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15 January 2026
Boise Man Pleads Guilty to Transportation for Commercial Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
BOISE – Lajai Jamar Pridgette, 40, of Boise, pleaded guilty to transportation for commercial sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced today.
According to court records, between May 14, 2024, and December 19, 2024, Pridgette engaged in a scheme to make money from commercial sexual activity. Pridgette arranged for two adult females to travel to multiple states to engage in commercial sexual activity. Pridgette also made hotel reservations and posted online advertisements to facilitate the commercial sexual activity. Pridgette received approximately $79,000 in proceeds from the commercial sexual activity.
Pridgette is scheduled to be sentenced on March 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a minimum of five years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the cooperative efforts of the Meridian Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Garden City Police Department, United States Probation, and the Idaho Department of Corrections Probation and Parole, which led to charge.
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Bellingham, Washington woman charged with International Parental KidnappingRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 32-year-old Bellingham woman appeared late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Seattle after being extradited from Panama where she had illegally traveled with her 4-year-old son, announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Talisa Manuella Munoz, failed to return the boy to his father as required by the final parenting plan. She secretly flew to Panama after using false documents to get the child a passport. Magistrate Judge Kate Vaughan ordered Munoz detained pending trial. The judge found that Munoz was a flight risk due to the extensive planning and misrepresentation that the defendant engaged in to secrete the child and take him to Panama.
According to the criminal complaint, Munoz, was supposed to return the child to his father on September 8, 2025, following a weekend visitation. When the child was not returned, the father reported to law enforcement and the FBI opened an investigation.
Law enforcement determined that months before leaving, Munoz, had falsely claimed on her son’s passport application that she had no way to find or know the father. She submitted a birth certificate that said “none named” where the father’s name should be. The investigation revealed that Talisa Manuella Munoz schemed with her family for months to take the child to Panama and flew out of Seattle on or about September 7, 2025.
The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and the U.S. Embassy in Panama City worked with law enforcement in Panama to arrest and secure the extradition of Talisa Manuella Munoz. She was returned to the Western District of Washington on January 8, 2026. Her young son was reunited with his father.
International Parental Kidnapping is punishable by a maximum of three years in prison. False statement in an application for a passport is punishable by a maximum of fifteen years in prison.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
Auburn Man Sentenced to more than 24 Years in Federal Prison for Sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material on the Dark WebRead the Press Release
Montgomery, Ala. – On January 15, 2026, a federal judge sentenced a Lee County man to 292 months in prison for conspiracy to advertise child sexual abuse material. There is no parole in the federal system. Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson made the announcement.
According to court records, from July 2023 through September 2024, 49-year-old Jacob Parker, of Auburn, Alabama, was involved with a website located on the dark web that was dedicated to the uploading and sharing of child sexual abuse material. Parker specifically admitted in his plea agreement that, during that time, he made more than 500 posts, including numerous posts that contained links to images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Parker also admitted to serving as a moderator on the website. When law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at his Auburn residence, they seized multiple devices that contained thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
Parker received the 292-month sentence after pleading guilty to the conspiracy charge in September 2025. At the sentencing hearing, the judge also ordered that Parker serve a term of supervised release for 10 years following his prison sentence and pay $32,500 in restitution to the known victims in the case. Parker will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The FBI Mobile Field Office, FBI’s Child Exploitation Operations Unit, and Auburn Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Tara S. Ratz and J. Patrick Lamb from the Middle District of Alabama and Acting Deputy Chief Kyle P. Reynolds from the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Asian Boyz Gang Member Convicted of Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A member of the Asian Boyz gang was convicted in federal court in Boston following a week-long jury trial of conspiracy to distribute counterfeit pills made with methamphetamine and resembling the prescription medication Adderall.
Isiah Lyons, a/k/a “Tank,” a/k/a “Rozay,” 30, of Lowell, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV, scheduled sentencing for April 21, 2026. Lyons was indicted in January 2025 along with his co-conspirators.
In 2021, law enforcement opened an investigation into the Asian Boyz gang to disrupt the manufacturing and distribution of substantial quantities of methamphetamine pills impacting Lowell.
