheme has now reached 65.
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.
Suleman Yusuf Mohamed, who pleaded guilty on April 2, 2026, participated in the Federal Child Nutrition Program as a vendor under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. As a vendor, Star Distribution was supposed to provide food to meal distribution sites participating in the Federal Child Nutrition Program, including multiple sites operated by his co-defendants. While Star Distribution ultimately received approximately $10.1 million of Federal Child Nutrition Program funds—purportedly for providing food for more than 4.8 million meals—it spent relatively minimal amounts of that money on food. Instead, Mohamed used the money for his own personal expenses and transferred millions of dollars back to others participating in the scheme, including his sister Ikram Mohamed and brother Gandi. Suleman Mohamed pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and has agreed to pay $8,662,287 in restitution.
Gandi Yusuf Mohamed pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering today, April 9, 2016. Through his companies GAK Properties LLC and GIF Properties LLC, Gandi Mohamed owned three different buildings that purportedly housed Federal Child Nutrition Program meal distribution sites, including multiple sites operated by his co-defendants. Gandi Mohamed used those companies to receive and launder approximately $1.3 million of his co-defendant’s fraud proceeds, which he has agreed to pay back to the government as restitution.
Sentencing hearings for both defendants will be scheduled at a later date.
These cases result from an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and HSI.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Matthew D. Evans are prosecuting these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Two Mexican Nationals Sentenced to Prison for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two Mexican nationals, one of whom was in the United States illegally, were sentenced to prison today for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. During the investigation, law enforcement found evidence of a connection between the leader of the drug conspiracy with Jalisco New Generation Cartel, also known as CJNG.
Jesus Miguel Angel Gutierrez-Lopez, 53, who was illegally present in the United States, was ordered to serve 70 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Lorenzo Lemus-Orozco, 42, who was legally residing in the United States, was sentenced to 140 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Both Gutierrez-Lopez and Lemus-Orozco will also be removed from the United States after they complete their respective prison sentences.
“Prosecuting drug traffickers – particularly those that are illegally in the United States and connected to foreign cartels – is a key priority of my office,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “This is one of many such cases in this focused effort.”
According to court records, from February 2024 to February 2025, Lemus-Orozco and Gutierrez-Lopez conspired to distribute kilogram quantities of methamphetamine in Catawba, Caldwell, and Watauga Counties and elsewhere. Lemus-Orozco was the leader of the local drug trafficking organization. Investigators conducted at least five controlled purchases of methamphetamine from the defendants.
As a part of law enforcement’s ongoing effort to interdict drug distributors, on December 5, 2024, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol conducted a stop of Gutierrez-Lopez’s truck in Caldwell County. Law enforcement seized almost half a kilogram of methamphetamine from inside Gutierrez-Lopez’s truck and arrested Gutierrez-Lopez.
After Gutierrez-Lopez’s arrest, Lemus-Orozco left the United States, traveling to Michoacan, Mexico. Michoacan, Mexico is an area that is often associated with Mexican drug cartel activity.
Lemus-Orozco returned to the United States in January 2025. Shortly after his return, law enforcement arrested Lemus-Orozco and searched his trailer in Hickory, North Carolina. In the trailer, law enforcement found approximately 99 grams of methamphetamine, approximately $2,000 in cash, and three firearms. Law enforcement also seized another $1,373 from the defendant’s person. In addition to the drugs, guns, and money found inside Lemus-Orozco’s trailer, police found clothing bearing CJNG branding.
Lemus-Orozco and Gutierrez-Lopez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Gutierrez-Lopez also pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine. Additionally, Lemus-Orozco pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.
Both defendants are in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Two Jamestown men charged in superseding indictment with selling fentanyl causing serious bodily injury, Hobbs Act robbery and kidnappingRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging Blake D. Smith a/k/a Sweets, 50, and Willie Graham a/k/a Wu, 45, both of Jamestown, NY, with narcotics conspiracy, Hobbs Act Robbery, kidnapping, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and use of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. In addition, Smith is charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and distribution of fentanyl causing serious bodily injury. Both defendants face a maximum of life in prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the superseding indictment, between February 2017, and January 2024, Smith and Graham conspired with Joseph S. Zaso, and others, to sell heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in the Jamestown area. During the conspiracy, Smith possessed a firearm.
Between May 9 and 11, 2023, Smith sold fentanyl causing serious bodily injury to individuals identified as R. P. and D.C.
On March 8 and 9, 2023, the defendants kidnapped an individual identified as D.D. and robbed a $25,000 check from D.D. In furtherance of the robbery, a firearm was brandished.
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).
The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Scott Forster and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Farhana Islam, New York Field Division.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Twin Falls Woman Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOISE – Elisha Gabrielle Ortiz, 40, of Twin Falls, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, in January 2025 investigators learned that Ortiz was trafficking methamphetamine in the Magic Valley area. The investigation revealed that Ortiz sold methamphetamine to another person on two occasions. In July 2025, investigators obtained a search warrant for a storage unit where Ortiz stored drug. Inside the storage unit, investigators found approximately two pounds of methamphetamine and 1,200 fentanyl pills that Ortiz intended to distribute into the community.
Chief U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Ortiz to serve five years of supervised release following her prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Idaho State Police, Twin Falls Special Investigations Unit, Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office, Twin Falls Police Department, Blaine County Sheriff’s Office, Jerome County Sheriff’s Office, Mini-Cassia Drug Task Force, and the Idaho Department of Corrections Probation & Parole, which led to the charge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Booker 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.
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Three Crips Members Convicted of Racketeering, Murder, and Other Gang-Related CrimesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, a federal jury in Central Islip convicted Akeem Chambers, also known as “Luca,” Jonathan Vazquez, also known as “Chulo” and “Clutch,” and Jerell Shaw, also known as “Rells” and “Rells Fargo,” on 52 counts of a third superseding indictment charging them variously with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, assault, murder conspiracy, kidnapping, robbery, robbery conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, mortgage fraud conspiracy, and money laundering. The defendants are members of Crips sets known as the “Insane Crip Gang,” or “ICG,” based on Long Island, and the “Rollin 60s,” based in Brooklyn. The verdicts followed an 11-week trial before United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack. When sentenced, the defendants each face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), Patrick Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), Anne Donnelly, District Attorney, Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict.
“With today’s convictions, a clear message has been sent to those who perpetuate the cycle of gang violence on Long Island, in Brooklyn, and throughout our district: you will be prosecuted, and you will be held accountable. Our Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work tirelessly to eradicate the gang violence that terrorizes our communities,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “The defendants and their co-conspirators used force and violence against rivals, terrorized surrounding neighborhoods, stole from government programs intended to provide services to the public, and enriched themselves through the illicit proceeds of their criminal activity. Today’s verdict ensures that these individuals have been held responsible for their crimes. This outcome is the result of the outstanding work of law enforcement agents and detectives who, alongside our prosecutors, brought this comprehensive investigation to a successful conclusion. Our Office will continue working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to advance the Administration’s mandate to Take Back America by dismantling and eradicating lawless, violent gangs like the Insane Crips and make our communities safer.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the FBI’s Long Island Safe Streets Gang Task Force and the Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad and Gang Investigation Squad for their tireless efforts to bring these defendants to justice. Mr. Nocella also thanked the Hempstead Village Police Department for its efforts in the widespread investigation.
