Latest Records
Newest first across public DOJ and U.S. Attorney press releases.
16 January 2026
Six Sentenced in Sweeping Multi Million Dollar Cargo HeistRead the Press Release
NEW ALBANY- Juan Perez-Gonzalez (“Perez”), 51, a Cuban national living in Florida, has been sentenced to 13.5 years in federal prison following his conviction for participating in a massive, multi-state cargo theft conspiracy.
The remaining five defendants pled guilty to their respective charges. A summary of the charges, sentence, and restitution with respect to each defendant is outlined below:
DEFENDANTSENTENCERESTITUTIONCHARGE(S)Juan D. Perez-Gonzalez, 51, FL13.5 years$1,165,193.00Conspiracy; possession of goods stolen from interstate commerce; interstate transportation of stolen propertyCarlos Enrique Freire-Pifferrer, 46,
Louisville, KY
7 years, 11 months$1,765,193.00Conspiracy; two counts of interstate transportation of stolen propertyJose Antonio Gomez-Pifferrer, 33,
Louisville, KY
3 years, 1 month$1,765,193.00Conspiracy; two counts of interstate transportation of stolen propertyRichard Alameda, 47,
FL
2 years, 10 months$789,284.00ConspiracyLuis Velazquez, 58, Jacksonville, FL2 years, 9 months$1,329,674.00Conspiracy; interstate transportation of stolen propertyDalwy De Armas-Rodriguez, 38,
Louisville, KY
Time served ConspiracyAccording to court documents, between November 2021 and May 2023, Perez-Gonzalez and his co-conspirators conspired to steal tractor-trailers containing commercially available, high-end electronics and other items, which they later resold at a discount for profit.
The co-conspirators traveled from Florida and Kentucky to distribution facilities used by national companies such as Meta, Microsoft, and L Brands located in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. The group then surveilled these facilities and followed semi-tractor trailers as they departed. When a driver stopped to rest, refuel, or park, the conspirators stole the entire tractor-trailer.
In many instances, the group abandoned the stolen tractor nearby and reattached the trailer to a different semi-tractor they operated. To evade law enforcement, they painted over logos and identifying numbers and used different license plates on the solen trailers.
The group then transported the stolen cargo to Miami, Florida, where it was sold to buyers, including co-defendant Richard Alameda, for a fraction of its retail value. The group carried out at least 14 separate cargo thefts, resulting in the theft of over $2 million in Oculus virtual reality headsets from a Meta facility, $940,000 in Microsoft products, $1 million in Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret merchandise, $669,000 in Harmon-JBL audio products, $180,000 in Logitech products, and $480,000 worth of Bose audio speakers, among other stolen items.
“These thefts had real consequences for consumers and businesses, increasing costs and disrupting the flow of goods across the country. What this group attempted was a sweeping attack on the backbone of U.S. commerce, but it was ultimately dismantled through the unified work of federal, state, and local law enforcement,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Federal law enforcement has a far reach and unwavering resolve, and this case makes it clear that anyone who threatens the nation’s supply chain will be tracked down and held accountable.”
“This was a coordinated, multi-million-dollar criminal operation - not an opportunistic theft. Cargo theft schemes like this drive-up costs for businesses and consumers alike,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O’Malley. “The sentences imposed reflect the seriousness of the crime and demonstrate that those who target supply chains for personal gain will face significant consequences.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation was assisted in this investigation by several state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Kentucky State Police, Indiana State Police, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt.
U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Rinka and Matthew Barloh, who prosecuted this case.
###
Sioux City Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Andrew Gross, 42, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced on January 16, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City. Gross pled guilty September 11, 2025, to possession of child pornography.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Sioux City Police received a report from the parents of a 15-year-old that Gross was having conversations with their child that were sexual in nature. Further investigation revealed that Gross and the minor victim discussed sexually explicit messages which also contained photographs of the minor victim. Evidence also showed that Gross received child pornography from April 1–May 14, 2024, and that Gross possessed thousands of other images and videos of child pornography on his cell phone. In 2021, Gross had been convicted of offenses relating to aggravated sexual abuse involving a minor in Minnesota.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Gross to 120 months’ imprisonment and a 5-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Gross must also pay $3,000 in restitution to the victims of his crimes and an additional $1,100 in fines and assessments. Gross remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by Sioux City and South Sioux City Police Departments and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information is at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 25-4021. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Sioux City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Daniel Kaler, 38, from Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced today to 64 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty on September 8, 2025, to possessing child pornography.
Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from November 2023 to October 2024, Kaler received and possessed over 7,000 images and videos of child pornography. The images and videos involved material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct, as well as prepubescent children, infants, and toddlers. A CyberTip from Verizon’s cloud storage company to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children connected downloads of child pornography to Kaler’s account. Law enforcement officers searched Kaler’s electronic devices pursuant to a search warrant. Analysis of Kaler’s devices showed he utilized third-party web browsers called “Brave” and “Yandex” to search for and download child pornography.
Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Kaler was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment, and he must serve a term of five-years of supervised release following imprisonment. He was ordered to pay $6,600 in fines and restitution. Kaler remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and was 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 25-4016. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Sacramento Drug Dealer Sentenced to 15 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Michael William Hutchison III, 24, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena M. Coggins to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between Jan. 26, 2023, and May 10, 2024, Hutchison was a leader and organizer of violent drug traffickers who distributed massive amounts of lethal drugs in the Sacramento region. Hutchison’s specific role involved orchestrating the transport of large drug loads while he himself was active in selling drugs in Sacramento.
During the investigation, undercover operatives conducted nine controlled buys directly from Hutchison and seized hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine from the drug trafficking organization. Hutchison’s role in these serious offenses was aggravated by his status as an influential figure in a violent Sacramento street gang. Hutchison pleaded guilty on Aug. 13, 2025.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sacramento Police Department, the Yuba County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hitt prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Rensselaer County Man Sentenced for Money Order FraudRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Matthew Dundas, age 26, of Petersburgh, New York, was sentenced to two years of probation with 80 hours of community service and a $4,000 fine on January 14, 2026, for money order fraud. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Matthew M. Modafferi, the Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Area Field Office of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General (“USPS-OIG”) made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Dundas admitted that, while he was employed with the United States Postal Service, between January 2023 and September 2024, he fraudulently issued 105 money orders to himself without paying for them and stole $76,976.61 from the United States. Dundas repaid the money he stole prior to pleading guilty.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Government employees stealing from taxpayer dollars is an egregious betrayal of the public trust and will be met with swift and decisive action. Our Office will continue to root out any self-dealing and fraud in the government. We thank the Postal Service, Office of Inspector General for its continued efforts to root out fraud from within.”
Special Agent in Charge Matthew M. Modafferi stated, “The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General is dedicated to protecting the U.S Mail and the U.S. Postal Service. When a Postal Service employee decides to break the public’s trust and participates in criminal acts, USPS OIG Special Agents will work tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice. The sentence imposed on the defendant will serve as a clear reminder to Postal Service employees of the consequences when they utilize their position to commit crimes. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of New York for their dedication and efforts in this investigation.”
The USPS-OIG investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted it.
Rapid City Woman Who Discharged Firearm at Local Grocery Store Sentenced to over Six Years in Federal Prison on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a woman from Rapid City, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on January 12, 2026.
Talisse Fighting Bear, 34, was sentenced to six years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The federal sentence was ordered to run concurrent to a state sentence Fighting Bear is currently serving.
Fighting Bear was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in May 2025. She pleaded guilty on October 8, 2026.
At a grocery store in Rapid City, South Dakota, Fighting Bear pointed a handgun at several people. Before arriving to the grocery store, Fighting Bear had fired one round into the air. While inside, she held a store clerk at gunpoint and directed her to move. Fighting Bear then pointed the gun at two other people. Fighting Bear had been previously convicted of a felony and is therefore prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Fighting Bear was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on January 12, 2026.
Raymond Winters, 36, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Winters was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025.
On January 22, 2025, in Rapid City, South Dakota, Winters quickly fled the vehicle he was driving and threw a firearm onto the ground after he noticed law enforcement’s presence. Winters was carrying ammunition and a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. Evidence showed that shortly before his encounter with law enforcement, Winters had pointed the firearm at his domestic partner several times. Winters had been previously convicted of a felony. As a result, he is prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the ATF and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Winters was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Rapid City Man Acquitted on Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a man from Rapid City, South Dakota, was acquitted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm following a federal jury trial in Rapid City, South Dakota, on January 14, 2026.