The evidence presented at trial established that Lyons profited from the illegal sale of the methamphetamine pills by brokering deals for bulk quantities of the pills, which he called “oranges” and “adds.” Between December 2022 and February 2023, Lyons joined a conspiracy to sell the pills in 1,000 pill units, which he called “g packs.” Lyons and his co-conspirators sold four “g packs” containing an estimated 4,000 pills and weighing 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine. Unbeknownst to Lyons, one of the pill customers was an undercover agent.
To sell the methamphetamine pills, Lyons partnered with two Asian Boyz gang members who were part of the gang’s extensive drug network. They conspired in person and using encrypted messaging applications like Signal. In his message to one of his fellow co-conspirators, for instance, Lyons told him the price of the pills was $1,250 for the “pacc” – spelled specifically with two “c’s” as a way of acknowledging their common gang affiliation. Lyons sourced the pills from a co-conspirator he paid $1,000 for the “paccs,” booking $250 profit for each deal he brokered during the conspiracy.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Greg C. Hudon, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak, III and David Cutshall of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/PSN.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Armed Drug Dealer Convicted at Trial and Sentenced to Federal Prison for Nearly 20 YearsRead the Press Release
NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Anthony Travis Slaughter, age 31, to almost 20 years in federal prison after a jury convicted him of the crimes of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a gun by a felon, and possession of a gun while selling drugs.
“Drug dealers are a scourge upon our community,” said US Attorney Ellis Boyle. “When they use guns, it makes them even more dangerous. Gun toting drug dealers put the entire community including our children and grandparents at risk, and we will aggressively pursue those Big Shark Bad Boys like Slaughter who prioritize their own greed over our families’ safety.”
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, the Wilmington Police Department pulled Slaughter over on Princess Place Drive in Wilmington after observing a traffic infraction. A police K9 officer alerted during the stop and WPD found two pounds of marijuana, packaging materials, and a digital scale in the car. WPD also found a loaded gun under the driver’s seat. Slaughter, a career criminal with seven state felony convictions left free to roam the streets of Wilmington, could not legally possess that loaded gun because he is a convicted felon. Slaughter’s prior felony convictions include a violent common law robbery and selling heroin.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Loeser and Jake Pugh prosecuted the case. The WPD and the ATF investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. 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. 7:23-CR-51-FL.
26 People Charged in Alleged Bribery and Point-Shaving Scheme to Fix NCAA, CBA Men’s Basketball GamesRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – At a news conference this morning, United States Attorney David Metcalf announced charges against 26 people in connection with an alleged bribery and point-shaving scheme to fix NCAA Division I men’s basketball games and Chinese Basketball Association games.
U.S. Attorney Metcalf discussed the case alongside FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey and FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne Jacobs.
“The stakes here are far higher than anything on a bet slip. The criminal charges we have filed allege the criminal corruption of collegiate athletics through an international conspiracy of NCAA players, alumni, and professional bettors,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “It’s also yet another blow to public confidence in the integrity of sport, which rests on the fundamental principles of fairness, honesty, and respect for the rules of competition. When criminal acts threaten to corrupt such a central institution of American life, the Department of Justice won’t hesitate to step in.”
“Over the past two years, the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office led an investigation into a point-shaving and sports-bribery conspiracy resulting in the indictments announced today,” said FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey. “This case reflects the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting the American people and the institutions they trust. I am proud of the outstanding work of the FBI teams involved in the case. To those who choose corruption and betrayal: we will find you, we will investigate you, and we will hold you accountable.”
“Today’s arrests and charges would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our agents, analysts, and professional staff whose expertise, persistence, and commitment to justice over the past two years were the driving force behind this investigation,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Let this be a clear warning to professional and collegiate athletes, and to anyone who seeks to manipulate them — there is nowhere to hide — the short-term gain will never be worth the long-term loss.”
As alleged in an indictment and other filings unsealed this morning, the scheme was led by “fixers” Jalen Smith, 30, of Charlotte, North Carolina; Marves Fairley, 40, of Carson, Mississippi; Shane Hennen, 40, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Antonio Blakeney, 29, of Kissimmee, Florida; Roderick Winkler, 31, of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Alberto Laureano, 24, of Bronx, New York.