“These three Crips gang members are responsible for a litany of crimes across Long Island. Their collective tyranny ranged from public gunfights and multiple murders to exploiting government relief programs – all to protect the gang’s reputation and increase its illicit revenue stream. Today’s guilty verdict marks a significant milestone in the FBI Long Island Safe Streets Task Force’s unwavering fight against criminal enterprises flooding our streets with violence,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.
“These gang members committed heinous acts of violence, including the attempted murder of two Nassau County Police Officers. This case highlights the risks that our officers face every single day, when they put on the uniform to protect the residents of Nassau County. These individuals committed dangerous crimes including robbery and murder, that they are finally being held accountable for. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will stop at nothing to pursue individuals who harm our communities. I commend our investigators and our partners for their dedication and efforts on this case,” stated NCPD Commissioner Ryder.
“These convictions end a reign of terror across Nassau County,” stated Nassau County District Attorney Donnelly. “From targeted robberies and the senseless killings of innocent lives to the brazen attempted murder of two Nassau County police officers, these defendants showed a chilling disregard for human life. This verdict is a powerful message to the gangs that think they can operate with impunity across Long Island. We remain committed to working with our federal and local law enforcement partners to dismantle these violent enterprises and seek justice for the victims and their families.”“These Crips members committed a series of violent crimes – from murder and kidnapping to stealing federal relief meant for vulnerable people during the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “The NYPD is intensely focused on taking down gangs, removing guns from our streets, and keeping communities safe. Thanks to the work of our NYPD investigators, alongside our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, these violent criminals have been convicted and will be held accountable.”
Racketeering and Violent CrimesChambers, Vazquez, and Shaw were each convicted of racketeering and racketeering conspiracy for their participation in the Crips criminal enterprise. In connection with the racketeering charges, they were also found guilty of participating in multiple acts of violence committed on behalf of the Crips, including murder, attempted murder, robbery, and kidnapping.
Chambers, who dubbed himself “Luca Da Shoota,” was convicted for his role in eleven shootings and three homicides between 2020 and 2022, including the August 2020 murder of Thiasia Williams in Hempstead, New York, the September 2021 murder of James Diamond in Freeport, New York, and the March 2022 murder of Malik Delima in Brooklyn, New York. In August 2020, Chambers, along with fellow Crips members and associates, carried out a drive-by shooting targeting a party on Martin Luther King Drive in Hempstead that was attended by members of a rival gang. Chambers and an associate each opened fire with 9mm handguns, discharging at least eight rounds into a crowd of partygoers. Their gunfire struck and killed Thiasia Williams, an innocent bystander who was seated in her car outside the party waiting to pick up a friend. Chambers was also convicted of assaulting another innocent female bystander, who sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to her leg.
Chambers also was convicted of the January 3, 2021 attempted murder and assault of a victim in Rockville Centre, New York. Acting on a mistaken belief that he was a rival gang member, Chambers opened fire on the victim and his brother as they were driving home on Peninsula Boulevard. The victim was struck by gunfire and, as a result of the shooting, was left paralyzed.
Chambers was also convicted for his role in the 2021 robbery and murder of James Diamond in Freeport, New York. On September 10, 2021, Chambers and his co-conspirators planned to rob Diamond and another individual of a large sum of cash. During the attempted robbery, Chambers and another individual, both armed with firearms, confronted Diamond at gunpoint. In the course of the robbery, Chambers’ co-conspirator shot and killed Diamond.
Chambers and Shaw were convicted of murder and conspiracy to commit murder for their roles in the March 2022 killing of Malik Delima, a Rollin’ 60s gang member and rival of Shaw from Brooklyn. Shaw, who was involved in an internal gang power struggle with Delima, enlisted Chambers to shoot and kill Delima. On March 10, 2022, Chambers, using a car provided by Shaw, drove from Shaw’s residence and tracked Delima to his apartment in Brooklyn. When Delima exited his residence, Chambers shot Delima 11 times, killing him.
Vazquez was convicted of murder for his role in the November 19, 2016 shooting death of 19 year-old Joecephus Vanable in Hempstead, New York. Vanable, a rival of ICG in Hempstead, was shot and killed outside his girlfriend’s residence while speaking with his girlfriend and sister. Vazquez provided the firearm used in the murder and accompanied the shooter to carry out the killing. In the wake of Vanable’s murder, members of ICG repeatedly glorified the killing, including by posting numerous videos depicting Vazquez, Chambers, and others desecrating Vanable’s grave and by posting rap songs that referenced Vanable’s death to taunt rivals.
Vazquez was convicted of the attempted murder of two Nassau County police officers on March 1, 2022. When the officers attempted to stop a vehicle matching the description of one used in a robbery two weeks earlier, Vazquez opened fire at the officers’ vehicle, striking its hood. Vazquez then fled on foot and again attempted to fire at the officers. In addition, Vazquez was convicted of the February 16, 2022 gunpoint robbery of a woman in Levittown, New York, the same robbery that led officers to attempt the vehicle stop on March 1.
Chambers was convicted of committing seven shootings, involving the attempted murder or assault of rival gang members in 2020 and 2022, as well as several counts of illegal possession, brandishing and discharge of firearms.
Vazquez and Chambers were convicted of committing four shootings together, involving the attempted murder or assault of rival gang members in 2021 and 2022, as well as several counts of illegal possession, brandishing and discharge of firearms.
Shaw was convicted for his role in orchestrating the December 1, 2021 kidnapping and robbery of a woman in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Shaw recruited fellow Rollin’ 60s member Delima, as well as two additional Crips members, to kidnap the victim in order to gain access to her apartment and steal luxury items, including Birkin handbags, watches, and jewelry. Shaw enlisted ICG Crips gang members to assist in re-selling the stolen goods. After Shaw failed to pay Delima and his associates their share of the proceeds, an internal power struggle developed between Shaw and Delima. As a result of that conflict, Shaw enlisted Chambers to murder Delima several weeks later, for which Shaw was also convicted.
Government Program Fraud and Related Financial Crimes
Chambers, Vazquez and Shaw were each convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for their participation in a wide array of fraud schemes carried out by the Crips, targeting state and federal relief programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendants and their fellow Crips used stolen identities to file fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in multiple states, including California and Arizona. They then used the proceeds to purchase high-value assets, including expensive jewelry and luxury goods. The evidence at trial established that Shaw, who referred to himself as “Rells Fargo,” alone defrauded the California Employment Development Department for over $2 million from 2020 to 2021.
