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4 September 2026
Armed Robber Pleads Guilty to 2023 and 2024 Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Kwesi Pyne, 20, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today, for a series of robberies committed in October 2023 and February 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Pyne pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count each of assault with intent to commit robbery, attempted robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Each armed robbery offense carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.
Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe scheduled sentencing for December 18, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 9:30 a.m., on October 30, 2023, Pyne approached the victim in the alley behind 940 Randolph Street NW. The victim was on his way to work when the defendant approached him from behind and demanded that he hand over his car keys. When the victim refused, Pyne struck him multiple times, insisting on the keys. A bystander attempted to intervene, until the defendant produced a firearm, pointed it at the victim, and again demanded the car keys from the victim. The victim complied and threw the keys away from himself, Pyne retrieved them and walked towards the victim’s car, and the victim followed. As the victim attempted to gain entry into his own car, on the passenger side, the defendant entered the vehicle and drove away. At the time of this offense, Pyne was 17 years old, and this offense was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office under Title 16 of the D.C. Code.
On February 7, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Pyne approached another victim, as he was standing in an alleyway in the 3100 Block of Mount Pleasant Street NW, preparing to begin his work as a plumber. The defendant entered the alleyway, looked over the victim’s work tools and then turned to the victim. Pyne produced a firearm and demanded the victim’s wallet, and when the victim refused to hand it over, the defendant struck him in the face with the firearm before asking for it again. The defendant fled the scene without the wallet. The victim sustained a laceration to his face.
On February 12, 2024, at approximately 5:35 p.m., Pyne and other accomplices rode to 915 Spring Road, NW, outside of Raymond Education Campus, on bicycles. The victim had just arrived at that location and parked her car, a black Honda CRV, on the side of the road. She went inside the school, leaving her car running. One member of the group entered the car without permission and drove it away. Later this same day, at approximately 9:30 p.m., three victims were standing nearby a liquor store on Mount Pleasant Street NW, waiting for a family member, when the stolen black Honda CRV arrived and Pyne got out of the driver’s seat. A second accomplice exited the rear passenger seat. Both Pyne and his accomplice were armed, and they approached the three victims. One of the victims began to run, but Pyne pursued him, dragging him to the ground by the backpack the victim was wearing. Pyne then tore the backpack off the victim while pointing the firearm at his head. At the same time, the accomplice, holding the other two victims at gunpoint, went through their pockets and took, among other things, one victim’s cell phone and wallet. Both Pyne and his accomplice then re-entered the stolen CRV, with the victims’ belongings, and Pyne drove away.
Pyne was arrested on February 16, 2024, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Comber.
2024 CF3 001561
Alien Charged with Illegally Voting in Federal ElectionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County woman was charged in a criminal complaint with illegally voting in a federal election, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today.
“The integrity of our elections, which are fundamental to democracy, should be of utmost importance to every American,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “It is a cherished right for eligible American citizens, and only eligible American citizens, to vote for their representatives in government. Election fraud is a serious crime, and it is the duty of the Department of Justice to treat it as such.”
“Government has a responsibility to the people to safeguard elections. Even one illegal vote is one too many. Here in New Jersey, the federal government is taking this responsibility seriously and violations of federal election law will be investigated and prosecuted to preserve the integrity of our democracy and ensure that no citizens’ votes are diluted.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
According to the criminal complaint, Mercedes Alexandra Cardoso, 41, of Union County was a non-citizen when she registered online via the New Jersey Division of Elections Online Voter Registration System. On her voter registration form she falsely certified and attested that she was a United States citizen. In order to register to vote and vote in federal elections, a person must be a United States citizen.
According to the criminal complaint, Cardoso cast a ballot in June 2024 primary election. That primary included candidates who were vying for election for the office of President and Vice President of the United States. At the time she cast her ballot, Cardoso, who entered the United States from Ecuador on a B-2 visa, was not a United States citizen and was therefore not authorized to vote in federal elections.
Cardoso was charged with Voting by an Alien in a Federal Election, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 611. She is scheduled to have an initial appearance on September 8, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court. If convicted of voting by an illegal alien, Cardoso faces a maximum sentence of 1 year’s imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael McCarthy; and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the investigation.
The case was brought under the United States Attorney’s Office’s Election Integrity Task Force, a coalition of federal law enforcement partners focused on preserving and protecting the integrity of elections conducted in the District of New Jersey.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McCarren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Special Prosecutions Division.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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3 September 2026
Wolf Point man sentenced to over 10 years for beating a man to deathRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Wolf Point man who was part of group that beat a man to death was sentenced today to 10 years and 10 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Calvin Florin Lester, 37, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to voluntary manslaughter.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Lester was part of group that beat a man to death in an abandoned house on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
The victim was found dead on Feb. 26, 2025, on the second floor of a house in Wolf Point, described by area residents as a local “flop house” where people occasionally went to drink and sleep. Investigators found that Lester and others after a night of drinking had gone in the house in the early morning hours of Feb. 26. They found the victim asleep on the second floor. With Lester were Abrianne Lillian Deserly, 26, and Dillon Demery Wetsit, 41.
An argument broke out and Lester, along with Deserly and Wetsit, began to hit the victim, beating him severely. At one point, the victim was placed in a chokehold while other members of the group hit him. A medical examination showed the victim died from “homicidal violence” with neck compression and blunt injuries to the head.
Deserly pleaded guilty in May to voluntary manslaughter; she will be sentenced on Sept. 14. Wetsit pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in June; he will be sentenced on Oct. 15.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation and FBI conducted the investigation.
Wilmington Man Arrested on Child Pornography Charges Involving an 11-Year-OldRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – Federal agents arrested a Wilmington man on August 21, 2026, on charges of production of child pornography, attempted receipt of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to a minor in connection with the FBI’s Summer Heat 2.0 initiative.
According to court documents, Vincent Valdivieso, 22, exchanged text messages with an 11-year-old victim in which he lied about his own age, repeatedly requested sexually explicit photographs, and attempted to arrange an in-person meeting with the victim. Over FaceTime and at Valdivieso’s direction, the victim engaged in sexually explicit conduct while Valdivieso masturbated.
Valdivieso is charged in a criminal complaint with production of child pornography and attempting to produce child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2251(a) and (e); attempted receipt of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2) and (b); and transfer of obscene material to a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1470. If convicted, Valdivieso faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement. The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Street Task Force and Delaware State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare is prosecuting the case.
The FBI launched “Summer Heat” for the second year in a row, targeting violent crime on a nationwide scale. It launched this multi-pronged offensive to crush violent crime. By surging resources alongside federal, state, and local partners, executing federal warrants on violent criminals and fugitives, and dismantling violent gangs nationwide, the FBI seeks to aggressively restore safety in communities across the country.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 26-mj-442.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Westlake Man Arrested on Federal Indictment Charging Him with Threatening President Trump’s Life and Cyberstalking His LawyerRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A resident of the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles and one-time podcaster was arrested today on a three-count federal grand jury indictment charging him with threatening to kill President Donald Trump and cyberstalking and harassing President Trump’s personal lawyer and that lawyer’s family.
Benjamin Azariah Southworth, 40, was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance and be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
Southworth is charged with one count of threats against the President, one count of cyberstalking, and one count of harassing telephone calls in interstate communications.
“As threats against President Trump’s life escalate, the Department of Justice will respond with the full force of the law,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “We will hold perpetrators of violent threats accountable, and anyone who makes these threats online will not be allowed to hide behind their screens.”
“There is zero tolerance for political violence, especially for threats directed at the President,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Threatening an elected official with violence is a serious offense, and you will be arrested and charged as Mr. Southworth found out this morning.”
“The U.S. Secret Service has zero tolerance for threats against the President of the United States,” said Armando Marquez, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The safety and security of those we protect is our highest priority, and we are committed to ensuring that anyone who threatens that – whether online or otherwise – will face justice. We are grateful for the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for their partnership and thorough work in this case.”
“Cyberstalking and threats of murder are not considered mere political rhetoric under the law, but are serious criminal offenses that lead to prosecution, as today’s arrest highlights,” said Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI, working with our partners at the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, will ensure that threats and harassment against the President and others are addressed before threats turn to violence.”
According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on Wednesday, from January 2026 to May 2026, Southworth used social media accounts on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok as well as a website to publicly express his hatred toward President Trump and the President’s supporters. Southworth used these online platforms to publicly engage in and encourage the abuse and harassment of the President and to threaten violence against the President.
On April 7, 2026, Southworth posted a video on his Instagram account that contained a series of threats against President Trump, including, “I have been vocal in calling for the execution of Donald Trump” and “This government is illegitimate and out of control. It’s time for course correction. Kill Donald Trump.”
Three months earlier, Southworth published a post on his TikTok account listing the home address of a Victim 1 – an attorney who had been President Trump’s personal lawyer – along with a photograph of Victim 1 and another photograph of Victim 1’s residence. In the same posted, Southworth stated, “No peace for traitors.”
