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29 September 2026
Rochester man and North Carolina man plead guilty for their roles in gun trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Hassian Humphrey, 24, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit firearms offenses, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. In addition, co-defendant Keishawn Turner, 25, of Kannapolis, NC, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in the firearms business without a license, which also carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Between May 2022, and June 24, 2025, Humphrey and Turner conspired with Jylin Woods, Benjamin Martin a/k/a Benji a/k/a Ben10 a/k/a Gun Man, and Jerry Antonio Baine a/k/a Bank 3x, to illegally sell firearms.
During the course of the conspiracy, Humphrey and Turner exchanged several photographs and/or videos of firearms and negotiated the price of various firearms with Humphrey indicating he was soliciting buyers for the firearms. In October 2023, Humphrey and Turner transported five firearms, including a ghost gun, from North Carolina into the Western District of New York to be sold. Two of those firearms were recovered during the execution of search warrants in Buffalo in December 2023.
In addition, in May 2022, Humphrey and Jylin Woods attempted to transport two firearms from North Carolina to Buffalo. However, their vehicle was stopped by law enforcement in Oak Hill, West Virginia, and the two firearms were seized. During the course of the conspiracy, Humphrey and Woods shared photographs of firearms they possessed, updated each other regarding the solicitation of buyers, and on at least two occasions, they successfully transported North Carolina-purchased firearms to Buffalo to be resold. Humphrey also communicated with Jerry Antonio Baine regarding firearms transactions, with Baine sending photographs of approximately 19 firearms to Humphrey, including several privately manufactured firearms bearing no serial number, indicating that they were for sale. Humphrey and Baine would then discuss potential sale prices for the firearms. Baine also purchased multiple firearms from retail establishments in North Carolina that were ultimately sold to Humphrey. One of those firearms was recovered in Buffalo, in July 2024, in a separate criminal investigation.
None of the defendants involved in the conspiracy were licensed importers, manufacturers, dealers, or collectors of firearms.
Charges remain pending against Jylin Woods, Benjamin Martin and Jerry Antonio Baine.
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 case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Louis A. Testani and Monica Benjovsky. The pleas are the result of an investigation by the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Police Commissioner Erika Shields and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo.
Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.
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Richmond man sentenced to 11 years in prison for trafficking cocaine and fentanylRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Drequan Keymontay Peoples, 35, of Richmond, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
According to court documents, on Sept. 11, 2025, law enforcement searched two residences associated with Peoples. As officers approached one of the residences, Peoples fled in a vehicle. Virginia State Police troopers followed and ultimately apprehended Peoples, who was in possession of a backpack that contained $42,290 in cash, 23 oxycodone pills, 20 alprazolam pills, and two cellphones.
During the searches of the residences, investigators recovered more than 950 grams of cocaine, more than 250 grams of heroin/fentanyl, nine firearms, and ammunition. As a previously convicted felon, Peoples cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division; and Col. Jeffrey S. Katz, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. ATF and the Virginia State Police 1T Tri-County Drug Task Force investigated this case with assistance from the Henrico County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Blanchard prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-27.
Repeat Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
EL DORADO – An El Dorado, Arkansas man was sentenced on September 28, 2026, to 210 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for possessing with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine—his second drug trafficking conviction. The Honorable Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court, at El Dorado.
According to court records, on October 21, 2024, Lucas Wyatt Smith, age 34, was the sole passenger in a vehicle stopped by the El Dorado Police Department, for having expired tags. During the traffic stop, it was determined that Smith had an active search waiver on file. A K-9 handler for the 13th Judicial Drug Task Force arrived at the scene of the traffic stop and the K-9 alerted on the vehicle occupied by Smith. A search of Smith’s person revealed four small plastic baggies containing suspected methamphetamine. Based on the narcotics found on Smith’s person, a search was executed at Smith’s residence subject to a search warrant obtained by the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force. The search of Smith’s residence by the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force, resulted in Investigators locating 798 grams of pure methamphetamine, over 700 grams of marijuana, and over 30 firearms. Following Miranda warnings, Smith admitted to transporting large quantities of methamphetamine from Texas to Arkansas.
Smith previously served an 180-month state prison sentence for possession of methamphetamine with purpose to deliver. (See Union County Circuit Court; Docket No: 70-2018-150).
United States Attorney Kevin R. Holmes made the announcement. The 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the El Dorado Police Department, and the ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Daniels prosecuted the case for the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. 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.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.
Randolph Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm CrimesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Randolph man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for cocaine trafficking and firearm charges, following a series of arrests targeting gangs in the Brockton and Randolph areas.
London Cohen, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to 90 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In June 2026, Cohen pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Cohen was charged in February 2026.
Cohen was arrested on Dec. 17, 2025, after authorities executed search warrants at numerous residences and stash houses associated with the Brockton-based Harvard Street Gang and their Randolph-based affiliates. During a search of Cohen’s residence, three handguns and ammunition were located in a bathroom trash can.
Elsewhere in Cohen’s residence, controlled substances including cocaine, fentanyl, MDMA and marijuana were recovered. In the basement living room, there were various items commonly used in large-scale drug trafficking, such as a kilogram press device, a respirator mask, digital scales, plastic bags and bottles of cutting powder.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Division; the Abington, Acushnet, Ashland, Boston, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Chelsea, East Bridgewater, Medford, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Stoughton, Taunton and West Bridgewater Police Departments; Plymouth and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Departments; Massachusetts Department of Correction; and the Plymouth, Norfolk and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
Quincy Man Arrested for Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Distribution of Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Quincy man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston with being a felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Joseph King, 48, is charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm and four counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. King was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in August 2026. He remains in federal custody.
According to the charging documents, on four occasions in June, July and August 2026, King sold a controlled substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine to an undercover federal agent. Additionally, on Aug. 11, 2026, King allegedly purchased two firearms – a Glock 19M, 9mm pistol and a Glock 27, .40 caliber pistol – from an undercover agent. King is prohibited from possessing firearms due to several prior state court convictions, including a 2025 conviction for breaking and entering in Taunton District Court and a 2009 conviction for larceny in Quincy District Court, among other convictions.
The charge of being a felon in possession provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance provides for a sentence of up to 20 years, three years supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department; and the Boston and Quincy Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Provincetown Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Possessing and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Provincetown man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for child pornography offenses. The defendant possessed several thousand image and video files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Laurence Pagnoni, 66, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to five years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In February 2026, Pagnoni pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. Pagnoni was arrested and charged in April 2024.
An individual arrested in a child exploitation sting reported to law enforcement that, in March of 2023, Pagnoni distributed CSAM to him via the online cloud storage platform Mega. It was determined that Pagnoni had sent thousands of CSAM files to this individual. During a search of Pagnoni’s home in Provincetown in May of 2023 a number of items, including Pagnoni’s cellphone, were seized. During a subsequent search of Pagnoni’s cellphone, several thousand image files and video files containing CSAM, including at least 54 known series of CSAM as identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, were discovered.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and member of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Previously removed illegal alien sentenced for multiple violent offenses in Houston areaRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old illegal alien from Mexico who unlawfully resided in Houston has been sentenced for robbery, carjacking, brandishing a firearm, and illegal reentry.
Jose Luis Reyes-Martinez pleaded guilty July 10.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake ordered Reyes-Martinez to serve 264 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that Reyes-Martinez sexually assaulted a woman after breaking into her home and restraining her and her husband at gunpoint. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of the offenses and Reyes-Martinez’s threats to harm the victim’s children if she did not remain silent during the assault. Judge Lake also noted the victim continues to suffer trauma as a result of Reyes-Martinez’s actions.
On Sept. 9, 2023, Reyes-Martinez entered the Fiesta Supermarket on Airline Drive in Houston. He brandished a handgun at two employees, forced one into a frozen meat locker, and demanded cash before fleeing on a bicycle.
Reyes-Martinez then broke into a nearby residence and held a family hostage at gunpoint for several hours. He tied one of them up, sexually assaulted a woman while again brandishing the firearm, and then stole their car.
Forensic analysis on a condom recovered from the assault linked Reyes-Martinez to the crime.
Authorities first encountered Reyes-Martinez in Arizona in 2012 after he illegally entered the United States. Authorities subsequently removed him from the country. Law enforcement later discovered him in Houston on Oct. 21, 2023.
The FBI and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez prosecuted the case.
Pike County Man Sentenced for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON Ky. – A Virgie, Ky., man, Charles Hopkins, 35, was sentenced on Tuesday to 80 months by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for possession of child pornography.