Shaw was convicted of laundering the proceeds of the fraud schemes by transferring thousands of dollars per day between various bank accounts and by wiring funds to his business account under the guise of legitimate business transactions. Shaw used these illicit proceeds to obtain a mortgage and purchase a $1.2 million home in New Jersey.* * * * *
These convictions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF is a United States government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) worldwide. This initiative identifies TCOs engaged in a wide range of criminal schemes that violate federal law, while dismantling cross-border human smuggling and trafficking networks that fuel violence and instability that threatens the safety and security of the United States and its global partners. It also places a particular emphasis on criminal offenses involving children and ensures the use of all available law enforcement tools to prosecute offenders and/or facilitate the removal of criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Central Operations and Regional Enforcement (CORE) Region 28, located in New York, is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEAJ, US Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP), the US Marshals Service SDNY, the US Marshals Service EDNY, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), US Postal Inspection Service, US Coast Guard, US Federal Probation SDNY, US Federal Probation EDNY, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), the United States Secret Service, the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.
The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael R. Maffei, Andrew P. Wenzel, Kaitlin C. McTague and Samantha S. Alessi prosecuted the case with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Michael Compitello and Lead Legal Administrative Specialist Kerry Ucci, as well as investigators and special agents from EDNY’s Criminal Investigations Unit.
The Defendants: AKEEM CHAMBERS (also known as “Luca” and “Luca da Shoota”)
Age: 24
Uniondale, New YorkJONATHAN VAZQUEZ (also known as “Clutch” and “Chulo”)
Age: 24
Hempstead, New YorkJERELL SHAW (also known as “Rells” and “Rells Fargo”)
Age: 34
Millstone Township, New JerseyE.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 23-CR-157 (S-3) (JMA)
Three Admit Stealing Controlled Substances from Missouri, Kansas PharmaciesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Three men from Texas have admitted stealing controlled substances from three pharmacies in Missouri and Kansas last year.
Erik Dewayne Lyons Jr., 21, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substance and entering a pharmacy with the intent to steal controlled substances. Jonathan Fore, 30, and Anthony Ray Venwright, 33, pleaded guilty on March 30 to the same charges.
All three admitted traveling from the Houston, Texas area to Lee’s Summit, Missouri on July 29, 2025. The next day, Lyons waited in a Toyota RAV4 nearby while Venwright and Fore broke into a pharmacy and stole drugs. They then broke into a pharmacy in Overland Park, Kansas. On July 31, 2025, they broke into a Maryland Heights pharmacy. Maryland Heights police identified the RAV4 and learned that it was in Arkansas. The Arkansas State Police stopped the RAV4 and a companion vehicle, and investigators later found two trash bags containing the drugs that the men had stolen from the third pharmacy and evidence linking them all of the burglaries.
The men admitted stealing a total of 25,610 doses of various pain pills and other controlled substances.
Lyons is scheduled to be sentenced on July 13. Both Fore and Venwright are scheduled to be sentenced on July 6. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
The case was investigated by the Maryland Heights Police Department, the Arkansas State Police, the Clark County (Arkansas) Sheriff’s Department, the Lee’s Summit Police Department and the Overland Park (Kansas) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Texas man receives jail time for walking off designated boardwalk in a thermal area in Yellowstone National ParkRead the Press Release
A Texas man was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to walking off the designated boardwalk in a thermal area in Yellowstone National Park (YNP).
Eric Bedient, 50, of Frisco, Texas was sentenced to five days of incarceration on March 31, 2026, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie Hambrick. According to court documents, Mr. Bedient walked directly on several fragile and dangerous hydrothermal features in the Mammoth Hot Springs area. Those features included Canary Spring, Mound Terrace, Palette Hot Spring, and Jupiter Terrace. The sentence reflected the extensive nature of violation, the damage Bedient’s footprints left behind, and Bedient’s failure to educate himself about Yellowstone National Park’s regulations.
U.S. Attorney Darin Smith said, “Yellowstone’s thermal areas are among the most dangerous natural features in the world. Mr. Bedient’s disregard for the law could have cost him his life. Prosecuting crimes like this deters others from similar conduct—and from risking becoming thermal soup. We will continue to hold individuals accountable to protect lives and preserve this unique, irreplaceable landscape when their actions threaten these national treasures for future generations.”
This crime was investigated by Yellowstone National Park law enforcement officers and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes.
For travelers planning to visit YNP this year, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reminds the public to stay safe and adhere by all park regulations.
- Stay on boardwalks
Always walk on boardwalks and designated trails. Keep children close and do not let them run on boardwalks.
- Don't touch thermal features or runoff
Even thermal runoff can be extremely hot and cause burns. Hot springs also contain algae, bacteria, and fungi found nowhere else in the world; coming in contact with these life forms can destroy them. Resist the temptation to touch!
- Swimming or soaking in hot springs is prohibited
More than 20 people have died from burns suffered after they entered or fell into Yellowstone’s hot springs. For your safety and for the protection of thermal features in Yellowstone, it is illegal to swim or bathe in any water that is entirely of thermal origin.
- Pets are prohibited in thermal areas
Pets are not allowed in thermal areas or on boardwalks, even if they're on a leash or carried in arms, strollers, or backpacks. This policy exists to protect our pets from being burned or killed in hot springs. Trained service animals that perform tasks directly related to a person's disability are allowed throughout the park and in all park facilities. They must be leashed at all times.
For questions relating to Yellowstone National Park, please contact the Public Affairs Office at yell_public_affairs@nps.gov. A Safety Press Kit is available for the media at: https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/safety-press.htm
Tennessee man who was found in Florida with missing Ohio teen charged with transporting a minor to engage in sexual activityRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – Charges have been filed in the Southern District of Ohio against a Tennessee man with whom a previously missing Colerain teenager was found in Florida on March 13.
Stephen L. Negron, 42, of Rogersville, Tennessee, is charged federally with transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, a federal crime punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison.
“I want to commend the excellent work of the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation, recovery, and prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “My office is proud to partner with these outstanding public servants to ensure that our children remain safe from those who seek to prey upon them.”
According to charging documents, cell phone data revealed the victim’s cell phone was powered off on Feb. 13. Just prior to being turned off, cell site data placed the phone at an intersection near the victim’s home.
Subsequent review of area security cameras showed a silver Chevrolet pickup truck with a Tennessee license plate number registered to Negron in the vicinity at the same time. Investigators used license plate readers to track the truck’s previous travel southbound through Kentucky and into Tennessee.