From January 2026 to May 2026, Southworth left a series of abusive messages online and over voicemail to Victim 2, who is Victim 1’s son, and made harassing telephone calls to Victim 3, who is Victim 1’s wife.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, Southworth would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for threatening the President, a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for cyberstalking, and a statutory maximum sentence of two years in federal prison for telephonic harassment.
The United States Secret Service and the FBI are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney William Kanellis of the Domestic Security and Immigration Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.
West Virginia Man Who Attempted to Carry Flashbang Grenade onto Plane Pleads Guilty to Possessing Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing an unregistered firearm, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Zachary Velling, 27, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak on September 2, 2026.
In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on November 12, 2024, Velling entered security at the Pittsburgh International Airport and placed his carry-on luggage through the x-ray machine. Representatives with the Transportation Security Administration noticed a suspicious object within Velling’s luggage, which officers from the Allegheny County Police Department ultimately determined to be a MK24 MOD 0,6 Bang/Flash diversionary hand grenade. The grenade is a firearm and destructive device under federal law that was not registered to Velling in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Judge Hornak scheduled Velling’s sentencing for January 7, 2027. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Allegheny County Police Department, and Transportation Security Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Velling.
Webster Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Dealing Firearms and Possessing a MachinegunRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Webster, Mass. man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to illegally dealing firearms, including 3D-printed firearms and components, and possessing a machinegun.
Anthony Pietrowski, a/k/a “AJ,” 24, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful dealing in firearms without a license and one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun. United States District Judge Margaret Guzman scheduled sentencing for Dec. 7, 2026. Pietrowski was arrested and charged in January 2026 and subsequently released on conditions following a detention hearing.
Between August and October 2025, Pietrowski repeatedly sold privately made firearms and firearm components during four transactions in Webster. Among the items Pietrowski sold were a 3D-printed Glock-style pistol, multiple 3D-printed pistol frames and a machinegun conversion device designed for use with a Glock-style pistol. Pietrowski had never applied for or received a federal license to manufacture or deal firearms.
During the first transaction, Pietrowski described the firearm he sold as a custom build with a 3D-printed frame and discussed how he obtained components and assembled privately made firearms. Pietrowski also offered to supply additional frames and discussed future firearm sales. Over the following months, Pietrowski sold additional 3D-printed frames and another privately made pistol. In August 2025, Pietrowski sold a privately made pistol together with a machinegun conversion device, which constitutes a machinegun under federal law. Pietrowski later sold six additional 3D-printed pistol frames in October 2025.
The charge of unlawful dealing in firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of unlawful possession of a machinegun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $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 and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by United States Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; and the Webster, Worcester and Warwick (RI) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary B. Stendig of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting 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.
Washington County Man Sentenced to 15 Years’ Imprisonment for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
ST. GEORGE, Utah – A Southern Utah man was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment after he posed as a ‘savant’ stock trader, obtaining at least $89 million from approximately 200 investors. The majority of the funds were either lost in day trading or misappropriated, resulting in an outstanding victim loss of at least $77 million, which he concealed.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen, comes after Matthew Shane Perkins, 47, of Washington City, Utah, pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026, to wire fraud. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Perkins was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $77,683,091.96 in restitution to the victims.
According to court documents and statements made at Perkins’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, between August 2023 and November 2025, Perkins, who held himself as a “brilliant trader who consistently beat the market and rarely suffered losing days,” engaged in a scheme to defraud over 200 investors. As a result, investors lost $77,683,091.96. Many victims lost their live savings due to Perkins’s fraud. Perkins operated Forged Oak LLC and established a business arrangement with the principal of RentDue Capital LLC. Rent Due Capital recruited investors to three separate funds through social media, the company’s website, and meetings with investors. When RentDue Capital received investors’ money, the principal sent the funds to Perkins to day trade.
Perkins made repeated false representations regarding the funds’ performance and balance. This included providing records to RentDue Capital that falsified daily trading performance and altering brokerage statements to inflate the funds’ balance. In early November 2025, for example, Perkins provided RentDue Capital with an altered brokerage statement representing that over $133 million were in the funds. At that time, however, the funds had less than $13 million.
Unbeknownst to investors, Perkins lost tens of millions of dollars in day trading. He also misappropriated millions of dollars from investors for personal expenses, for a down payment on a home, and to purchase a cabin, luxury vehicles, an airplane, and a $80,000 hunt in British Columbia, among other things.
“Perkins’s elaborate scheme left a slew of victims in his wake. Many of the over 200 victims were everyday Americans who lost their lifesavings, all to fund Perkins’ extravagant lifestyle including his private plane, cabin, and luxury cars,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the prosecution team for securing a significant sentence—one that we hope will deter others from attempting similar schemes.”
“Perkins financed a lavish lifestyle by stealing from his victims, stripping away not just their savings, but the hard-earned security they spent decades building,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI. “While no sentence can completely heal that financial and emotional damage, it ensures the defendant faces justice. The FBI will not tolerate fraud and will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on investors for personal gain.”
“The sheer magnitude of this investment fraud and the financial harm it caused to hundreds of innocent victims underscores the seriousness of abuse to our financial systems,” said IRS Criminal Investigation San Francisco Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge David Lowe. “Perkins’ lengthy prison sentence and massive restitution order reflects the gravity of the defendant’s actions and makes clear that when someone lies about performance, conceals losses, and siphons off other people’s money for themselves, IRS CI will uncover the truth.”
The case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, St. George Resident Agency and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Utah Division of Securities.
Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Burton, Joseph Hood, and Travis K. Elder of The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
Venezuelans convicted of jackpotting a Kansas ATM face deportationRead the Press Release
TOPEKA, KAN – Two Venezuelan nationals face possible deportation after completing prison sentences for stealing thousands of dollars from an automated teller machine (ATM) through jackpotting. Jackpotting involves installing malware into an ATM to force it to dispense money.
According to court documents, Luinder Daniel Cordova-Castellano, 20, and Jheison Alexander Lara-Sira, 22, pleaded guilty to one count of bank larceny.
Each defendant was sentenced to time served, but as part of their plea agreements, they waived their ability to contest should an immigration judge issue a final order of removal in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act.
In December 2025, Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about suspicious activity at a bank in Manhattan. After driving up to an ATM, a witness reported seeing a man run away from the ATM then flee in a dark colored Toyota Prius. Deputies spotted the vehicle and followed it to a business where they approached the occupants, Cordova-Castellano and Lara-Sira.
The smell of marijuana gave deputies probable cause search of the vehicle. Inside of a backpack, law enforcement found approximately $15,000 in cash. Deputies located a laptop, keyboard, cables, tools, and a wireless hotspot in the vehicle.
While executing a search warrant on Cordova-Castellano’s cellphone, law enforcement found chat conversations in Spanish about ATMs and photos of ATMs.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division doesn’t directly take part in deportation hearings. However, when we are prosecuting non-citizens for federal criminal offenses, we are cognizant of when their conduct merits prompt removal from our country, saving the taxpayer the cost of incarceration,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “By offering plea agreements that include restrictions on appealing removal orders, we are helping to expedite the process of extracting convicted felons from within our borders and minimizing the expense of their prison stay.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag 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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United States Attorney Robert Frazer Encourages Schools, Youth Organizations to Partner with DOJ on Online Child Exploitation PreventionRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – United States Attorney Robert Frazer is encouraging New Jersey schools, youth-serving organizations, athletic programs and other community groups to take advantage of free training and prevention resources available through the Department of Justice to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.
The call comes as the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) launches an expanded effort to engage schools and other organizations in preventing online exploitation of children. In an open letter issued this week, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva encouraged organizations that work with children to partner with the Department on prevention and education efforts and highlighted resources available to help communities address emerging threats, including online grooming, sextortion, sadistic online exploitation and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit deepfake images of children.
The initiative builds on prevention efforts already underway in New Jersey. Last month, our office obtained an admission of guilt by a defendant who had persuaded and enticed minors to produce and send child pornography. In addition, a defendant was sentenced to 324 months for multiple child exploitation offenses. In June, our office secured a 320 months prison sentence for a defendant who was producing child pornography. We look forward to continuing to work with the community to find and prosecute cases of child exploitation.
“The digital world is evolving faster than ever, and with it come increasingly sophisticated threats to our children. By the time law enforcement becomes involved, it is often too late to prevent the harm that has already been done to a victim. The Department of Justice is providing these resources to help parents, concerned citizens, and communities recognize the warning signs, take action, and, most importantly, prevent grave harm before it occurs.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
Training can be arranged virtually or in person, depending on the needs of the organization. The Department of Justice’s CEOS provides free prevention programming to schools and other organizations through in-person presentations and webinars and can help connect organizations with prevention experts. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey can also help connect New Jersey organizations with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal agents with experience investigating and prosecuting online child exploitation and related offenses who can provide education and outreach in their areas of expertise.
Organizations interested in arranging prevention programming or learning more about available resources can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey at USANJ.CommunityOutreach@usdoj.gov. CEOS's prevention resources are available through the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Prevention webpage.