On May 6, 2025, law enforcement received a tip that a sexually explicit video of a minor victim (who was under the age of 12) was uploaded to Hopkins’ internet-based Verizon cloud storage account. Law enforcement seized and searched Hopkins’ phone and discovered additional child pornography, including images depicting minors under the age of 12 and infants engaged in sexual activity.
Jason Parman, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Olivia Olson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentence.
Under federal law. Hopkins must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 15 years.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Philadelphia Man Sentenced to over 15½ Years in Prison for Armed Robbery of Montco Credit UnionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Charles Thomas Clark, 31, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 188 months in prison and five years of supervised release by United States District Judge Juan R. Sánchez for the gunpoint robbery of a Montgomery County credit union.
The defendant was charged by indictment in April 2024. In October of last year, he was convicted at trial of aiding and abetting armed bank robbery, and aiding and abetting using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
As detailed in court filings and proven at trial, on January 9, 2024, just before 3:30 p.m., Clark and co-defendant Emmanuel Glass entered the American Heritage Credit Union branch located on the 1300 block of Old York Road in Abington, Pa. At gunpoint, they demanded money from credit union employees, putting the cash in a paper McDonald’s bag. They also took deposited checks.
Throughout the encounter, employees heard Clark say, “It’s not worth it, this is all insured”; “…it’s not worth your life,” in reference to pushing alarm buttons, and warning employees not to move or they would get shot.
After exiting the credit union with the stolen cash, the robbers fled in a gold 2014 Chevrolet Cruze. The bank manager then called 911 to report the robbery.
Police spotted the Chevrolet Cruze a few miles away from the credit union and began to follow the vehicle. Clark, who was driving, struck multiple vehicles as he fled from police at a high rate of speed, then crashed into a marked Abington Police vehicle. Both robbers took off on foot and were apprehended shortly thereafter by police.
Clark’s co-defendant Glass, who pleaded guilty in July 2025, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 21.
This case was investigated by the Abington Township Police Department and FBI Philadelphia’s Fort Washington Resident Agency and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Catherine S. Dos Santos and Meghan A. Farley.
Pensacola Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Stolen Identity and Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida –Vontavius Jamaal Bradley, 23, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison after having previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, use of a false passport, and aggravated identity theft. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges and sentence today.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These defendants victimized several innocent individuals in order to fraudulently enrich themselves, but thanks to the excellent investigative work of our federal law enforcement partners we have dismantled their scheme and now hold them accountable for their crimes. With support from the National Fraud Enforcement Division, my office is aggressively prosecuting fraudsters and ensuring they see the inside of a prison cell for ripping off the American people.”
According to court documents, Bradley conspired with his co-defendants, Elizabeth Ann Rogers and Donny Bernard Ross, and others to open accounts at various banks and credit unions in the Pensacola area using stolen identities. Once opened, the defendants used the accounts to cash stolen, altered, or counterfeit checks. Bradley obtained and provided to his accomplices fraudulent identification documents, including false U.S. passport cards. He also provided the fraudulent checks to conduct fraudulent transactions, and the co-defendants all split the proceeds. As part of the conspiracy and scheme, Bradley and his co-defendants fraudulently obtained and used personal identifying information of real people without their knowledge or authorization.
In addition to having to serve 42 months in prison, Bradley was ordered to pay $18,264 in restitution to financial institution and identity theft victims. Rogers and Ross have also pleaded guilty to the same charges and are awaiting sentencing before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
“Safeguarding U.S. passports and visas is central to the Diplomatic Security Service mission and critical to protecting our national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan McSeveney of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service Miami Field Office. “U.S. passports and visas are among the most sought-after travel documents in the world, and DSS is firmly committed to protecting their integrity. We thank our law enforcement partners for their outstanding collaboration in this case and will continue to pursue those who use identity theft and document fraud to facilitate criminal activity and defraud the American people.”
The case resulted from a joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes prosecuted t case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
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.
Pensacola Felon Indicted for Federal Drug & Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Lavon Trinere Mars, 39, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Mars appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho for his initial appearance at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for November 16, 2026, in Pensacola before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted, Mars faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment on the drug conspiracy count and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas S.P. Geeker.
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.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Northwest Arkansas Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
FAYETTEVILLE – A Fayetteville man was sentenced on September 29, 2026, to 180 months in prison on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The Honorable Chief Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville.
According to court documents, officers with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were seeking the arrest of Dakota Wenger, age 29, related to an aggravated robbery. On December 12, 2025, detectives with the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force received information as to Wenger’s location. A Springdale Police Officer attempted to make a traffic stop on Wenger and he fled in his vehicle, discarding two firearms. The pursuit, which lasted more than seven minutes, carried into Fayetteville through high density neighborhoods. Court records show Wenger has an extensive criminal history, including crimes of violence.
U.S. Attorney Kevin R. Holmes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force, Springdale Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website at www.pacer.gov.Nineteen defendants charged in sweeping federal drug trafficking indictment following Homeland Security Task Force investigationRead the Press Release
DALLAS — United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced today that nineteen individuals have been federally charged in a sweeping 24-count indictment that alleges their involvement in a years‑long drug trafficking operation responsible for distributing cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana throughout the Dallas area.
“Today’s charges against 19 North Texas drug dealers reflect the unwavering commitment of the Homeland Security Task Force to protect our communities from violent criminal networks,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “Through HSTF’s unprecedented interagency collaboration, we are able to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating near locations and public spaces where families and community members should feel safe. My office will use every tool available to hold drug traffickers accountable and to safeguard the people of North Texas.”
“This investigation reflects what is possible when local and federal law enforcement agencies work together with a shared commitment to protecting our communities,” said Dallas Police Chief Daniel C. Comeaux. “Our officers and investigators worked alongside our federal partners over an extended period to identify and disrupt an alleged drug trafficking network operating in Dallas neighborhoods. We will continue working with our partners to hold those who bring drugs, guns and violence into our communities accountable and to keep Dallas safe.”
“As this investigation unfolded, the DEA and our law enforcement partners identified a highly organized, poly-drug distribution organization, feeding our streets with cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, and fentanyl,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge, Joseph B. Tucker. “Working alongside our Homeland Security Task Force partners, the DEA Dallas Division dismantled this network and remains fiercely committed to removing these poison peddlers and violent organizations from our communities to ensure our neighborhoods and parks are safe for our children.”
“This investigation highlights the mission of the HSTF, which includes targeting transnational criminal organizations engaged in drug trafficking,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We will continue our collaboration through the Dallas HSTF to produce real, impactful outcomes for the safety of our communities.”
“Task force cases make our communities safer. In this case, IRS Criminal Investigation special agents helped uncover alleged money laundering activities involving drug proceeds tied to drug houses near where our children learn and play,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of IRS-CI’s Texas Field Office. “HSTF is designed to bring together the expertise of its members, and IRS-CI contributes to the team by focusing on tracing the illicit funds.”
According to the indictment, the charges stem from a long‑term investigation into convicted federal drug trafficker Avery Wayne Davis, identified as a leader in the organization alongside Sterling Lawrence Taylor. Working with cultivated sources and historical investigative intelligence, Dallas Police Department officers and FBI, DEA, and IRS-CI special agents uncovered multiple narcotics distribution networks, four wire targets and numerous drug houses operating across Dallas, many of which are located adjacent to schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, and public parks.
Agents seized cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, multiple firearms—including a .50‑caliber Desert Eagle, Glock Model 33, Taurus pistols and other weapons—and more than $40,000 in drug‑related proceeds, along with additional currency and jewelry totaling more than $500,000.
The indictment charges a wide range of alleged criminal conduct, including drug‑trafficking conspiracies, money laundering, firearms offenses, drug house operations and unlawful use of communication facilities.
