Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
22 January 2026
Lawrence County Woman Sentenced for Wire Fraud Targeting the Missouri LotteryRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mt. Vernon, Mo., woman was sentenced in federal court today for her role in a wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud scheme that targeted the Missouri Lottery Commission and an area gas station.
Amy Young, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool to 23 months imprisonment with the Bureau of Prisons based upon her prior guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.
Young conspired with others to employ a scheme to purchase Missouri lottery tickets using stolen and fraudulent credit cards and credit card numbers at a Joplin, Mo., gas station. Young and her co-conspirators made $62,082.50 in fraudulent transactions at the gas station in July and August of 2022. These transactions included the purchase of Missouri Lottery tickets. The perpetrators would send other individuals to collect any cash prizes associated with the tickets. The group fraudulently claimed $54,248 in cash prizes from the Missouri Lottery Commission. The fraudulent cash prizes and credit card transactions totaled $116,330.50.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joplin, Missouri, Police Department.
Laurel man pleads guilty to illegal possession of ammunitionRead the Press Release
BILLINGS - A Laurel man accused of possessing a firearm illegally admitted to charges on Tuesday, January 20, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Kenton Charles Maslen, 64, pleaded guilty to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Maslen faces a term of imprisonment of 15 years, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set for a later date. Maslen was detained further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on April 19, 2025, law enforcement was asked to assist with the eviction of Maslen from a residence in Laurel, Montana. During the search, law enforcement observed a white crystalline substance on a piece of glass in Maslen’s bedroom. Based on this discovery, law enforcement obtained a search warrant on the same day and discovered the following:
- The search in Maslen’s bedroom yielded a brown leather handgun holster a green ammunition can. The can contained boxes of .22 caliber ammo and 12-gauge shotgun ammunition.
- In the driveway of Maslen’s residence was a fifth-wheel camper Maslen claimed as his own. During the search of the camper, a black 12-gauge shotgun was in a case. The shotgun did not have a serial number, and it appeared that the barrel had been cut short to approximately 16 inches. The case also contained a loaded pistol magazine for a Smith and Wesson pistol, more shotgun ammunition and 9mm ammunition.
- On the floor of the camper was a compartment that agents were able to open. They discovered another firearm, a North American Arms .17 caliber revolver.
- Law enforcement also searched the defendant’s truck and discovered a gun box containing a Ruger “Single Six” .22 caliber revolver.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno Baucus prosecuted the case. The ATF, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation.
XXX
Lamar Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Federal Prison for Drug DealingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Kenneth Johnston, Jr., 46, of Lamar, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 8, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for Distribution of at Least 50 Grams of Actual Methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Johnston to 151 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Johnston’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
Johnston was arrested following an investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol and CODE Drug Task Force. In the course of that investigation, Johnston sold a half pound of methamphetamine to a cooperating individual at a gas station in Big Springs, Nebraska, on two separate occasions in July of 2023. Subsequent testing by the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab confirmed that the substance was in fact methamphetamine, with a purity of 100%. At the time of the sales, Johnston was out on bond on a state case for simple possession of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and CODE Task Forces which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Kansas City Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing a Bank with a FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today for robbing a local bank with the use of a firearm.
Richie E. Manley, 50, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, to one count of aiding & abetting bank robbery, along with one count of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
On Oct. 3, 2024, at approximately 10:43 a.m., Richie E. Manley entered a bank in Kansas City, Missouri. While speaking to a bank teller, Manley pulled out a handgun, later determined to be a Smith and Wesson, Model SD, .40 caliber pistol, and told the tellers “give me your money.” While pointing the pistol at the tellers, Manley told the tellers to give him the “hundreds.” The tellers provided the money from the bank drawers and Manley took the money and fled the bank. The bank reported an estimated loss of $2,155 from the robbery. The bank was federally insured by the FDIC.
Under federal statutes, Manley is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, up to life in federal prison without parole. The minimum and maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department (KCPD).
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tracy Don Jackson Jr., 23, of St. Albans, was sentenced on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, to one year and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 15, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Charleston residence where they encountered Jackson sleeping on a couch in the living room. Officers found a quantity of a heroin-fentanyl mix and a Glock model G48 9mm pistol between the arm of the couch and the couch cushion underneath Jackson. As part of his guilty plea, Jackson admitted that he possessed the drugs and intended to distribute them within the Southern District of West Virginia.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department.
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-98.
###
Japanese National Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Export Firearm Components and Tactical Accessories to JapanRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Shota Yamamoto, 29, of Tokyo, Japan, pled guilty today in federal court to conspiring to violate the Export Control Reform Act. Sentencing is set for June 1, 2026, before United States District Judge Micah W.J. Smith.
According to court records, from approximately March 2024 through July 2025, Yamamoto conspired with another person to export firearm components and tactical accessories from the United States to Japan without the required licenses. Yamamoto intended to use those items to retrofit airsoft equipment for sale to airsoft enthusiasts in Japan seeking highly realistic equipment. Airsoft is a recreational activity in which participants use replica firearms to engage in simulated combat scenarios using non-metallic pellets.
Yamamoto used an address in Hawaii to receive shipments from U.S. firearms components and accessories dealers, and then arranged for their export to Japan, either by carrying them in checked luggage or by shipping them through a commercial shipping company. Yamamoto admitted that he exported or attempted to export over 900 firearms components and accessories, including AR-15 lower receiver parts kits, upper receivers, magazines, and similar components, each of which required a license to export that Yamamoto did not have.
Yamamoto faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a period of supervised release of up to three years.
Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Department of Commerce – Bureau of Industry and Security investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese is prosecuting the case.
January Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the January Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Whitney Lynn Adney. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. Adney, 36, of Kinta and a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is charged with assaulting the victim with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm. The FBI and the Pryor Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Weems is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-019
Rigo Alberto Amaya-Vasquez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Amaya-Vasquez, 38, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Feb. 2018 and Sep. 2018. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema Onias is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-020
Mark Wayne Craine. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Craine, 65, of Tulsa, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from October 2025 through January 2026. The U.S. Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-021
Samantha Ann Demaro. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Demaro, 32, of Owasso, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elmore is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-032
Osiel Garcia-Estrada. Fraud and Misuse of Visas and Permits. Garcia-Estrada, 43, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing a fraudulent Social Security card. Homeland Security Investigations and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Greenough is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-022Nicolas Gonzalez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Gonzalez, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2017 and Aug. 2018. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-025
Jason Allen Matthew Harjo. Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12. Harjo, 55, of Oklahoma City and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with engaging in and causing sexual contact with a minor child under 12 years old. The FBI and the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-023
Allontae Taquon Jackson. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Jackson, 22, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-024
Carmen Ana Llompart Cruz. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Llompart Cruz, 41, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. She is further charged with maintaining a residence for drug distribution. Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-031
Deaunte Khyree Spirlin. Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Spirlin, 36, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with assaulting the victim with a deadly weapon with intent to do bodily harm. Additionally, Spirlin is charged with using a firearm during a crime of violence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shakema Onias is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-026
Iowa Woman to Federal Prison for Meth ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Starr Ledford, 43, from Manson and Atlantic, Iowa, was sentenced on January 21, 2026, to 60 months’ imprisonment. Ledford pled guilty July 22, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from January 2024 through May 2024, Ledford and others were involved in a conspiracy that distributed at least three pounds of pure methamphetamine in the Fort Dodge, Iowa, area. Evidence further showed that on two occasions in April 2024, Ledford distributed a total of more than 300 grams of pure methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement. In May 2024, law enforcement conducted surveillance of Ledford as she traveled to Omaha, Nebraska and it was later determined she obtained about ½ pound of methamphetamine from her source of supply in Omaha. Ledford obtained methamphetamine multiple times from her source in Omaha to re-distribute in and around Fort Dodge.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Ledford to 60 months’ imprisonment. Ledford must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Ledford remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Council Bluffs Police Department, and the Iowa DCI Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-3006. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Investiture Ceremony for United States Attorney Moore CapitoRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The investiture ceremony for Moore Capito, United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Capito will be joined by United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito, United States Senator James Conley Justice II, members of the Judiciary, and distinguished guests and family to celebrate his appointment. He will also outline his visions and goals for the Southern District of West Virginia and the importance of serving as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District.
This is the formal, public swearing-in ceremony for U.S. Attorney Capito, who was nominated by President Donald J. Trump on June 30, 2025. The United States Senate confirmed Capito on October 7, 2025.