Further investigation into Negron revealed an ongoing protective order issued out of Texas regarding an 18-year-old female who allegedly met Negron online in 2023 when she was 16 and Negron was 41. According to documents related to that matter, Negron traveled from Florida and Tennessee to meet up with the teenager and brought her back to Tennessee. He allegedly drugged her, sexually assaulted her and threatened violence to her and her family.
On March 12, FBI agents in Tennessee executed a federal search warrant at Negron’s home and found evidence of a new cell phone number. GPS pings on that cell phone number led agents to the Quality Inn & Suites Palatka Riverfront Hotel in Palatka, Florida.
Court documents detail that Negron had driven to Florida in a work truck, a White Dodge Ram, with a Virginia license plate. On March 13, law enforcement officials located Negron and the victim in Florida and arrested Negron on charges out of the Eastern District of Tennessee related to the former Texas victim.
Negron will be transferred to the Southern District of Ohio to face his charges here.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Colerain Township Police Chief Edwin C. Cordie III and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Healey is representing the United States in this case.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office (Florida), Palatka Police Department (Florida), FBI Jacksonville, FBI Nashville, the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee have all played integral parts in this investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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Ten Indian Nationals Indicted for Visa Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Ten Indian nationals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with a conspiracy to carry out staged armed robberies of convenience stores for the purpose of allowing store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications. The defendants were previously charged by criminal complaint in March 2026.
The following defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud:- Jitendrakumar Patel, 39, unlawfully residing in Marshfield, Mass.;
- Maheshkumar Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
- Sanjaykumar Patel, 45, unlawfully residing in Quincy, Mass.;
- Dipikaben Patel, 40, deported to India after unlawfully residing in Weymouth, Mass.;
- Rameshbhai Patel, 52, unlawfully residing in Eubank, Ky.;
- Amitabahen Patel, 43, unlawfully residing in Plainville, Mass.;
- Ronakkumar Patel, 28, unlawfully residing in Maryland Heights, Miss.;
- Sangitaben Patel, 36, unlawfully residing in Randolph, Mass.;
- Minkesh Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio; and
- Sonal Patel, 42, unlawfully residing in Perrysburg, Ohio.
All 10 defendants were previously charged by criminal complaint and released on conditions. Rameshbhai Patel and Ronakkumar Patel have been taken into immigration custody. The defendants are subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. This case stems from an investigation into Rambhai Patel, the organizer of the scheme, and getaway driver Balwinder Singh – both of whom were charged in December 2023 and later convicted in May 2025.
According to the charging documents, in March 2023, Rambhai Patel and his co-conspirators set up and carried out staged armed robberies of at least six convenience/liquor stores and fast food restaurants in Massachusetts and elsewhere. It is alleged that the purpose of the staged robberies was to allow the clerks present to falsely claim that they were victims of a violent crime on an application for U non-immigration status (U Visa). A U Visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and who have been helpful to law enforcement in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.
In the course of the alleged staged robberies, the “robber” would allegedly threaten store clerks and/or owners with an apparent firearm before taking cash from the register and fleeing, while the interaction was captured on store surveillance video. The clerks and/or owners would then wait five or more minutes until the alleged “robber” had escaped before calling police to report the “crime.” The “victims” are alleged to have each paid Rambhai Patel to participate in the scheme. In turn, Rambhai Patel paid the store owners for the use of their stores for the staged robbery.
The organizer Rambhai Patel, the “robber,” and the getaway driver, Balwinder Singh, were convicted in May 2025. The 10 defendants indicted today are alleged to have either arranged with Rambhai Patel to set up each robbery, or paid for themselves or a family member to participate as a “victim.”
The charge of conspiracy to commit visa fraud provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Additionally, the defendants are subject to deportation after any sentence imposed.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of New York, the Western District of Washington, the Northern District of Ohio, the Eastern District of Missouri, and the Eastern District of Kentucky; FBI’s New York, Seattle, Louisville, Cleveland and St. Louis Field Offices; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; Massachusetts State Police; Worcester County District Attorney’s Office; and the Boston, Dedham, Hingham, Malden, Marshfield, Randolph, Somerville, Weymouth, Worcester, Upper Darby, (Pa.), West Pittston (Pa.), Louisville, (Ky.) and Bean Station (Tenn.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elianna J. Nuzum and Jessica L. Soto of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Cedrick Campbell, 36, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of possession of child pornography. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office will continue to prioritize the aggressive prosecution of predators, like this defendant, who seek to sexually exploit and victimize our kids. Viewing and distributing child porn has the effect of re-victimizing the innocent kids who have been sexually exploited each and every time one of those horrific images or videos is shared. My office will hold accountable those who peddle child porn to the greatest extent possible.”
Court documents reflect that the Tallahassee Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information that the defendant was possessing and viewing child pornography. Further investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and a search of his cell phone, which revealed that he had also used an overseas server to access and store child pornography.
Campbell faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each count, and a lifetime of supervision upon release.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 11, 2026, at 10:00 am, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Court Judge Robert L. Hinkle.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Tallahassee Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph Ravelo and Meredith Steer are prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit theU.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Suburban Chicago Man Charged with Robbing Undercover Federal Task Force OfficerRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged a suburban Chicago man with robbing a federal task force officer during an undercover drug transaction last week.
The task force officer was working undercover for the Federal Bureau of Investigation on April 3, 2026, when the officer met with MARCUS LEWIS and a juvenile in a residential neighborhood of Ford Heights, Ill. to buy cocaine from them, according to a criminal complaint unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago. During the meeting, Lewis and the juvenile said words to the effect that they knew the undercover officer “was a cop,” the complaint states. They then beat the officer with a firearm and robbed the officer of $10,000 in government funds that the officer planned to use to purchase the cocaine, the complaint states. Lewis and the juvenile attempted to flee in their vehicle, but it crashed into a responding law enforcement vehicle, the complaint states. The juvenile was quickly arrested, while Lewis fled on foot and was apprehended early the next morning. The juvenile is expected to face charges in state court.
The federal complaint charges Lewis, 23, of Ford Heights, Ill., with one count of robbery. Lewis waived his right to a detention hearing and was ordered to remain detained in federal custody pending trial. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 15, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim.
The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office provided valuable assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jalan L. Jaskot.
“FBI task force officers and agents are first responders in the fight against violent crime in our neighborhoods and communities,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The dangerous and brave work they do requires them to put their lives on the line every day. We all owe our law enforcement agents and task force officers a debt of gratitude for their dedication to the mission and their commitment to public safety. As I have said numerous times during my first year as United States Attorney, we will not tolerate attacks against federal law enforcement officers in the Northern District of Illinois. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will seek to hold this violent offender accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The men and women of the FBI swore an oath to serve and protect the very communities in which they live and serve,” said FBI SAC DePodesta. “Violent attacks on our personnel, which include the elite cadre of embedded task force officer partners, erode respect for the rule of law and compromise the safety of everyone across our country. The FBI, with the full backing of our federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, will ensure that there is no safe haven or amnesty for anyone seeking to harm the very personnel working to protect the American people and uphold the U.S. Constitution.”