Christian Kelly, age 32, was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025.
The charges related to an incident in Rapid City, South Dakota, during which Kelly was alleged to have been seen waving around an illegally modified rifle and hiding it under a vehicle once law enforcement arrived.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF and the Rapid City Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
Port Huron Resident Pleads Guilty to Stealing $900,000 from His EmployerRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Peter Paulus, 51, of Port Huron, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, between November 2020 and August 2023, Paulus worked as a sales manager at Countertops Direct in Harrison Township, Michigan. During this time, Paulus devised a scheme to divert customer credit card payments from Countertops Direct to bank accounts that he controlled. To cover up the scheme, he falsified transaction display information and receipts, making it appear that the money that he appropriated was in fact remitted to Countertops Direct. Paulus embezzled approximately $900,000 from his employer.
"Peter Paulus’s guilty plea reaffirms that financial crimes carried out through deception come with consequences,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Our team from the FBI Macomb County Resident Agency continues to do outstanding work, alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with the goal of protecting public trust and ensuring financial crimes are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.”
Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026. A conviction for wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alyse Wu and Philip A. Ross.
Perry Man Indicted for Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Robert Shane Willis, 47, of Perry, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Willis appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for February 24, 2026, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.
Willis faces 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life, if convicted as charged.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Perry Police Department, and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case 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, human and drug trafficking.
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 http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Pensacola Man Indicted in Federal Court for Interstate Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking and Money Laundering OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Christopher J. Watson, 43, of Pensacola, Florida, was indicted in federal court for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and over 500 grams of cocaine; conspiracy to utilize a telephone communication facility to carry out a drug trafficking crime; conspiracy to commit money laundering; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and attempting to prevent the seizure of drug trafficking evidence by lawful authorities. The indictment was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Watson appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Zachary C. Bolitho, in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for March 2, 2026, at 8:00 am, before District Court Judge M. Casey Rogers.
Watson faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years up to life imprisonment if convicted. The indictment reveals that Watson has previously spent time in federal prison for similar offenses.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Pensacola Police Department, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
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, human and drug trafficking.
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.
Oregon Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Sell Cocaine Purchased from the Dark WebRead the Press Release
MEDFORD, Ore.—An Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison today for attempting to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine purchased from the dark web.
Dominick Jeffrey Aragon, 32, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in February 2025, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) task force intercepted a parcel addressed to Aragon’s residence containing approximately one ounce of cocaine. In March 2025, they intercepted a second parcel destined for Aragon at the same address that contained two ounces of cocaine.
The investigation continued into April 2025, when USPIS and RADE seized two additional parcels addressed to Aragon at an acquaintance’s residence that contained controlled substances.
At the time of these offenses, Aragon was on federal supervised release after completing a 15-month federal prison sentence for distributing cocaine.
On September 29, 2025, Aragon pleaded guilty to attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
This case was investigated by USPIS and RADE. It was prosecuted by John C. Brassell, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon and Olivia Mendez, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
RADE is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. RADE includes members from Oregon State Police, the Grants Pass Police Department, Josephine County Probation & Parole, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement initiatives.
Oregon Man Indicted for Cyberstalking and Interstate ThreatsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Oregon man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly cyberstalking and making interstate threats against a Massachusetts state prosecutor. According to court records, defendant has history of making death threats.
Lewis Floyd, 40, was indicted for cyberstalking and threatening interstate communications. Floyd will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. Floyd was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in December 2025.
According to court documents, Floyd has been convicted in state court multiple times of making death threats, including most recently in Bristol County Superior Court for allegedly making repeated threats to kill and maim personnel at the Children’s Advocacy Center in Bristol County, Massachusetts. After his release from state prison, it is alleged that Floyd continued to make death threats against a Massachusetts state prosecutor and their family.
The charge of cyberstalking as a repeat offender provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Fall River Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric L. Hawkins 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.
Okmulgee Resident Pleads Guilty to Assault with A Dangerous WeaponRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Isaac James Looney, age 22, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on December 16, 2024, Looney assaulted the victim with a dangerous weapon intending to do bodily harm.
The crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee Police Department, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department.
The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Looney will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Jordan Howanitz represented the United States.
North Carolina Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for Attempting to Entice 11-Year-Old Child to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Geoffrey Lee Dudding (40, Concord, NC) was sentenced by United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger to 50 years in federal prison for using his cellphone and the internet to attempt to entice an 11-year-old child to engage in sexual activity. He was also ordered to serve a lifetime term of supervised release. Dudding pleaded guilty on October 28, 2025. Dudding is a registered child sex offender who was previously convicted in North Carolina of indecent liberty with a minor in 2007 and solicitation of a child by computer to commit an unlawful sex act in 2024. He was also convicted of criminal solicitation of a minor in South Carolina in 2023. On May 8, 2025, Dudding was arrested in North Carolina and was later transported to Jacksonville for prosecution.
According to court documents, on January 13, 2025, an FBI agent (UC) in Jacksonville was conducting an undercover operation to identify individuals seeking to make online contact with and engage in sexual activity with children. Posing as the parent of an 11-year-old child, UC posted several short messages in a public chat room on an online social messaging platform (app). An individual using the app name “metalh34d321,” who was subsequently identified as Dudding, contacted UC by private text message on the app and expressed sexual interest in UC’s “daughter.” Dudding told UC, “Let me know if ya ever down to let me do her.” Despite being advised that the “child” was 11 years old and lived in Florida, Dudding stated that he wanted to meet the “child” and “[h]ave a good time and sex.” Dudding described the sexual acts that he wanted to perform on the “child” and sent UC a video of himself performing a sex act to show to the “child.”
Dudding and UC also communicated by cellphone text messaging. They discussed plans for Dudding to travel to Jacksonville so that he could engage in sexual activity with the “child.” Dudding told UC that he intended to book a hotel room in Jacksonville for the sexual encounter with the “child.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cabarrus County (NC) Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
New York Man Charged with Robbery Spree That Targeted Six Manhattan BanksRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Vanessa Tibbits, announced an Indictment charging CORNELL NEILLY in connection with a pattern of bank robberies and attempted bank robberies of six Manhattan banks between August and October of 2025. NEILLY is currently in federal custody on allegations that he violated the conditions of supervised release imposed in a prior federal case and is expected to be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.
"As alleged, Cornell Neilly robbed or attempted to rob six banks in multiple neighborhoods across Manhattan,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Hardworking New Yorkers, including the tellers and customers at these six banks, deserve to go to work without worrying that they will become victim to this type of brazen conduct. And New York families should not have to fear for their safety on New York streets. The women and men of this Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.”
“Cornell Neilly is charged with attempting to rob six banks across Manhattan by demanding cash from their tellers,” said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Vanessa Tibbits. “This alleged spree is a bank employee’s worst nightmare. Preying on fear to satiate one’s own greed will not be tolerated. Along with our law enforcement partners, the FBI remains steadfast in disrupting any serial criminal targeting our city’s financial institutions.”
As alleged in the Indictment and in public statements made in public court proceedings:[1]
Between August and October of 2025, NEILLY robbed or attempted to rob six banks across Manhattan, including in Chelsea, the West Village, and just north of Madison Square Park. At each bank, NEILLY handed a teller a note demanding specific amounts of United States currency. NEILLY took thousands of dollars from three banks whose tellers complied with his demands.
* * *
NEILLY, 34, of New York, New York, is charged with three counts of bank robbery and three counts of attempted bank robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the New York City Police Department.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations & Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon D. Harper is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Plaistow, New Hampshire, man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, on March 21, 2025, Knox County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call at a residence in South Thomaston. Deputies encountered Dennis Duquette, 46, outside the home with a 9mm pistol in his hand. Duquette dropped the pistol after being ordered to do so by police and was subsequently taken into custody. Duquette is prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of prior felony convictions.
Duquette faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
###
New Gloucester Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a HandgunRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A New Gloucester man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court records, officers with the Scarborough Police Department responded to a tip that Shawn Small, 29, was attempting to sell a pistol to another individual. Officers then located Small at a business in Scarborough. They approached and attempted to detain him. He physically resisted. During the ensuing struggle, a pack was removed from his person. Inside that pack, officers located a Smith & Wesson pistol with a loaded magazine. Small was a convicted felon at the time and on probation for a state robbery conviction.