WHAT: Investiture Ceremony for Moore Capito as United States Attorney, Southern District of West Virginia
WHEN: Friday, January 23, 2026, at 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Seventh Floor Ceremonial Courtroom, Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse, 300 Virginia Street, East, Charleston
NOTE: All media must present government-issued photo I.D. (Such as a driver’s license) and valid media credentials. Media are to enter the courthouse via the Goshorn Street loading dock, across the street from the Kanawha County Judicial Annex. Media may begin arriving at 2 p.m. and must have cameras set by 2:30 p.m. Media should RSVP to USAWVS.Ceremony@usdoj.gov.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
###
International Arms Dealer Sentenced to 39 Months’ Imprisonment for Conspiring to Export American-Made Firearms and Ammunition to RussiaRead the Press Release
Earlier today in federal court in Brooklyn, Kyrgyz national Sergei Zharnovnikov was sentenced to 39 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to export American-made firearms. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Hector Gonzalez. The defendant illegally exported firearms and ammunition worth over $1.5 million from the United States to Russia, by way of Kyrgyzstan. Zharnovnikov does not have lawful permanent resident status and faces deportation upon sentencing.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Terence G. Reilly, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jonathan Carson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office (DOC), announced the sentence.
“The defendant bought American-made, military-grade firearms and ammunition and reexported them to Russia—the same brand of firearms and ammunition known to be used in Russia’s war against Ukraine,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our sanctions are only as effective as our ability to enforce them. Today’s sentence is a message to would-be violators: breaking this law has serious consequences.”
“Sergei Zharnovnikov circumvented international trade law to illegally provide Russia with American firearms – including semiautomatic rifles – and ammunition worth more than one million dollars,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Reilly. “His blatant lies directly fueled Russia’s military siege against Ukraine with American-made weapons. May today’s sentencing reflect the FBI’s steadfast commitment to preventing enemy nations from exploiting export restrictions to accomplish their malevolent agendas.”
According to court filings, the defendant was an arms dealer who operated through a company that he owned located in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyzstan Company-1). Since at least March 2020, the defendant, together with others, conspired to export firearms and ammunition controlled by the DOC from the United States to Russia. The defendant exported approximately $1.58 million worth of U.S.-manufactured firearms and ammunition from the United States to Russia.
In one transaction, the defendant entered into a five‑year, $900,000 contract with a company in the United States (“U.S. Company‑1”) to purchase and export U.S. Company-1 firearms to Kyrgyzstan. DOC issued a license for U.S. Company-1 to export firearms to Kyrgyzstan Company-1, but the license prohibited the export or reexport of the firearms to Russia. Nevertheless, the defendant reexported U.S. Company‑1 firearms to Russia (via Kyrgyzstan), including semi‑automatic hybrid rifle-pistols., without a license
In another transaction, the defendant reexported five rifles from a second U.S. Company (“U.S. Company-2”) to Russia, via Kyrgyzstan. Here too, the DOC license prohibited the rifles from being reexported out of Kyrgyzstan. Notably, U.S. Company-2 rifles have been used by Russian military snipers, including by Russian battalions known to be active in key battles in Ukraine.
Finally, the defendant conspired to illegally reexport U.S.‑manufactured ammunition from Italy to Kyrgyzstan (and eventually Russia), in violation of U.S. law. The defendant, together with others, placed an order and received 13,000 rounds of ammunition from a third U.S. company (“U.S. Company-3”) worth $23,000 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan by way of Italy. The license for this ammunition required that the ammunition stay in Italy. Nevertheless, the defendant flouted U.S. law and reexported the U.S. Company-3 ammunition from Italy to Kyrgyzstan. U.S. Company-3 ammunition has reportedly been used in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorney Ellen H. Sise is in charge of the prosecution, along with Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, with assistance from Litigation Analyst Rebecca Roth.
The Defendants:
SERGEI ZHARNOVNIKOV
AGE: 47
Bishkek, KyrgyzstanE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-45 (HG)
Interim U.S. Attorney Recognizes National Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. To commemorate the month and continue to raise awareness about this important issue, Interim U.S. Attorney Chadwick M. Elgersma reaffirmed his office’s commitment to fight against human trafficking by bringing traffickers to justice, dismantling human trafficking networks, assisting trafficked victims, and enhancing public awareness through community outreach.
“Working with our law enforcement and community partners, we will continue to raise awareness and shine a light on all forms of human trafficking,” said Interim U.S. Attorney Elgersma. “My office will continue to identify and prosecute those who use fraud, force, and coercion to profit from the exploitation of others.”
Human trafficking is a crime involving the exploitation of a person for labor, services, or commercial sex, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Under federal law, methods of coercion include physical or nonphysical (for example, psychological, financial, and reputational), as well as using or threatening to use a legal process in an inappropriate manner. The exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion is used by the trafficker.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office encourages victims to come forward. If you, or someone you know, has been made to engage in prostitution, unwanted sex acts for money, drugs, or any items of value, or forced labor, help is available. There are advocates committed to help you find support and resources. There are local, state, and federal law enforcement officers dedicated to investigating human trafficking. There are prosecutors who will work with law enforcement to hold traffickers accountable.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s ongoing anti-trafficking efforts have resulted in many prosecutions that have led to convictions and prison sentences. Recent notable sentencings and guilty pleas include:
United States v. Austin Koeckeritz. On April 11, 2024, Koeckeritz of River Falls, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and a life-term of supervised release for one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and one count of sex trafficking of a minor. Between August 2020 and August 2022, Koeckeritz used violence, threats of violence, emotional manipulation, isolation, and surveillance to compel an adult victim to perform commercial sexual acts online between eight and 12 hours a day, six days a week. Koeckeritz controlled and maintained all proceeds made by the adult victim from this online commercial sex work. Between October 2021 and January 2022, Koeckeritz also recruited a minor to engage in commercial sex acts and promote the adult victim’s online commercial sex work. He also caused the minor victim to engage in sexual acts that he photographed with the intent to sell them online. As part of his sentence, Koeckeritz was ordered to pay over $400,000 in restitution.
United States v. Raymond Armour. On October 29, 2024, Armour was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for two counts of transporting an individual across state lines with the intent to engage in prostitution. His prison sentence will be followed by a term of 20 years of supervised release. Raymond Armour encountered two minors, ages 14 and 15, in Dubuque, Iowa, and drove them across the state lines to his residence in Cassville, Wisconsin. Armour posted photos of the victims on online platforms, offering for them to engage in various sexual services in exchange for money.
United States v. Dwayne “Swag” Davis. On January 12, 2026, Davis pled guilty to sex trafficking of a minor. According to court documents, Davis recruited a 16-year-old minor to engage in commercial sex acts for him in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Davis utilized online platforms to offer the minor victim for commercial sexual activities in exchange for money. Davis arranged for the minor to be transported to these meetups. Davis kept control of all the money that was paid for the sexual acts. The penalties for this charge are a mandatory minimum of ten years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison.
How to Report Human Trafficking
If you believe you or someone else are the victim of human trafficking or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888
Specialists are available to answer calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also send a text to 233733 or start a live chat or submit a tip online at humantraffickinghotline.org.
Illegal alien sentenced for gun trafficking in Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas –An illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Abigael Colin Saldana, 28, pleaded guilty to trafficking firearms and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant, III on January 21, 2026.
According to information presented in court, beginning in 2021, Saldana, who is a Mexican national illegally living in Royse City, was part of a firearms trafficking conspiracy responsible for trafficking firearms from Texas to Mexico.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Texas Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson.
##
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jorge Alberto Mejia Rodriguez, a/k/a Alberto Mejia, a/k/a Jorge Mejia, age 44, a Mexican national unlawfully present/residing in Bryan County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Indictment alleged that on November 17, 2025, Rodriguez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on August 23, 2014, and on September 27, 2018.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Rodriguez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edith A. Singer and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Honduran man sentenced on immigration chargesRead the Press Release
MISSOULA – A Honduran man who entered the United States illegally was sentenced today to time served, 192 days, and was remanded to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Grevil Lopez Flores, 36, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of reentry of removed alien.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on July 12, 2025, Lopez Flores was arrested for driving under the influence in Bozeman. The detention facility notified the Department of Homeland Security that he matched the description of an individual with immigration arrests and prior deportations.
Fingerprint comparisons confirmed Lopez Flores was issued a final order of removal on April 23, 2019, and has been removed from the United States on one prior occasion. On May 15, 2019, he was removed through the Mesa, Arizona, port of entry. He was served with notice barring him from returning to the United States for 10 years.
During an interview on July 14, 2025, Lopez Flores provided his name and his date of birth. He confirmed he is a Honduran national and citizen and has no documents to enter or remain in the United States.
There is no indication in the files of the Department of Homeland Security Lopez Flores ever applied for or obtained the permission of the United States Attorney General or successor, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, to reenter the United States.
Prior criminal history for Lopez Flores includes a December 7, 2018, conviction in the United States District Court, District of Wyoming, for operating a vehicle under the influence, a misdemeanor, for which he was sentenced to a term of six days in jail and a fine.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bozeman Police Department, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, and Department of Homeland Security Enforcement and Removal Office conducted the investigation.
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.
XXX
Honduran Citizen Indicted on Illegal Re-Entry After Aggravated Felony Conviction and Removal ChargeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a citizen and national of Honduras, on an illegal re-entry after aggravated felony conviction and removal charge.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.