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Stockton Nurse Practitioner Agrees to Pay $1.4 Million to Resolve Alleged Controlled Substance Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
rubinger_settlement_agreement_003.pdfSACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced today that Joan Rubinger, a nurse practitioner in Stockton, has agreed to pay $1.4 million to resolve allegations that she violated the Controlled Substance Act on at least 900 occasions by dispensing controlled substances without any legitimate medical purpose and outside the course of professional practice. The United States contends that Rubinger sold prescriptions for controlled substances to individuals who were not her legitimate medical patients, with whom she had not established a bona fide medical provider relationship, or for whom she failed to identify and document a legitimate medical need for controlled substances.
“We remain unwavering in our commitment to hold health care providers accountable when they violate their duty to properly prescribe controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Grant. “Our community has the right to trust that providers will prescribe these drugs only within the usual course of professional practice and only in accord with the law.”
“DEA is committed to preventing, detecting, and investigating the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals from legitimate sources. Dispensing controlled substances without any legitimate medical purpose and outside the course of professional practice is illegal, and anyone in violation will be held accountable,” said Bob P. Beris, Special Agent in Charge, DEA San Francisco Field Division.
This settlement resolves the case against Rubinger, which alleged violations of the Controlled Substances Act. On March 26, 2026, the Court entered a permanent injunction requiring Rubinger to surrender the ability to dispense, or have involvement in dispensing, controlled substances in the future, directly or indirectly, including (a) dispensing or prescribing, or assisting in dispensing or prescribing, any controlled substance; (b) having an ownership interest, including partial ownership, in an entity that is in the business of dispensing controlled substances; or (c) employing any person who dispenses, or assists in dispensing, any prescription for a controlled substances for any person.
The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Amin represented the federal government.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
St. Croix Man Sentenced to 16 months for Assaulting a U.S. Postal CarrierRead the Press Release
St. Thomas, USVI –U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Omarion Webbe, 23, of St. Croix, was sentenced on April 6, 2026, by Chief District Judge Robert A. Molloy for assaulting a U.S. postal carrier. He was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.
According to court documents, on or about October 15, 2024, postal employee L.L., dressed in her United States postal employee letter carrier uniform, was delivering mail at Harbor View Apartments. She saw a young man near her postal van. She had seen the same young man before on October 11th when she was delivering mail at Sugar Beach Condominiums. He said something to her, but she could not hear. She also saw him a short time later at Club St. Croix Condominiums when she was delivering the mail.
After leaving Harbor View Apartments, L.L. went to Carib Villas and began delivering mail. She saw the same young man. The young man, later identified as the defendant, made a sexual comment to her. L.L. ignored him but was able to take a picture of the defendant with her phone. L.L. continued her route to Sugar Beach and saw the defendant as she was leaving. When L.L. arrived at Club St. Croix and began delivering mail, the defendant suddenly appeared from around a corner. He approached L.L. and was within a couple feet of her when he made another sexual comment to her. L.L. told him to back off, and the defendant hit her hard on the left side of her buttocks. She screamed and tried to back up. Two maintenance workers came to her aid, but the defendant had already left, jumping over a concrete wall.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Virgin Islands Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rhonda Williams-Henry prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands.
Spree of Carjackings in August 2022 Results in 29 Year Prison Sentence for D.C. ManRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Jerome Israel, 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced for three carjackings, which took place in August 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Israel pleaded guilty on August 5, 2025, to one count of armed carjacking and two counts of unarmed carjacking in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Today, Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld declined to sentence the defendant under the Youth Rehabilitation Act and affirmed her initial sentencing on March 4th for the defendant to serve 29 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 8:27 p.m. on August 20, 2022, Israel and a co-conspirator approached a victim from the rear on the corner of 7th and D Streets, SE. The victim, who was driving a 2021 grey Nissan Sentra, was unloading items from the vehicle when approached by the two men, who were wearing ski masks. As the co-conspirator brandished a firearm, the defendant reached into the victim’s pants’ pockets and took a cell phone, wallet, house key and the car keys to the Nissan. Both men got into the Nissan and drove off.
Three days later, in the early morning hours of August 23, 2022, Israel and a co-conspirator drove the stolen Nissan to a gas station in the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, where they approached a second victim. The victim, who was driving a 2009 white BMW 328i, parked at a gas pump and exited the vehicle to purchase items at the gas station’s window. The victim was approached by the co-conspirator, who brandished a firearm and took the victim’s car keys while Israel searched the victim’s pants’ pockets and stole his wallet. Israel got the car keys from his co-conspirator and drove off in the victim’s vehicle. The co-conspirator drove off in the Nissan.
Two days later, on August 25, 2022, at approximately 5:51 p.m., Israel and a co-conspirator approached a third victim at a Citgo gas station in the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. They were driving the stolen BMW from two days earlier. The victim, who was driving a 2021 blue Dodge Challenger, was parked at a gas pump, and the two men drove up behind him. The defendant approached the victim, brandished a firearm, and demanded the car keys. The victim informed them that the keys were inside the vehicle. The two co-conspirators drove off in the victim’s Challenger and the stolen BMW.
Israel was arrested on August 30, 2022, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll thanked those who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. Finally, they acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael C. Lee and Ella Gladman, who prosecuted the case.
2022 CF1 007472
Southbridge Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Cocaine Conspiracy and Possession of a MachinegunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Southbridge man was sentenced today for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy, including possessing a machinegun and cocaine intended for distribution.
Miguel Lopez, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to six years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. In December 2025, Lopez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine; one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; and one count of unlawful possession of a machine gun.
From in or about April 2023 through in or about April 2024, Lopez conspired with others to distribute cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts. On at least four different occasions during that period, Lopez was observed collecting packages suspected of containing controlled substances. On or about Jan. 29, 2024, a package addressed to Lopez was seized and one kilogram of cocaine was found hidden inside. During an April 2024 search of Lopez’s residence, approximately two kilograms of cocaine was found hidden inside a package that had been delivered earlier that day. A Glock pistol with a machinegun conversion device attached to the back along with ammunition, a 30-round magazine and a 50-round drum magazine were also found at Lopez’s residence.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, woman convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026.
Amber Marie Gentapanan, 28, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Gentapanan was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in August 2025. She pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026.
The case arose on March 25, 2025, when Gentapanan possessed a semi-automatic pistol in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She fled from law enforcement and discarded a bag containing the pistol but was apprehended. She is prohibited from possessing any firearm due to her 2022 felony conviction for Possession of a Controlled Substance.
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). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Gentapanan was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Shiprock Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of MinorRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor over a four-year period.
According to court documents, Brian Begay, 30, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse against Jane Doe between 2015 and 2019, beginning when the victim was 12 and continuing until she was 16.