Small faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with the assistance of the Scarborough Police Department.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
###
Nebraska man behind “Building Barndominiums” scheme sentenced to prisonRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Nebraska contractor was sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $700,000 in restitution to victims after accepting money from customers for construction projects across multiple states then failing to do the work.
According to court documents, Bobby Bates Sr., 43, of Grand Island, Nebraska, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
From February 2023 to October 2023, Bates, as the owner of Built Rite Construction, used a social media group called “Building Barndominiums” to solicit clients for construction projects. Bates required customers to provide initial deposits of up to 50 percent of the estimated overall construction cost. He instructed customers to pay via wire or checks into his bank accounts. After collecting funds, Bates either failed to complete construction or never began construction. As victims contacted him, he gave false excuses and promises or did not respond to messages about uncompleted projects.
Bank records show Bates used payments from customers for personal expenditures instead of for the respective construction projects. A federal judge ordered Bates to pay restitution of $703,016 to more than ten victims located in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Alabama, Illinois, and South Dakota.
“Anyone who has done a construction project understands that there is a level trust required with a contractor, particularly when there are upfront payments. Fraud like this damages an entire industry because consumers fear being swindled by con artists like Bobby Bates,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Here, the victims handed over their hard-earned money to someone they thought they could trust. We hope victims take solace in that Mr. Bates is not only going to prison but also ordered to pay back every dime he stole from them. The Financial Litigation Program with my office is standing by to do everything possible to make good on this court ordered restitution amount.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask prosecuted the case.
###
Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Mexican national unlawfully residing in the United States was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for felon in possession of a firearm after absconding from supervision for sixteen months.
Alfredo Terrero-Ortega, 28, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on January 31, 2023, despite an ICE detainer, Oregon public officials released Terrero-Ortega from the Oregon Department of Corrections to post-prison supervision in the community. If the detainer had been honored, Terrero-Ortega would have been deported to Mexico upon his release.
In June 2023 in Oregon, within five months of his release, Terrero-Ortega threatened to kill a woman and shoved her to the ground while she was holding her baby. He also strangled her. She reported the incident, and he absconded from his post-prison state supervision. On November 7, 2024, the U.S. Marshals found and arrested Terrero-Ortega in Portland. When arrested, Terrero-Ortega, had a black satchel containing a loaded 9mm pistol, methamphetamine, zip lock baggies, a phone, handwritten credit card information, and documents linked to Terrero-Ortega’s girlfriend.
On December 17, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a single-count indictment charging Terrero-Ortega with felon in possession of a firearm.
On October 2, 2025, Terrero-Ortega pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm.
The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leah K. Bolstad prosecuted the case.
Mexican National Sentenced for Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy and Money Laundering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Mexican National, Israel Ortiz Velasco, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves to 300 months for a money laundering conspiracy and a conspiracy to import controlled substances into the United States, including 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine.
According to his plea agreement, from approximately June to December 2017, Ortiz agreed with others to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, knowing and intending that those drugs would be unlawfully imported from Mexico into the United States for distribution. During the conspiracies to distribute drugs and to launder money, Ortiz was in Mexico, and his Mexico-based coconspirators supplied the fentanyl and cocaine imported into the Eastern District of Kentucky. Ortiz admitted his role in the distribution of kilograms of powder fentanyl and fentanyl pressed into counterfeit pills, and approximately 25 kilograms of cocaine. Once the drugs were distributed in the Eastern District of Kentucky, the bulk cash proceeds of distribution were collected and transferred to Mexico by wire transfers, structured deposits at financial institutions, and other money laundering methods.
Under federal law, Ortiz must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Ortiz’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.
Paul C. McCaffrey, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Lawrence Weathers, Chief of Police, Lexington Police Department, and Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, announced the sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the DEA and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI, ATF, DEA, IRS, and HSI with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
— END —
Mexican Child Rapist Alien Charged with Perjury and Immigration FraudRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – On January 6, Juarez Sanchez-Montiel, 41, a Mexican alien had an initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge. On November 18, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Sanchez with perjury and immigration fraud. The indictment alleges that Sanchez lied about his criminal history on his application to obtain a non-immigrant visa.
“We take protecting our children and borders very seriously.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. We will continue to focus on investigations into this type of alleged behavior to bring justice, safety, and prosperity to North Carolina and The United States.”
According to the indictment and previously issued court documents, Sanchez allegedly knowingly made materially false statements under penalty of perjury on his application to obtain a non-immigrant visa when he submitted it to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) in November of 2021. In response to the questions “Have you EVER committed a crime or offense for which you have not been arrested?” and “Have you EVER ordered, incited, called for, committed, assisted, helped with, or otherwise participated in any of the following:…[e]ngaging in any kind of sexual conduct or relations with any person who was being forced or threatened?” he answered “No.”
On December 11, 2023, in Montgomery County Superior Court, a grand jury returned two indictments against Sanchez. The first charged him with one count of first-degree statutory rape, two counts of statutory rape of a child under the age of 15, and three counts of sex act by a substitute parent or custodian for crimes he allegedly committed against the first victim in May 2016. The second indictment charged him with three counts of statutory sex offenses with a child and three counts of sex act by substitute parent or guardian, for crimes he allegedly committed against the second victim in September 2023. On August 19, 2024, Sanchez was convicted of statutory rape of a child under the age of 15, statutory sex offense with child under the age of 15, and two counts of sex act by substitute parent or custodian. The Superior Court Judge sentenced him to a term of imprisonment of between 216 and 320 months and ordered to register as a sex offender. Sanchez confessed to having committed the offenses in 2016 and 2023. Both victims were under the age of 13 and the crimes resulted in the birth of two children.
Sanchez is charged in a two-count indictment. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. ICE ERO officers are investigating the case as part of Operation False Haven, an ongoing initiative designed to aggressively target child molesters and other egregious felons who fraudulently obtain immigration benefits. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Warlick is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-CR-00114.
An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Matthew L. Harvey Formally Sworn in as United States Attorney for the Northern District of West VirginiaRead the Press Release
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA – United States Attorney Matthew L. Harvey has taken the formal oath of office in a special ceremony today at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
U.S. Attorney Harvey was nominated by President Donald J. Trump on June 30, 2025, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 7, 2025. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh administered the oath of office to U.S. Attorney Harvey and the Honorable Shelley Moore Capito, United States Senator, read the Presidential Proclamation before friends, family, and colleagues.
“I am grateful that President Trump has entrusted me to enforce the law, keep our communities safe, and stand with law enforcement,” said Harvey.
The Investiture Ceremony was attended by former United States Attorneys, Federal Judges, lawmakers, colleagues, staff, Harvey’s family, and friends. Messages of congratulations were shared by Senator Capito, the Honorable Riley Moore, United States Congressman, as well as video messages from the Honorable Jim Justice, United States Senator, and the Honorable Carol Miller, United States Congresswoman. Randall Reid-Smith, with Senator Justice’s office, sang the National Anthem. The Jefferson High School ROTC presented the colors at the ceremony and were invited as honored guests by U.S. Attorney Harvey. Shepherd University President Dr. Mary Hendrix and the Shepherd University Ram Marching Band also helped to celebrate the day. The ceremony was followed by a reception hosted by U.S. Attorney Harvey’s family.
As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Harvey oversees the prosecution of federal crimes including violent crime, narcotics trafficking, public corruption, financial fraud, and offenses impacting vulnerable populations. He also supervises civil litigation on behalf of the United States, defending federal agencies and advancing the government’s legal interests.
Mr. Harvey previously served as the Prosecuting Attorney for Jefferson County, having been elected to three terms, after having served as an Assistant Prosecutor in both Berkeley and Kanawha Counties. Mr. Harvey has an extensive career within the criminal justice system. Prior to his time as the elected Prosecutor for Jefferson County, he spent six years in private practice.
From 2021 to 2022, Mr. Harvey served as president of the West Virginia Association of Counties and has been active in many civic organizations. The most rewarding of which came in 2023, when Mr. Harvey was appointed by then governor, James C. Justice to serve on the board of the West Virginia First Foundation. The Foundation was created to receive and disburse Opioid Funds from the state’s litigation against drug manufacturers and distributors, which are used to fund programs and services that promote the health and safety of West Virginians. Mr. Harvey was selected by the Foundation’s board to serve as its first chairman, where he continued to serve until his confirmation by the United States Senate.
A graduate of Bluefield State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, he went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from the Appalachian School of Law.
Mr. Harvey is a proud native of Monroe County and currently resides in Shepherdstown.