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United States Attorney Peter McNeilly Encourages Schools, Youth Organizations to Partner with DOJ on Online Child Exploitation PreventionRead the Press Release
DENVER- United States Attorney Peter McNeilly is encouraging Colorado schools, youth-serving organizations, athletic programs, and other community groups to take advantage of free training and prevention resources available through the Department of Justice to help protect children from online sexual exploitation and abuse.
The call comes as the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) launches an expanded effort to engage schools and other organizations in preventing online exploitation of children. In a recent open letter, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva encouraged organizations that work with children to partner with the Department on prevention and education efforts and highlighted resources available to help communities address emerging threats, including online grooming, sextortion, sadistic online exploitation, and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create sexually explicit deepfake images of children.
“Protecting children in online environments and teaching them to navigate threats on their own are critical parts of fostering healthy development in today’s society,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “To be effective, adults who teach, coach, mentor, and care for our kids need to understand online exploitation, what warnings signs to look for, and what to do when a child is at risk. We want to be a resource for our communities to help young people remain safe online.”
Training can be arranged virtually or in person, depending on the needs of the organization. The Department of Justice’s CEOS provides free prevention programming to schools and other organizations through in-person presentations and webinars and can help connect organizations with prevention experts. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado can also help connect Colorado organizations with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal agents with experience investigating and prosecuting online child exploitation and related offenses who can provide education and outreach in their areas of expertise.
Organizations interested in arranging prevention programming or learning more about available resources can contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado at USACO.PublicAffairs@usdoj.gov. Prevention resources are also available through the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Prevention webpage.
U.S. and UK Launch First-of-Its-Kind Joint Alliance to Dismantle Global Scam CentersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, together with the Crown Prosecution Service of England & Wales and the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom announced today the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Scam Center Strike Force and its United Kingdom counterparts. The MOU is the first-of-its kind related to international cooperation on disabling scam centers committing cryptocurrency and cyber-enabled investment fraud (CIF) and other schemes, which are ravaging the American people of approximately $10 billion in losses per year.
"The United Kingdom is one of our oldest allies and partners. We've stood side by side to bring down global threats in multiple wars, and today we commit to stand together in the war on transnational organized crime, " said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. "Together we will disable the Chinese TOC networks that are operating these scam compounds and depriving our citizens of their hard earned funds, all while using human-trafficked labor to increase their profit. Standing together, we are invincible.”
At an event earlier today, hosted at the residence of Sir Christian Turner KCMG, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States, U.S. Attorney Pirro was joined by Crown Prosecutor for England and Wales Stephen Parkinson and National Crime Agency Director General Graeme Biggar, who signed the MOU along with Pirro on behalf of their respective agencies. Under the terms of the MOU, each will conduct parallel investigation into common targets, share information targeting of organized crime syndicates, discuss which jurisdictions to bring specific cases of common interest, and generally prioritize cases on this threat to achieve mutual results.
Both the UK and US counterparts had already identified significant cases of overlap, and committed to joining forces for an in-person disruption event with private industry partners, hosted by the National Crime Agency in London in early October. The MOU and joint efforts mark a new phase of international partnerships for the Scam Center Strike Force, which seeks to maximize impact by building a coalition of like-minded prosecution and investigative teams.
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About the Scam Center Strike Force
The Scam Center Strike Force was officially launched by U.S. Attorney Pirro in November 2025 to address the growing threat posed by Chinese organized crime syndicates operating scam centers primarily in Southeast Asia. The Strike Force targets cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber-enabled fraud, human trafficking, and money laundering operations that have cost American victims billions of dollars.
According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), cyber-enabled fraud schemes were responsible for almost 85% of all losses reported to IC3 in 2025. Within that category, CIF schemes have continued to grow, and the IC3 calculated the reported losses from CIF scams rose, from $4.57 billion in 2023, to $8.65 billion in 2025, an increase of 89%.[1] These figures, largely based on losses reported by victims, likely significantly under-represent the true loss amounts incurred by Americans, since most fraud victims do not report to IC3, if at all.
On March 6, 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Administration to prioritize cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes draining American families of their life savings. Through the Executive Order, President Trump is unleashing every available tool to stop foreign-backed criminal networks that exploit vulnerable Americans through cyber-enabled fraud. The Scam Center Strike Force is a critical node in executing the mission outlined in the President’s Order.
Founded by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, the Strike Force has been joined it its work by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations-DC, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Alaska, Rhode Island, Hawaii, and Western Washington. The Strike Force works in collaboration with other agencies, including the Treasury and State Departments. The Strike Force works in strategic partnership with private industry and calls on all U.S. businesses to take more proactive steps to protect users from scam operations.
The Scam Center Strike Force will use every tool available to help secure Main Street Americans from these scams. With its interagency and public partners, it will educate Americans on how to identify these scams, prevent generational wealth from flowing from America into the pockets of Chinese organized crime, and work with unwavering focus to return stolen funds to victims.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen P. Seifert for the District of Columbia directs the Strike Force.
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas surpasses 100 prosecutors, marking historic staffing milestoneRead the Press Release
DALLAS — The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas today announced that it has surpassed 100 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the largest onboarding of federal prosecutors in the office’s history. Since taking office in November 2025, U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould has led an unprecedented, district wide hiring initiative—bringing aboard more than 40 AUSAs in just 10 months and assembling what he describes as “a championship caliber team dedicated to protecting the people of North Texas.”
This hiring surge has stretched across the entire district, with prosecutors added in Dallas, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Abilene, Lubbock and Wichita Falls, strengthening federal enforcement capacity in every corner of the Northern District of Texas. The expansion comes at a pivotal moment: the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is on pace to soon become the third largest metropolitan area in the United States, reflecting rapid population growth, increased economic activity and the corresponding rise in complex criminal threats.
“When I stepped into this role, my immediate priority was to build the strongest, most capable prosecutorial team this office has ever had,” said U.S. Attorney Raybould. “We set out to hire the best of the best—no matter where they were, no matter their background, no matter the competition—and bring them to North Texas to serve the public. Like a general manager building a professional sports franchise, we sought out top talent with proven grit, skill, and integrity. Today, that vision has become reality.”
The surge of new prosecutors reflects a strategic effort to strengthen all aspects of federal enforcement, from violent crime and drug trafficking to financial fraud and corporate misconduct, cyber intrusion, national security threats, civil enforcement, and appellate advocacy.
The office has drawn from a deep talent pool, recruiting experienced state and federal prosecutors, former federal judicial clerks, trial attorneys with complex litigation backgrounds, subject matter experts, and lawyers from the country’s leading private law firms. The new prosecutors are graduates of leading law schools across the country including the University of Texas, Texas Tech, SMU, Pepperdine, Harvard, Yale, UCLA, Baylor, Notre Dame, Mississippi, Tulane, Texas A&M, Case Western Reserve, Loyola Chicago, George Washington University, Georgetown, St. Louis University, and other nationally recognized institutions. Several are veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Many of these hires relocated to Dallas specifically for the opportunity to serve in the Northern District of Texas.
“North Texas is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and the challenges we face are evolving just as quickly,” the U.S. Attorney continued. “To meet those challenges, we invested aggressively in people, the most important asset any office has. The attorneys joining our ranks bring exceptional courtroom experience, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to justice. Together, we are elevating the strength and capacity of this office so that we can protect the almost 9 million folks in North Texas.”
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U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois Warns Public About Phone Spoofing ScamRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois is alerting the public to recent reports of fraudulent phone calls in which scammers spoof official office telephone numbers in an attempt to deceive and defraud individuals.
These callers may claim to be employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, use the names of real staff members, and pressure individuals with threats or demands for payment. The U.S. Attorney’s Office does not request money, personal financial information, or sensitive identifying details over the phone.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains steadfast in protecting the public and ensuring individuals are not exploited through impersonation schemes. These scams succeed by casting doubt and fear into their victims, pressuring them to reveal information they would otherwise keep secure. We will not allow these tactics to undermine the trust and safety of our communities,” said United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “My office will never stop working to safeguard the citizens of the Central District of Illinois.”
If you receive a suspicious call:
- Document the name and details the caller provides.
- Hang up immediately and Call the U.S. Attorney’s Office directly using the publicly listed numbers.
- State that you may have been a target of a spoofing scam and ask to speak with the individual by name to verify whether the call was legitimate.
Anyone who believes they have been targeted by this scam is encouraged to report the incident to the FBI at https://www.fbi.gov/tips or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)
U.S. Attorney’s Office Participates in its First H.O.P.E. EventRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina took part in its first H.O.P.E. outreach event in support of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2026. U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle took the recommendation of the dedicated victim’s advocates to update the H.E.A.T. program to the Healing Opioid Prevention Education (H.O.P.E.) program. H.O.P.E. focuses on reducing the harm heroin and opiate abuse inflicted on North Carolina families by increasing community awareness of the epidemic.
During the event, staff from the Eastern District actively engaged with the public to explain how heroin and opiate abuse continue to harm North Carolina families and communities. They spoke with attendees about the severity of the epidemic, shared firsthand knowledge from their work across the district, and emphasized the importance of community awareness and prevention. In addition to these conversations, staff members distributed valuable resources, connected individuals with supportive services, and offered guidance to those seeking help for themselves or loved ones. Their efforts ensured that community members left the event better informed, better equipped, and more empowered to confront the challenges posed by opioid abuse.