Begay pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor and abusive sexual contact and faces up to life 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 the assistance of the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jesse Pecoraro is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Seven Illegal Aliens Sentenced for Operating a Multistate Burglary RingRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey announced that United States District Judge Jane M. Beckering sentenced John Sebastian Quintero-Herrera, a Colombian national, to serve 70 months in prison. Quintero-Herrera was the leader of a multi-state burglary ring involving six other defendants. All the defendants were in the United States illegally. Quintero-Herrera subsequently pled guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property and was the last defendant to be sentenced, with the exception of one additional defendant who has evaded custody thus far.
During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Beckering expressed dismay over the defendant’s conduct in operating a large-scale burglary operation that spanned most of the continental United States. She described the defendants’ sophisticated operation as “Ocean’s Eleven-style conduct” while being “downright cruel.” When describing how Quintero-Herrera and his co-defendants behaved, Judge Beckering described the burglaries as leaving behind “ransacked houses” producing a “bone-chilling” effect on homeowners. All of this caused the court to exceed the sentence recommended for ordinary theft offenses.
U.S. Attorney VerHey said, “This case represents another example of why we are so alarmed by illegal immigration into the United States. When these people sneaked into our country, they weren’t looking for a chance to get a job. Their idea of a better life was to set up a burglary operation targeting the homes of people all over the United States. These professional burglars made over $1,500,000 breaking into people’s homes, but perhaps the most precious thing they stole from their victims was their sense of security and safety. I salute law enforcement’s ability to track down and stop these people men, but the fact remains that they should never have been allowed inside our borders to do this.”
Quintero-Herrera and six others engaged in a conspiracy that encompassed much of the United States and involved twenty known residences. The burglary ring was very sophisticated: The conspirators would identify small business owners whom they suspected stored large amounts of cash or other valuables in their homes. The defendants then surveilled their targets, using GPS trackers to monitor their movements and cameras to surveil the homes of the victims. Ultimately, Quintero-Herrera and his co-conspirators broke into the homes of the victims, sometimes cutting off their power, and then ransacking the houses. The group took cash, jewelry, luxury brand purses and shoes, family heirlooms, as well as personal documents, like passports and mortgage paperwork. The houses were often left in complete and total disarray, with mattresses slashed and belongings strewn about. The defendants spent the money they obtained on drugs, nightclubs and extravagant travel.
The defendants used hidden surveillance cameras to watch potential victims
The defendants put GPS trackers on their victims’ cars to locate their homes
The defendants ripped apart their victims’ homes looking for valuables
“The defendants’ actions were calculated, invasive, and left lasting harm on their victims,” said HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “HSI is actively targeting South American theft groups that operate sophisticated, multi-state burglary rings like this one, and we are working tirelessly to disrupt their networks and hold them accountable. Through coordinated efforts across multiple states, we were able to bring those responsible to justice and restore a sense of security to the affected communities.”
In total, the United States charged seven defendants as part of the conspiracy. Six have pleaded guilty and been sentenced. One defendant remains at large. The Court has imposed the following prison sentences on the convicted defendants:
NameAgeCount of ConvictionSentenceJohn Quintero-Herrera29Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property70 monthsIesua Ramirez-Perez26Conspiracy to Transport Stolen Property39 monthsIvan Chaparro-Perez31Conspiracy to Transport Stolen Property42 monthsWilliam Villarraga-Joya33Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property90 monthsPaul Mendoza-Arevalo39Conspiracy to Transport Stolen Property48 monthsWendy Acosta-Arevalo31Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property24 monthsThis prosecution was made possible only through the inter-departmental cooperation of many law enforcement agencies spanning the country. The agencies that investigated this case include Dearborn (Michigan) Police Department; Greer (South Carolina) Police Department; Union County (North Carolina) Sheriff’s Office; Anderson County (South Carolina) Sheriff’s Office; Anniston (Alabama) Police Department; Foxborough (Massachusetts) Police Department; Broken Arrow (Oklahoma) Police Department; Hoover (Alabama) Police Department; Spartanburg County (South Carolina) Sheriff’s Office; Worcester (Massachusetts) Police Department; Dracut (Massachusetts) Police Department; Farmington Hills (Michigan) Police Department; Mason (Ohio) Police Department; Alexandria (Kentucky) Police Department; Franklin (Wisconsin) Police Department; Wisconsin Department of Justice Criminal Investigations; Sheboygan (Wisconsin) Sheriff’s Department; Flint Township (Michigan) Police Department; Kent County (Michigan) Sheriff’s Office. Both the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Department of Homeland Security were involved from the federal side.
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.
Serial Child Predator Sentenced for Accessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A serial child predator was sentenced today for accessing child pornography after being previously convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material twice, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson sentenced William Don Woods, 49, of Claremore, for Possession of and Access with Intent to View Child Pornography. Woods was ordered to serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Woods will be required to register as a sex offender.
Federal court dockets show that Woods was convicted in 2008 for Possession of Child Pornography. He knowingly possessed videos and images of children under 12 being sexually abused. Woods was ordered to serve 87 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, required to register as a sex offender, and ordered not to view, purchase, or possess any form of pornography. In 2014, 2015, and 2016, Woods violated his supervised release by looking at photos of children and pornography.
In 2017, Woods was indicted a second time for Possession of Child Pornography. He admitted to viewing videos of children being sexually abused under the age of 12. He was ordered to serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Again, Woods was required to not view, purchase, or possess any form of pornography.
Five weeks after his latest release from prison, in the fall of 2025, Woods was caught again searching for, accessing, and possessing child pornography. He was indicted in November 2025 and pleaded guilty the following month. Woods admitted to using DuckDuckGo to access videos and images of children under 12 years old being sexually abused.
Woods will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Scaife prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Repeat Drug Offender Faces Life After Pointing Gun at Police During ChaseRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – A South Georgia resident with three prior felony convictions for drug distribution is facing up to life in prison after he pointed a loaded gun at a Southwest Georgia police officer as he attempted to flee arrest.
Quentin Hall, 30, of Valdosta, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of a firearm in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on April 8, 2026. Hall faces a maximum imprisonment of life. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Armed repeat offenders will face steep federal penalties when they choose to endanger the community with ongoing criminal conduct, especially when possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “This case highlights the constant danger police encounter as they work to keep our streets safe and uphold the law. I commend the Moultrie police officer and all dedicated law enforcement personnel who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities and work for justice.”
"This case underscores the importance of collaboration between agencies, as we work tirelessly to protect our communities from harm,” said ATF Atlanta’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Davis.