Maryland Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Directing 11 Year Child to Engage in Sexually Explicit Acts over FaceTimeRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on January 15, 2026, District Court Judge United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke, sentenced Talha Ahmed, age 28, of Towson, Maryland, to 10 years of imprisonment for the crime of Enticement of a Minor. Judge Dimke also ordered that following his sentence, Ahmed shall serve a 5 year term of supervised release, pay $15,600 in restitution to the minor victim, and register as a sex offender.
According to court documents and information revealed at the sentencing hearing, on May 19, 2021, Ahmed met an 11 year old minor from the Tri-Cities on an online application. Ahmed, who resided in Maryland, continued to communicate with the 11 year old minor via text message, FaceTime, and telephone calls into the early morning hours of May 20, 2021. During the course of the communications, Ahmed directed the minor to send sexually explicit videos and images of herself. Ahmed also directed the 11 year old minor to engage in live, sexually explicit performances via FaceTime. Ahmed paid the child via an online application to engage in this conduct. This content was ultimately discovered by the victim’s mother and confirmed by evidence obtained by law enforcement officers with the Kennewick Police Department and the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Dimke addressed the gravity of Ahmed’s conduct, stating that this “is an offense that has lifelong implications for the victim…and create[s] emotional insecurity that lasts a lifetime.”
“This case highlights the very real dangers children face in online spaces and the devastating impact these crimes have on victims and their families. The ICAC Task Force is committed to identifying and stopping individuals who exploit children, regardless of where they are located. Through strong collaboration with our local, state, and federal partners, we were able to ensure accountability and justice for the victim in this case,” said Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Commander, Damon Jansen.
“This sentence should serve as a stark warning about the dangers children face online and a call for the public to work with HSI and our federal partners to protect children from this grave harm,” said HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “We commend the child’s mother, whose courage in contacting authorities was crucial to securing Ahmed’s prison time for this horrific crime of soliciting child sexual abuse material. If you suspect a child is being exploited by an adult, teen, or another child—report it to law enforcement immediately. Your action can protect a child and prevent further abuse.”
“This is a case that very easily could have gone cold due to extenuating circumstances surround Ahmed’s criminal behavior. It did not go cold because of the local law enforcement and my team’s commitment to the pursuit of justice. This case also demonstrates the dangers of online interactions, and it shows how easily our children can be manipulated by an adult while online. Sadly, Ahmed’s behavior will have lasting, significant trauma to the victim and her family. I am grateful for the tireless efforts of the law enforcement agencies in the Eastern District of Washington, both state and federal, to bring justice to the victim and our community,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Serrano.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Kennewick Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurel Holland.
Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Child Sex Abuse ChargesRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – Marcus Jerome Hunt, 32, of Temple Hills, Maryland, pled guilty today, to two counts of transporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in federal court. Hunt is a previously registered sex offender.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland, and Colonel Michael A. Jackson, Acting Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP).
On December 1, 2020, MSP received two CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) from Dropbox, Inc. Dropbox reported that on November 1, 2020, three CSAM video files were uploaded, involving the same Dropbox account, with the username “Marcus Hunt” user ID; email address, which included the name “Marcus Hunt” embedded within the address; and IP address. The Google account associated with the above-referenced Google email address was then deleted on November 6, prior to MSP receiving the CyberTips. Dropbox disabled the account after filing the NCMEC tips.
Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the Dropbox account, which uncovered 40 videos, including the three videos Dropbox reported to NCMEC. After reviewing the files, law enforcement determined that approximately 20 of the 40 video files depicted CSAM. Additionally, law enforcement traced the IP address associated with the Dropbox account to Hunt’s Temple Hills residence.
Then on January 21, 2021, law enforcement executed search warrants at Hunt’s residence. Authorities seized multiple devices from the residence, including a Samsung cell phone, an iPhone, two tablets, two USB drives, two SD cards, and a gaming PC. The gaming PC contained a desktop shortcut to The Onion Router network (Tor) browser, the Samsung cellphone was in factory reset status, and one of the USB drives was reformatted. Law enforcement also conducted keyword searches for “Dropbox” and the email address associated with the Dropbox account, locating artifacts for the keywords on the iPhone and one of the tablet devices.
During questioning, Hunt admitted possessing a Dropbox account but denied knowing about the email address associated with the account.
Hunt is facing a maximum of five years in federal prison for each count. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman scheduled sentencing for Wednesday, April 29, at 10 a.m.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page.
Know2Protect is a Department of Homeland Security national public awareness campaign to educate and empower children, teens, parents, trusted adults and policymakers to prevent and combat online child sexual exploitation and abuse; explain how to report online enticement and victimization; and offer resources for victims and survivors and their supporters. Learn more about Know2Protect at dhs.gov/know2protect.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI and MSP for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan S. McKoy and Joel Crespo who are prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
# # #
Man sentenced for PPP loan fraud of more than half a million dollarsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Missouri man was sentenced to 21 months in prison for submitting false information on applications for disaster relief loans resulting in a loss of $522,000 for the Small Business Administration (SBA). The Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") was intended to provide financial relief to business owners dealing with economic losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to court documents, Dion Daniel, 36, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud. As part of his sentence, Daniel must pay $552,214 in restitution.
In 2020, Daniel lied on multiple PPP loan applications about the number of employees and the amount of monthly payroll expenses at his two Missouri-based businesses. He submitted Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms with the loan applications that had not been filed with the IRS.
Daniel attempted to conceal spending loan proceeds for his personal use instead of for business expenses. He wrote checks to individuals who did not work for him. After they cashed the checks, Daniel gave them part of the money and kept the rest for himself.
“Although we are now years removed from the COVID-19 pandemic, prosecutions continue of individuals who abused the Paycheck Protection Program,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “To those of you who committed perjury to get government money you weren’t entitled to, don’t think because you haven’t yet faced justice that you’re in the clear. We’re federal prosecutors. We don’t overlook crimes, nor do we forget about the people who commit them.”
“When the CARES Act was enacted into law nearly six years ago, the federal government simplified the loan application process to get relief into the hands of desperate small businesses as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, fraudsters found ways to exploit the process,” said IRS-Criminal Investigation St. Louis Special Agent in Charge William Steenson. “Our special agents are experts at uncovering where funds originated and where they were spent. We’re proud to use our expertise alongside our law enforcement partners to bring accountability for hardworking taxpayers.”
The IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Oakley prosecuted the case.
###
Maine Man Sentenced to Thirty-Five Years for Child Exploitation Offenses including Production of Child Sexual Abuse ImageryRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Maine man was sentenced on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Portland for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography.
Chief U.S. District Court Lance E. Walker sentenced Patrick Hamlin, 48, to 35 years in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Hamlin pled guilty on May 29, 2025.
According to court records, in May 2024, federal and state law enforcement officers executed a residential search warrant following a cyber tip report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Hamlin had uploaded child sexual abuse material on a messaging application. During the search warrant execution, investigators seized Hamlin’s digital media devices and observed a child-like sex device that the defendant admitted to acquiring. A forensic examination revealed thousands of child sexual abuse images, including sexually explicit photographs of a child under the age of 12 that the defendant had produced. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is limiting identifying information to protect the privacy of the minor victims.
The Maine State Police and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. The defendant is also being prosecuted for unlawful sexual contact and unlawful sexual touching offenses committed against a minor by the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office.
“Hamlin has earned every single year of his 35-year federal prison sentence. He not only sexually abused a young child, he photographed the abuse and shared it with like-minded predators on the internet, immortalizing his victim’s trauma. This sentence keeps him out of our community and away from children for a very, very long time,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “We are grateful for our law enforcement partners in Maine who share our dedication to bringing justice to victims of child sexual abuse.”
“This prison sentence sends a strong message that the kind of abhorrent conduct committed by Hamlin will be punished to the full extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Benson. “This office remains committed to relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting those who sexually exploit our most vulnerable, in coordination with our federal law enforcement partners and the Maine State Police.”
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: 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’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, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
###
Leominster Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Funds, Bank Fraud and Money Laundering in Connection with Stolen $1,355,000 Tax Refund CheckRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Leominster man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to a scheme to steal $1,355,863 by depositing a forged tax refund check and then laundering the money using cashier’s checks payable to shell companies.
Jesse El-Ghoul, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds, one count of bank fraud and four counts of money laundering. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for April 16, 2026. El-Ghoul was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on June 6, 2025, and was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025.