Carlos Amador Lopez, 29, is charged with illegally re-entering the U.S. after he was convicted for committing an aggravated felony and being removed. According to the indictment, law enforcement encountered Lopez in the District of Maryland again in December 2025.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.
Lopez faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for illegal re-entry after an aggravated felony conviction.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Jared M. Beim who is prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Hastings Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and a Related Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Andrew Juarez, 38, of Hastings, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 8, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and one count of using, carrying, or possessing a firearm during and relation to a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Juarez to a total of 230 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Juarez’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
Between January 24, 2024, and March 23, 2024, CODE and TRIDENT task forces coordinated eight controlled buys of methamphetamine from Sonia Martinez and Andrew Juarez. Four of the controlled buys also involved purchasing six firearms. The buys were coordinated by a confidential informant and by an undercover officer. The Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab confirmed at least 470 grams of methamphetamine actual and at least 450 grams of methamphetamine mixture from the eight controlled buys in total.
Co-defendant Martinez is currently set for sentencing on March 12, 2026, before United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis.
This case was investigated by the TRIDENT and CODE Task Forces which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Hampton felon sentenced to three years in prison for illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced yesterday to three years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on March 8, 2025, Newport News Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jermain Antonio Bernard, 41, for driving at night without using headlights. An officer smelled alcohol as he approached the vehicle and observed that Bernard’s eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and the officer called for backup to administer a field-sobriety test.
During the traffic stop, the officer observed a firearm near Bernard. When the officer told Bernard he could see the firearm, Bernard fled in his vehicle. Bernard eventually stopped his vehicle and fled on foot. After a brief chase, police found Bernard knocking on a door to an apartment and arrested him. Officers then recovered the loaded handgun from Bernard’s vehicle.
At the time of his arrest, Bernard had approximately 24 previous convictions, including for firearms charges. As a convicted felon, Bernard cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division and the Newport News Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack Coleman 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 protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:25-cr-47.
Guatemalan national pleads guilty to illegally reentering United StatesRead the Press Release
CINCINNATI – A Guatemalan man who was twice convicted in Warren County of sex crimes involving minors pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to illegally reentering the United States.
Cincinnati Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) agents learned of a warrant from Guatemala for the arrest of William Noe Cuellar Montufa for homicide.
Cuellar Montufa, 39, was illegally residing in Cincinnati and was arrested in Colerain Township, Ohio, on Oct. 29.
“This defendant illegally reentered the country after being deported following his convictions for sex crimes and is now wanted for murder in Guatemala,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “The identification, apprehension, and prosecution of criminal illegal aliens like Cuellar Montufa is essential to protect our communities, and my office will continue aggressively to pursue these cases.”
Court documents detail that U.S. Border Patrol intelligence agents alerted the Cincinnati HSTF to Cuellar Montufa’s potential presence in the area and described vehicles possibly associated with the defendant. Further investigation by the HSTF agents led them to surveil Cuellar Montufa’s residence, where one of the associated vehicles was located. He was subsequently apprehended.
The defendant was convicted in Warren County in January 2006 for attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and in September 2007 for unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Cuellar Montufa was deported in 2008 following his terms of incarceration.
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.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Jared Murphey, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, announced the guilty plea entered on Jan. 21 before U.S. District Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney Danielle E. Margeaux is representing the United States in this case.
# # #
Guatemalan National Sentenced to Five Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Guatemalan national has been sentenced for illegally returning to the United States after deportation, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
United States District Judge Liles C. Burke sentenced Lucas Lucas-De Lucas, 36, to 60 months in prison for illegal reentry of a previously deported alien.
According to court documents, Lucas has two prior felony convictions for illegal reentry. He was first removed from the United States in May 2012. He was removed again in December 2019, February 2021, and April 2023.
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.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Albertville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara M. Judah prosecuted the case.
Guatemalan National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Reentry and Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Jairon Michael Juarez-Gomez (36, Guatemala) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 18 months in federal prison for illegal reentry by a previously deported alien and failure to register as a sex offender. Juarez entered a guilty plea on October 22, 2025.
According to court documents, Juarez is a citizen and national of Guatemala. He is also a registered sex offender following his 2020 Florida conviction for sexual battery with a child. Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”) a sex offender is required to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction where the offender resides and is employed.
On December 29, 2020, Juarez was deported from the United States to Guatemala. Afterward, he illegally returned and began living in the Middle District of Florida. When he did so, he failed to update his sexual offender registration as required by SORNA. On August 8, 2025, law enforcement discovered Juarez during a traffic stop. Juarez provided the officer with a false name and date of birth, but authorities soon confirmed his identity. When interviewed by law enforcement, Juarez eventually admitted that he had unlawfully been in the United States for the previous four years.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Mount Dora Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
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.
Guatemalan National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MARCOS ISMALEJ IXPANCOC, also known as Marcos Hernandez Lopez and Jose Ernandez, 39, a citizen of Guatemala recently residing in Stamford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 30 days of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2006, Ixpancoc was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. He identified himself to U.S. Border Patrol as Marcos Hernandez Lopez, claimed to be a citizen of Mexico, and was issued a voluntary return to Mexico. In August 2012, Ixpancoc was again apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas. He identified himself as Jose Ernandez and claimed to be a citizen of Guatemala. He was removed to Guatemala in September 2012. In June 2023, Ixpancoc submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) an application for legal permanent residency and work authorization under his true name and listed a home address in Stamford. The fingerprints that USCIS collected in connection with those applications matched those collected when he was apprehended and removed under the names Marcos Hernandez Lopez and Jose Ernandez in 2006 and 2012. These applications, which Ixpancoc signed under penalty of perjury, contained several false statements.
On November 1, 2025, Ixpancoc was arrested by Homeland Security Investigations. He pleaded guilty to illegal reentry on December 4.
Ixpancoc, who has been detained since his arrest, will be removed to Guatemala when he completes his prison term.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
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.
Guatemalan Citizen and Convicted Felon Guilty of Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today that FEDERICO MENDEZ-FRANCISCO a/k/a “JORGE SANTOS ARROYO,” a/k/a “JORGE A. GORDILLO,” a/k/a “FEDERICO MENDEZ,” a/k/a “FREDERICO MENDEZ,” a/k/a “FEDERICO MENDEZ FRANCISCO,” (“MENDEZ-FRANCISCO”), age 40, a native of Guatemala, pled guilty to re-entry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a) and 1326(b)(1).
According to court documents, on May 15, 2024, MENDEZ-FRANCISCO pled guilty to Domestic Abuse-Child under 13 Present, a felony, in the 24th Judicial District Court Parish of Jefferson. The United States government removed MENDEZ-FRANCISCO from the United States on July 3, 2024. Law enforcement authorities later located MENDEZ-FRANCISCO, an illegal alien, in Jefferson Parish on May 2, 2025. MENDEZ-FRANCISCO had not received permission from the Attorney General of the United States or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the United States.
United States District Judge Brandon S. Long set sentencing for April 14, 2026. At sentencing, MENDEZ-FRANCISCO faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten (10) years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (“ICE-ERO”) in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Duane A. Evans of the General Crimes Unit is prosecuting the matter.
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).
* * *
Grand Island Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Attempting Malicious Damage to Federal Property Using Explosive Materials and Destruction of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Eulisis Martin, 35, of Grand Island, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 8, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of attempting malicious damage to federal property using explosive materials and one count of destruction of government property over $1,000. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Martin to a total of 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Martin’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release. Additionally, Martin will have to pay $1,841.65 in restitution.
On or about June 9, 2025, at approximately 1:15 a.m., Martin spray-painted “KILL ICE” on the front window of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office located in Grand Island. Martin then proceeded to the rear of the building, where he took a homemade Molotov cocktail, lit it, and threw it at the ICE office building. However, the Molotov cocktail did not fully function. A Molotov cocktail is a homemade explosive device which is used to start fires and/or cause explosions.
On June 14, 2025, at approximately 1:30 a.m., Martin returned to the location of the ICE office and punctured tires on seven different vehicles owned by the United States Department of Agriculture which were parked behind the ICE office. An officer with Grand Island Police Department observed Martin at the location before he fled the scene.
On June 16, 2025, a search warrant for Martin’s residence was executed. In his bedroom, law enforcement found two additional Molotov cocktails that matched the same design as the ones found at the ICE office, notes discussing what items to purchase to make a Molotov cocktail, and notes discussing how to properly use a Molotov cocktail.
On June 17, 2025, a search warrant for Martin’s vehicle was executed. Law enforcement found men’s boots that matched a boot print found at the ICE office, white spray paint, dark clothing, and a knife.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Grand Island Police Department.
Glastonbury Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Bath Salt Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that HARRISON ELBA, 35, formerly of Glastonbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 108 months of imprisonment, seven years of supervised release, and a $5,000 fine for possessing with intent to distribute dimethylpentylone, commonly known as “bath salts.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 19, 2019, Judge Underhill sentenced Elba to five years of probation for his role in a narcotics distribution conspiracy. In June 2023, Judge Underhill granted Elba’s motion for early termination of his probation, which claimed his rehabilitation was “complete.”