The following are categories of the violations of federal drug trafficking and firearms law that the named defendants are alleged to have committed and the sentencing range if convicted:
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, 10-life
- Avery Wayne Davis a.k.a. AD
- Sterling Lawrence Taylor a.k.a. Bo
- Phillip Hernandez-Martinez a.k.a. Phillip Martinez-Hernandez
Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine, 5-40 years
- Avery Wayne Davis a.k.a. AD
- Sterling Lawrence Taylor a.k.a. Bo
- Oltin Coneius Ward a.k.a. Lump
- Tiffany Nicole Alphonse
- Samantha Rodriguez a.k.a. Sam a.k.a. Bonnie
- Adonis Jamaal Moore a.k.a. Mall
- Anthony Taylor a.k.a. Ant
Possession with the Intent to Distribute 0-5 or 0-20 years
- Paul Perkins
- Darrin DeShon Ray
Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking, a mandatory 5 years consecutive to any sentence imposed in other counts
- Avery Wayne Davis a.k.a. AD
- Sterling Lawrence Taylor a.k.a. Bo
- Adonis Jamaal Moore a.k.a. Mall
- Paul Perkins
- Darrin DeShon Ray
Maintaining Drug Involved Premises and aiding and abetting
- Avery Wayne Davis a.k.a. AD
- Sterling Lawrence Taylor a.k.a. Bo
- Tiffany Alphonse
- Reteecia Te Shane Handy a.k.a. Retecia Handy
- Adonis Jamaal Moore a.k.a. Mall
- Anthony Taylor a.k.a. Ant
- James Harrison
- Darrin DeShon Ray
Use of a Communications Facility to Further Drug Trafficking
- James Harrison
Money Laundering
- Avery Davis a.k.a. AD
- Tiffany Alphonse
- Shydale McNickels a.k.a. Missy, and
- Reteecia Te Shane Handy a.k.a. Retecia Handy
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Summary of All 24 Counts
- Count 1 – Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine
- Count 2 – Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
- Count 3 – Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments involving drug‑trafficking proceeds
- Counts 4–8 – Using or maintaining drug‑involved premises at multiple Dallas locations, including Roberts Ave., Munger Ave., Cedar Mountain Circle, Woodmeadow Parkway, and Abrams Road
- Counts 9–10 – Possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Count 11 – Possession with intent to distribute marijuana
- Counts 12–17 – Possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, involving multiple weapons including Taurus pistols, a Glock handgun, a Canik pistol, and a 300 Blackout rifle
- Count 18 – Unlawful use of a communication facility, specifically a cellular telephone, to facilitate cocaine distribution
- Count 19 – Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Count 20 – Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base
- Counts 21–22 – Maintaining drug‑involved premises on Coolidge Street
- Counts 23–24 – Possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, involving a .50‑caliber Desert Eagle and a .357 Magnum revolver
The FBI, DEA, IRS-CI and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Myria Boehm from the Major Crimes Section is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, United States Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Secret Service in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety, City of Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement entities.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
indictment_avery_wayne_davis_et_al.pdfNew Jersey Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud Relating to Stolen U.S. Treasury CheckRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that MADISYN PETTAWAY, 31, of Newark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to an offense related to her attempted deposit of a stolen U.S. Treasury check at a Connecticut credit union.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 27, 2024, Pettaway, using a stolen identity and a fraudulent New Jersey driver’s license, opened an account at a branch of Charter Oak Federal Credit Union. On September 13, 2024, Pettaway attempted to deposit a U.S. Treasury check in the amount of $410,085.48 at the credit union. Charter Oak FCU ultimately did not accept the deposit.
In June 2025, Pettaway opened another account at a branch of Charter Oak FCU using a fraudulent identity. On July 28, 2025, East Lyme Police arrested Pettaway and charged her with state offenses. Pettaway possessed a fake New York driver’s license and three debit cards in the name of the fraudulent identity at the time of her arrest. She was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on August 20, 2025.
Pettaway pleaded guilty to bank fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. She is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for December 21.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the East Lyme Police Department, and the Montville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Morris County man sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
MARSHALL, Texas – A Daingerfield man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Reco Tyrone Hayes, 51, was convicted by a jury for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap on September 28, 2026.
According to information presented in court, Hayes supplied more than a kilogram of methamphetamine to a street-level drug dealer for further distribution. Hayes operated his drug business from a drug location in Daingerfield known as The Compound.
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 Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division, and Daingerfield Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lucas Machicek and Dustin Farahnak.
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Montgomery County Man Charged with Defrauding Dozens of Investors in His Cannabis-Related Company Out of More Than $8.8 MillionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that David Dinenberg, 54, of Penn Wynne, Pennsylvania, was charged today by information with securities fraud and four counts of wire fraud, arising from alleged schemes to defraud investors in his company and to defraud the State of Rhode Island.
As detailed in court filings, in or around 2013, Dinenberg established KindManage, LLC (“KindManage” or “Kind”), for the purpose of providing payment processing and related services to cannabis growers and distributors in states that had authorized, or were on the verge of authorizing, marijuana sales for medicinal and/or recreational purposes.
The information alleges that, from about April 2014 to about April 2023, Dinenberg fraudulently induced dozens of people into buying shares of Kind and/or affiliated entities by: (a) making false representations about Kind’s revenues, valuations, and business prospects; and by (b) misleading the investors into believing that their entire investments were being used for the benefit of Kind, when, in reality, the defendant embezzled more than a half-million dollars from Kind and used it to pay for unauthorized personal expenditures, such as his sons’ college tuitions, rent on a luxurious California home, and social club memberships.
In total, the information alleges, Dinenberg defrauded these investors out of more than $8.8 million.
The information further alleges that Dinenberg also used Kind to defraud the State of Rhode Island out of approximately $175,000 in fees paid by Rhode Island marijuana growers in 2020 and 2021. Instead of remitting most of the fees to the Rhode Island government, per the terms of his contract with the state, Dinenberg diverted the funds to his personal bank accounts and used them to pay for personal expenses.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison on the securities fraud charge and 20 years in prison on each of the wire fraud charges.
This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Newtown Square Resident Agency and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff.
The charges and allegations contained in the information are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Missouri Man Who Installed Hidden Camera in Bathroom Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CAPE GIRARDEAU – A Cape Girardeau County, Missouri man who placed a hidden camera in a residential bathroom was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in prison.
Ross Andrew Schaefer, 50, will be on supervised release for 20 years after his release from prison. Schaefer pleaded guilty in June in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of production or attempted production of child pornography. He admitted placing the camera in the bathroom beginning at least in 2022, when his victim was 12 years old. Investigators discovered videos on Schaefer’s phone and a thumb drive.
The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff’s Office, the Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry After Being Previously DeportedRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mexican national pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after being previously deported.
Cecilio Paz-Serafin, 33, pleaded guilty before Federal Magistrate Judge David P. Rush, to the sole count of an indictment charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. During a traffic stop by Christian County, Missouri Sheriff’s deputies on Aug. 26, 2026, Paz-Serafin was found voluntarily in the United States after he was deported in 2024.
Under federal statute, illegally reentering into the United States after being previously deported is in direct violation of existing federal immigration law and is subject to a sentence of up to two years imprisonment. The maximum statutory sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations and the Christian County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department.
Operation Take Back America
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Mexican Couple Extradited from Mexico for Smuggling Unaccompanied Alien Children into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Two Mexican nationals were arraigned in the Western District of Texas after being extradited from Mexico to face charges for smuggling unaccompanied alien children into the United States. A federal grand jury in the Western District of Texas returned an indictment on Sept. 24, 2025, charging Susana Guadian, 51, and Daniel Gaudian, 51, both of Juarez, Mexico, with conspiracy to transport aliens and bringing aliens illegally to the United States for financial gain.
“These defendants are charged with smuggling multiple children across the southern border. The allegations include that they risked the safety of children by giving them THC-laced gummies to sedate them while smuggling them from Mexico into the United States to avoid the children answering questions from border law enforcement,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Protecting kids from smugglers, who will stop at nothing to exploit them, will always be one of the Department’s highest priorities.”
“Having Susana and Daniel Guadian in custody on this side of the border one year after they were indicted is a major development in a case that highlights the dangerous tactics that human smugglers employ when smuggling children,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Like their co-defendants before them, these two will be aggressively prosecuted in federal court and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
“There is nothing more reprehensible than exploiting vulnerable children for profit. Smuggling children across our border is not a victimless crime,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ryan G. McRae of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso. “Giving children cannabis-infused candy to sedate them is an especially disturbing abuse of their trust and safety. HSI will continue to hold accountable those who facilitate these dangerous schemes that treat children as commodities for financial gain and puts them in harm's way.”
According to court documents, between on or about May 1 through Oct. 17, 2024, Susana and Daniel Guadian were part of an alien smuggling organization that brought unaccompanied alien children between the ages of 5 and 13 illegally into the United States from Juarez, Mexico. The complaint alleges that Susana Guadian and Daniel Guadian recruited drivers to transport the children by car from Mexico to a port of entry at the U.S. border. The drivers and their coconspirators would then present U.S. documents to inspecting officers falsely claiming the documents belonged to the children and that they were the children’s parents.
During at least one smuggling event, the alien children were given gummy candies containing marijuana to sedate them. One of the children was taken to a local hospital and later diagnosed with marijuana poisoning. Once inside the United States, the children were then transported to El Paso, where, according to the complaint, others would pick up the children and provide payment to the drivers. The drivers were paid $900 for each minor that they brought into the United States. Co-defendant Manuel Valenzuela was sentenced on July 1 to five years in prison for his role in the child smuggling scheme and another co-defendant Dianne Guadian pleaded guilty for her role in the scheme on July 28.