The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to supporting families and communities affected by opioids and individuals seeking treatment.
For more information or assistance with the H.O.P.E. Program, please contact our office at USANCE-VictimAssista@usa.doj.gov.
U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey Encourages Schools to Partner with the Department of Justice to Address Online Child ExploitationRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey is encouraging schools, youth organizations, athletic programs, and other community groups across the Northern District of West Virginia to take advantage of free training and prevention resources offered by the Department of Justice to help keep children safe online.
This outreach comes as the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) expands its work with schools and youth‑serving organizations to address the growing threats children face online. In a letter released this week, Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva invited organizations that work with children to partner with the Department on prevention and education efforts. The letter highlights a range of resources available to help communities understand and respond to emerging online risks, including grooming, sextortion, harmful online content, and the misuse of artificial intelligence to create dangerous deepfake images involving children.
“The online dangers that our children face are real and frightening, but there are tools available to help prevent victimization,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. “Schools and youth-centered organizations can play a powerful role in protecting children by using the free trainings offered by the Department of Justice.”
Organizations can choose virtual or in‑person training based on their needs. CEOS offers free prevention programming through webinars and presentations and can connect groups with experts who specialize in online safety. The U.S. Attorney’s Office can also help West Virginia organizations connect with Assistant U.S. Attorneys and federal agents who investigate and prosecute online child exploitation cases. These professionals are available to provide education and outreach tailored to the issues communities are facing.
Any organization interested in scheduling training or learning more about available resources can reach out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia at Stacy.Bishop@usdoj.gov or contact CEOS directly at CEOS.Prevention@usdoj.gov. Additional prevention resources are available on the Department of Justice's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section Prevention webpage.
Two Men Indicted for Robbery of Isle of Capri CasinoRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their role in a robbery at a casino in Boonville, Mo. earlier this year.
Benjamin Michael-Dass Charles, of Columbia, Mo., and Hollis Cortez Vanleer of Normal, Ill., were charged with various counts relating to the robbery of the Isle of Capri Casino, including conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and a substantive charge of interfering with commerce by robbery. Additionally, both Charles and Vanleer are charged with brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Vanleer is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on March 25, 2026, Charles and Vanleer are alleged to have driven to, parked, and entered the Isle of Capri Casino dressed in black and wearing hats, glasses, and face coverings. One defendant was carrying an AR style rifle, and the other was carrying a 9mm pistol as they made their way through the casino to the main bank area where money was kept. Both took money out of a cash drawer, placed it into a duffel bag, then jumped back over the front counter, ran through the casino, out the front door, and then jumped in their car and drove away. The total amount taken in the robbery was $1,275,999.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Boonville, Missouri Police Department, Cooper County Sheriff’s Department, and Howard County Sheriff’s Department.
Texas National Guardsman Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Texas man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 10 years in prison for possessing prepubescent child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Estin Cole West, 25, operated a Google account that had been identified as saving 81 videos and images of suspected child sexual abuse material in November 2023 when he was living in Laredo. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations revealed the Google account, IP address, and two associated email addresses all belonged to West.
HSI agents also learned that West was employed by the Texas National Guard and had recently been stationed at a military installation in Del Rio. During an interview with West, agents located multiple videos depicting CSAM in a locked folder within West’s phone, as well as a Telegram application that also contained several batches of CSAM. A forensic analysis of West’s phone returned 512 images and 726 videos depicting child pornography, including images of bestiality and prepubescent children.
West was arrested on Dec. 6, 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 24, 2025.
ICE HSI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nallely Duarte prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
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Tampa Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay over $700,000 to the Internal Revenue ServiceRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – Mahmoud Mehdi has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making and subscribing a false tax return. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $137,931.33, the proceeds of his criminal conduct, and ordered Mehdi to pay restitution in the amount of $732,521.18. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, beginning in January 2019, and continuing through December 2022, Mehdi conspired with others to commit wire fraud by knowingly causing the electronic submission of fraudulent forms to the IRS. The tax returns contained fabricated figures for gambling winnings and losses, as well as for federal tax withholding amounts (based on the fake gambling winnings). The false tax returns requested substantial refunds from the IRS that the taxpayers were not legally entitled to receive. The total intended tax loss from Mehdi’s conduct was $1,401,587.88. The actual tax loss was $732,521.18, which was paid by the IRS to taxpayers, including Mehdi, either as tax refunds or credits applied to prior debts.
“Tax fraud isn’t just a numbers game—it’s a crime that harms every honest taxpayer,” said Charles Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “This sentencing reinforces that those who cheat the system will be held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Samantha Newman, Brooke Padgett and Jennifer Peresie. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky.
Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Synthetic Cannabinoids to Jail InmatesRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for distributing synthetic cannabinoids to prison and jail inmates and others throughout the country.
In 2024 and 2025, DENIS JOINER processed powder synthetic cannabinoids into liquid form, which he then used to soak sheets of paper and books. Joiner disguised the paper and books as inmate reading material or legal documents and mailed them to customers in federal and state correctional institutions in the Chicago area and throughout the United States.
Joiner produced the drug-soaked paper in a residence in Calumet City, Ill. On July 29, 2025, law enforcement agents conducted a court-authorized search of the residence and discovered what appeared to be a makeshift laboratory, with multiple Pyrex trays, bottles, funnels, mixing bowls, and latex gloves, as well as shipping-related items, including mailing labels containing the names of correctional institutions. Agents seized more than 1,500 grams of MDMB 4-en PINACA in powder form.
Synthetic cannabinoids are a class of controlled substance that are chemically similar to marijuana but significantly more potent. Synthetic cannabinoids pose a risk of overdose and could cause seizures, stroke, heart attacks, and death.
Joiner, 33, of Lansing, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal drug charge. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Jeremy C. Daniel sentenced Joiner to four years in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; Todd C. Smith, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA; Nicholas Bucciarelli, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Thomas J. Dart, Cook County Sheriff.
“Drug trafficking is a serious offense, and the drugs sold here are dangerous,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Even more concerning, defendant distributed cannabinoids into prisons and jails, creating a risk that inmates would be subjected to overdoses and potentially death.”
Sioux Falls Gang Members Indicted for Racketeering Involving Attempted Murder and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a federal grand jury has indicted three Sioux Falls, South Dakota, men for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering; Possession, Brandishing, and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence; and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The indictment was filed in August 2026.
Nathan Carlos Hernandez, age 20, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on August 26, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. Sebastian Michael Waters, age 19, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 20, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. Tino Sage Roubideaux, age 29, appeared before Magistrate Judge Duffy on August 10, 2026, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction for Conspiracy to Murder in Aid of Racketeering and for Attempted Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 10 years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Aiding and Abetting is 20 years’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Discharging a Firearm during and in relation to a Crime of Violence and Aiding and Abetting is a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ up to Life imprisonment, to be served consecutively to the crime of violence of attempted murder or assault with a dangerous weapon. The maximum penalty upon conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person is 15 years imprisonment. The charges also carry a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of up to five years following a term of imprisonment, a special assessment, forfeiture, and restitution.
According to the charging document, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux were members of the Gangster Disciples (GD), a gang with members and associates located throughout Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and elsewhere. The gang is alleged to have committed, attempted to commit, and conspired to commit acts of violence, including acts involving assault, as well as other crimes, including drug dealing and firearms trafficking. Participation in criminal activity by a GD member (sometimes referred to as “work”), especially violence directed at persons perceived as a threat to the gang, increased the respect accorded to the member and could result in the member’s elevation and increased status within the gang. One of the alleged purposes of the gang was to keep victims, other gang members, rivals, and community members in fear of the gang.
As alleged in the indictment, Hernandez, Waters, and Roubideaux conspired to murder a person, and on January 4, 2026, these defendants located the victim at a business in Sioux Falls and attempted to murder him by shooting him more than one time. Two firearms were used in the attack. As gang members, these defendants sought to maintain or increase their respective position within the Gangster Disciples.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 Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.
All defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date of October 26, 2026, has been set.
Significant drug distributor for family-based drug trafficking organization sentenced to nine years in prisonRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 22-year-old Federal Way, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to nine years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute massive amounts of fentanyl, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Sir Terrique Milam was a trusted associate of one of the leaders of the family-based drug trafficking organization – Markell Jackson. Milam was heard on phone calls arranging to go to Arizona with Markell Jackson to pick up a 150,000-pill load of fentanyl. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead noted the deadly risk of 15 kilos of fentanyl. “You were in on the conspiracy… You knew what you were selling… And you kept going even after contact with law enforcement,” the judge told him.
“Mr. Milam was a trusted member of this drug trafficking organization – trusted to travel to Arizona and meet with the primary supplier of the drugs,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “He is a young man but already has convictions for promoting prostitution and illegal firearms possession. This prison sentence is needed to protect the community and break his cycle of crime.”