In 2023, an investigation revealed that Elba possessed with intent to distribute bath salts at the John Fitch Distilling Company, a business he operated in South Windsor. On May 2, 2023, investigators seized approximately 10 kilograms of the drug from the business. Elba was arrested on September 14, 2023, and was detained until October 9, 2024, when he was released on bond.
On January 10, 2025, Elba pleaded guilty pursuant to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and admitted additional conduct, including:
- Between April and June 2023, Elba operated a drug manufacturing facility in Bloomfield where he and others manufactured and distributed psilocybin mushrooms and THC products, along with large quantities of bagged marijuana intended for distribution.
- In approximately March 2021, Elba arranged to purchase 200 pounds of marijuana from two individuals in Vermont. Instead of making the purchase, Elba and others travelled to Vermont to rob the two individuals. Elba met the individuals in a hotel room, confirmed their possession of the marijuana, and left as his associates entered the room and took the marijuana by force.
- In approximately November 2022, Elba received and distributed 10 kilograms of cocaine.
- In 2023, Elba picked up approximately six guns belonging to one his associates and delivered them to another person who could store them.
- In December 2024, Elba arranged for the mailing of a book to an inmate at the Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island, knowing that certain pages of the book were laced with synthetic cannabinoids.
The investigation further revealed that while he was released on bond, Elba is alleged to have engaged in a scheme to smuggle drugs, cellular phones, and other contraband into a federal correctional institution (FCI) in Ray Brook, New York using drones. On January 10, 2025, shortly after Elba pleaded guilty and continued to be released on bond, he communicated with an FCI Ray Brook inmate and said “I literally just got out of my guilty plea. I pled guilty. My guidelines were 97 to 121. My judge is like the best judge in Connecticut. He sentenced me five years ago…. I thought I might go back to jail today….” Elba and the inmate also discussed the drone smuggling scheme.
Elba has been detained in state custody since April 23, 2025, on charges related to his operation of the Bloomfield drug factory.
The drone smuggling scheme is currently under investigation by federal authorities.
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad with the assistance of the South Windsor Police Department, Bloomfield Police Department, Glastonbury Police Department. The DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA, and the Bristol, West Haven, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Seymour, and Torrington Police Departments.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Katherine Boyles.
Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 300 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Jason L. Pea, 32 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children and Distributing Child Pornography, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Pea was sentenced to 300 months in prison followed by lifetime supervision and ordered to pay $12,000 restitution. Pea was ordered to pay a special assessment of $5,000 pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018.
According to documents in the case, in the fall of 2024, Pea began communicating via social media with a thirteen-year-old female in Missouri. Pea offered to pay the child for sexually explicit photos and videos. After the child complied, Pea threatened to publish the photos and videos if the child did not return the money or provide him the names and contact information for her friends. The child returned a portion of the money; however, Pea distributed a sexually explicit video of the minor to another minor child. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Allen County Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force executed a search warrant at Pea’s residence in Allen County, Indiana, and found the communication devices that Pea used to commit the offenses. Pea was a registered sex offender, having been convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor in 2016.
“Jason Pea reached out through the internet to inflict devastating abuse on an innocent girl living hundreds of miles away,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “He compounded this heinous crime by threatening to distribute the products of that abuse to blackmail the minor victim into providing access to her friends. And as a final twist, he ignored the minor victim’s compliance with that blackmail and distributed the abusive materials to another minor anyway. He did all this despite having already once been convicted and punished for a sexual offense. Thankfully, the excellent work of our law enforcement and prosecutorial teams resulted in a long prison sentence and a lifetime of court-ordered supervision that will stop this repeat sex offender from preying on our children for the rest of his life. I would like to thank each and every one of them for their efforts.”
“Every image and video of child sexual abuse represents a real child who has been harmed and demands a decisive law-enforcement response,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “This 300-month sentence reflects the seriousness of the harm caused and sends a clear message that those who prey on children and distribute this material will be aggressively pursued and held fully accountable.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Allen County Sheriff’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Former St. Mary Parish Teacher Indicted for Attempting to Entice One of Her Students to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – A federal grand jury in Lafayette returned an indictment on December 17, 2025, charging Katherine Albarado with attempted enticement of a minor. Albarado faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in federal prison for the charge.
“Protecting Louisiana’s children from abuse by people in positions of trust lies at the heart of our mission to make our Louisiana communities safe,” said United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “The people entrusted with our children discharge one of the most sacred responsibilities that exists in our society, and our Office will continue working with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute those who violate that trust.”
According to information presented in court, Albarado was a high school teacher in St. Mary Parish in May 2022 when she began using her personal email account to communicate sexually explicit messages with a sixteen-year-old student whom she taught. Over a month’s time, Albarado continually tried to persuade the minor victim to engage in sexual activity with her. In addition to describing the sexual activity she wanted to do with the minor victim, Albarado also sent a video of herself undressing in an attempt to entice the minor.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Morgan City Police Department investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren L. Nickel with support from Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 6:25-cr-00355.
###
CONTACT
Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
USALAW-News@usdoj.gov
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
Former Employee Sentenced to Nine Days in Prison for Violating Security Requirements at Philadelphia International AirportRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Tiriq Henson, 34, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to nine days’ incarceration, followed by two years of supervised release, by United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer for helping another person bypass airport security at the Philadelphia International Airport.
In September of last year, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of entering an airport area in violation of security requirements.
As detailed in court filings, on March 9, 2024, Henson, then employed as a wheelchair assistant at Philadelphia’s airport, aided and abetted the entry of his associate, David Easley, into a secure airport area, permitting Easley to use the defendant’s security badge and credentials to bypass airport security entirely and gain access to the boarding area reserved for screened passengers.
Easley pleaded guilty to the same offense in July of last year and was also sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the FBI, with significant assistance from the Transportation Security Administration and the Philadelphia Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Priya De Souza.
Former Des Moines Superintendent Pleads Guilty to Firearm and False Statement ChargesRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – The former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent pleaded guilty today to both charges against him.
Ian Andre Roberts, 55, entered guilty pleas to False Statement for Employment and Illegal Alien in Possession of a Firearm.
According to public court documents, Roberts falsely stated that he was a United States citizen on employment paperwork related to his position at the Des Moines Public Schools in June 2023. Roberts was not and has never been a United States citizen. On September 26, 2025, Roberts knowingly possessed a loaded Glock pistol in his vehicle while knowing that he was unlawfully present in the United States. On the same day, Roberts also possessed three additional firearms at his residence, including a loaded pistol, a loaded rifle, and a shotgun.
Roberts is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2026, and faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison on the firearms charge and up to five years in prison on the false statements charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, investigated this case, with assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations.
roberts_plea_agreement.pdfFormer Bank Employee Pleads Guilty to Laundering Embezzled FundsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Madelyn Simone Johnson, age 22, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Property Derived from Specified Unlawful Activity, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on May 2, 2025, Johnson, while a bank employee, knowingly engaged in a monetary transaction involving property of a value greater than $10,000, which she embezzled from the bank.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Johnson will remain out on bond with conditions of release pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob R. Parker and Erin Cornell represented the United States.
Florida Nursing Assistant Convicted in $11.4M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare BeneficiariesRead the Press Release
MIAMI – A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale convicted a nursing assistant today for his role in an $11.4 million health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy in which hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries were sent thousands of orthotic braces they did not need.
“Defendant Chris Cruz blatantly lied to Medicare in order to steal over $11 million from hard-working taxpayers,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s guilty verdict demonstrates that the Criminal Division remains committed to holding criminals accountable who steal from their fellow citizens to fuel their own greed.”
“Healthcare fraud is not a paperwork offense — it is a crime that steals from seniors and undermines confidence in our healthcare system,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant was a licensed nurse who chose greed over duty, exploiting Medicare beneficiaries through a deliberate $11.4 million fraud scheme. The jury’s verdict makes clear that medical professionals who abuse their positions of trust for personal gain will face serious consequences.”
“Nursing Assistant Chris Cruz devised a scheme to enrich himself by defrauding Medicare to the tune of millions of dollars,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chris Caldwell of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The FBI and our partners will not relent in the pursuit of Medicare fraudsters - including greedy nurses.”
“This brazen scheme stole $11.4 million from Medicare and betrayed taxpayer trust,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of HHS-OIG. “HHS-OIG is steadfastly committed to ensuring that medical decisions are driven by patient need rather than financial gain. We will relentlessly pursue those who put greed over patient care and hold them accountable.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Christian “Chris” Cruz, 45, of Pompano Beach, owned and operated a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier based in Florida through which he submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces.