A photo of THC gummies recovered by agents during secondary inspection at the port of entryHSI El Paso and U.S. Border Patrol led investigative efforts, with substantial assistance from HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., and Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force.
Trial Attorney Bethany Allen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mathew Engelbaum for the Western District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Susana and Daniel Guadian.
The investigation and indictment were 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 U.S. Attorney prosecutors 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 483 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 436 U.S. convictions; and more than 371 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 TCOs, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Member of Interstate Drug & Gun Trafficking Network Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of an interstate drug and firearm trafficking network pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to drug and firearm conspiracy charges.
Nilbel Ventura Amaro, a/k/a “Nino,” a/k/a “Megamind,” a/k/a “Ben,” a/k/a “Migo,” 26, of Lawrence, Mass., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute, manufacture and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Jan. 6, 2027. Ventura Amaro was charged in June 2026 along with four other members of the drug and gun network.
Ventura Amaro was an associate of the Trinitarios transnational criminal organization who operated a drug trafficking network in Maine in coordination with the Trinitarios and under their protection. In May 2024, Ventura Amaro was allegedly kidnapped by members of the Trinitarios and held in a basement for multiple days after he took over drug distribution in certain areas of New Hampshire and Maine. In June 2025, two members of the Trinitarios were charged with kidnapping Ventura Amaro and are pending trial. In addition to the Trinitarios members and associates that he supplied, Ventura Amaro also supplied Mackenzie Bimpson, a large-scale dealer in drugs and firearms. Ventura Amaro also sold fentanyl and cocaine to Bimpson and would receive cash and firearms in exchange.
During the investigation, numerous photos and videos of, and conversations between, the defendants documenting their drug and gun conspiracy were recovered.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute, manufacture and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, supervised release for up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Division; Colonel Mark B. Hall, Director of the New Hampshire State Police; and Paul J. Smith, Chief of the Littleton (N.H.) Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Division; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire; New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; Massachusetts State Police; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Grafton County (N.H.) and Coos County (N.H.) Sheriff’s Departments; and the Berlin (N.H.), Lebanon (N.H.), Norway (Maine), Rumford (Maine), Lawrence (Mass.), New Haven (Conn.), Andover (Mass.) and Lowell (Mass.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cutshall and Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Violent ThreatsRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. – A Rockville, Maryland, man was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for a campaign of violent, graphic threats against at least 25 people and their families.
According to court documents, Justin Dynlacht, 57, sent more than 20 emails, faxes, and letters between November 2022 and April 2024 to employees of companies in Delaware and several other states. The messages grew more violent over time: Dynlacht described torturing, sexually assaulting, and killing the recipients, and at least one message contained racist language. He signed some of his messages with the names of mass murderers. Several recipients and their families changed how they lived their lives because of the threats.
FBI agents arrested Dynlacht at his home in May 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 19, 2025, to one count of stalking a Delaware resident who received the threats, in violation of Title 18 U.S. Code § 2261A(2). U.S District Judge Richard G. Andrews imposed a sentence above the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines range of 30 to 37 months after prosecutors argued that the Guidelines range did not reflect the full scope of Dynlacht’s conduct or the fear it caused. Judge Andrews also ordered 3 years of supervised release with special conditions tailored to the safety of the community.
“Threat campaigns terrorize innocent people, robbing them of their peace of mind and safety, even in their own homes,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “For more than a year, Justin Dynlacht threated to torture and kill people who had done nothing but go to work every day, and he dragged their spouses and children into his horrific campaign. Threats like these are not free speech. They are federal crimes. Anyone who tries to settle a grievance with threats of violence will be found, prosecuted, and held accountable. Dynlacht’s sentence should leave no doubt about this Office’s commitment to ensuring these perpetrators receive just punishment and deterring others who might consider committing similar crimes.”
“Justin Dynlacht earned every minute of his sentence with each graphic letter he mailed and every harassing message he sent to more than two dozen innocent victims,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “The FBI is committed to investigating those who threaten or intimidate others to ensure they are brought to justice.”
The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case Criminal Chief Carly A. Hudson and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli H. Klein prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-CR-63-RGA
Anyone who receives threats of violence by email, mail, phone or social media should report them to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324).
Manhattan Beach Family Therapist Sentenced to Nearly 17 Years in Federal Prison for Installing Hidden Bathroom Camera to Film GirlsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A South Bay family therapist was sentenced today to 200 months in federal prison for installing a hidden camera in the stall of a women’s bathroom located at his place of work where he provided therapy services to, among others, young girls.
Joseph Toews, 31, of Manhattan Beach, was sentenced by United States District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld, Jr., who also fined him $50,000, ordered him to pay a special assessment of $55,000, and ordered him placed on supervised release for a term of 25 years once Toews eventually is released from prison.
Toews pleaded guilty on June 23 to one count of production of child pornography. He has been in federal custody since April 14.
According to court documents, in January 2023, Toews installed a video-recording device in the bathroom stall of a women’s bathroom, located at his place of work. Toews, while providing therapy services, affixed a video recording device in the publicly available women’s bathroom in the same building as his office. His video recording included the minor victims, some of whom received therapy services from him, including, among other methods, play therapy.
While the recording device was active, Toews captured at least 11 separate videos of the minor victims.
Toews further admitted in his plea agreement that, from January 2023 to December 2025, he knowingly received child sexual abuse material (CSAM), including purchasing sexually explicit videos of children via darknet online video stores.
“His conduct was not a spur of the moment happening,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “[Toews] had been stockpiling CSAM prior to his decision to create CSAM of his own.”
The FBI investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Clifford D. Mpare of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case.
Man Who Robbed Winston-Salem Convenience Store Sentenced to 35 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – A man was sentenced today in Winston-Salem to a total of 420 months in prison after being found guilty of robbery, announced United States Attorney Dan Bishop of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
TODD ALBERT LAWTON, aged 43, was convicted in March by a jury in federal district court of one count of interference with commerce by robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). He was sentenced today to 240 months imprisonment on the robbery charge by the Honorable David A. Bragdon, United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina. Judge Bragdon sentenced LAWTON to an additional 180 months on the brandishing charge to run consecutively to the other sentence, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.
Evidence presented at trial showed that LAWTON entered the Family Fare BP convenience store at 1427 West First Street in Winston-Salem at approximately 2:05 a.m. on March 30, 2019. He walked up behind a man standing at the counter and put a gun to the back of the man’s head. He then turned the gun on the gas station cashier and demanded the money from the register. He demanded access to the store safe but was told by the cashier that the key to the safe was not inside the store at that time. Along with the money from the register, LAWTON took several boxes of Black & Mild cigars and a can of beer, then left the store. He was found by officers of the Winston-Salem Police Department several minutes later, still in possession of the money, cigars, and beer.
LAWTON, who is originally from Washington D.C., has a criminal record that dates back to 2002, and includes multiple felony convictions, including Robbery, Felony Assault on a Federal Officer, Federal Felony Inmate Possessing Contraband Weapon, and Felony Distribution of Cocaine.
The case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Martin and Assistant United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon.
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Leesville and Many Men Sentenced for Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE–On September 24, 2026, United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Charles Jackson, 38, of Many, Louisiana, to 63 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release, for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, after his guilty plea on June 22, 2026.
The same day, Judge Summerhays also sentenced Andrew Bulloch, 58, of Leesville, to 60 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. He pled guilty on June 8, 2026.
Jackson and Bulloch were members of the same indicted conspiracy.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
BULLOCH
According to court documents, Bulloch conspired with others to obtain distribution-level quantities of methamphetamine. On one occasion, federal agents intercepted telephone calls between Bulloch and a co-conspirator in which Bulloch sought three ounces of methamphetamine due to high customer demand.
JACKSON
According to court documents, Jackson conspired to acquire distribution-level quantities of methamphetamine. Investigators intercepted discussions involving Jackson and co-conspirators discussing the purchase of large quantities of methamphetamine for future sales on August 6, 2025. The next day, the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office (VPSO) stopped Jackson and his co-conspirators after they had completed a methamphetamine purchase, with VPSO recovering a black bag containing 231.6 grams of methamphetamine during the stop.
These cases were investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and VPSO. They were prosecuted by Assistance U.S. Attorney LaDonte Murphy with the assistance of Legal Assistant Christy Angelle.
These cases were prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities. Learn more at www.justice.gov/psn.
Related court documents for Bulloch may be found at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or via CM/ECF under case number 6:26-CR-00027-09; Jackson, under case number 6:26-CR-00027-08.