“In close partnership with the leader of this organization, Mr. Milam conspired with him and others to distribute huge quantities of deadly drugs,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “He clearly has not learned his lesson from previous convictions and from his attempts to evade law enforcement and so will have to deal with the consequences of his repeated criminal behavior. I commend the work of the investigators and prosecutors on this extensive case, which reached across the United States to hold these drug traffickers responsible.”
Over the course of this investigation, law enforcement seized more than 846,000 fentanyl pills, nearly 7 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 7 kilograms of cocaine and 29 firearms. They also seized more than $116,000 in cash.
Milam was identified in the wire-tap investigation and was stopped in August 2024 returning from eastern Washington. The police stop revealed he was carrying a firearm in the vehicle. But Milam later bragged on a wiretapped phone call, that he was able to get the fentanyl pills out of the car before police could search it. Despite that run-in with law enforcement, Milam continued to be involved with drug trafficking. On October 2, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at Milam’s home, seizing 323.8 grams of fentanyl from under Milam’s bed, multiple drug scales and $4,900 in United States Currency that Milam admits were proceeds of drug trafficking.
At takedown in October 2024, law enforcement fanned out across the country and in western Washington arresting 17 people on indictments and criminal complaints for the multi- state drug trafficking conspiracy. The two-year investigation culminated in search and arrest warrants in Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, and Washington State.
The drug ring was led by Marquis Jackson, 33, his parents, defendants Mandel Jackson, 52, and Matelita (Marty) Jackson, 51, and siblings Markell Jackson, 23, and Miracle Patu-Jackson, 25. Members of the Jackson family are indicted for various conspiracy counts including drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies. Records filed in the case link some of the Jacksons to a Seattle area street gang.
The Jackson family members, and other members of the conspiracy, are scheduled for trial in July 2027.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
A number of the members of the drug distribution ring have pleaded guilty and already been sentenced:
Michael Young Jr, 45, of Tacoma, was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Treyvon Mitchell, 33, of Kent, WA, was sentenced to six years in prison.
Robert Johnson, 22, of Renton, WA was sentenced to 70 months in prison.
Tyrell Lewis, 34, of Federal Way, WA was sentenced to 37 months in prison.
Phillip Lamont Alexander, 50, of Des Moines, WA has pleaded guilty and is scheduled for sentencing in November 2026.
This case was investigated by the FBI, (Seattle, Phoenix, Atlanta, Kansas City, Dallas, Las Vegas, Montana), DEA (Seattle, Kansas City, Wichita, Montana), the Seattle Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, Whatcom Region Drug Task Force, the Lummi Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and United States Border Patrol Blaine Sector Targeting and Intelligence Division.
This investigation 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 Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Crystal Correa.
Shawnee Man Sentenced to Serve More Than Three Years in Prison after Stealing Firearms from Pawn ShopRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – LARRON DESHAWN THOMAS, JR., 20, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, has been sentenced to serve 37 months in federal prison for possession of stolen firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on March 4, 2025, Thomas stole two firearms from behind the counter of a pawn shop in Shawnee. Thomas was identified through surveillance footage and arrested the following day. Law enforcement subsequently recovered the stolen firearms from Thomas’s residence.
On July 16, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Thomas with possession of stolen firearms. Thomas pleaded guilty to that count on February 25, 2026, and admitted he possessed firearms that he knew were stolen.
At a sentencing hearing on August 31, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced Thomas to serve 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the need to deter further criminal conduct and to promote respect for the law.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Shawnee Police Department, and the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle M. Connolly prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Sex offender sentenced to life in prison for multiple offenses involving the sexual exploitation of childrenRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 46-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for failure to register as a sex offender, possession of child pornography, sexual exploitation of children, and coercion and enticement.
Dustin Gentry pleaded guilty May 11. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now sentenced him to life in federal prison.
At the hearing Sept. 2, the court heard additional information that Gentry was previously convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and continued to do so after his first conviction. Gentry targeted victims younger than 12 and told them how to pose and take their clothes off, while he posed as someone younger. Gentry also tried to entice one victim to create sexually explicit images of their even younger siblings. The court also heard that the victims in this case have been harmed forever from this conduct.
In handing down the prison terms, Judge Hanks called Gentry “every parent’s worst nightmare” and a “predator willing to destroy children’s lives,” noting the unbearable and horrific pain and suffering he inflicted.
“You have demonstrated you aren’t going to stop unless physically unable to do it again,” said Hanks. “Every life has value, including yours. But at the same time, you can’t use yours to harm others. You will never be in a position to do what you did again.”
Gentry was further ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to a victim in the case and will be ordered to re-register as a sex offender.
Following a 2010 conviction for possession of child pornography, Gentry was ordered to register as a sex offender and was required to report any changes to online identifiers. However, the investigation revealed Gentry failed to do so.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Gentry’s residence and discovered over 1,000 images of CSAM on his electronic devices. A further search revealed conversations with multiple minors requesting more CSAM.
The messages revealed he directed victims as young as 12 to send explicit photos and instructed them how to pose in them.
Gentry has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Seven Charged in $57M Tax Refund Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
A superseding indictment was unsealed yesterday charging an Idaho man and woman and five non-Idaho residents with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, making false claims and money laundering. The conspirators allegedly prepared and submitted false tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS.
“As alleged, this group of fraudsters participated in a $57 million tax fraud scheme, filing over 100 fictitious instruments and ultimately receiving more than $8 million in taxpayer dollars from the IRS,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “The Fraud Division will continue working vigorously to investigate and prosecute tax fraud schemes like these across the country. Fraudsters should never be allowed to rip off the United States of America.”
According to the superseding indictment, from 2023 through 2024, Andrea and Kent Shannon of Kuna, Idaho, Monika Skinger of Chicago, Illinois, Sherita Chandler of Port St. Lucie, Florida, Saule Moshkanova of Roseville, California, Tiffany Nichols of Suwanee, Georgia, and Stacey Rice of Manteca, California, along with unindicted conspirators, allegedly conspired to commit wire fraud by assisting one another in fraudulently claiming refunds in amounts totaling more than $57 million by preparing and submitting false individual and trust tax returns and fictitious financial instruments to the IRS. The conspirators allegedly received more than $8 million from the IRS. Moshkanova, Nichols, and Rice were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Andrea and Kent Shannon, Skinger and Chandler were previously charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Andrea and Kent Shannon were also charged with committing multiple acts of wire fraud, making false claims to the United States and engaging in money laundering by purchasing personal property such as luxury cars with their fraudulently obtained refunds.
If convicted, the conspirators face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Andrea and Kent Shannon face an additional maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each false claim charge. Kent Shannon faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the money laundering charge.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney David F. Scollan of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney Campbell for the District of Idaho are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Roseville Man Charged with Defrauding Employer of over $2.3 MillionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Christopher William Edward Abplanalp, 38, of Roseville, was charged Wednesday with wire fraud in a scheme to enrich himself with his employer’s money, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between February 2023 and July 2025, working as an Executive Manager at a Placer County business, Abplanalp stole more than $2.3 million, most of which he then spent gambling. In executing the scheme, he diverted money from the business’s account with an online payment processing system to his own personal account, or to various other friends or acquaintances. Abplanalp also repeatedly charged a client’s credit card for items the client never ordered and for invoices that did not exist, then transferred those proceeds to himself. Additionally, he instructed clients to tender payments directly to him and told vendors to issue rebates and refunds to his personal account, rather than the business. To conceal his theft, Abplanalp altered, deleted, or made false entries to the business’s accounting software.
Abplanalp is scheduled for an initial appearance and arraignment on Sept. 8, 2026, at 2 p.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremy D. Peterson.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation with assistance from IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dhruv M. Sharma is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Abplanalp faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Richmond, Vermont Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
RUTLAND – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on September 2, 2026, Kenneth Beane, 37, of Richmond, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 10-year term of supervised release. Judge Lanthier also imposed $5,000 in restitution for the victims of the offense, as well as assessments totaling $15,100. Bean previously pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse materials (“CSAM”) on his personal electronic devices.
According to court records, law enforcement discovered that Beane was making CSAM available to others through a peer-to-peer file sharing application, and thereafter downloaded CSAM images from Beane’s IP address. On September 8, 2025, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant on Beane’s residence in Richmond, Vermont. During the search, law enforcement seized electronic devices with additional CSAM material, including images of prepubescent minors under the age of 12. In total, Beane possessed approximately 3,600 digital files containing CSAM.
Bean has a prior federal conviction for possession of CSAM stemming from a 2015 arrest. This prior conviction also involved Bean sharing CSAM materials via peer-to-peer networks. Bean received a one-year sentence in 2016, which was followed by a 5-year term of supervised release. Bean had multiple violations of his supervision, including using unapproved electronics and unauthorized contact with minors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Golubock. Kenneth Beane was represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Richmond man sentenced to 10 years in prison for distributing child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
According to court documents, on May 22, 2025, Randon Alexander Sprinkle, 31, used a dating app to contact another user who purportedly was the father of a nine-year-old son, but in actuality was an undercover agent with the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Sprinkle immediately invited the user to communicate via the Telegram app. After alluding to a sexual interest in minors, Sprinkle sent a video depicting two adults sexually abusing a minor. Sprinkle then expressed his interest in travelling to Washington, D.C., to meet the other user and sexually abuse his purported nine-year-old son.