Cruz and his co-conspirator paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain signed doctors’ orders. They used these orders to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide and then claim payment from Medicare, including to beneficiaries who neither requested nor required the braces. Cruz lied to Medicare, claiming that he was the sole owner and operator of the company when in fact he shared ownership in the company with his co-conspirator, a convicted felon. Medicare would not have allowed the company to enroll with Medicare if it had known about Cruz’s co-conspirator. The co-conspirator has been charged but remains at large.
Cruz received several hundred thousand dollars to his personal bank account from the fraudulent scheme that he frequently withdrew in cash on consecutive days at different bank branches in South Florida, often in amounts just under the bank reporting threshold of $10,000.
Cruz was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, four counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make false statements relating to health care matters and three counts of structuring. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13 and faces a maximum penalty of 125 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling Paulson of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-60142.
###
Florida Nursing Assistant Convicted in $11.4M Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare BeneficiariesRead the Press Release
A federal jury in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, convicted a nursing assistant today for his role in an $11.4 million health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy in which hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries were sent thousands of orthotic braces they did not need.
“Defendant Chris Cruz blatantly lied to Medicare in order to steal over $11 million from hard-working taxpayers,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s guilty verdict demonstrates that the Criminal Division remains committed to holding criminals accountable who steal from their fellow citizens to fuel their own greed.”
“Nursing Assistant Chris Cruz devised a scheme to enrich himself by defrauding Medicare to the tune of millions of dollars,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chris Caldwell of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The FBI and our partners will not relent in the pursuit of Medicare fraudsters - including greedy nurses.”
“Healthcare fraud is not a paperwork offense—it is a crime that steals from seniors and undermines confidence in our healthcare system,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant was a licensed nurse who chose greed over duty, exploiting Medicare beneficiaries through a deliberate $11.4 million fraud scheme. The jury’s verdict makes clear that medical professionals who abuse their positions of trust for personal gain will face serious consequences.”
“This brazen scheme stole $11.4 million from Medicare and betrayed taxpayer trust,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of HHS-OIG. “HHS-OIG is steadfastly committed to ensuring that medical decisions are driven by patient need rather than financial gain. We will relentlessly pursue those who put greed over patient care and hold them accountable.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Christian “Chris” Cruz, 45, of Pompano Beach, Florida, owned and operated a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier based in Florida through which he submitted millions of dollars in false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary orthotic braces.
Cruz and his co-conspirator paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to obtain signed doctors’ orders. They used these orders to ship orthotic braces to Medicare beneficiaries nationwide and then claim payment from Medicare, including to beneficiaries who neither requested nor required the braces. Cruz lied to Medicare, claiming that he was the sole owner and operator of the company when in fact he shared ownership in the company with his co-conspirator, a convicted felon. Medicare would not have allowed the company to enroll with Medicare if it had known about Cruz’s co-conspirator. The co-conspirator has been charged but remains at large.
Cruz received several hundred thousand dollars to his personal bank account from the fraudulent scheme that he frequently withdrew in cash on consecutive days at different bank branches in South Florida, often in amounts just under the bank reporting threshold of $10,000.
Cruz was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud, four counts of health care fraud, one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make false statements relating to health care matters and three counts of structuring. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 13 and faces a maximum penalty of 125 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Owen Dunn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sterling Paulson of the Southern District of Florida prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Fifth Defendant in Sports Betting Fraud Ring SentencedRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The last of five Mid-South men, LaVonte Holmes, who executed a sports betting fraud scheme between 2022 and 2024, was sentenced to prison on January 20, 2026.
According to information presented in Court, the defendants purchased both stolen personal identifying information—including dates of birth and social security numbers—and bank account information off the internet to create and fund fraudulent sports betting accounts on multiple sports betting smartphone applications in order to earn account opening incentives multiple times over.
In addition to conducting the scheme in the Western District of Tennessee, the ring would travel to other states to perpetrate the fraud as well. All five defendants pled guilty to aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A and unauthorized use of an access device in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(2) and were sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.
- Lucas Gilliam, 25, was sentenced to 36 months.
- LaVonte Holmes, 24, was sentenced to 30 months.
- Lawrence Williams, 22, was sentenced to 15 months.
- Nathan Penaflor, 23, was sentenced to 6 months.
- Joshua Penaflor, 22, was sentenced to 6 months.
There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "With new and ever-changing technology, applications, and platforms, criminals are using more creative and disturbing ways to commit fraud against vulnerable victims, including identity theft. For these thieves, their bets did not pay off, and were instead parlayed into prison sentences.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Nashville Field Office-Memphis Resident Agency and the United States Secret Service, Memphis Field Office.
United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant thanked Assistant United States Attorney William Bateman, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
###
For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Federal Inmate Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possession with the Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Edwin Tollinchi-Rodriguez (40, Indiana) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber to 10 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Tollinchi pleaded guilty on September 22, 2025.
According to court records, Tollinchi was an inmate at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (“FCC Coleman”) in Sumter County. On September 5, 2024, a correctional officer conducted a pat-down search of Tollinchi’s person and discovered a package containing a white substance. A DEA laboratory subsequently analyzed the substance and determined it was methamphetamine hydrochloride with a weight of approximately 236.6 grams. When interviewed, Tollinchi told DEA agents that he was asked to collect some prohibited items from a shower at the prison and provide them to others in exchange for $500. Tollinchi also described how the amount of methamphetamine that ordinarily would fit in the lid of a lip balm container would typically sell for $400 inside the prison.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Charlotte Man with Felony for Assaulting Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury has returned a criminal indictment charging a Charlotte man with a felony for assaulting federal officers conducting immigration enforcement operations, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Miguel Angel Garcia Martinez, 24, is charged with a felony offense of assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, and interfering with federal officers engaged in their official duties.
According to allegations in filed documents and information shared in court, on November 16, 2025, federal law enforcement officers attempted to make contact with Martinez after his van was observed at two different locations where federal officers were conducting immigration related operations. When the officers approached Martinez’s van, he fled the scene, driving aggressively and at a high rate of speed. Law enforcement used sirens and lights attempting to stop Martinez, but he allegedly continued to evade law enforcement, driving erratically and swerving in and out of traffic, crossing medians and sidewalks, and driving into oncoming traffic down University Boulevard. Ultimately, Martinez’s van struck a government vehicle that had its lights and sirens activated and was occupied by four federal officers. After striking the government vehicle, Martinez continued to flee until he was stopped and taken into custody.
If convicted, Martinez faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison for the felony offense. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is joined in making the announcement by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, U.S. Border Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI.
The charges against the defendants are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
- Families need to know - dangerous vape products
Florida Inmate Indicted for Distribution, Receipt, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Edward G. Winn, 47, an inmate at Okaloosa Correctional Institution, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Winn appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for February 24, 2026, before Chief District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
If convicted, Winn faces a mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment on the distribution count; a mandatory 15 years’ imprisonment and up to 40 years’ imprisonment on the receipt count; and up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession count.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Florida Department of Corrections-Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
El Paso Doctor Enters $200,000 Settlement Following State and Federal Fraud AllegationsRead the Press Release
EL PASO, Texas – Dr. Brian August, located in El Paso, has agreed to pay $200,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the Controlled Substances Act, the False Claims Act, and the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act.
The allegations involved the issuance of 255 controlled substance prescriptions to 15 individuals between Dec. 23, 2017, and May 22, 2021. These included various prescriptions for the Schedule II controlled substances morphine, fentanyl, hydrocodone-acetaminophen, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, hydromorphone extended release; oxycodone hydrochloride extended release, tapentadol, oxymorphone; and the Schedule IV controlled substances carisoprodol, zolpidem, clonazepam, alprazolam, and tramadol. The United States alleged Dr. August issued individual and concurrent prescriptions for these controlled substances to 15 individuals without complying with the minimum requirements imposed on Texas physicians in treating patients for pain or chronic pain conditions; documenting a legitimate medical purpose; demonstrating medical necessity for such prescriptions; and demonstrating the prescriptions were issued in the usual course of professional practice.
The United States and Texas further contended August violated the False Claims Act and the Texas Health Care Fraud Prevention Act as the 15 individuals referenced above were beneficiaries of the Medicare Part D and/or Texas Medicaid programs. As these prescriptions were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose, they were not eligible for reimbursement by either program. The $200,000 being paid by August includes $994.22 in restitution to the Texas Medicaid Program and $44,380.55 in restitution to the Medicare Part D program. The remainder constitutes civil damages under the FCA, the THCFPA, and civil penalties under the CSA.
August previously surrendered his DEA registration and will not seek a new registration. Further, August has affirmatively surrendered his license to practice medicine in the State of Texas as a condition of settlement; his license was previously suspended by the Texas Medical Board during the pendency of this matter.
The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, and the Texas Office of the Attorney General.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Eduardo Castillo investigated the matter, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Van De Walle settling it.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
###
Edwardsville man facing a federal arson charge for igniting an Alton businessRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – An Edwardsville man is facing a federal arson charge for allegedly setting fire to an insurance office building in Alton.