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CONTACT: Public Affairs
(337) 262-6704
Cara.Alexander@usdoj.gov
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Facebook: USAO_WDLALeader of Nationwide Scheme to Defraud Staffing Companies Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison and Ordered to Pay More Than $3 Million in RestitutionRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Crispian Atkins (52, Valrico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virgina M. Hernandez Covington to 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, the court also ordered Atkins to pay $3,017,667.53 in restitution and to forfeit $1,563,292.24, the proceeds of his criminal conduct. Atkins pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between May 2021 and March 2024, Atkins and several co-conspirators defrauded 10 victim-companies, located throughout the United States, that provide employment and payroll services, as well as financial funding. Atkins falsely represented to the victim-companies that he had business contracts with other companies to perform IT-related work, and that he needed the victim-companies’ services to fulfill those contracts. The victim companies agreed to provide financial funding or hire Atkins and his co-conspirators as “temporary employees” to complete the purported work. Atkins submitted fraudulent timesheets to the victim-companies that reflected work performed by the “temporary employees,” and the victim-companies paid Atkins and his associates, via wire transfers, according to those timesheets. Atkins and co-conspirators then transferred the fraudulently obtained proceeds to other accounts, withdrew proceeds in cash to conceal their source, and shared in the fraudulently obtained proceeds.
This case was investigated by the FBI Las Vegas Division, Reno Resident Agency, and the FBI Tampa Division, with assistance from the Norwood (MA) Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Illegal alien sent to prison for second illegal reentry convictionRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 28-year-old Mexican national has been ordered to federal prison for illegally entering the country again.
Javier Alejandro Gallegos-Rangel pleaded guilty July 14.
U.S. District Judge Nicholas J. Ganjei ordered him to serve 63 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
Gallegos-Rangel has a prior federal conviction for illegal reentry as well as convictions for evading arrest or detention in a vehicle, burglary of a vehicle, and assault of a family member. He was previously convicted of illegal reentry in February 2019.
Authorities have removed Gallegos-Rangel from the United States three times: July 2016, December 2019, and May 2025. He illegally returned to the United States following those removals.
On Dec. 16, 2025, law enforcement again discovered Gallegos-Rangel in Houston without authorization to be in the United States.
Gallegos-Rangel has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ekua Assabill prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal alien gets federal prison time for another illegal reentry into the U.S.Read the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 45-year-old Honduran national who illegally resided in Houston has been sentenced for illegally reentering the county again.
Edwin Omar Ferrera Casares pleaded guilty July 13.
U.S. District Judge Nicholas J. Ganjei ordered Casares to serve 60 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
Casares has prior convictions for illegal reentry.
Law enforcement removed him from the United States four times since the first instance in June 2008. He repeatedly returned illegally.
On May 6, law enforcement again discovered him Houston with no authorization to be in the country.
Casares has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Whitney prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien from Venezuela Charged with Assaulting and Resisting a Federal Officer in AustinRead the Press Release
An illegal alien from Venezuela made his initial appearance in federal court today after being charged with one count of assaulting, resisting, interfering, and impeding a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, on Sept. 20, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) officers initiated a traffic stop for Wilber Rafael Garces-Perez, 28. The stop was initiated due to confirmation of an immigration judge having issued a final order of removal on Garces-Perez.
The criminal complaint alleges that, during the stop, Garces-Perez provided the ICE ERO officers with his driver’s license. After verifying Garces-Perez was the person they were seeking, the officers asked Garces-Perez to place his vehicle in park and step out—orders which he allegedly ignored. The complaint alleges and body camera footage shows that after further direction from the officers in Spanish, Garces-Perez abruptly closed his window and drove off, striking one of the ICE ERO officers in the torso with the driver’s side-view mirror.
The ICE ERO officers pursued Garces-Perez in their vehicles with their emergency lights and sirens activated. The complaint alleges Garces-Perez led them on a high-speed chase through a commercial and residential area. While one of the officers lost sight of Garces-Perez during the pursuit, the other ICE ERO officer caught up to Garces-Perez, who allegedly attempted to strike the officer with his car, causing the officer to fire his pistol.
Garces-Perez made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Howell of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. A detention hearing is set for Friday, Oct. 2. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Verdeja is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Illegal Alien from Venezuela Charged with Assaulting and Resisting a Federal Officer in AustinRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – An illegal alien from Venezuela made his initial appearance in federal court today after being charged with one count of assaulting, resisting, interfering, and impeding a federal officer, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, on Sept. 20, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) officers initiated a traffic stop for Wilber Rafael Garces-Perez, 28. The stop was initiated due to confirmation of an immigration judge having issued a final order of removal on Garces-Perez.
The criminal complaint alleges that, during the stop, Garces-Perez provided the ICE ERO officers with his driver’s license. After verifying Garces-Perez was the person they were seeking, the officers asked Garces-Perez to place his vehicle in park and step out—orders which he allegedly ignored. The complaint alleges and body camera footage shows that after further direction from the officers in Spanish, Garces-Perez abruptly closed his window and drove off, striking one of the ICE ERO officers in the torso with the driver’s side-view mirror.
The ICE ERO officers pursued Garces-Perez in their vehicles with their emergency lights and sirens activated. The complaint alleges Garces-Perez led them on a high-speed chase through a commercial and residential area. While one of the officers lost sight of Garces-Perez during the pursuit, the other ICE ERO officer caught up to Garces-Perez, who allegedly attempted to strike the officer with his car, causing the officer to fire his pistol.
Garces-Perez made his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Howell of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. A detention hearing is set for Friday, Oct. 2. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Britni Verdeja is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Illegal Alien from El Salvador Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for SoCal Robbery Spree He Resumed Upon Illegally Reentering the U.S.Read the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – An illegal alien from El Salvador was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison for committing seven armed robberies of convenience stores in Southern California in 2024 – a crime spree interrupted by his deportation to El Salvador but which he resumed when he illegally reentered the United States.
Jesus Soto-Parada, 28, of South Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee, who also ordered him to pay $17,815 in restitution.
Soto-Parada pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act) and seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery. He has been in federal custody since July 2024.
“After committing a string of armed robberies and being deported, this defendant illegally returned to our country and went right back to terrorizing our community,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “No one should have to fear for their life while earning a living. Today’s sentence holds this criminal illegal alien accountable with several years behind bars in federal prison.”
From January 2024 until his deportation in April 2024, Soto-Parada committed at least six robberies in Buena Park, Cypress, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Newport Beach, and Agoura Hills. During two separate robberies on January 11, 2024, Soto-Parada’s co-conspirators pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the store clerk and asked, “Where’s the money?”
On January 18, 2024, during an armed robbery in Fullerton, one of Soto-Parada’s co-conspirators brandished what appeared to be a handgun, racked the slide, pointed the handgun at the store clerk, and demanded money.
In a robbery that occurred on February 13, 2024, in Newport Beach, one of Soto-Parada’s co-conspirators brandished what appeared to be a black pistol, racked the slide of the pistol while pointing it at the store clerk, and demanded money.
Soto-Parada returned illegally to the United States in 2024 and then robbed a 7-Eleven in Gardena with co-defendant, Daniel Pavon, 22, of Gardena, on June 13, 2024. During that robbery, Pavon pointed a replica firearm at an employee while Soto-Parada stole cash from a register. Soto-Parada and Pavon then fled with approximately $250 from the 7-Eleven. Law enforcement soon afterward arrested them.
In each of the seven robberies that Soto-Parada committed, a co-conspirator had a firearm or replica firearm that was used to threaten the employee’s life, typically by pointing the firearm at the employee while demanding money.
“[Soto-Parada] and his co-conspirators committed these robberies by threatening the lives of the various victim-employees, causing those employees to think they would be killed and their children without their parent if they did not comply with [Soto-Parada’s] and his co-conspirators’ demands for money,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.
Pavon is serving a four-year federal prison sentence after pleading guilty on March 11 to four counts of misprision of a felony. Judge Gee ordered him to pay $250 in restitution.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Orange County Violent Crime Task Force (OCVCTF), which is comprised of federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the ATF, the Brea Police Department, the Santa Ana Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the Newport Beach Police Department, and the Fullerton Police Department, is investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jena MacCabe of the Major Crimes Section and Caitlin Campbell of the Orange County Office prosecuted this matter.
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Concepcion Soto-Rivera, a/k/a Conception Soto-Rivera, age 41, a Mexican national unlawfully present in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Eufaula Police Department.
On May 12, 2026, Soto-Rivera pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on March 17, 2026, Soto-Rivera, 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 October 30, 2016, October 18, 2014, August 13, 2008, June 23, 2008, May 21, 2008, May 17, 2008, and May 13, 2008.