On Oct. 16, 2025, FBI agents searched Sprinkle’s residence in Richmond and seized two laptop computers and a cellphone. Sprinkle’s cellphone contained 43 CSAM files and one of the laptops contained two additional files. The files included depictions of the abuse of toddler-aged children.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ellen Hubbard Theisen and Janet Jin Ah Lee 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 the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-2.
Recidivist Child Pornography Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – PAUL FRANCIS HUDSON, 39, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 180 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography and for violating the terms of federal supervised release, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, in August 2015, Hudson was sentenced to 86 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for receipt of child pornography in the Western District of Oklahoma case number CR-15-36-M. His supervised release was later revoked in March 2023 for, among other things, drug use and associating with felons. At that time, he was sentenced to nine additional months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Public records further reflect that, in February 2026, following his release from prison the second time, U.S. Probation officers discovered that Hudson had purchased an unauthorized phone in violation of the terms of his supervised release. On February 11, 2026, law enforcement seized the phone and discovered hundreds of images of child pornography.
On March 3, 2026, a federal grand jury charged Hudson with possession of child pornography. Hudson pleaded guilty on May 6, 2026, and admitted he knowingly possessed child pornography that he downloaded using a cell phone.
At a sentencing hearing on September 3, 2026, Chief U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Hudson to serve 180 months in federal prison: 120 months for possession of child pornography and 60 months for violating the terms of his supervised release by committing the new child pornography offense, to be served consecutively. Hudson was also ordered to pay $34,000 in restitution, split between 11 child victims who were depicted in images he possessed. In announcing the sentence, Judge Palk noted the grave impact that child pornography crimes have on victims depicted in child pornography.
This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale prosecuted this case as well as the 2015 case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Portland Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Assault of a Federal EmployeeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man pleaded guilty today for assaulting a federal employee at Pioneer Courthouse.
Jett Avery Thomas, 42, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault on a federal employee involving physical contact, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
According to court documents, on the morning of July 3, 2023, Thomas threw an object at the Pioneer Federal Courthouse in downtown Portland. After a court security officer attempted to address him, Thomas climbed over the fence and charged up the front steps of the courthouse. The officer retreated into the courthouse and attempted to secure the door behind him. Before he could do so, Thomas grabbed the door, forced it open, and assaulted the officer by punching him in the head. The struggle continued outside the door, where Thomas continued assaulting the officer, striking him with a hard object and placing him in a chokehold. The officer accessed his service weapon and fired two shots into Thomas’ torso.
Thomas was arrested, provided first aid, and transported to a local hospital where he underwent surgery for his injuries. The officer was also transported to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries and later released.
On August 1, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 3-count indictment charging Thomas with aggravated assault on a federal employee causing bodily injury, aggravated assault on a federal employee with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated assault on a federal employee involving physical contact.
Thomas faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.
He will be sentenced on December 16, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge.
This case was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service with assistance from the Federal Protective Service and Portland Police Bureau. It is being prosecuted by Scott M. Kerin, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Polk County Woman Admits to Smuggling Methamphetamine into Federal Prison for Her Inmate HusbandRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Samantha Calvente (44, Winter Haven) has pleaded guilty to possession of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. She faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the court records, on August 21, 2022, Calvente went to the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (“FCC Coleman”) in Sumter Countyto visit her husband, R.C, who was an inmate at the facility. As Calvente entered the prison, she told correctional officers that she did not have any prohibited items on her person, including narcotics. When Calvente entered the visitation room, however, staff observed her retrieving an unknown object from her waistband and placing it between her legs. Correctional officers promptly escorted Calvente out of the visitation room. Before a search could take place, Calvente handed the officers an object wrapped in a black latex material that contained over 24 grams of methamphetamine. Calvente then admitted that she had introduced contraband into prison facilities for her husband on prior occasions.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Watson and Anthony C. Marek.
Plentywood woman sentenced to more than 7 years in prison for trafficking methRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Plentywood woman who mailed herself methamphetamine was sentenced today to seven years and four months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Marie Viola Nesbit, 60, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Nesbit mailed packages of methamphetamine to two houses in Plentywood, with the intention of selling the meth. Law enforcement first investigated when the U.S. Postal Service flagged two packages as suspicious. Using a warrant, agents searched the parcels and found a half pound of methamphetamine.
Law enforcement monitored the packages while they were delivered to the two Plentywood addresses. The occupants of the two homes told investigators Nesbit had mailed them. In an interview with agents later that day, Nesbit said she mailed the packages from California because she didn’t want to get caught traveling back to Montana with them. She also admitted she planned to sell the meth.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey prosecuted the case. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, FBI, Montana DCI, Montana Highway Patrol, and the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
Operator of Sham Produce Companies Sentenced to Federal Prison for Cocaine Importation and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Carlos Salazar-Garcia has been sentenced to federal prison for using sham companies to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine concealed in fruit and electronics shipments to the Atlanta area and then laundering the proceeds back to Mexico.
“Salazar-Garcia laundered money for Mexican drug traffickers and attempted to smuggle nearly 200 pounds of cocaine into our country,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “But federal law enforcement officers working collaboratively across agencies and jurisdictions spoiled his scheme, seized his drugs, and haled him into court to face the significant consequences.”
“Drug traffickers think they can hide behind fake produce companies and secret shipments of electronics, but they are wrong,” said Jason T. Stevens, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Arizona. “Carlos Salazar-Garcia tried to use these schemes to poison our communities and launder over a million dollars, but he underestimated our persistence and partnerships. By working together across borders, HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners successfully dismantled his network, and now he will spend his time in federal prison thinking about the consequences.”
“Whether cocaine is hidden in fruit, electronics, or behind the façade of legitimate businesses, drug traffickers will continue looking for new ways to move their poison,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “What they cannot hide is the determination of the Homeland Security Task Force and our law enforcement partners. This investigation uncovered a calculated effort to import hundreds of pounds of cocaine, and today’s sentence ensures the defendant is held accountable for his role in that operation.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In December 2022, federal agents in Laredo, Texas inspected a shipment from Mexico and located 119 pounds of cocaine concealed among electronic transformers destined for a farmers market in Clayton County, Georgia. The investigation revealed that a sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia coordinated the shipment.
In November 2023, agents at the U.S./Mexico border in McAllen, Texas intercepted approximately 66 pounds of cocaine concealed in a shipment of limes. Agents learned that the limes were destined for another sham produce company operated by Salazar-Garcia. Additional investigation revealed that, through a variety of financial transactions, Salazar-Garcia and co-defendant Andrea Principe laundered over a million dollars in drug proceeds to Mexico.
Yesterday, Carlos Salazar-Garcia, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Salazar-Garcia pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine importation, and money laundering charges on April 20, 2026.
Andrea Principe, 37, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, pled guilty on June 30, 2026, to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She will be sentenced on October 15, 2026.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with valuable assistance provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Assistant United States Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. and former Assistant United States Attorney Amy Palumbo prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Omaha Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Kenneth Ray Beams, 41, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on August 27, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for production or attempted production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Beams to 360 months’ imprisonment on the production count and 120 months’ imprisonment on the possession count. The sentences will be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system. After Beams’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Judge Rossiter ordered Beams to pay a $2,500 special assessment on each count pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
In May 2025, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted serving an arrest warrant on Beams for an unrelated felony charge at a residence in Omaha. While law enforcement was at the residence, multiple parties expressed concern to the officers about children in the home being physically and sexually abused. At the time, the residence’s owner permitted Beams to live at the home where the 15-year-old Minor Victim also resided. Minor Victim was forensically interviewed at Project Harmony. Minor Victim disclosed the sexual abuse she endured at the hands of Beams. Beams sexually assaulted Minor Victim on numerous occasions. Concerns reported to Minor Victim’s parent were ignored and Beams’s abuse of Minor Victim was permitted to continue. Investigators forensically examined Beams’s cell phone and found images and videos of Beams and Minor Victim. Beams recorded himself sexually abusing Minor victim and exposing Minor Victim to methamphetamine.
“This appropriate and just sentence will provide the community with the protection it deserves from a predator like Beams,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. “The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and FBI did the community an exceptional service with this investigation, and the federal prosecutor fought for and obtained a righteous conviction and sentence that will keep Nebraska safer for the next 30 years.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
North Charleston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jerell Emmanuel Risher, 36, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to trafficking methamphetamine.
Evidence presented in court showed that on March 7, 2024, investigators intercepted a package that was shipped from California to a North Charleston address under a false name. The package contained nearly five kilograms of pure methamphetamine. Investigators delivered the package under surveillance, and Risher picked it up from the location. When police tried to stop him, Risher sped away, reaching 111 mph, running several red lights, and throwing the package from his vehicle. He left the vehicle on a dead-end road, climbed two fences, and ran onto a school campus while classes were in session. Investigators later obtained his phone and saw he tracked the package 13 times the day it was intercepted.