A federal grand jury charged Jason Dawson, 38, with one count of arson.
According to charging documents, Dawson is accused of setting fire to an insurance office building on East Delmar Avenue in Alton on Nov. 22, 2025. The complaint alleges Dawson was upset about the amount for a life insurance policy cashout after a meeting with employees on Nov. 21 and returned to the office the following day to set the building on fire.
“The ATF has a responsibility to protect our communities. We also have a responsibility to hold those accountable who endanger lives and property through acts of arson. Our partnership with the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Southern District of Illinois did just that. This indictment is a result of diligent investigative work and close collaborations among the ATF, the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and the U.S. Attorney’s Office; and we will continue to work together to pursue justice for other cases like this,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Arson convictions are punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $250,000.
ATF is leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Hudson is prosecuting the case.
Dow City Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation and Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
Bryce White, 42, from Dow City, Iowa, pled guilty January 21, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City, to one count of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of receipt of child pornography.
At the plea hearing, White admitted that between August 1, 2023, and August 2024, he coerced minor females into sending him depictions of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. White used Snapchat to pose as a minor and solicited and received nude images and videos of minor females from across the United States and overseas. In September 2023, a Midland, Michigan, law enforcement agency began investigating White based on a complaint from a minor female’s parents. The parents discovered inappropriate messages on Snapchat between their daughter and White. Law enforcement traced the Snapchat account back to White in Dow City. Agents in Iowa obtained and executed search warrants for White’s electronics. Forensic examination revealed 14 videos, 180 images of child sexual abuse material, and over 20,000 images of child erotica in White’s possession. The images and videos involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers.
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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. White remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. White faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 50 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Midland County Michigan Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-4079. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Denver Man Sentenced to 144 Months After Denver Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jason Cisneros, 34, Denver, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to one count of using a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence after a crime spree in Denver in March 2025.
According to the plea agreement, on the afternoon of March 1, 2025, Cisneros stole a case of beer from a Denver area convenience store. When the store manager confronted him outside of the store, Cisneros showed the manager a 9mm firearm in his waistband and sped away from the scene. A short time later, Cisneros’ car broke down. The defendant got out of his stalled car and carjacked a vehicle from a woman who was loading her grandchildren into the car at the time. Cisneros took the car and sped away from that scene, but a short time later ran a red light and hit another car that contained two adults and three children. The defendant fled that scene on foot. He then approached a parked vehicle with his firearm brandished and opened a third victim’s driver door, pulled her out by her hair, and fled in that vehicle. Officers pursued Cisneros into downtown Denver until they were able to apprehend him near 14th and Blake. Inside the last stolen car, police found the loaded 9mm handgun with a live round in the chamber.
“This man went on a rampage across Denver and left a trail of victims in his wake,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “I am grateful to our law enforcement partners and the federal prosecutor who stopped his crime spree and made sure he no longer poses a danger to the community.”
“When you threaten people with guns, carjack more than one individual and lead police on a chase, you get the attention of the FBI Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force,” said Marvin Massey, Acting Special Agent In Charge, FBI Denver. “This individual didn’t learn from a prior state prison sentence, and now he will serve federal time. “
United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing.
The investigation was handled by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Denver Police Department
The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn.
Case Number: 1:25-cr-00093-RMR
Defendant Sentenced for His Role in International Human and Drug Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A defendant convicted in a scheme to illegally smuggle Honduran nationals and cocaine into the United States was sentenced today to 47 months in prison.
According to court documents, Josue Alexander Flores Villeda (Villeda), 38, of Honduras, conspired with at least six others to bring Honduran nationals and cocaine from Honduras to the United States. Over the course of approximately three years, Villeda and his co-conspirators smuggled at least 15 migrants into the United States on each voyage. In February 2022, Villeda and others attempted to illegally bring more than 20 Honduran nationals and approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine from Utila, Honduras, to Cocodrie, Louisiana, aboard the M/V Pop, a sportfishing vessel co-owned by co-conspirator Carl Allison. Many of the aliens paid up to $20,000 to Villeda or his co-conspirators to be smuggled into the United States. At some point during the voyage in February 2022, the M/V Pop developed engine trouble. Villeda and others chartered a boat to bring fuel to the disabled vessel so that it could complete its journey to the United States. Before the chartered boat reached the disabled vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted the vessel off the coast of Louisiana and towed it to shore.
Villeda pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for financial gain and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride.
Three additional co-conspirators have also pleaded guilty and were sentenced for their roles in the scheme. Lead defendant Carl Allison of Pittsburgh and Darrel Martinez of Honduras pleaded guilty to the same charges as Villeda. Lenord Cooper, also of Honduras, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid and assist aliens to enter the United States unlawfully and attempting to bring aliens to the U.S. for commercial advantage and private financial gain. Two other co-conspirators, Hennessy Devon Cooper Zelaya and Rudy Jackson Hernandez, both from Honduras, were convicted after trial of conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain and attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain. A sixth man, Honduran national Olvin Javier Velasquez Maldonado, was extradited from Honduras in April 2025 and is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Maldonado’s trial is scheduled for February 2026.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Wright of the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Field Office made the announcement.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/ HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 435 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 385 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The HSI Houma, Louisiana Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the HSI Pittsburgh Field Office, HSI Atlanta Field Office and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. The HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Louisiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, North Huntington Township Police and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance including securing the arrest and extradition from Honduras of Olvin Javier Velasquez Maldonado. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training in Honduras also provided assistance.
Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.
Dangerous, repeat sex offender sentenced to 23 years for sexually extorting minors in exchange for vape pensRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – A 24-year-old Weslaco resident has been ordered to federal prison for coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Walter Wilkins pleaded guilty Dec. 20, 2024.
Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now sentenced Wilkins to a total of 276 months in prison. The court enhanced the sentence, finding Wilkins produced child sexual abuse material with a minor victim under 16 years of age and also found him to be a repeat and dangerous offender against minors. The court also heard testimony from the victims’ families who spoke of the lasting and devastating impact to their children.
In handing down the prison terms, the court further ordered Wilkins to pay $13,564 in restitution and serve the rest of his life on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Wilkins will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“Wilkins sexually preyed upon minors, inflicting mental scars on his victims that will likely haunt them for the rest of their lives. His conduct is even more shocking considering he was already on bond for state charges of child sex abuse when he committed this offense,” said Ganjei. “Wilkins is not the type of person that should be walking our streets, nor communicating online with minors. Fortunately, he will now spend the next 23 years in federal prison, unable to victimize anyone else.”
“Wilkins’ actions represent the worst kind of predatory behavior, targeting and exploiting vulnerable children in our community,” said acting Special Agent in Charge John A. Pasciucco, Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, San Antonio. “HSI, together with our law enforcement partners, worked tirelessly to uncover the full scope of Wilkins’ crimes and ensure he faces justice. HSI will not tolerate those who use technology to coerce, abuse, and traumatize minors. Our agents remain steadfast in their resolve to pursue child predators and protect our children from those who seek to do them harm.”
The investigation began after the mother of a 13-year-old female
reported the sexual assault of her daughter.
Wilkins had picked up the minor and sexually exploited her in exchange for vape pens. Authorities discovered Wilkins had created child sexual abuse material and then threatened to release the files to the victim’s classmates if they ceased to participate in the sexual relationship. At the time, Wilkins was out on bond for two other state cases involving the sexual abuse of children.
Authorities further determined Wilkins exploited three additional minor victims. He advertised the sale of vape pens on social media and then coerced the children into sexual acts instead of financial payment.
Wilkins has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
HSI conducted the investigation with assistance of Weslaco Police Department and Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker prosecuted 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.
Criminal Division’s Fraud Section Announces Historic Year of AccomplishmentsRead the Press Release
The Fraud Section today released its 2025 Year in Review (YIR) detailing the Section’s record-setting accomplishments, cutting-edge initiatives, and successes in priority areas.
“The outstanding results reflected in this year’s Year in Review are a testament to the extraordinary skill, dedication, hard work, and professionalism of our prosectors and staff in the Fraud Section,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The importance of this work cannot be overstated. The cases brought by this Section secured punishment for criminals who swindled from businesses, exploited and abused government-funded programs, engaged in corrupt conduct, put the health and safety of Americans at risk, evaded tariffs, and preyed on private citizens – often robbing some of our most vulnerable of their life savings. Equally important, the tireless efforts of these dedicated public servants secured justice and restitution for victims and, ultimately, returned significant funds to the tax-paying public. As we start 2026, the achievements of the past year motivate us to continue the Section’s long and storied history of investigating and prosecuting the most sophisticated and most harmful economic crimes.”