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 Senior District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr., of the United States District Court of the District of Maine, sitting by designation, presided over the hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Knutson represented the United States.
Hull, Iowa, Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
A man who possessed child pornography and used Artificial Intelligence to produce other child sexual abuse materials (CSAM), pled guilty September 29, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City.
Evan Marra, 31, from Hull, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of child pornography and one count of producing, receiving, and distributing obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children.
At the plea hearing, Marra admitted that from November 1, 2019, through May 14, 2026, he received and possessed child pornography which consisted primarily of images depicting prepubescent males ages 3-12 engaged in sex acts with adults. Law enforcement received CyberTips from Marra’s cellphone cloud-storage provider and recognized one image as AI-generated materials depicting known minors from the local area. Search warrants executed on Marra’s social media accounts revealed 50 videos of child pornography and several AI-generated videos of known local victims. During a search warrant of Marra’s electronics, law enforcement found AI-generated CSAM of local victims with their faces inserted in the images of CSAM so it appeared as if they were being abused.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Marra remains in custody of the United States Marshal and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Marra faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office 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 26-4037.
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Houston tax preparer admits to multiple tax fraud schemesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 40-year-old Houston woman has pleaded guilty to tax offenses involving businesses and the preparation of false tax returns.
Levi Casildo Castro admitted to willful failure to collect and pay over tax and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns.
Castro operated LC Home Remodeling and Maid Service and A&M Home Remodeling and Cleaning. Through those businesses, she withheld federal income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes from employees’ wages but failed to pay the money to the U.S. Treasury.
Castro also worked as a paid tax preparer despite not having authorization to do so. She prepared tax returns for clients but falsely indicated the clients had prepared the returns themselves.
Those returns included false information about wages, federal tax withholdings and Social Security and Medicare taxes. Castro inflated the amounts to increase the earned income tax credits her clients could receive.
Castro admitted her actions caused approximately $400,000 in losses to the U.S. Treasury.
U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal accepted the plea and set sentencing for Dec. 16. At that time, Castro faces up to eight years in federal prison as well as a possible $110,000 maximum fine.
Previously released on bond, Castro was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing.
The IRS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman prosecuted the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division which is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs.
Houston man sent to prison for Spring medical center arsonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 55-year-old man has been ordered to federal prison for orchestrating the burning of a three-story medical center under construction in Spring.
Truong Quoc Duong pleaded guilty March 3 to conspiring to maliciously use explosive materials resulting in personal injury.
U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal ordered Duong to serve 84 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. Duong was further ordered to pay $3,581,983.67 in restitution.
At the hearing, the court heard about injuries to a firefighter and damage to a fire truck, neighboring car wash, and the medical center. The court further considered the financial impact on the property owners and their employees, along with Duong’s prior criminal history.
In handing down the sentence, the court cited Duong’s “shocking disregard” for the danger he created by igniting a building next to other occupied structures and the firefighters who had to respond. The court also noted Duong’s education and criticized his decision to use it to plan the offense, calling it a “real waste.”
The court additionally questioned Duong’s explanation for possessing five 2-liter bottles filled with flammable liquid, five grenade hulls, 188 firearm magazines, 14 silencers, 351 rounds of ammunition, and 87 firearms—including two short-barreled rifles—at the time of his arrest, describing his explanation as “challenging.”
On Nov. 21, 2022, Duong drove Jason Rogers to the three-story medical center on Interstate 45 North in Spring and dropped him off near the building. Rogers entered carrying a full backpack and emerged several minutes later without it. The two later met at a nearby restaurant.
The fire erupted after both men left the area. Firefighters worked for several hours to extinguish the blaze, which destroyed the building and damaged the neighboring car wash. A firefighter suffered burn injuries, and damages exceeded $1 million.
Authorities later arrested Duong with several 2-liter Dr Pepper bottles filled with gasoline and fitted with an ignition system he had designed. Investigators determined the devices matched those used to set fire to the medical center.
Duong owned a pet store in a neighboring strip center and rented the space from the same landlords who owned the medical center. The investigation revealed he had stopped paying rent and abandoned the store before his lease expired. The landlords sued him, the birds inside died as a result of the eviction, and the fire occurred several days later, according to information presented in court.
Duong has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Rogers, 41, of Houston, has been sentenced for his role.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Montgomery County Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman prosecuted the case.
Gulf coast physician faces False Claims Act lawsuit in alleged Medicare fraudRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Bay City physician faces a False Claims Act lawsuit alleging he fraudulently billed Medicare nearly $500,000 for surgical neurostimulator electrode implantations.
Dr. Michael Neret owns and manages Neret MD Medical Clinic and practices in Bay City and Lake Jackson.
According to the complaint, Neret billed Medicare for surgical neurostimulator electrode implantations. These complex procedures require an operating room, and Medicare pays thousands of dollars for each procedure.
However, the complaint alleges Neret did not perform the surgeries he billed to Medicare. Instead, non-physician practitioners and non-clinical staff allegedly used inexpensive electro-acupuncture devices during brief, in-office sessions. They inserted small electrode wires into patients’ skin and secured the devices behind their ears with adhesive.
The complaint further alleges Neret encouraged staff to use the electro-acupuncture devices without explaining how the procedures would benefit patients. Neret allegedly knew the devices were non-billable and used the procedures to justify prescribing narcotics for pain management.
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura E. Collins and Michelle Luong are handling the matter.
The claims are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Guilty Plea by Air Force Reservist for PPP Loan Fraud is Another Win for National Fraud Enforcement DivisionRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Ray Anthony Pearson II, 32, of Navarre, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of wire fraud involving Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan funds. This prosecution was part of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud launched by President Donald J. Trump, a whole-of-government effort to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Fraudsters seized on the generous federal programs intended to help businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, and tried to enrich themselves by ripping off the American taxpayer. My office is aggressively pursuing those criminals to hold them accountable, and this successful prosecution is another win in the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse within our federal programs.”
Court documents reflect that in 2021, the defendant, while working full-time in a civilian job and part-time as an Air Force Reservist, caused to be submitted a fraudulent online application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan that falsely claimed he was self-employed with a business that lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of his fraud, the defendant received $20,142 in PPP loan funds to which he was not entitled. He submitted a second PPP loan application that was denied.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Pearson faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment. As part of his plea agreement, Pearson has agreed to forfeit any forfeitable assets and to pay restitution.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
The case was investigated by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Etherton and Walter Narramore are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud.
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.
Great Falls man sentenced to over 5 years in prison for trafficking fentanylRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Great Falls man who was dealing fentanyl from a motel room was sentenced Monday to five years and four months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Brayden Lucas Sangrey, 20, pleaded guilty in May 2026 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Sangrey was arrested in a Great Falls motel room on two outstanding state warrants by the U.S. Marshal’s Violent Offender Task Force. During the arrest, law enforcement found $2,500 in cash, a small box with 65 grams of fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Great Falls Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service conducted the investigation.
Gary Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Possessing Unregistered MachinegunRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Cesar Aguirre, 20 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to possession of an unregistered machinegun, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Cesar Aguirre was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release.
According to documents in the case, on January 29, 2025, in Gary, Indiana, when police arrested Cesar Aguirre in a high school for commission of an armed robbery weeks earlier, Aguirre had in his possession a loaded semi-automatic pistol outfitted with a machinegun conversion device, which made the firearm a machinegun, that was not registered to him.
"Bringing a fully automatic machine gun with a loaded, extended large-capacity magazine into a high school during school hours is a serious federal crime, and today's sentence shows that this dangerous conduct will not be tolerated in Northern Indiana. Our schools must be a safe place for students to learn, educators to teach, and staff to work without the fear of gun violence. School safety remains a critical priority for this office and our law enforcement partners. We are fully committed to prosecuting anyone who compromises the security of our classrooms. We will continue to collaborate with our local, state, and federal partners to protect our children and ensure our schools remain secure learning environments," said United States Attorney Adam Mildred.
“Bringing a loaded, illegally modified firearm capable of automatic fire into a school demonstrates a reckless disregard for human life and public safety,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “HSI and our law enforcement partners will continue to pursue those who use illegal firearms to threaten our communities and ensure they are held accountable under federal law.”
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security and Hobart Police Department with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Toth and Dean R. Lanter.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Four-Time Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison for Selling Methamphetamine and FirearmsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ANDRE MILLS (“MILLS”), age 44, of New Orleans, was sentenced on September 24, 2026 by Chief U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to 17.5 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, over the course of five transactions between November 2024 and January 2025, MILLS, and his co-conspirators, sold fentanyl, methamphetamine, and firearms to individuals they believed to be legitimate buyers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). On January 7, 2025, an individual MILLS believed to be a legitimate buyer, called MILLS and placed an order for firearms and a pound of methamphetamine. One week later, MILLS, and a co-defendant, sold to an individual believed to be a legitimate buyer, over 400 grams of methamphetamine and two HS Produkt XD firearms for $2,650.