Then, on Sept.17, 2024, while on bond for a state drug trafficking offense, Risher sold a law enforcement source 112 grams of pure methamphetamine at a North Charleston business.
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.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Risher to 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Charleston Police Department, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, the North Charleston Police Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case.Missouri State Representative Candidate Charged with Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine to Frame OpponentRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Missouri state representative candidate has been charged by criminal complaint for conspiring to distribute a controlled substance to plant on his political opponent.
Thomas Christopher Ross, 37, of Joplin, Mo., was charged in a one-count complaint for conspiring to distribute a controlled substance. Ross is currently running for the state seat in House District 161 and won the Republican primary last month.
As alleged in the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, on Thursday, July 30, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was contacted by the Joplin Police Department (JPD) regarding a “public corruption” matter in Joplin, Mo. According to the initial information provided by JPD, the former campaign manager for Ross (C.S.), was asked by Ross to plant drugs on his opponent (L.S.). C.S. provided law enforcement with a black nylon glove that he claimed was given to him by Ross. A small, plastic bag was inside the glove. Inside of the bag was a small amount of white powder. A Nartec Inc. Cocaine Test Kit was used on the powder, which indicated a positive match for cocaine.
Additionally, inside of the glove was a pink and white capsule. The capsule was identified as Amphetamine and Dextroamphetamine 20 mg extended release, also known as Adderall, a Schedule II controlled substance. C.S. told investigators that he and Ross exchanged text messages, in which Ross requested for C.S. to place the bag of drugs inside of the purse or vehicle of L.S. while Ross was out of state on vacation.
“The American people deserve confidence in an electoral process that has served our nation for generations,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “Candidates are expected to conduct their campaigns with integrity, honesty, and respect for their opponents, allowing voters to make informed decisions without fear of misinformation or undue influence. The Western District of Missouri will continue to uphold fairness, transparency, and integrity in elections and will pursue violations of public trust when warranted”.
“The conduct alleged in these charges are substantial and serious,” said Chris Ormerod, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kansas City Field Office. “Our citizens deserve to know that the election process is done with transparency and fairness. As this case moves through the judicial process, it’s important that it proceeds fairly, impartially and in accordance with the rule of law.”
The charges contained in the complaint are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joplin Police Department.
Missoula man sentenced to over 3 years for trafficking fentanyl into MontanaRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Missoula man who made repeated drugs runs to Washington state was sentenced today to three years and four months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Eric Joseph Wright, 46, pleaded guilty in April 2026 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Wright was making regular trips to Washington state to pick up illicit drugs to bring back to Montana. A tip to law enforcement led officers to pull over Wright on Feb. 2, 2026, where they found three ounces of fentanyl under the vehicle’s passenger seat.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Minnesota man sentenced to 40 years for sexually abusing two girls on Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Minnesota man who sexually abused two children on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
After a one-and-a-half-day trial in February 2026, a jury found Robert Dean Dust, 35, guilty of two counts of abusive sexual contact of a child and one count of aggravated sexual abuse.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents and at trial that Dust began sexually abusing two girls in Lodge Grass starting around 2010. The two girls reported the abuse to law enforcement in May 2024.
The girls both said Dust repeatedly sexually abused them in their home beginning when they were 4 and 5 years old and he was 20. Both victims described how Dust made them perform sexual acts on him and how he performed sexual acts on them. The girls said Dust’s abuse continued until around 2015.
Law enforcement interviewed Dust on Oct. 18, 2024, and he initially denied the abuse. Eventually he admitted to sexually abusing one of the girls. At trial, prosecutors proved that Dust abused both girls. The second girl testified that she knew Dust did inappropriate things with the first girl in his bedroom and that she did not want to “be next.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks prosecuted the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.
Minnesota Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Ever Cano Ruacho, 36, and Jimmie Collazo, Jr., 35, both of St. Paul, Minnesota, were sentenced on August 20 and August 27, 2026, respectively, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Ruacho to 188 months’ imprisonment and Collazo, Jr. to 125 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ruacho’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release. After Collazo, Jr.’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release.
On October 16, 2025, a Lincoln Police Officer made a traffic stop of a Chevy pickup driven by Ruacho for a traffic violation on Interstate 80 in Lancaster County. Collazo, Jr. was in the front passenger seat. Both passengers consented to a search of the pickup. The arresting officer found approximately 120 pounds of methamphetamine packaged in 40, three-pound packages hidden in factory voids throughout the pickup. A cigarette container holding .8 grams methamphetamine was located in the center console. Ruacho said they were traveling from Colorado to Minneapolis. Collazo, Jr. said they were traveling from Colorado to Chicago.
One of the three-pound packages of suspected methamphetamine was sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab. A forensic scientist there found the package to contain at least 1,200 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Investigators found four cell phones in the vehicle. Ruacho and Collazo, Jr. consented to a search of their cell phones. Data on the cell phones showed communications between Ruacho and Collazo, Jr., as well as messages and photos consistent with narcotics use, narcotics trafficking, and the exchange of money and/or narcotics dating back to approximately May 20, 2025, and continuing up through the date of their arrest.
“Anyone who tries to traffic this amount of narcotics through Nebraska and on Interstate 80 in particular is going to have a very hard time getting past the Lincoln and Lancaster County Task Force! They are always on the job, keeping us all safer,” said U.S. Attorney Lesley Woods. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful to them for their tireless efforts.”
This case was investigated by the Lincoln Police Department, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force (LLCNTF).
Minnesota Man Pleads Guilty to Filing a False Claim with the IRSRead the Press Release
A Minnesota man pleaded guilty yesterday to filing a false claim with the IRS.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Philip Nelson Green filed false individual income tax returns with the IRS for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. Each of these tax returns reported multiple false or fraudulent items, including false wage information, itemized deductions, withholding amounts and child and dependent care expenses. For the years 2021 and 2022, Green filed false tax returns that collectively sought more than $500,000 in refunds he was not entitled to receive.
Green pleaded guilty to one count of making a false claim. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 28, 2027 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Charles A. O’Reilly and Daniel R. Glenn of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Tax Section are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Maui Man Pleads Guilty to Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Justin Nelson, 43, of Kihei, Maui, appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Wes Reber Porter and entered a plea of guilty to bank robbery. Sentencing is set for December 18, 2026 before Senior U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor.
According to court records, on August 27, 2025, Nelson entered a First Hawaiian Bank branch in Kihei, carrying a white bag and a black airsoft pistol that appeared to be a real handgun. Nelson approached the bank tellers, pointed the pistol at one of the bank tellers, and demanded cash. Believing the pistol was a real handgun, the tellers gave Nelson $4,885. Shortly thereafter, Maui Police Department officers located Nelson and arrested him. At the time of his arrest, Nelson had some of the stolen cash and the black airsoft pistol.
Nelson faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three years.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg Paris Yates is prosecuting the case.
Massachusetts Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud in Connection with $10 Million Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Massachusetts woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield, Mass., to her execution of an approximately $10 million Ponzi scheme involving over 200 victims.
Barbara A. Hirshfield, 83, of Lexington, Mass. pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for Jan. 7, 2026. Hirshfield was charged in July 2026.
Hirshfield owned and operated Ideal Financial Services, Inc. (Ideal) in West Springfield, Mass., as well as Ideal Financial Holdings (Ideal Holdings). Ideal purported to operate a motor vehicle and small loan business and raised money from investors by selling promissory notes that guaranteed investors high rates of returns. Investors were led to believe that their money would be used to fund Ideal’s lending business and that the returns on their investments would be generated from borrowers’ loan payments.
In 2012, the Massachusetts Division of Banks (MDB) became concerned about Ideal’s finances and required Ideal to cease soliciting and accepting outside investment funds to finance its business. Hirshfield did not disclose to investors that the MDB had required Ideal to cease fundraising. Instead, Hirshfield continued to raise outside funds through the sale of promissory notes.
In 2014, after MDB remained concerned about Ideal’s finances, the MDB revoked Ideal’s licenses to issue motor vehicle and small loans – effectively preventing the company from continuing the lending business, its primary source of revenue. Hirshfield did not disclose to investors that the MDB had revoked Ideal’s licenses, nor did she disclose that Ideal was no longer generating revenue by issuing loans. Instead, Hirshfield continued to solicit investments through the sale of promissory notes.
By at least 2019, Ideal was generating little to no revenue from lending and instead relied almost entirely on money raised from new investments. Rather than disclosing the company’s financial condition, Hirshfield continued marketing promissory notes. Hirshfield used money obtained from new investments to make interest and principal payments owed to earlier investors, operating Ideal as a Ponzi scheme. Hirshfield continued operating the Ponzi scheme until approximately June 2025, when she was no longer able to make interest payments or repay the principal owed on outstanding promissory notes.
In late 2024, Ideal failed to make promised interest payments to investors. Rather than disclose the company’s true financial condition, Hirshfield blamed payment delays on banking issues, fraud, data breaches and stolen or lost checks, while continuing to solicit additional investments through emails offering increasingly high rates of return.