El-Ghoul owned and operated Affordable Motor Group in Leominster, Mass. and owed back taxes for the business. On March 29, 2024, El-Ghoul deposited a tax refund check for $1,344,863, payable to Affordable Motor Group into his business bank account. The check had been issued by the U.S. Treasury to a Canadian company, based on its 2021 tax return, and the check had been forged and altered to be payable to El-Ghoul’s company.
In the days after depositing the check, El-Ghoul returned to the bank and bought cashier’s checks for $235,280, $223,591, $202,643 and $425,000 payable to shell companies and to a law firm in connection with a third-party real estate transaction in eastern Massachusetts.
The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charges of money laundering each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transactions, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, OIG; and Nicholas Bucciarelli , Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
Leader of Major Drug-Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Life in PrisonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced today to life in prison for leading a vast drug-trafficking organization responsible for distributing hundreds of pounds of cocaine and pure methamphetamine. Several other members of the organization were also sentenced to serve decades in prison.
According to court documents, Braxton A. Thomas, 38, led an extensive drug-trafficking organization (“DTO”) from 2021 to 2024. Thomas’s DTO distributed various drugs, including cocaine and pure methamphetamine, in the Mobile area. Federal agents captured Thomas coordinating with his drug suppliers and other DTO members via court-authorized wiretaps of thousands of phone calls, text messages, and WhatsApp communications. On several occasions in 2023 and 2024, agents also seized large amounts of cocaine and methamphetamine from Thomas and his coconspirators.
For example, in March 2024, agents intercepted numerous calls between Thomas and one of his drug suppliers about coordinating a delivery of bulk cocaine from Houston Texas, to Mobile. On March 10, 2024, agents arrested Thomas’s supplier at a truck stop in Mobile after locating more than seven pounds of cocaine concealed behind the dash of the supplier’s semitruck.
Days later, on March 15, 2024, agents intercepted calls indicating that Thomas had traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to ferry a bulk load of methamphetamine back to Mobile. That evening, agents arrested Thomas and several coconspirators who were traveling in a convoy of vehicles on Interstate 65 southbound in Baldwin County, Alabama. During that arrest, agents seized more than 26 pounds of 100% pure methamphetamine and a loaded .40 caliber pistol from a vehicle being driven by one of Thomas’s couriers. Thomas admitted to agents that he regularly obtained kilograms of methamphetamine from a source in Atlanta, which Thomas would then bring back to Mobile to sell with the assistance of several mid-level distributors in his DTO. Thomas said he expected to earn $70,000 in profit from the load seized on March 15, 2024.
Thomas pleaded guilty to a methamphetamine-trafficking conspiracy in federal court on March 20, 2025, and the court released him on conditions pending his sentencing. Less than three weeks later, on April 7, 2025, narcotics agents again arrested Thomas in possession of more than eight pounds of pure methamphetamine, more than a pound of cocaine, an illegal pill press, bulk cash, and firearms. Thomas told arresting agents, “Y’all got me, let’s get this over with.”
At Thomas’s sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer reviewed and considered evidence of Thomas’s continued drug dealing while on release conditions. Judge Moorer also emphasized Thomas’s violent criminal history, including his manslaughter conviction for the shooting death of a female victim in Prichard, Alabama in September 2012. In addition to imposing a lifetime prison term, Judge Moorer ordered Thomas to serve a 10-year term of supervised release if he is ever released from custody. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Braxton Thomas and the drug trafficking organization he led are off the streets and in prison for good,” said Sean P. Costello, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama. “Bringing hundreds of pounds of drugs into our community for years, he and his codefendants threatened the safety and security of the Southern District of Alabama. Thanks to the outstanding skill and dedication of our federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors, Thomas and his drug trafficking organization have been held justifiably accountable for their numerous crimes. Today, our streets are safer. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue our relentless pursuit of drug dealers in our community.”
“This sentencing effectively dismantles a multi-state drug trafficking organization that pumped hundreds of pounds of highly pure methamphetamine and cocaine into our communities. This is an enforcement success of the highest order,” said Steven L. Hofer, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New Orleans Division. “The DEA, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our federal, state, and local partners, utilized sophisticated investigative techniques, including court-authorized wiretaps, to methodically map and cripple Thomas’s entire operation. This outcome sends an unequivocal message: the supply chains of poison flowing into our cities will be identified, severed, and those responsible will be brought to justice.”
For their roles in the conspiracy, Judge Moorer also sentenced the following defendants to serve federal prison terms: Lamar Reynolds Nored (180 months); Dennis Carl Hayward, Jr. (240 months); Dawann A. Haseeb (240 months); Claylon Link Fillingim (120 months); William Keith Reed (240 months); and Jose Manuel Lamas, Jr. (57 months). The court ordered each of these defendants to serve supervised release terms upon their release from custody, and forfeited all firearms and a semitruck seized during the investigation to the United States. Other members of Thomas’s DTO, including Larry Jerome Hunter and Tyrone Dansby, will be sentenced at a later date.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This prosecution was part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Mobile comprises agents and officers from, among others, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Alabama.
Kansas City Man Sentenced to 46 Months on Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction.
James Arthur Tatum, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 46 months’ imprisonment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. His sentence also includes three years of supervised release.
According to the plea agreement filed in the case, Tatum was encountered by a Columbia, Mo. Police Department officer on June 8, 2024. Tatum was alone in a vehicle, and while the officer was checking Tatum’s identification, he saw Tatum making what he believed were furtive movements in the front passenger area. During a subsequent search of the car, officers located a Glock 43X firearm under the driver’s seat. Tatum has prior felony convictions, including a prior federal conviction, and is not permitted to possess a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Columbia, Missouri Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Justice Department Sues Virginia for Failure to Produce Voter RollsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced it has filed a federal lawsuit against the Commonwealth of Virginia for failure to produce their full voter registration lists upon request. This brings the Justice Department’s nationwide total to 24 states and the District of Columbia.
“This Department of Justice has now sued 24 states for failing to provide voter roll data and will continue filing lawsuits to protect American elections,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Accurate voter rolls are the foundation of election integrity, and any state that fails to meet this basic obligation of transparency can expect to see us in court.”
“Accurate voter rolls are essential to ensuring that American citizens’ votes count only once, and only with other eligible voters,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to safeguarding fair and free elections, and will hold states accountable when they refuse to respect our federal elections laws.”
“When states attempt to hide information they are required to disclose, they undermine public trust and violate the law,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “This office will enforce the law to ensure the public and federal authorities receive the information they are entitled to.”
According to the lawsuits, the Attorney General is uniquely charged by Congress with the enforcement of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which were designed by Congress to ensure that states have proper and effective voter registration and voter list maintenance programs. The Attorney General also has the Civil Rights Act of 1960 (CRA) at her disposal to demand the production, inspection, and analysis of the statewide voter registration lists.
Jury Convicts Florida Fuel Supplier of 34 Felonies at Trial in Multimillion-Dollar Scheme to Defraud U.S. Department of War and Other Federal AgenciesRead the Press Release
A federal jury in West Palm Beach found Jasen Butler, 37, of Jupiter, Florida, guilty of 34 felonies including wire fraud, money laundering, and forgery for orchestrating a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of War and other federal agencies out of over $4.5 million. After the verdict, U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks immediately remanded the defendant into custody at the United States’s request.
As charged in the indictment, the defendant submitted altered and fake invoices to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships through the SEA Card Program, which allows U.S. vessels to purchase critical fuel to conduct military operations around the world.
According to the evidence at trial, the defendant, the owner of Independent Marine Oil Services LLC, submitted dozens of falsified documents such as wire transfer memos and invoices to multiple U.S. warships, including the USS Patriot, between August 2022 and January 2024. These ships were attempting to purchase fuel in international ports such as Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and Croatia to defend strategic American interests around the globe. Butler received over $4.5 million dollars in payments for phony expenses that Butler had not incurred.
After Butler came under scrutiny by Navy officials, he continued his scheme by concealing his identity from government officials. Butler adopted a false name and feigned employment by a fictitious fuel division of a different company. Butler used the millions in fraud proceeds to personally enrich himself and purchase multiple multi-million dollar properties in Florida and Colorado.
“This defendant brazenly defrauded the U.S. Military out of millions of dollars and put critical fuel resources at risk, all to fund his cushy and fictitious lifestyle,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will continue to uncover these schemes and bring perpetrators to justice to protect the American people and their tax dollars.”