MILLS has four prior drug-trafficking convictions, in addition to convictions for resisting arrest, hit and run, aggravated assault, and flight from an officer.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Former employee sentenced and ordered to pay restitution for embezzling from federally recognized TribeRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Dillingham man and former employee of Curyung Tribal Council, a federally recognized Tribe, was sentenced on April 17, 2026, to two years and a day in prison for stealing his co-workers’ identities and embezzling over $98,000 from the Tribe.
According to court documents, William Corbett, 37, was hired by Curyung Tribal Council in February 2023 as an accountant and IT specialist. From October 2023 through February 2024, Corbett wrote multiple unauthorized checks from the Tribe’s accounts to his accounts, falsified payroll documents of his co-workers and deposited their paychecks into his accounts, and made unauthorized personal purchases that he charged to the Tribe.
On June 10, 2025, Corbett pled guilty to one count of embezzlement and theft from an Indian tribal organization, two counts of wire fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The court sentenced Corbett to a total of two years and a day in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine. On September 28, 2026, the court also ordered Corbett to pay $125,834.58 in restitution to the Tribe.
“The sentence and restitution order imposed in this case demonstrates the consequences of choosing to steal from Alaska’s Tribal organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “My office is committed to prosecuting those who seek personal profit at the expense of our rural communities.”
The U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General Western Region investigated the case, with assistance from the Dillingham Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Beausang prosecuted the case.
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Fitchburg Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing and Possessing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Fitchburg man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to using his Kik account to distribute and possess child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Sean Pettigrew, 50,pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Jan. 21, 2027. Pettigrew was arrested and charged in July 2025.
In April 2025, Pettigrew was identified as a member in a Kik Messenger group devoted to the sexual abuse of children. Pettigrew sent multiple images depicting CSAM in private messages to an undercover agent posing as a member of the chat. A subsequent search of Pettigrew’s Kik Messenger account revealed that he had sent multiple CSAM files to other users on the app.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a sentence of no less than five years up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial E. Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Felon Sentenced to Prison for Firing Three Shots at a Scooter Rider in Northeast D.C.Read the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Cornelius Welch, 28, a previously convicted felon residing in the District, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 33 months in prison in connection with shooting at a scooter rider in November 2025 in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“This defendant fired three shots in the direction of someone simply riding a scooter,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “By the grace of God, no one was struck. A convicted armed robber who was prohibited from possessing a firearm, he chose to open fire on a neighborhood street, showing a complete disregard for the lives of others. He now faces the consequences of that decision.”
Welch pleaded guilty on May 19, 2026, before Judge Rudolph Contreras to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and to endangerment with a firearm. In addition to the 33-month prison term, Judge Contreras ordered Welch to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Nov. 22, 2025, about 4:15 p.m. Welch was at the Benning Courts apartment complex on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE, as an unknown person was riding a scooter on the sidewalk.
Welch drew a firearm, aimed at the scooter rider, and fired three times. The incident was captured on surveillance cameras. The scooter rider did not appear to be injured and continued to travel away from the scene of the shooting.
Metropolitan Police officers responded to the scene, canvassed the street, and recovered three .40 caliber shell casings.
On Jan. 10, 2026, investigators from the MPD and agents from the DEA executed a search warrant at an apartment in the 1700 block of Benning Road where Welch was staying with his girlfriend. Law enforcement recovered a loaded privately manufactured semiautomatic rifle, a loaded privately manufactured .40 caliber pistol, a loaded Glock 42x 9mm pistol, powder cocaine, crack cocaine and PCP. Welch and his girlfriend were arrested and charged the same day in D.C. Superior Court with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance while armed among other charges.
Welch has a previous felony conviction for armed robbery and therefore was prohibited from possessing any gun.
On July 29, 2026, Welch was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (cocaine) and unlawful possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by the DEA, the ATF, and the Metropolitan Police Department.
The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Lee.
Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful supports President Trump's Executive Order that cracks down on gun violence, prioritizes federal firearms violations, pursues tougher penalties, and seeks detention for federal firearms violators.
Welch at the Benning Courts apartment building in a surveillance photo captured the day of the shooting.
Surveillance photo shows Welch (circled in red) and the scooter rider (circled in yellow).
Welch takes aim at the scooter rider before firing three times.
The .40 caliber pistol recovered from the apartment.
The privately manufactured .22 rifle (left) and the Glock 43x 9mm pistol recovered from the apartment.
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Federal Judge Sentences Freeport, Ill. Man to More Than Fifteen Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A federal judge has sentenced a Freeport, Ill. man to more than 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms during a lengthy standoff with law enforcement.
In September 2024, GRADY CLARK unlawfully restrained an individual by the use of a firearm in Clark’s apartment, resulting in a welfare check by police. The victim was able to flee before Clark barricaded himself in the apartment, causing an eleven-hour standoff with law enforcement. During the standoff, Clark repeatedly discharged a firearm and threw Molotov cocktails out a window.
Clark eventually surrendered, after which law enforcement discovered a rifle with four 40-round capacity magazines, a 30-round capacity magazine, and a stolen and chambered semiautomatic handgun inside his apartment.
Clark, 54, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of illegal firearm possession. As a previously convicted felon, Clark was prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Clark to 15 years and eight months in federal prison.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher Amon, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Freeport, Ill. Police Department and the Illinois State Police assisted in the investigation.
“This case is extremely serious,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodora A. Anderson argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s actions created a significant risk to the public.”
Dunn County Man Sentenced to over Four Years for Illegal Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Andrew Johnson, 31, Knapp, Wisconsin, was sentenced on September 23, 2026, by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 54 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Johnson pleaded guilty to this charge on July 14, 2026.
On October 22, 2025, police searched a vehicle Johnson was driving in Dunn County, Wisconsin, and found a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun in the center console with his initials scratched into both sides of the handgun and the serial number scratched off. Johnson admitted to police that everything in the vehicle belonged to him. Johnson is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition because of previous felony convictions, including robbery with the threat of force.
At sentencing, Judge Conley acknowledged Johnson’s history of ongoing, troubling criminal behavior and was concerned by Johnson’s cycle of reincarceration having been on active state supervision at the time of this offense.
The charge against Johnson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Menomonie Police Department, Dunn County Sheriff’s Office, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Remington and Steven Ayala prosecuted this case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies.
Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Duluth Man Sentenced to 110 Months’ Imprisonment for Violent Carjacking, Resulting in Life-Threatening Injuries to VictimRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Warren Holt Jr., of Duluth, Minnesota, was sentenced to 110 months in prison for one count of carjacking.
Holt was sentenced before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim on September 28, 2026. He previously pleaded guilty on November 7, 2025.
According to court documents, on June 16, 2021, the defendant brutally attacked a then-78-year-old victim during a carjacking in Duluth, Minnesota. On that day, Holt approached the victim’s home and told the victim that he was “looking for a truck.” When the victim told Holt that the truck was not for sale, Holt briefly left.
Later, the defendant returned and brutally attacked the victim, including hitting, strangling, and stabbing the victim, resulting in the victim becoming unconscious and bleeding profusely with broken ribs and puncture wounds to his chest. The victim was later admitted to the intensive care unit and faced life-threatening injuries.
After the violent assault, Holt stole the victim’s truck and fled the scene. He was stopped and apprehended in Carlton County, Minnesota, where officers found him with a fresh cut on his right wrist and blood on his shoes.
“This defendant committed a vicious act that left a 78-year-old victim with critical injuries. While no sentence can fully heal the harm that he caused, it does provide justice to the victim and his loved ones,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“The carjacking committed by this defendant was carried out with callous disregard for the life of the victim or the safety of our community,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Benni Jonsson. “Such violence inflicted upon an innocent victim is truly shocking. We hope that today’s sentence brings a sense of justice served and is a step toward healing for the victim and his family.”
“The Duluth Police Department appreciates our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the case, resulting in Holt being sentenced to 110 months in prison and holding him accountable for the actions he inflicted on the 78-year-old victim, and for the angst he caused on the victim’s family, friends, and loved ones. Violence of any kind is not tolerated in Duluth, and we will continue to hold those accountable who are victimizing members of our community,” said Chief of Police for the Duluth Police Department Mike Ceynowa.
This case was the result of an investigation by the FBI and the Duluth Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Garrett S. Fields prosecuted the case.