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Hall was pulled over for a traffic violation on Nov. 26, 2024, on 7th Avenue in Moultrie, and didn’t immediately pull over, but instead continued driving and entered the Art Center Apartments. While the car he was driving was still moving, Hall jumped out and ran away holding a bookbag.A Moultrie Police Department officer chased after Hall; Hall threw his bookbag as he ran, then lost his balance and fell to the ground. Hall ignored the officer's verbal commands to lie on the ground and not move, but pulled out a black handgun, pointed it at the officer, and said to “go on” before he turned and ran. The chase continued, with Hall again falling and dropping the gun before picking it up and continuing to run. He ran behind a stairway and eventually surrendered to officers.
Law enforcement retrieved the firearm that Hall had pointed at the police officer, which had a round in the chamber. Inside Hall’s backpack, officers found several small baggies containing cocaine and other drugs. Later, Hall admitted to officers that the drugs belonged to him and that the gun was not his, but a family member’s. He said he blacked out when he pointed the gun at the officer. Hall told officers that he was on parole and had been out of prison for 16 months.
Hall has three prior drug distribution state convictions, two in Colquitt County, Georgia, and one in Bulloch County, Georgia. 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 Moultrie Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica Daniels and Tamara Jarrett are prosecuting the case for the Government.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in Rapid CityRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 30, 2026.
Ezra Bald Eagle, 27, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bald Eagle was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in June 2025. He pleaded guilty on December 22, 2025.
Between December 2024 and May 2025, Bald Eagle cultivated a network in the Rapid City area to facilitate the sale of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Bald Eagle routinely traveled to Colorado to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl and then transported the narcotics into Rapid City. Once back in South Dakota, Bald Eagle and his network of sub-distributors sold large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl within the Rapid City area. Bald Eagle’s operation ended on May 20, 2025, when law enforcement conducted a targeted traffic stop as Bald Eagle returned to South Dakota from purchasing narcotics in Colorado. During the stop, officers seized over 3,300 counterfeit M/30 fentanyl pills, 96 grams of fentanyl powder, and three quarters of a pound of methamphetamine.
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 Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward C. Tarbay prosecuted the case.
Bald Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Woman Sentenced to over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Brutally Assaulting Another Woman in the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, woman convicted of Assault Resulting in Sioux Bodily Injury – Aiding and Abetting. The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026.
Jessie Sutton, 37, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Sutton was indicted for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury – Aiding and Abetting, as well as Assault with a Dangerous Weapon – Aiding and Abetting by a federal grand jury in November 2024. She pleaded guilty on December 22, 2025.
The charges stem from an incident in which Sutton and her sister, Joann Sutton, brutally attacked another woman about her body and head necessitating emergency surgery to address resultant brain injuries.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.
Sutton was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Pine Ridge Woman Sentenced to over 19 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in Rapid City and in the Pine Ridge ReservationRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on April 6, 2026.
Shauntel Shangreaux, 32, was sentenced to 19 years and two months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Shangreaux was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in February 2025. She pleaded guilty on December 29, 2025.
Throughout 2023, Shangreaux distributed multiple ounces of fentanyl and multiple pounds of methamphetamine throughout the Rapid City community and on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Her principal source for the drugs was the drug trafficking organization leader, Juan Sertuche, who was convicted at trial in January 2026. Between 2002 and September 2023, Juan Sertuche led a drug distribution conspiracy and provided hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine and tens and thousands of fentanyl pills to multiple sub-dealers, including Shangreaux, to be further distributed in the Rapid City and Pine Ridge areas of South Dakota.
“Shangreaux was a key lieutenant in Sertuche’s interstate criminal operation,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the FBI, DCI, Rapid City Police, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, and the BIA, our federal prosecutors have been dismantling that organization piece by piece.”
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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Rapid City Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Oglala Sioux Tribe-Department of Public Safety (OSTDPS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige M. Petersen prosecuted the case.
Shangreaux was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Petersburg felon sentenced to 10 years in prison for federal drug trafficking convictionRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Petersburg man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution and possession with the intent to distribute a mixture of heroin and fentanyl and distribution and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to court documents, from August to October 2024, law enforcement conducted a series of controlled transactions in which Jawara Tyrone Williams, 45, sold fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine at his residence in Petersburg. During one of those transactions, Williams possessed a handgun that had been reported stolen. Among other crimes, Williams previously was convicted for distributing cocaine. As a convicted felon, Williams cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. McGorman prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-152.
Oswego County Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing “Molly”Read the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Eric Petrie, age 32, of Oswego County, pleaded guilty on April 8th to distribution of a controlled substance. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
As part of his plea, Petrie admitted that between January 2022 and February 2023, he knowingly and intentionally distributed the controlled substance N,N-Dimethylpentylone, commonly referred to as “molly,” to customers in and around Oswego County. The defendant further admitted that he obtained the molly from multiple sources, including by purchasing directly from other individuals and by delivery through a website. The defendant admitted that he then repackaged the molly and sold it to customers.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated, “We will not tolerate those who poison our community for profit. Today’s guilty plea is a testament to the strong partnerships between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and both federal and local law enforcement agencies. While our state system may not treat these drug cases with the same urgency, we will step in to ensure accountability. If you choose to distribute dangerous drugs, know that we will find you, we will prosecute you, and we will hold you fully accountable.”
“Dangerous drugs have no place in our communities. Homeland Security Investigations is working every day with our law enforcement partners to disrupt drug trafficking networks and keep our neighborhoods safe,” said Homeland Security Investigations Buffalo Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 6, 2026, before Senior U.S. District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby. Petrie faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
The case was investigated by HSI and the other members of the Oswego County Drug Task Force, which is comprised of members of HSI, the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, Oswego City Police Department, Fulton Police Department, and United States Border Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie is prosecuting the case.
Oklahoma City Man Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal grand jury has charged MATTHEW MCLAIN VEAZEY, 36, of Oklahoma City, with wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, from June 2021 through December 2025, Veazey held himself out as an experienced and successful financial investment professional and induced friends and family to send him money by claiming he had special access to favorable investment opportunities due to his connections and prior employment with investment companies. Despite promising to invest funds on behalf of his victims or to include them in his own claimed investments, Veazey allegedly kept the money for himself and used it for personal expenses. Court records allege that investors transferred at least $2,385,000 into Veazey’s personal checking accounts, funds that were never repaid. It is further alleged that Veazey fabricated text messages and email communications from real people to convince victims that his investment activities were real and legitimate.
On April 7, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a 30-count indictment charging Veazey with 21 counts of wire fraud, five counts of money laundering, and four counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Veazey faces up to 20 years in federal prison and fines of up to $250,000 for each count of wire fraud, up to 10 years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000 for each count of money laundering, and a mandatory 2 years in federal prison for each count of aggravated identity theft.
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations, and that Veazey is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson D. Eldridge and Julia E. Barry are prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Navy Reservist Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining Tens of Thousands of Dollars of Military Leave Pay from the Department of CorrectionRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), Christopher Ryan, announced that Leah Mathieu, a correction officer with the New York City Department of Correction (“DOC”) and a Sailor in the United States Navy Reserve and New York Naval Militia, pled guilty to defrauding the DOC by falsely claiming tens of thousands of dollars in military leave pay. MATHIEU pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald.