“The defendant — a convicted felon — defrauded his own country in order to unjustly line his own pockets,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “He deprived the United States Armed Forces of the resources they need to help keep our country safe. Despite his fake identity, fake job, and fake invoices, a jury of his peers saw through it and found him guilty of 34 felonies. We salute our wonderful trial team and applaud Judge Middlebrooks’s decision to imprison the defendant for his crimes pending sentencing.”
“This defendant didn’t just commit fraud, he betrayed the trust placed in those who support our nation’s warfighters,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “By falsifying invoices and siphoning millions from a program designed to keep U.S. military vessels operational around the world, he put critical missions and taxpayer dollars at risk. Today’s verdict makes clear that schemes targeting our military supply chain will be met with swift accountability and severe consequences.”
“The Coast Guard Investigative Service is pleased with the jury’s verdict in this case, which sends a strong message that fraud against our military and the American taxpayer will not be tolerated,” said Acting Assistant Director Josh Packer of the Coast Guard Investigative Service. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners and prosecutors for their outstanding collaboration and dedication throughout this investigation. CGIS remains committed to protecting the integrity of federal procurement and ensuring that those who seek to exploit government resources are brought to justice.”
“The guilty verdict in this case is a direct result of our commitment to safeguarding the Department of Defense's critical supply chain,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason J. Sargenski of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “This scheme stole millions from the American taxpayer and threatened to undermine a program essential for our global military operations. DCIS, working alongside our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue and hold accountable those who seek to defraud our military and exploit systems designed to support our nation's warfighters.”
“Those who profit from illicit schemes that defraud the American people and place our warfighters and national security at risk will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office. “Mr. Butler exploited the integrity of the SEA Card Program — a vital logistical capability that enables the U.S. Navy to conduct rapid, global refueling operations and sustain mission readiness. NCIS and our law enforcement partners remain committed to rooting out criminal activity that undermines public trust in the integrity of the Department of the Navy’s procurement process.”
Sentencing is set for April 8, 2026. Butler faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, up to 10 years for each count of forgery, and up to 10 years for each count of money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service, as a part of the Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force.
Trial Attorneys Jonathan Pomeranz, Ebonie Branch, and Haley Pennington of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section, and Deputy Chief Elizabeth Young of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, tried the case.
In November 2019, the Justice Department created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above. Whistleblowers who voluntarily report original information about antitrust and related offenses that result in criminal fines or other recoveries of at least $1 million may be eligible to receive a whistleblower reward. For more information on the Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program, visit www.justice.gov/atr/whistleblower-rewards.
Jefferson County Man Accused of Distributing Fatal Dose of FentanylRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Jefferson County, Missouri has been accused of supplying the fentanyl that killed a man in 2024.
Daryn Joshua Odell Karnes, 21, was indicted December 10 with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. The indictment accuses Karnes of supplying a mixture containing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a man in Jefferson County, Missouri on Jan. 5, 2024.
A motion seeking to hold Karnes in jail until trial says the victim and his girlfriend bought capsules containing a mix of fentanyl, xylazine and heroin from someone known as “Luh Daryn.” An investigation led to Karnes, the motion says.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mohsen Pasha is prosecuting the case.
Jacksonville Woman Charged with Assaulting Officers Conducting an Immigration OperationRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida - Jennifer Susan Cruz (40, Jacksonville) has been charged by complaint with assaulting officers conducting an immigration operation. If convicted, Cruz faces a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the complaint, federal immigration officers, assisted by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), were conducting an operation in Jacksonville to locate and administratively arrest aliens who were illegally present in the United States. Cruz was driving by and was recording on her cell phone as an FHP Trooper was pulling over a vehicle for a traffic infraction. Cruz parked near the site of the traffic stop and was yelling at the Trooper as she continued to record. Immigration officers subsequently determined that the two occupants of the vehicle were aliens who were illegally present in the United States.
Another Trooper approached Cruz and talked with her about using her cell phone while driving. He asked for Cruz’s driver’s license, and she stated that she did not have it but that she had a photograph of it on her cell phone. During this interaction, Cruz was argumentative, standoffish, and continued recording. The Trooper advised Cruz that he had no issue with her recording and that his concern was solely her unsafe and unlawful use of a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. During the encounter, Cruz made unsolicited and inflammatory statements, asking whether the Trooper supported the “Nazis,” which she clarified as referring to ICE, and asking him not to shoot her in the face. The Trooper advised Cruz that ICE officers were present in an official capacity and that he was not there to discuss personal or political beliefs, but solely to address her traffic violation.
Cruz showed the Trooper a photograph of her driver’s license and the Trooper told Cruz to remain in her vehicle while he conducted further investigation. A records check revealed that Cruz’s license was suspended as of June 17, 2025. Because Cruz’s license was suspended, the Trooper requested a tow truck to impound Cruz’s vehicle, as she was not legally authorized to operate it. While the Trooper was waiting for the tow truck, Cruz drove away. Multiple Troopers immediately activated their emergency lights and sirens and maneuvered their patrol vehicles to box in Cruz’s vehicle, and they stopped it approximately 200 feet away from the traffic stop.
After the vehicle was stopped, the Trooper advised Cruz that the traffic stop had not been concluded, and that the vehicle was going to be towed because her license was suspended. He told her to exit the vehicle and surrender the keys so that the vehicle could be released to the tow company. Cruz exited the vehicle but immediately became verbally hostile, cursing at the officers, and repeatedly refusing to surrender the keys. In response to the Trooper’s directives, Cruz said that she was “ready to go” and, when asked, stated that she meant that she was ready to fight. When a Trooper attempted to retrieve the keys from Cruz, Cruz struck the Trooper in the face with a closed fist. Multiple officers then converged on Cruz to arrest her for the assault.
Cruz resisted arrest, including by attempting to strike and kick the officers. As Cruz continued to struggle with them, officers took her to an FHP patrol vehicle, during which she attempted to kick the Trooper whom she had punched. As officers were trying to place Cruz inside the vehicle, Cruz kicked at an ICE officer, a Customs and Border Protection agent, and a Trooper, and successfully struck the CBP agent and ICE officer, whose left hand was injured. Officers were eventually able to secure Cruz in the patrol vehicle, but she continued kicking at the vehicle’s windows, roof, and in-car camera.
While being transported in the patrol vehicle, Cruz stated that her actions were not worth the incident escalating “over a set of car keys.” Later, while awaiting further transportation, Cruz made a phone call in which she said that she messed up “really ugly” and that what she did was not okay. She subsequently told the Trooper who she had punched that she was sorry for hurting her, that she was not sure why she acted that way, and that she knew that the Trooper had a job to do.
A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO), the Florida Highway Patrol, FBI-Jacksonville, and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold B. Corsmeier.
Jamaican Citizen Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jevan Antonio Miller, 28, a Jamaican citizen residing in Thomasville, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct after previously pleading guilty in federal court. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “It is one of my office’s top priorities to aggressively prosecute sexual predators, like this defendant, who prey upon our children. Our outstanding state and federal law enforcement partners are unified in their commitment to stopping these sick individuals, and my office will continue to deliver successful prosecutions and lengthy prison sentences to keep our kids safe.”
Court documents reflect that between April 10, 2025, and April 12, 2025, detectives of the Tallahassee Police Department and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, along with Homeland Security Investigations, participated in a joint undercover operation in Leon County focused on identifying individuals using the Internet to sexually exploit children. During the operation, investigators identified the defendant, an adult male who was soliciting an undercover detective, whom the defendant thought was a 15-year-old girl, for sex through an online website. The defendant drove from Thomasville, Georgia, to a meeting location in Tallahassee where he was intercepted by law enforcement and immediately arrested. Investigators discovered that the defendant unlawfully remained in the United States on a student visa after it expired in 2022.
“This predator traveled across state lines with the sole intent to sexually exploit a child he believed was just 15 years old,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Our amazing joint law enforcement team hatched a plan to intercept and arrest this deviant before he could carry out his vile plans. His actions of using the internet to prey on vulnerable minors for illicit sexual conduct is reprehensible and will not be tolerated.”
Miller’s imprisonment will be followed by a five-year term of supervised release, meaning if he violates any of the conditions of his supervision, he will potentially face an additional period of incarceration. He will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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, human and drug trafficking.
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.