Dual US-Peruvian national extradited to Houston to face $40 million bank fraud and money laundering chargesRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 70-year-old dual citizen of the United States and Peru made his initial appearance in Houston federal court following his extradition from Peru to face charges in an alleged multiyear bank fraud and money laundering scheme involving at least $40 million in fraudulent loan proceeds.
Hugo Villanueva, formerly of Katy, was extradited to the United States Sept. 17 and has now appeared for his arraignment. He is scheduled for a detention hearing Oct. 7 at 10 a.m.
According to the indictment, Villanueva and others conspired from at least 2016 to 2021 to obtain dozens of fraudulent bank loans totaling at least $40 million. They allegedly submitted loan applications containing false information and fraudulent supporting documents, including equipment sales invoices, income tax returns, and bank statements.
The indictment further alleges Villanueva prepared false tax returns and financial statements to support the fraudulent loan applications and obtain approval from financial institutions.
Villanueva allegedly fled the United States in 2023 to avoid arrest. Authorities arrested him in Lima, Peru, in November 2025.
Co-defendants Bun Khath, 45, Jeremiah Almaguer, 46, both of Richmond; and Jennifer Williams, 72, of Houston; previously pleaded guilty for their roles in the scheme and received sentences of 120 months, 60 months, and 12 months, respectively.
Co-defendants William Mills, 62, Kazem Younes, 65, both of Sugar Land; and Jolson Wu, 64, of Houston, have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Villanueva faces up to 30 years in prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine for the conspiracy, bank fraud, and false statement to obtain credit charges. He also faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $500,000 maximum fine or twice the amount of the value involved in the transaction for the money laundering conspiracy charge.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-OIG, and FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department extends its gratitude to the Government of Peru for making the extradition possible. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Peru.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
District Man Sentenced to Prison for Kidnapping Two Girls at Gunpoint and Sexually Exploiting a ChildRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Keishawn Johnson, 23, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 204 months in prison in connection with kidnapping two girls and the sexual exploitation of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Keishawn Johnson terrorized two children, hunting them and holding them hostage. Now he’s headed exactly where he belongs: federal prison,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We will not tolerate this violence and disregard for human life. Anyone who preys on children will meet the same fate.”
Johnson pleaded guilty on Jan. 21, 2026, before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to kidnapping while armed and sexual exploitation of a child. In addition to the 204-month prison term, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered Johnson to serve 10 years of supervised release.
According to court papers, in September 2024, Johnson tricked a 15-year-old girl into getting into his car in the District by falsely telling her that her 14-year-old friend was inside. Johnson then held the teenager against her will and demanded she help him locate a missing firearm. When the teenager's mother tried to remove her from the vehicle at a gas station, Johnson drove away with the teenager still inside. Johnson later used the teen's phone to lure her 14-year-old friend to a location in the District, where he and an accomplice, Antoine Jones, pointed firearms at the younger girl and forced her into a vehicle. Police arrived as the abduction was underway, and the older teenager was left behind while Johnson fled with the younger girl.
Johnson held the 14-year-old against her will overnight, driving her to multiple locations in the District and Maryland while continuing to search for the firearm, and assaulted her during that time. Police located Johnson again the following afternoon; he fled with the 14-year-old still in the car and crashed the vehicle before running from the scene on foot. Law enforcement recovered the girl at that time.
Investigators also recovered a phone containing video Johnson had recorded weeks earlier showing him sexually abusing the 14-year-old girl.
At the time of the kidnapping, Johnson was on probation in two Maryland cases involving theft, burglary and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, and faced a pending burglary and grand larceny case in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Jones, Johnson’s accomplice, also pleaded guilty on Jan. 21, 2026, before Judge Kollar-Kotelly, to kidnapping while armed. Jones was sentenced to 114 months in prison.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Frame grab from surveillance video shows the abduction circled in yellow.
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Delaware Pastor Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Committing over $500,000 in Pandemic Relief Fraud and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Brian Pittman, 47, was sentenced today to 18 months of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $200 special assessment, and $606,101 in restitution by United States District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge for defrauding a pandemic relief program and committing tax fraud.
The defendant was charged via information in February of this year and pleaded guilty in March to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return, waiving prosecution by indictment.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
As detailed in court filings, Pittman used the names and information of friends and family to apply for, and receive, multiple pandemic relief loans backed by the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”). Pittman used false information and fake documents to support applications for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program, resulting in payouts to friends and family of $363,600.
Pittman had his friends and family transfer him the majority of the loan money — over $250,000 — which he kept for himself. Pittman did not report this income on his tax returns, resulting in almost $90,000 of underpayment to the IRS.
Pittman obtained an additional $181,164 in pandemic relief from the SBA based on fraudulent applications filed in his own name and the names of businesses he controlled.
In total, Pittman was responsible for $544,764 of payouts based on fraud.
While submitting the false applications, and through the present, Pittman worked as a pastor at a 350-member Delaware-based church, served as a volunteer chaplain for a Delaware County police department, and ran a mentoring program.
This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Rice and Ruth Mandelbaum.
Delaware Men Sentenced for Cyber Intrusion Scheme Targeting Victims in the Southern District of IowaRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa –Two Delaware men were sentenced on September 25, 2026, to a combined 189 months in federal prison for their roles in an international cyber intrusion scheme.
According to public documents and evidence presented at sentencing, for nearly two years, Chijioke Timothy Odimegwu, 25, and Harafat Mogaji, 26, both of whom were members of the United States Air Force at the time, attacked business victims across the United States with email “spamming” and phishing campaigns to steal usernames and passwords for victims’ employee email accounts. They and their co-conspirators then used these stolen credentials, along with “spoofed” email addresses mimicking emails associated with the victim or its business partners, to communicate with their victims and redirect payments to and from the victims’ trusted business partners to accounts controlled by the defendants’ co-conspirators.
Working with co-conspirators both in the United States and abroad, Odimegwu and Mogaji fraudulently diverted a more than $1.68 million wire sent by a victim in Iowa City, Iowa, to a bank account in Chicago controlled by the conspiracy. They also diverted a more than $720,000 wire sent by a victim in Ohio to a bank account controlled by the conspiracy. These are in addition to many other attempts Odimegwu and Mogaji made to divert wire transfers made by businesses in Iowa and across the country.
As part of their spamming and phishing campaigns, Odimegwu and Mogaji also harvested financial information from victims, such as financial account numbers and information, personal identification numbers, and credit and debit card numbers, including credit card information for a victim non-profit located in Pella, Iowa. They also purchased similar stolen information from their co-conspirators. They would then use the stolen information to make and attempt financial transactions without their victims’ knowledge or authorization. They exchanged this information with one another and attempted to make purchases using that information stolen from other victims across the country.
Odimegwu was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 111 months and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $366,617.59. Mogaji was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 78 months and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $995,680.45. Both were taken into custody following sentencing. After completing their prison terms, Odimegwu and Mogaji will each serve a three-year term on supervised release.
“When cyber intrusion schemes target businesses and nonprofits in our communities, we will aggressively surge resources to protect the American people and their life savings,” said Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “Criminals from all backgrounds attack our digital systems. They strike targets from corporate networks to personal smart phones. No one and no device is immune from the threat. This case demonstrates that we will hold accountable cybercriminals who target our communities. It also serves as a reminder that every organization and every individual should take steps to protect their devices and systems and learn how to recognize and avoid scams. FBI Omaha will continue working with our local, state, and federal partners in the fight to dismantle and disrupt cyber enabled schemes.”
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben prosecuted the case.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Defense contractor’s former chief executive to pay $4.9M to resolve False Claims Act allegationsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Frazier Aviation, Inc., located in San Fernando, California, and its former chief executive agreed to settle False Claims Act allegations involving the sale of aircraft parts to the government. As part of the settlement, Frazier Aviation’s former chief executive will pay $4.9 million to the United States.
The settlement began with a lawsuit, United States ex rel. Heather Elliott v. Frazier Aviation, Inc. et al., filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims presented to the federal government.
The settlement resolves allegations that Frazier Aviation improperly marketed and sold aircraft parts that used Lockheed Martin’s Commercial and Government Entity code without authorization. The settlement also resolves allegations that Frazier Aviation used unauthorized subcontractors to manufacture parts that did not meet applicable quality standards. After the United States declined to intervene but still continued its investigation, the whistleblower proceeded with litigation. Frazier Aviation and its former chief executive agreed to resolve the allegations in the lawsuit, and the United States consented to the settlement. The whistleblower will receive a share of the settlement.
This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Kapoor with the assistance of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division, and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Case records may be found on PACER under case number 1:23-cv-881 (DJN/IDD) (E.D. Va.).