The YIR provides a comprehensive overview of the Section and its units’ roles in combatting new and emerging threats and re-affirms its position as the leader in the fight against white-collar crime. As detailed in the YIR, the Fraud Section had a record-setting 2025, including the largest ever Health Care Fraud Takedown in Department of Justice history, charging defendants with a record amount of intended loss of more than $14.6 billion. The Section also continued to lead the Department’s corporate enforcement efforts with 15 corporate enforcement actions, including indictments against three companies, marking the Section’s first corporate indictments in over 15 years and the most corporate indictments in a single year.
Furthermore, through its innovative and proactive use of data analytics, the Section secured key achievements in priority areas, such as fraud associated with foreign issuers listed on U.S. exchanges, including variable interest entities and trade and tariff fraud. The Section prosecuted impactful Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) cases against companies and individuals, consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s June 2025 Guidelines for Investigations and Enforcement of the FCPA. In total, the Section charged over 260 defendants for various economic crime schemes, conducted 25 trials, and had 15 corporate enforcement actions — including four involving health care fraud, a record — with a total global monetary amount of over $1 billion.
The YIR also highlights the Fraud Section’s historic expansion through the integration of the Consumer Protection Branch. Now, with more than 200 attorneys, the Section has strengthened its capacity to prosecute serious, sophisticated white-collar offenses across multiple priority areas, including those impacting health and safety.
The Fraud Section remains laser-focused on its ongoing efforts to prosecute fraud in every form, from customs and tariff fraud, bribery and corruption, health care fraud, procurement fraud, and other crimes impacting the interests of the United States. Seventy years after the Fraud Section’s creation, the YIR illustrates the many ways in which the Section continues to meet the challenges of the moment and innovate to successfully investigate and prosecute the ever-changing landscape of white-collar crime.
The YIR can be accessed here: https://www.justice.gov/criminal/media/1425226/dl.
Corporate Executives Sentenced for Sprawling Racketeering Conspiracy Aimed at Violating Immigration LawsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Eleven defendants, including the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, and controller of a Joplin, Mo., corporation, have been sentenced in federal court for their role in a racketeering conspiracy to hire, harbor, and transport undocumented workers in several Midwestern states.
“Immigration issues in the country and in this district are not limited to those who illegally enter the United States. Businesses and entities who skirt the law and provide an environment that encourages and assists undocumented individuals to enter and remain in the United States unlawfully will be held accountable. My office is committed to prosecuting both individuals who illegally enter the United States as well as businesses and entities that profit off their labor,” said R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney, Western District of Missouri. “I would like to thank our law enforcement partners at HSI Kansas City for their work on this important matter.”
“The sentencing handed down today sends an unmistakable message. If you build your business on illegal labor and criminal racketeering, you will pay a steep price,” said Mark Zito, HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge. “This criminal enterprise was a calculated attack on our laws, our economy, and the most vulnerable among us. HSI Kansas City will not tolerate those who exploit workers and cheat honest business owners for profit. Today’s sentence proves that anyone who thinks they can get away with this kind of lawlessness will be hunted down, prosecuted, and held to the highest account.”
Jose Luis Bravo, 55, of Claremore, Ok.; Jose Guadalupe Razo, 44, of Carl Junction, Mo.; Anthony Edward Doll, 47, and Miguel Tarin-Martinez, 47, both of Joplin, Mo.; Antonio Martinez-Munoz, 48, of Collinsville, Ok.; Rodrigo Manrique Razo, 43, of Great Bend, Ks.; Juan Carlos Palma-Cedeno, 41, a citizen of Mexico; Jose Luis Lopez-Valadez, 45, of West Plains, Mo.; Jaime Ramirez-Ceja, 47, a citizen of Mexico; Jose Luis Rodriguez-Valerio, 61, of Tulsa, Ok.; and Veronica Razo de Lara, 51, of Great Bend, Ks., have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark.
Each defendant previously admitted to taking part in a RICO (racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations) conspiracy from Jan. 2018, to Aug. 2021, that transported and employed Mexican, Guatemalan, and El Salvadoran nationals who were not authorized to live or work in the United States. Conspirators also harbored and encouraged the unauthorized workers to remain and reside in the United States by providing them with housing and, in certain circumstances, fraudulent identification documentation.
Specialty Foods Distribution (SFD) is a Missouri corporation, based in Joplin, specializing in wholesale Mexican food products and restaurant supply products. During the racketeering conspiracy, SFD’s executive staff included Jose Bravo as chief executive officer; Jose Razo as president; Anthony Doll as chief financial officer; Miguel Tarin-Martinez as controller.
Bravo, J. Razo, Doll, and Tarin-Martinez created, maintained, and/or otherwise oversaw a network of enterprise-affiliated restaurants in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma that were serviced by SFD. The enterprise-affiliated restaurants were managed and/or staffed by coconspirators, including defendants Martinez-Munoz, R. Razo, Palma-Cedeno, Lopez-Valadez, Ramirez-Ceja, Rodriguez-Valerio, and Razo de Lara. Together, the defendants conspired to staff the restaurants with unauthorized workers—a workforce not available to law-abiding business owners—thereby gaining an unfair and illegal competitive business advantage.
As part of the conspiracy, the defendants utilized evasive and fraudulent tactics. Specifically, to keep the enterprise-affiliated restaurants staffed and profitable, the defendants kept certain unauthorized workers off official payroll records; required certain unauthorized workers to work at times when federal officials were unlikely to conduct inspections; failed to collect or maintain complete and accurate Form I-9 documentation; falsely attested to the accuracy of Form I-9 documentation; submitted inaccurate wage and hour reports to state officials; and facilitated fraudulent identification documentation being produced, transported, and provided to unauthorized workers.
To date, the Court has imposed an aggregate 164 months of imprisonment and ordered forfeiture in an amount over $6,400,000.00. As to each defendant, the Court imposed the below-listed sentences.
- Bravo, who was the leader and organizer of the racketeering conspiracy, was sentenced to a 36-month term of imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide approximately $5,764.537.47 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise, property he acquired or maintained as part of the racketeering enterprise, and/or property that afforded a source of influence over the racketeering enterprise. Specifically, the forfeiture amount includes funds from five bank accounts; payment for his share of 12 real properties, including one personal residence and 11 commercial buildings; and payment for his share of over 20 business entities, including a portion of SFD.
- J. Razo, who was a supervisor and manager of the racketeering conspiracy, was sentenced to a 30-month term of imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide $130,700.04 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise.
- Doll, who was a supervisor and manager of the racketeering conspiracy, was sentenced to a 10-month term of home detention as a condition of probation and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide $132,303.09 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise.
- Tarin-Martinez was sentenced to a 24-month term of imprisonment, three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide $23,094.97 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise.
- Martinez-Munoz, who worked as a manager at Bravo’s Mexican Grill in Overland Park, Ks., was sentenced to a 15-month term of imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release.
- R. Razo, who served as the manager of Playa Azul Mexican Restaurant in Great Bend, Ks., was sentenced to a 13-month term of imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide $81,933.28 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise.
- Palma-Cedeno, who worked as an employee at El Banquete Mexican Restaurant in Claremore, Ok., was sentenced to a 10-month term of imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release.
- Lopez-Valadez, who served as the manager of two El Charro Mexican Restaurant locations in West Plains, Mo., was sentenced to an eight-month term of home detention as a condition of probation and was ordered to pay or otherwise provide $345,791.86 representing the proceeds he obtained from the racketeering enterprise.
- Ramirez-Ceja, who served as the manager of El Charro Mexican Restaurant in Lebanon, Mo., was sentenced to an 11-month term of imprisonment and a one-year term of supervised release.
- Rodriguez-Valerio, who served as a manager at Bravo’s Mexican Grill in Overland Park, Ks., was sentenced to a 13-month term of imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release.
- Razo de Lara, who served as the manager of Maria’s Mexican Grill, in Great Bend, Ks., was sentenced to a 12-month-and-one-day term of imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release.
Defendants Eusebio Ramirez-Ceja, 55; Alejandro Castillo-Ramirez, 44; and Lorenzo Castro-Manzanarez, 43, all three citizens of Mexico, have pled guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rudolph R. Rhodes IV, Nicholas Heberle, David Wagner, and Leigh Farmakidis. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the United States Postal Inspection Service; Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations; Kansas Bureau of Investigation; Kansas Department of Labor; Kansas Department of Revenue; Kansas Highway Patrol; Missouri State Highway Patrol; and Butler, Mo., Police Department.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Conspirator in Carjacking Spree Sentenced to 84 MonthsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Elmer Bonilla, 23, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 84 months in federal prison in connection with his role in a 2024 violent carjacking conspiracy which operated in the District and Maryland and continued even after several members were arrested, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Bonilla pleaded guilty on May 30, 2025, before Judge Rudolph Contreras to one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and aiding and abetting.
According to court documents, on Jan. 24, 2024, Bonilla and two co-conspirators were driving an SUV in Northwest when they stopped and blocked a Dodge Challenger. Two of the armed and masked men approached the driver, ordered him to get out, punched him in the face, then stole the car.