Individual Extradited to the United States from the Dominican Republic to Face Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –Dominican authorities extradited Esteffani José Vasquez-Amarante, also known as “Ethian” or “Baby” to the United States to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges filed in the District of Puerto Rico, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. Vasquez-Amarante was arrested in the Dominican Republic on November 6, 2025, at the request of the United States and extradited to Puerto Rico on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
“This extradition is another important step in our fight against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime. This prosecution demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners, and the cooperation of the Dominican Republic, to work together to bring international drug traffickers to justice,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “We will continue to maximize our multi-agency efforts to disrupt and dismantle international drug cartels that smuggle drugs into Puerto Rico and the continental United States.”
“This extradition sends a clear message: leveraging political access, financial technology, or international borders, will not shield criminals from accountability,” said Claudia Dubravetz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “The FBI, along-side our federal and international partners, will aggressively pursue transnational drug traffickers and money launderers who undermine the rule of law and threaten communities in the United States and abroad.”
On September 7, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Esteffani José Vasquez-Amarante with international conspiracy to distribute cocaine, international distribution of cocaine, and conspiracy to commit money laundering derived from specified unlawful activity – drug trafficking. Vasquez-Amarante facilitated drug trafficking and money laundering activity between La Romana, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico, through cryptocurrency.
According to the superseding indictment, since at least February of 2022, Vasquez-Amarante conspired to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine intending, knowing, and having reasonable cause to believe that it would be imported into the United States. The indictment also charges that Vasquez-Amarante conspired to commit money laundering derived from drug trafficking since no later than March 17, 2021. Specifically, the indictment states that Vasquez-Amarante and another co-conspirator directed the delivery of approximately $400,000 in U.S. currency – the product of drug trafficking -- to an individual in San Juan, Puerto Rico, who converted the drug proceeds to cryptocurrency.
On March 24, 2021, Vasquez-Amarante and another co-conspirator directed the delivery of approximately $2,000,000 in U.S. currency / drug proceeds to an individual in San Juan, Puerto Rico, who converted the drug proceeds to cryptocurrency. On or about April 14, 2021, another co-conspirator, at the direction of Vasquez-Amarante, attempted to deliver approximately $2,200,000 in U.S. currency / drug proceeds to an individual in San Juan, Puerto Rico, who had previously converted drug proceeds to cryptocurrency.
On January 14, 2026, Vasquez-Amarante was extradited from the Dominican Republic to San Juan, Puerto Rico by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Region 22, located in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, FBI Legal Attaché in Santo Domingo and law enforcement partners in the Dominican Republic provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition to the United States of Vasquez Amarante.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Antonio L. Perez-Alonso under the supervision of Chief Myriam Y. Fernández-González and Deputy Chief María L. Montañez-Concepción from the Money Laundering & Transnational Organized Crime Section.
If convicted, Vasquez-Amarante faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison for the drug trafficking charges and a sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment for the money laundering charge.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Illegal Alien and Convicted Felon Charged with Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE –Juan Alvarado-Garcia, 29, of Madison, Tennessee, has been charged by criminal complaint with unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, and Samuel Hernandez, 32, of Madison, Tennessee, has been charged by criminal complaint with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Braden H. Boucek.
“Nothing is more important to this office than the safety of the public. Loaded guns in stolen vehicles are a dangerous mix. This community can always count on this office’s swift action to defend it,” said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek.
According to court documents, on January 4, 2026, a license plate reader system alerted the Goodlettsville Police Department (“GPD”) of a stolen vehicle in their jurisdiction. GPD officers responded to the area of 500 Windsor Green Boulevard and found the stolen vehicle parked. When the officers approached the vehicle, they encountered Alvarado in the driver’s seat and Hernandez in the passenger seat. Alvarado and Hernandez were arrested for the theft of the vehicle. During the arrest, Hernandez claimed his name was Saul Lopez.
After the arrest, GPD officers inventoried the stolen vehicle and found a backpack on the passenger’s seat that contained approximately 60 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, a drug smoking pipe, and a loaded Beretta 9mm pistol. A further search revealed a loaded Taurus .38 caliber pistol under the driver’s seat, a loaded Colt .357 pistol under the passenger’s seat, a digital scale under the radio area, another drug smoking pipe, and clear plastic baggies inside the cab. Alvarado told officers the items in the vehicle belonged to Hernandez and Hernandez told them that the items belonged to Alvarado.
Alvarado is a citizen of El Salvador without lawful status or permission to remain in the United States. Before these events, Hernandez was previously convicted of theft of property between $2,500 and $10,000 in Robertson County, Tennessee. He was on probation for this felony offense when he was arrested on January 4, 2026.
If convicted, Alvarado and Hernandez each face up to 15 years in federal prison.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Goodlettsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Herbert Bunton is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
# # # # #
Illegal Alien Sentenced for Role in Trafficking Almost 2 Kilograms of HeroinRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An illegal alien has been sentenced on heroin-trafficking charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Judge Annemarie C. Axon sentenced Jovani Correa-Gutierrez, 40, to 46 months in federal prison. In May 2025, Correa-Gutierezz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to the plea agreement, on April 13, 2021, Correa-Gutierrez and a co-conspirator worked to distribute almost 2 kilograms of heroin to a confidential source. Upon their arrival business in Bessemer, Alabama, Correa-Guiterrez and his co-defendant were taken into custody, and the heroin was seized by law enforcement. Correa-Guiterrez is a Mexican national and was illegally present in the United States at the time of his arrest.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Garnett prosecuted the case.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Longino Ramirez Ramos, age 51, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Adair County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Indictment alleged that on December 3, 2025, Ramos, 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 May 5, 2010, on February 14, 2011, on October 17, 2019, and on February 7, 2020.
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 Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Ramos will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rider Marel Santos-Lara, a/k/a Rider Santos-Lara, age 36, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Bryan County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Indictment alleged that on November 17, 2025, Santos-Lara, 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 September 30, 2016.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Santos-Lara will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.
Idaho Man Pleads Guilty to CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Rigby, Idaho man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to cyberstalking a Massachusetts professor over the course of five months.
Edward John Kay, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking before U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick who scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2026. In July 2025, Kay was arrested and charged by criminal complaint.
Kay met the victim in January 2025 when he enrolled in the victim’s online course, which the victim taught at a university’s extension school. After one Zoom meeting with the victim and one virtual class session, Kay became fixated on the victim, dropped the course, and proceeded to harass and intimidate the victim over email and LinkedIn for five months.
- Between January and June of 2025, Kay sent the victim over 80 harassing communications via LinkedIn and email – including at least one anonymous email account. In the communications, Kay expressed his adoration and love for the victim and mentioned the victim’s minor child by name. The communications included:
- A LinkedIn message, in which Kay stated: “I miss you-truly, deeply- with all of my heart and soul. That day I saw you on Zoom…You were the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Not just appearance. Everything. Your presence. Your mind. Your light. To gain you…and then to lose you like that? It devastated me;”
- An email sent to several of the university’s offices with the victim copied, in which Kay stated: “Dr. [victim’s last name] has been copied on all communications. She knows what is coming.” He added that this was only the “VERY BEGINNING” because “Every day, starting today, will mark a **new action of serious consequence**, taken by me in accordance with divine alignment and institutional justice;” and
- An anonymous email sent to the victim from the email address [victim’s name]consience@protonmail.com, in which Kay professed his love for the victim, encouraged the victim to leave the university and stated, “You are still free. But you are not unreachable.”
In addition, Kay told another university professor about his obsession with the victim and his desire to separate the victim from her husband.
The charge of cyberstalking provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by FBI Salt Lake City and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
- Human Trafficking Prevention Month
High-ranking Sinaloa Cartel member extradited to Atlanta to face cocaine trafficking chargesRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Following his extradition from Mexico to the United States, Roberto Najera Gutierrez, a/k/a Kunfu Panda and a/k/a La Gallina, pleaded not guilty in the Northern District of Georgia to a federal charge of conspiring to manufacture and distribute cocaine that he knew would be imported into the United States.
"Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and our brave DEA agents, the cartels are no longer free to import poison into our communities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We appreciate the work of our Office of International Affairs which secured the extradition of this alleged narco-terrorist, and our attorneys in the Northern District of Georgia will ensure he’s met with swift justice in the United States.”
“As a senior member of the brutal Sinaloa Cartel, Najera Gutierrez is allegedly responsible for distributing massive amounts of cocaine from South America and through Mexico that were intended to poison communities in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “This federal indictment, as well as the recent arraignment in Atlanta of alleged Sinaloa Cartel trafficker Zhi Dong Zhang, demonstrates the global reach of the Drug Enforcement Administration and underscores that narco-terrorists abroad will ultimately face justice in American courtrooms.”