The indictment alleges that, beginning in or about September 2022, a group of individuals, including defendants Fairley and Hennen, worked together to recruit and bribe players to help influence or “fix” Chinese Basketball Association (“CBA”) men’s basketball games through point shaving. The fixers, including Fairley and Hennen, bribed CBA players to underperform and help ensure their team failed to cover the spread in certain games and then arranged for large wagers to be placed on those games against that team.
During the 2022-2023 CBA season, the indictment further alleges, the fixers, including Fairley and Hennen, recruited defendant Blakeney, then a player on the CBA’s Jiangsu Dragons (“Jiangsu”) and one of the league’s leading scorers, for their point-shaving scheme. Blakeney agreed to participate in the scheme and then recruited other players from his team to join the scheme, working together with the fixers to influence the outcome of Jiangsu games.
In or about April 2023, at the conclusion of the CBA regular season, the indictment alleges that defendant Fairley left a package containing nearly $200,000 in cash, representing bribe payments and proceeds from the scheme, in Blakeney’s storage unit in Florida.
The indictment further alleges that, after profiting on the fixed CBA games, the fixers, including Fairley and Hennen, along with Blakeney, turned their attention to fixing NCAA men’s basketball games. The three men enlisted additional participants, including defendants Smith, Winkler, and Laureano, to help them operate this scheme and recruit NCAA players who would accept bribes to influence games.
As alleged, during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 NCAA men’s basketball seasons, the fixers, including defendants Smith, Fairley, Hennen, Winkler, Laureano, and Blakeney agreed to recruit NCAA players who would help ensure that their team failed to cover the spread of the first half of a game or an entire game. The fixers would then place wagers on those games, betting against the team whose player or players they had bribed to engage in this point-shaving scheme.
Defendants Smith, Fairley, Hennen, Winkler, Laureano, and Blakeney approached and communicated with NCAA basketball players, in person and through social media, text message communications, and cellular telephone calls, the indictment alleges, with the fixers offering the players bribe payments, usually ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game, to participate in the scheme.
The indictment alleges that the fixers specifically targeted college players for whom the bribe payments would meaningfully supplement, or exceed, the student-athletes’ legitimate opportunities for “Name-Image-Likeness” compensation. The fixers also generally targeted for their scheme players on teams that were underdogs in games and sought to have them fail to cover the spreads in those games. Many of these players accepted the offers and agreed to help fix specific games so that the fixers would win their wagers.
The indictment alleges that the defendant fixers engaged in a point-shaving scheme involving, in total, more than 39 players on more than 17 different NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams who then fixed and attempted to fix more than 29 NCAA games. To capitalize on this scheme, the fixers made wagers totaling millions of dollars, generating substantial proceeds for the fixers and the players who collectively received hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribe payments for fixing their teams’ basketball games. When the fixers were successful with their wagers on fixed games, the indictment further alleges, defendant Smith and other co-schemers traveled to NCAA campuses and made cash bribe payments to the players who had agreed to participate in the point-shaving scheme.
A list of all defendants and the charges against them is linked below.
If convicted on a bribery in sporting contests charge, the maximum possible sentence a defendant would face is five years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Each count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud brings a maximum possible sentence of 20 years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine, if convicted.
This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Louis D. Lappen and Jerome M. Maiatico.
Anyone who believes they may have information about these crimes and would like to report the information is asked to call FBI Philadelphia at 215-418-4000 and reference “NCAA point-shaving.”
Mr. Metcalf also thanked the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI’s New York Field Office for their valuable assistance with the investigation.
The charges and allegations contained in the charging documents are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Defendants chart
Indictment - U.S. v. J. Smith et al
Information - U.S. v. Blakeney
Information - U.S. v. Adams
Information - U.S. v. Etienne
Information - U.S. v. Gray
Information - U.S. v. Hines
Information - U.S. v. D. Smith
14 January 2026
Woman Who Committed $129,000 in Pandemic Fraud is Fined, Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Joshua M. Divine on Wednesday sentenced a woman who fraudulently sought more than $1.1 million in loans during the COVID-19 pandemic to 24 months in prison and ordered her to pay a $75,000 fine.