On Jan. 25, 2024, Bonilla and his co-conspirators were driving in a white Kia Sportage when they pulled into the parking lot of a pharmacy in Hyattsville, Maryland. The Kia pulled behind a black BMW and blocked it from leaving. Two armed men in ski masks approached the BMW’s driver, opened the driver’s side door, pointed a gun at the driver’s torso and demanded the car. The gunmen took the BMW, drove it away, and the Kia Sportage followed.
On Jan. 26, 2024, after the arrest of Bonilla’s, co-defendant, Gregory Giron, Bonilla and two other co-conspirators drove to Giron’s house in a tan SUV. One co-conspirator used a key to enter the Giron’s residence. A few minutes later, the same individual exited the rear of the residence carrying a white trash bag. The co-conspirator got back into the SUV and law enforcement stopped the SUV as it began to drive away.
The front seat passenger, Dylan Giron, was the same individual who had entered and exited the house, carrying a white trash bag. The driver of the vehicle was Dylan Giron’s girlfriend. Sitting in the backseat were Bonilla and Christian Rodriguez. When Dylan Giron was inside the residence, Bonilla and Rodriguez were directing Dylan Giron to remove evidence via text message.
Months later, on Aug. 6, 2024, Bonilla and others stole a 2021 Infinity Q50 in Silver Spring, Maryland. At the time it was stolen, the car contained the owner’s ID and bank cards, which were found in a later search of Rodriguez’s residence.
On Aug. 7, 2024, Bonilla broke into another vehicle in Silver Spring and took a wallet, which was also later found in Rodriguez’s residence. The same day, Bonilla and co-conspirators stole a Corvette in Alexandria, Virginia using an Autel device. The device was later recovered in Bonilla’s car. On Aug. 9, 2024, pursuant to a search warrant, law enforcement searched Bonilla’s residence and recovered a Glock magazine hidden in a crawl space, a 1911-style BB gun, $3,920 in cash, a baggie of white, rock-like substance, and a programmable key fob.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, Prince George’s County Police, Baltimore County Police, Alexandria City Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney with assistance provided by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin.
The firearm police recovered from Bonilla’s residence.
A baggie of white, rock-like substance that police recovered from Bonilla’s residence.
A programmable key fob recovered from Bonilla’s residence.
24cr113
Columbus man charged with threatening to kill federal agentsRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man has been charged federally for allegedly threatening on social media to kill federal immigration agents.
Justin Mesael Novoa, 21, is charged with making threatening interstate communications, including threats to assault or murder a federal law enforcement officer.
According to charging documents, HSI received information in December 2025 regarding threats to ICE employees on the social media platform X. Investigation revealed that, in June 2025, Novoa allegedly posted: “they should blast every ice agent they find.”
Later, in November 2025, Novoa allegedly posted “can’t wait to shoot these p***y ice agents and r******d maga maggots.”
Federal agents executed a search warrant at Novoa’s residence in December 2025 and seized multiple firearms, including two rifles, two shotguns and one handgun, as well as ammunition. Novoa also possessed two helmets and body armor.
Threatening to kill a federal officer is a crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Making threatening interstate communications carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Prichard is representing the United States in this case.
A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
# # #
Columbia Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bringing Gun to Plasma Donation CenterRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Donovan Jackson, 32, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on May 18, 2023, employees of a plasma donation center on Decker Blvd. called 911 because Jackson arrived to donate plasma with a firearm inside the front pocket of his sweatshirt. Deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to the center, detained Jackson, and seized the firearm from his clothing.
Jackson has a prior conviction for furnishing contraband to an inmate which prevents him from possessing a firearm under federal law. He was on probation for this offense at the time of the incident. Jackson also participated in the May 2022 Ceasefire program hosted by the City of Columbia Police Department. The Ceasefire program identifies prior offenders who are at risk of future firearms offenses and introduces them to community resources such as substance abuse treatment and employment services. During participation in the program, law enforcement emphasizes the likelihood of future state and federal prosecution if participants, like Jackson, reoffend.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jackson to 33 total months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall prosecuted the case.
###
Cleveland Man Sentenced to Nearly 16 Years in Prison After Feds Seized Fentanyl and Cocaine in His “Nana’s” BasementRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 34-year-old man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a fentanyl and cocaine drug trafficking ring which he helped operate out of his grandmother’s basement.
Darnell Kief Beckham Bell, of Cleveland, was sentenced to 190 months (15 years, 8 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after a jury convicted him in September of Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, law enforcement began to probe suspected narcotics trafficking—specifically fentanyl— in Northeast Ohio in 2024. On a number of occasions during the investigation, several individuals were observed coming and going from a house on West 137th Street. During a federal search warrant executed at the residence, Bell was taken into custody after agents found evidence of suspected drug activities in the basement of the home, which belonged to his grandmother. Among the items seized were:
- Two digital scales with fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, and cocaine residue
- A loaded HK .45 caliber pistol with magazine and ammunition (firearm was later found to be stolen)
- A Smith & Wesson .40 caliber magazine with ammunition
- 16 bags of narcotics that contained a total of 403.25 grams of cocaine base, “crack”
- Two plastic bags that contained 139.31 grams of fentanyl
- 124.29 grams of a mixture of Xylazine, fentanyl, and para-fluorofentanyl
- 81.76 grams of fentanyl
- 2.14 grams of cocaine
- Two credit cards with white powder residue
During the trial, evidence presented to the jury included a comment Bell made in jail in which he stated that “no one knew about Nana’s basement.”
Two co-conspirators also charged in the superseding indictment—Loundon Hardy, 30, and Kobe Bell- Beckham, 27, both of Cleveland—previously pleaded guilty to related drug conspiracy, distribution and possession charges and are currently awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI Cleveland Division, with assistance from the Cleveland Division of Police.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorneys Marc D. Bullard and Scott Zarzycki for the Northern District of Ohio.
Chicago Man Sentenced to 19 Years’ Imprisonment for Two Armed Carjackings and an Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 21, 2026, Donte Patterson (age 33) was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison for his role in armed carjackings in Chicago and Milwaukee and an armed robbery in West Milwaukee.
According to court records, Patterson committed an armed carjacking in Chicago on August 20, 2025, and then traveled to Milwaukee where, on the following day, Patterson committed a second armed carjacking and then an armed robbery in West Milwaukee. During each of the carjackings and the armed robbery, Patterson brandished a firearm.
At his sentencing hearing, Chief District Judge Pamela Pepper focused on the serious nature of the offenses, noting that Patterson’s crimes imposed “psychological torture” on his victims. Chief Judge Pepper also noted the need to protect the public.
“Donte Patterson is an extremely dangerous offender who has spent nearly all of his adult life in prison and committed this violent crime spree only 6 months after release from his prior prison sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Schimel. “There is clearly only one way for society to be safe from Patterson: lock him up. Thanks to the hard work of the law enforcement and prosecution team, our communities will get a much-needed break from his violent behavior.”
"One of the FBI’s top priorities is crushing violent crime. The significant sentence for Donte Patterson reflects the seriousness of his criminal offenses and his status as a repeat offender,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “The FBI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify criminals who prey upon our communities and bring them to justice."The matter was investigated by FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crime Task Force, including the Milwaukee Police Department, as well as the West Milwaukee Police Department, and the Chicago Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie F. Stewart.
# # #
For further information contact:
Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
Follow us on X
Charlotte Man Sentenced for Civil Rights ViolationRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced today to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for a federal civil rights violation after he threatened eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Maurice Hopkins, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with federally protected activities on August 19, 2025.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. of the FBI Charlotte Field Office join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
According to filed court documents and the sentencing hearing, on June 8, 2024, Hopkins threatened eight individuals with a firearm inside a pizza restaurant in Charlotte. When Hopkins first encountered the victims, who were a group of friends getting pizza at the time, he asked if they were American. Hopkins then proceeded to harass the victims calling them terrorists, demanding they speak English, telling them to go back to their country, and making other statements because of the victims’ race, color, religion, and national origin. Court records show that Hopkins made multiple threats, telling the victims, “If you say one more thing I’m going to punch you in the face,” and threatened to “Shoot the place up,” and “kill all of them.” Hopkins then left the restaurant and returned minutes later, walking through the doorway with a loaded AR-15 style rifle. The victims immediately fled through the door in the rear of the restaurant.
With his guilty plea, Hopkins admitted that he threatened the eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin and because they were enjoying the goods, services and facilities of the restaurant.
“This defendant targeted people enjoying a simple night out and threatened them with violence because of their race and national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This was an outrageous act motivated by nothing other than racial bigotry. Today’s sentence makes clear: if you threaten people with violence because of who they are — or where they come from — you will be met with the full force of federal law.”
“You ought to be able to get pizza with your friends without being harassed due to your race or national origin and certainly without being threatened with an AR-15,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Incidents like this should never happen, but when they do, my office will act swiftly to bring justice.”
Hopkins remains in federal custody and will be transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller for the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.