“This indictment is part of a multi-agency collaboration dedicated to dismantling transnational criminal organizations responsible for drug trafficking and violence,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Through sustained cooperation, we are holding cartel leaders accountable and reducing the harm they cause to our communities.”
“IRS-CI is proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks responsible for trafficking massive amounts of cocaine and other illegal drugs into the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office.
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In 2013, agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation of drug traffickers working with the Sinaloa Cartel to transport cocaine from South America to Mexico for importation into the United States, including into the Northern District of Georgia. The Sinaloa Cartel is a transnational criminal group based in Mexico. On February 20, 2025, the Sinaloa Cartel was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
As part of the investigation, agents identified Roberto Najera Gutierrez as a then-high-ranking member of the cartel who allegedly led and coordinated the transportation of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine by boat from Colombia and Ecuador to Honduras and Guatemala. Once the drugs were in Central America, they were smuggled across the Guatemalan border into Mexico. Najera Gutierrez allegedly distributed that cocaine to other high-level drug traffickers in Mexico who imported the cocaine into Atlanta, Chicago, and the states of Florida, New York, and California. Najera Gutierrez also allegedly coordinated the collection and remission of drug proceeds through bank accounts.
Roberto Najera Gutierrez, 48, of Tizimín, Yucatán, Mexico, is in federal custody. The recently unsealed indictment against Najera Gutierrez was returned in March 2018. In October 2023, Najera Gutierrez was served with a warrant pursuant to the U.S. request for his extradition. On January 8, 2026, he was extradited from Mexico and surrendered to the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the DEA and IRS Criminal Investigation. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted in transporting Najera Gutierrez from Mexico to appear before the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laurel Milam and Jonell L. Lucca are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department Criminal Division Office of Enforcement Operations assisted in the investigation, and the Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and January 8, 2026, extradition of Najera Gutierrez.
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.
These prosecutions are also part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
High-Ranking Sinaloa Cartel Member Extradited from Mexico to Atlanta to Face Cocaine Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
Following his extradition from Mexico to the United States, Roberto Najera Gutierrez, also known as “Kunfu Panda” and “La Gallina,” pleaded not guilty in the Northern District of Georgia to a federal charge of conspiring to manufacture and distribute cocaine that he knew would be imported into the United States.
“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and our brave DEA agents, the cartels are no longer free to import poison into our communities,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “We appreciate the work of our Office of International Affairs which secured the extradition of this alleged narco-terrorist and our attorneys in the Northern District of Georgia will ensure he’s met with swift justice in the United States.”
“As a senior member of the brutal Sinaloa Cartel, Najera Gutierrez is allegedly responsible for distributing massive amounts of cocaine from South America and through Mexico that were intended to poison communities in the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “This federal indictment, as well as the recent arraignment in Atlanta of alleged Sinaloa Cartel trafficker Zhi Dong Zhang, demonstrates the global reach of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and underscores that narco-terrorists abroad will ultimately face justice in American courtrooms.”
“This indictment is part of a multi-agency collaboration dedicated to dismantling transnational criminal organizations responsible for drug trafficking and violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Jae W. Chung of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Through sustained cooperation, we are holding cartel leaders accountable and reducing the harm they cause to our communities.”
“IRS-CI is proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks responsible for trafficking massive amounts of cocaine and other illegal drugs into the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Atlanta Field Office.
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In 2013, DEA agents began an investigation of drug traffickers working with the Sinaloa Cartel to transport cocaine from South America to Mexico for importation into the United States, including into the Northern District of Georgia. The Sinaloa Cartel is a transnational criminal group based in Mexico. On Feb. 20, 2025, the Sinaloa Cartel was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
As part of the investigation, agents identified Roberto Najera Gutierrez as a then-high-ranking member of the cartel who allegedly led and coordinated the transportation of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine by boat from Colombia and Ecuador to Honduras and Guatemala. Once the drugs were in Central America, they were smuggled across the Guatemalan border into Mexico. Najera Gutierrez allegedly distributed that cocaine to other high-level drug traffickers in Mexico who imported the cocaine into Atlanta, Chicago, and the states of Florida, New York, and California. Najera Gutierrez also allegedly coordinated the collection and remission of drug proceeds through bank accounts.
Roberto Najera Gutierrez, 48, of Tizimín, Yucatán, Mexico, is in federal custody. The recently unsealed indictment against Najera Gutierrez was returned in March 2018. In October 2023, Najera Gutierrez was served with a warrant pursuant to the U.S. request for his extradition. On Jan. 8, 2026, he was extradited from Mexico and surrendered to the United States.
This case is being investigated by the DEA and IRS-CI. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted in transporting Najera Gutierrez from Mexico to appear before the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laurel Milam and Jonell L. Lucca for the Northern District of Georgia are prosecuting the case.
The Justice Department Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations assisted in the investigation, and the Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and Jan. 8 extradition from Mexico of Najera Gutierrez.
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.
These prosecutions are also 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of A ChildRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Claylon Leon Austin, a/k/a Clayton Leon Austin, age 38, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction, punishable by no less than 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that beginning on March 13, 2025, and continuing until March 14, 2025, Austin enticed a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of creating videos using a device which Austin knew was manufactured outside the state of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Austin will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Wittlinger represented the United States.
Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine DistributionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Wayne Wasson, a/k/a Pops, age 64, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of a Felony Information for Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by a term of up to 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.
The Information alleged that on or about October 19, 2023, Wasson knowingly and willfully distributed a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.
The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Wasson is remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edith A. Singer and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Caleb Chainey Hensley, age 26, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine, punishable by a term of ten years to life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
The Indictment alleged that on May 13, 2024, Hensley knowingly and intentionally distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Hensley will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edith A. Singer and Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.
Guatemalan National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.Read the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced CARLOS EGBERTO JIMENEZ-TUN, also known as Carlos Egberto-Jimenez, 28, a citizen of Guatemala, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with illegally reentering the United States after being deported.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in April 2019, Jimenez was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas as part of a criminal alien smuggling investigation. U.S. Border Patrol determined that Jimenez was in the U.S. illegally and he was deported to Guatemala in July 2019. In September 2019, U.S. Border Patrol encountered Jimenez in Texas again. He was arrested for being in the U.S. illegally and was deported to Guatemala in November 2019.
Jimenez subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. Between November 2023 and October 2025, Jimenez was arrested, convicted, and sentenced multiple times in Connecticut Superior Court for larceny, failure to appear in court, interfering and resisting arrest, and violating probation.
Jimenez was arrested today in Bridgeport by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations following his release from state custody. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and was ordered detained.
If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Jimenez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 2 years.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Greenville Man Indicted for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material While on Parole for Similar OffensesRead the Press Release
Greenville Man Indicted for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material While on Parole for Similar Offenses
CONCORD – A Greenville man was indicted on charges of possession and access with intent to view child sex abuse material, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
According to court documents, Paul Birner, 50, was previously convicted of possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) in Utah. He served a term of incarceration and, after his release, relocated to New Hampshire. As part of his sentence, the defendant was under the supervision of New Hampshire Probation/Parole (NHPPO). On September 10, 2025, NHPPO conducted a scheduled meeting with Birner and reviewed data on his cell phone. A subsequent review revealed numerous images and videos containing CSAM.
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.
The charging statute provides a sentence of not less than 10, and not greater than 20 years of imprisonment. 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.
The FBI is leading the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo is prosecuting the case.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Gulfport Man Convicted at Trial of Fentanyl OffensesRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – After a three-day trial, on January 14, 2026, a jury in Gulfport, Mississippi convicted, Marcus Agee, 35, of Gulfport, Mississippi of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to the evidence and testimony presented during trial, Agee was serving a prison sentence in the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Beaumont, Texas, while running a drug trafficking conspiracy based in Gulfport, Mississippi. Agee directed other members of the conspiracy to make fentanyl sales, transfer the proceeds of fentanyl sales, and store fentanyl through messaging applications, text messages, and video calls on a contraband cell phone. He also arranged for the shipment of fentanyl to Gulfport, Mississippi for distribution.
Ultimately, law enforcement recovered a brick of fentanyl weighing over 900 grams and over 15,000 fake pills, some of which tested positive for fentanyl, which were attributable to Agee’s drug conspiracy. Photos are provided below:
Agee’s sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2026. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Gulfport Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, and Federal Bureau of Prisons, investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hunter McCreight and Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case.