Judge Divine also ordered Bridgette Johnson, 61, of Berkeley, Missouri, to repay the $129,000 that she stole. Johnson fraudulently applied for and received $120,000 from the pandemic-era Paycheck Protection Program by falsely claiming that one of the numerous businesses that she registered in Missouri, Compassion at Home, would use PPP loan money to retain employees and pay business expenses. She later sought loan forgiveness, falsely claiming that she’d used the money for permitted purposes. Johnson instead made tens of thousands of dollars in cash withdrawals from the account that had received the loan money.
Johnson also admitted fraudulently applying for $1 million in Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration by falsely inflating profit and personnel count in eight applications in 2020 and 2021 filed in her name and in the name of five of her companies. Although the SBA rejected most of the applications after flagging them as fraudulent, Johnson did receive $9,000 in advances.
“Johnson used a global pandemic as an opportunity to enrich herself of approximately $130,000 at the expense of small businesses that desperately needed that money to pay their employees and keep their operations from shuttering,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf wrote in a sentencing memo.
Johnson pleaded guilty in October to one count of wire fraud.
The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf prosecuted the case.
Anyone with information about pandemic fraud should call the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or report via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Warm Springs Man Charged with Eluding Police Officers and Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Warm Springs, Oregon, man has been charged with possessing multiple firearms as a felon and eluding police officers after a high-speed chase.
Edward Francis Jones, 32, has been charged by criminal complaint with felon in possession of a firearm and fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer.
“Running from justice puts lives at risk and threatens the safety of everyone around us,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “I am grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their commitment to protecting the community by locating and removing this dangerous fugitive from our streets.”
“The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is thankful to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Madras Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oregon State Police for arresting Jones,” said Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Oregon Pete W. Cajigal. “The unwavering dedication, relentless hard work, and steadfast diligence of these agencies stand as a powerful testament to the exceptional caliber of law enforcement that safeguards and serves our communities.”
“Our community is safer because of our partnerships with local, state, tribal, and federal agencies, said Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephanie Shark. “Those partnerships allowed us to take both weapons, and a felon in possession of those weapons, off our streets.”
According to court documents, on November 6, 2025, Warm Springs Police officers were patrolling on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation when they observed a Hyundai sedan that matched the description of a stolen car. As the officer checked the license plate, the driver placed the car into drive and drove at a high speed into a field. As the officer activated his overhead lights and sirens, the car came to a sudden stop after hitting something. A male, identified as Jones, exited the car and began running. Officers attempted to chase Jones but lost sight of him.
Inside the stolen car, officers found a loaded 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number sitting on the driver’s seat. Officers also found alcohol, fireworks, a backpack containing a bag believed to contain methamphetamine, a baggie of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and approximately 94 rounds of ammunition. A second backpack was found inside the vehicle with mail belonging to Jones.
On January 7, 2026, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies observed a female known to be affiliated with Jones in a Chrysler 300. Officers initiated a traffic stop for an expired registration. The vehicle did not stop and continued traveling through Madras, Oregon, at extremely high speeds, passing vehicles and driving into oncoming traffic. The car ultimately lost control and crashed. A male exited the driver’s seat and fled on foot. Drone operators from the Prineville Police Department located the fleeing suspect approximately 100 yards east. Officers contacted the suspect, identified as Jones, and took him into custody. Inside the car, officers observed a handgun lying on the driver’s side floorboard. An additional blue pistol belonging to the female occupant was also found on the driver’s side floorboard.
Jones has been wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service since May 29, 2025, for two separate supervised release violation cases with underlying felon in possession charges. Law enforcement has attempted to arrest Jones multiple times. The FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Warm Springs Police Department, Hood River Police Department, and Wasco County Sheriff’s Office participated in the search for Jones.
Jones made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings.
The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charlotte Kelley is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota’s ‘Affirmative Action’ RegimeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division filed a lawsuit today against the State of Minnesota challenging Minnesota’s requirement that all state agencies implement sex- and race-based affirmative action plans and consider “affirmative action goals on all staffing and personnel decisions.” The State’s affirmative action program directs agencies to engage in employment practices that “balance” the sex and race composition of its workforce with the civilian labor force.