The scheme resulted in losses of approximately $10,930,940 to approximately 204 victims. More than 25 victims suffered substantial financial hardship as a result of the fraud.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $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 and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Securities Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Marlborough Man Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Marlborough man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester for allegedly attempting to pay $150 to have sex with a purported 15-year-old minor.
James Gill, 39, of Marlborough, was indicted on one count of Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor. Gill was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint in July 2026. An arraignment date has not yet been scheduled by the Court.
According to the charging documents, Gill allegedly responded to an advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex. During subsequent text messages and a phone call with an undercover agent posing as the sister of a purported 15-year-old girl, the agent stated that the minor was available to engage in commercial sex acts. Gill allegedly agreed to pay $150 to have sex with the minor and stated that he intended to video record the sexual encounter. It is further alleged that Gill requested photographs of the purported minor and sent a nude photograph of himself to be shown to her. Gill was arrested upon his arrival at a prearranged hotel to meet the purported minor.
The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a child provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to life in prison, five 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.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Noto of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Madison Man Sentenced to More Than 3 Years for Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Curtis Bell, 56, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James Peterson to 40 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Bell pleaded guilty to this charge on May 18, 2026.
On April 8, 2022, a woman reported that her gun had been stolen from the trunk of her car. The gun was returned to the woman approximately one year later. DNA testing of the gun revealed Bell’s DNA on the handgrip and the trigger. At sentencing Bell admitted that he had stolen the gun to pay a drug debt.
Bell is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions; including convictions for false imprisonment, burglary, possession of narcotics, and possessing a firearm as a felon.
At sentencing, Judge Peterson stressed that the goal of sentencing was to protect the community and found that Bell was an acute risk to public safety. Judge Peterson said that Bell’s pattern of sustained harassment of and violence against women, including six convictions since 2020, was an aggravating factor.
The charge against Bell was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department, Dane County Narcotics Task Force, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger prosecuted this case.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime
Largo, Maryland Man Sentenced in D.C. to Nine Years in Prison for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Marshall Day, 40, of Largo, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 108 months in federal prison in connection with his possession of six videos on his cell phone that depicted child sexual abuse, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Day, aka “KingDaddy89” and “Mike LeRoy,” pleaded March 12, 2026, before Judge Jia M. Cobb to one count of transportation of child pornography. In addition to the 108-month prison sentence, Judge Cobb ordered Day to serve 10 years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, on Oct. 8, 2025, Day logged into a fetish website and attempted to arrange a sexual encounter. One of the people with whom Day exchanged messages asked Day if he was “into taboo” because he had a “girl in his life.” Day replied that he was “very much into taboo” and had “no hard limits.” As the chat continued, the individual explained that he had a nine-year-old daughter and “when we play its more like a game.”
After further text messages, on October 9, Day exchanged phone numbers with the person and arranged to meet in the District’s Chinatown neighborhood so that he could sexually abuse the purported girl. On October 10, Day arrived at the prearranged meeting spot. A man sitting nearby asked Day if he was “Mike.” When Day indicated that he was, law enforcement from the FBI and Metropolitan Police Department’s Child Exploitation Task Force arrested him.
While traveling from Maryland to the District, Day had his cell phone in his possession. In the phone’s download folder, Day had stored six videos depicting child sex abuse that he had downloaded during the previous two days and a pair of still images of child pornography he had downloaded earlier that year. Day acknowledged that he had no legal justification for having the files on his phone as he traveled from Maryland into the District that day.
This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Kelley.
It was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Justice Department Seeks Relief for Maryland Military Families from Illegal FeesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department has issued a letter urging the Maryland Department of Transportation to stop efforts to collect nonresident vehicle permit fees from servicemembers and their spouses that violate the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).
Under Maryland’s current policy, military families across the state are effectively taxed twice when they register a vehicle in their home state and then relocate to Maryland for military service.
“Relocation for military service is already a costly endeavor,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “If a vehicle belonging to a servicemember or their spouse is registered in their home state, then that family has already paid their fair share. They should not also be required to pay additional taxes or fees in each state that they move to in compliance with military orders.”
The Department is asking Maryland, consistent with the SCRA, to exempt servicemembers and their spouses from the Motor Vehicle Administration’s nonresident vehicle permit fees, refund amounts they have already collected, and update their policies and trainings to ensure that military families are not subject to such fees going forward.
For more information about the Department’s enforcement efforts under the SCRA and other laws that protect the rights of servicemembers and their families, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
Jury Convicts Sean Alfortish for Role in Staged Collision SchemeRead the Press Release
New Orleans – Today, U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced that a jury returned a verdict of guilty for Sean Alfortish (“Alfortish”), convicting him of his role in a years-long scheme to defraud trucking and insurance companies.
Specifically, Sean Alfortish was found guilty of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. The jury did not reach a verdict on charges against Alfortish and codefendant Leon Parker (“Parker”) relating to the murder of Cornelius Garrison, III (“Garrison”), a cooperating witness for the FBI. Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter declared a mistrial on those counts.
Alfortish was also convicted on one count of obstruction of justice and one count of witness tampering relating to Garrison. Specifically, Alfortish was convicted of offering to move Garrison out of the country and offering him $500,000 to take the fall for the staged wrecks scheme. Alfortish was found not guilty on two counts alleging that he had paid an inmate in St. Charles Parish Jail to lie under oath.
In total, Alfortish faces a total statutory sentence of 90 years. Parker previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and two counts of mail fraud. He faces a total statutory sentence of 60 years.
“Today’s verdict is an important step towards justice for the victims of this scheme,” said U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. “Alfortish and Parker exploited the courts to benefit themselves and their confederates. The jury’s verdict demonstrates the dedication of the Department of Justice to preserving the integrity of our justice system.”
“The FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office worked hundreds of hours to make sure justice would be done for Mr. Garrison and his family, and for the people of Louisiana,” said Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Tapp of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “We will continue our work to expose criminal wrongdoing, undeterred.”
This verdict was the result of countless hours of hard work by the investigators, support teams, and prosecutors assigned to this case. The dedication to duty and cooperation between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice Criminal Division, and FBI New Orleans, paved the way for today’s successful outcome.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle, and the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section of the Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice, would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the Louisiana State Police with this matter, and extend their thanks for the assistance of the United States Marshals Service, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Metropolitan Crime Commission.
The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Payne, Senior Litigation Counsel; Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division and Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit; Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman; and U.S. Department of Justice Trial Attorneys J. Ryan McLaren and Samir Paul, of the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section.
Jury Convicts Orleans Parish Man of Brandishing a Firearm During a CarjackingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – On September 1, 2026, DEVON FRITH, (“FRITH”), age 27, of New Orleans, was found guilty of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, 2026.
This is the second federal conviction for carjacking the United States government has obtained from FRITH.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on June 4, 2022, on the Westbank of New Orleans, FRITH brandished a firearm and stole a motor scooter. Approximately ten months later, FRITH brandished a weapon and stole a motor vehicle from another victim. FRITH later pleaded guilty to the second carjacking.
FRITH was convicted in Count 1 for carjacking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §2119(1). At sentencing for Count 1, FRITH faces up to 15 years in jail. Count 2 was using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). At sentencing for Count 2, FRITH faces a mandatory minimum 7 years, up to life in prison, which must be run consecutive to Count 1.
United States Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Trummel and David Berman of the Violent Crimes Unit.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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Jury Convicts Omaha Man for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that on August 26, 2026, a federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Juan Carlos Cardenas Portugal, 46, of Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. The verdicts followed a two-and-a-half-day trial in front of United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2026. Cardenas Portugal faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment.
Cardenas Portugal’s charges stem from his involvement with a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Customers contact the source via Telegram, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger and order the drugs. The source then sends a local courier previously supplied with drugs to meet the customer and complete the transaction.
The evidence at trial established that in February 2025, an undercover officer ordered one pound of methamphetamine from the Mexican source of supply. The same day the source sent the undercover to Cardenas Portugal’s Omaha residence where Cardenas Portugal sold the officer one pound of methamphetamine. A few weeks later officers executed a search warrant on the residence and seized approximately 3 pounds of methamphetamine and evidence of drug trafficking.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.
Judge Deals 30-Year Federal Sentence to Texas Felon who Trafficked Fentanyl in State PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A convicted felon already serving a state prison sentence was sentenced in a U.S. District Court to 360 months in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl while in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Verndale Ray Seals, 36, was convicted in 2016 for armed robbery, for which he was sentenced to 20 years in a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison. While imprisoned, Seals helped organize an extensive conspiracy smuggling fentanyl and other narcotics into TDCJ prisons. Seals operated a network sourcing fentanyl and other drugs to produce drug-soaked sheets of paper that were distributed inside the prisons.
Seals was indicted on Nov. 1, 2023, along with several co-conspirators. He pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl.
On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam ordered Seals to serve a 30-year federal prison sentence, which will begin at the conclusion of his state sentence.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and TDCJ investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski prosecuted the case.
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