“As admitted, Leah Mathieu used forged documents to collect tens of thousands of dollars in military leave pay she had not earned,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “That money came from New Yorkers’ pockets. New Yorkers expect those who serve them to follow the rules on all pay—regular wages, overtime, leave pay, etc.—and when there is cheating, New Yorkers want justice.”
“Falsifying military leave to obtain City pay is a crime and undermines the service members who rightfully earn those benefits,” said DOI Acting Commissioner Christopher Ryan. “As charged, this Correction Officer betrayed the trust granted in her by the City and the New York State Naval Militia. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their continued partnership and commitment to protect City funds.”
According to the allegations in the Information:
MATHIEU is a correction officer employed by the DOC and a member of the United States Navy Reserve. MATHIEU repeatedly made false representations and provided forged documentation, including purported military orders, to the DOC falsely claiming that she was on state active duty with the New York Naval Militia and therefore entitled to leave from her employment with the DOC. Based on MATHIEU’s false representations and forged documentation, MATHIEU fraudulently obtained military leave pay from the DOC from December 2022 through March 2024, totaling approximately $80,297.90.
* * *
MATHIEU, 34, of Freeport, New York, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. MATHIEU will be sentenced by Judge Buchwald on August 27, 2026.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of DOI, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, the New York State Department of Military and Naval Affairs, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection – New York Field Office, and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca T. Dell is in charge of the prosecution.
Muskogee Resident Sentenced for 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 Tommy Lynn Byrd, Jr., age 38, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee Police Department.
On September 30, 2025, Byrd pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on January 9, 2025, Byrd struck the victim multiple times on the head with a hammer. The victim suffered severe scalp contusions and was treated at an area hospital.
The crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Byrd 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 Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Miramar Man Indicted for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Arthur Gabriel Young, 23, of Miramar, Florida, has been federally charged with six counts of sexual exploitation of children producing child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Young appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. His jury trial is scheduled for May 27, 2026, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
If convicted, Young faces a minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, on the production of child pornography counts. Young also faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the receipt and possession counts.
The case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Gainesville Police Department, and the Westminster Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Minnesota Man Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing Subordinate During Training Mission at Army Base in San Bernardino CountyRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A former member of the Minnesota National Guard was found guilty by a jury today of sexually abusing a subordinate during a training mission at Fort Irwin United States Army base in San Bernardino County.
Kelly Boylan, 56, of Minneapolis, was found guilty of one count of abusive sexual contact. He was remanded into federal custody immediately following the reading of today's verdict.
According to evidence presented at a four-day trial, in July 2020, Boylan was a member of the Minnesota National Guard and, during a training mission at Fort Irwin, sexually abused a direct subordinate, who then was a 23-year-old woman. Both Boylan and the victim had been deployed to Fort Irwin for one month of training.
Boylan was a staff sergeant, which is a non-commissioned officer, and outranked the victim, who was a specialist, which is a junior soldier.
In the Army, non-commissioned officers are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with junior soldiers because of the military authority they exert over them.
The victim reported the attack to the Army’s law enforcement division, which began an investigation that led to Boylan’s arrest and prosecution.
United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu scheduled a July 24 sentencing hearing, at which time Boylan will face a statutory maximum sentence of two years in federal prison.
The FBI investigated this matter. The United States Army Criminal Investigation Division provided assistance.
Assistant United States Attorneys Neil P. Thakor of the Major Crimes Section and Erin C. Kiss of the Riverside Branch Office are prosecuting this case.
Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 43 Months for Role in Feeding Our Future Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Abdullahe Nur Jesow of Minneapolis has been sentenced to 43 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release for his role in a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. Jesow was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $866,458.
According to court documents, from December 2020 through September 2021, Abdullahe Nur Jesow, 65, purported to operate a Federal Child Nutrition Program meal distribution site from his event space, Benadir Hall, located on Lake Street in Minneapolis. The site was ostensibly operated by a non-profit entity called Academy for Youth Excellence, for which Jesow served as Secretary.
Between December 2020 and September 2021, Academy for Youth Excellence claimed to have served over 1.7 million meals to children at Benadir Hall. In reality, Academy for Youth Excellence only provided a fraction of those meals. Based on these fraudulent claims, Academy for Youth Excellence and its alleged food vendor, S&S Catering, received $4,286,088 in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. Rather than feed children during the pandemic, Jesow misappropriated the funds for his own personal benefit, including for the purchase of a home in Columbia Heights, Minnesota.
Jesow was one of eight defendants charged in a 23-count indictment in September 2022. On September 18, 2025, Jesow pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge Nancy E. Brasel. In imposing sentence, Judge Brasel stated that the defendant’s brazen fraud “severely undermined public trust in government programs and in the government itself.”
"The sentence handed down today should be a clear message to those who would seek to enrich themselves by defrauding critical child nutrition programs," said FBI Minneapolis Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "The FBI and our investigative partners have and will continue to direct significant investigative resources to rooting out fraud in the programs that support and sustain our children and our communities."
The case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Minnesota Rebecca E. Kline and Matthew C. Murphy prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.
Memphis Resident Sentenced for Federal KidnappingRead the Press Release
Oxford, MS – Elmer Smith, 39, of Memphis, Tennessee, pled guilty and was sentenced today to over 14 years in prison for kidnapping a victim as a result of domestic violence.
According to court documents, on February 15, 2024, he left Memphis, TN searching for the victim, with whom he was involved in an intimate relationship, and found her at her employment in Southaven, MS. At that time, he physically assaulted the victim, abducting her by force into his vehicle and taking her to Memphis, TN without her consent. A short time later, Memphis Police Department located the victim and arrested Elmer Smith.
Senior U.S. District Court Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Smith today to 170 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Smith was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following sentencing.
“In 2024, an individual felt entitled to travel from Memphis to the Northern District of Mississippi, kidnap a lady and return her to Memphis,” U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary emphasizes, “Such conduct is unconscionable and will not be tolerated in our district. Hopefully, criminals understand if you travel to Mississippi to commit a crime, you will be caught, prosecuted and jailed. A special thanks goes to the Southaven Police Department, the FBI and to the Memphis Police Department. You have the public’s back, and it is much appreciated.”
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff said, “Today’s sentence sends a clear message: the violent and reprehensible acts committed by Elmer Smith will not be tolerated. There is no excuse for the abuse or the profound trauma inflicted on the victim. The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement and community partners to ensure individuals who threaten public safety are held fully accountable for their actions. We commend the Southaven Police Department and the Memphis Police Department for their professionalism and collaboration throughout this investigation.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Levy and Robert Mims.