“From suing over sanctuary city policies to a wide-ranging fraud investigation, today's lawsuit is the Department of Justice's latest effort to bring Minnesota into compliance with federal law,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Making hiring decisions based on immutable characteristics like race and sex is simple discrimination, and the Trump Administration has no tolerance for such DEI policies.”
“For far too long, courts have allowed employers to discriminate based on race and sex when it is packaged as ‘affirmative action,’” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Supreme Court put an end to using race as a factor in college admissions through its Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard decision. This case is the next logical step. Title VII protects all people from race and sex discrimination in employment. There is no exception that allows discrimination against employees who aren’t considered ‘underrepresented.’”
“Minnesotans already had to see their state officials let criminals brazenly walk off with over a billion taxpayer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen for the District of Minnesota. “Now they see those same officials abusing their power by systematically and unlawfully branding jobseekers as the wrong race or sex. The United States Attorney General and the Justice Department are on the side of Minnesotans and have stepped in to hold the State accountable.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, alleges that this affirmative action mandate discriminates against, limits, and classifies employees and prospective employees on the basis of their race and sex in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). “Because staffing is a zero-sum game,” the complaint states, “when Minnesota gives preferences to employees or prospective employees on the basis of their race, color, national origin, and sex, it inevitably and necessarily discriminates against other employees or prospective employees because of their race, color, national origin, and sex.”
While the U.S. Supreme Court previously sanctioned the consideration of race and sex in hiring for “traditionally segregated job categories,” the United States argues such outdated precedents are inconsistent with both the text of Title VII and subsequent Supreme Court caselaw.
United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi certified this case as a matter of general public importance. This designation invokes a provision of Title VII that entitles the United States to expedited review by a three-judge district court and direct appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
The filing can be read here.
U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Creation of Public Corruption Strike ForceRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – The United States Attorney’s Office today announced the establishment of a Public Corruption Strike Force, the first of its kind in the District of Nevada.
“For far too long, public corruption in the State of Nevada has been a scourge on Nevada’s residents and business owners,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Public corruption affects everything from a competitive and untainted business environment with minimal barriers to market entry, labor industries and overall standard of living for Nevadans. The Public Corruption Strike Force will ensure that all Federal, State, and Municipal agencies coordinate and work together to pool criminal intelligence and data; and ensure the vigorous prosecution of bad actors violating the public’s trust. No stone will be left unturned to protect Nevadans from corruption and no public official and/or agency is above the law.”
The Public Corruption Strike Force is within the Office’s Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys with extensive public corruption experience will handle cases of allegations of criminal misconduct. This specialized unit will focus on the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes affecting government integrity, including bribery of public officials at all levels of government, election crimes, and other related offenses. This endeavor will be a collaborative effort with federal, state, and local agencies across the Silver State.
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Two Israeli men arrested in separate complaints on immigration chargesRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Elazar Wigdorowitz, 33, and Israel Enden, 46, both citizens of Israel, were arrested and charged in separate complaints. Wigdorowitz is charged with improper entry by alien, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison. Enden is charged with bringing in and harboring certain aliens, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan W. Fitzgerald, who is handling the case, stated according to the complaints, in the early morning hours of January 08, 2026, defendant Enden stated to Customs and Border Protection officers, at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry, that he was a United States citizen residing in Israel and was traveling to New York City to visit friends and family. He also stated that the vehicle he was driving was rented by a friend, but he did not have a rental agreement. Asked is he had anything to declare, Enden said no. He was then referred to secondary inspection. During the secondary inspection, officers noticed multiple pieces of luggage in the back of the vehicle. As an officer began removing the luggage, she noticed what appeared to be a person’s back. The remaining luggage was removed and officers discovered defendant Wigdorowitz.
During secondary inspection, officers discovered that Wigdorowitz had obtained a visa in 2010, which was revoked in 2017 due to his criminal history in Israel. Wigdorowitz’s visa was then refused in 2023 because of his criminal history in Israel, which includes convictions for conspiracy to commit a felony, assault, extortion, threats, false imprisonment, and malicious damage to a vehicle. In addition, pending charges include receipt of an item by deceit, conspiracy to defraud, forgery with intent, use of a forged document, fabricating evidence, and obstruction of justice. On January 5, 2026, Wigdorowitz attempted to apply for Electronic System for Travel Authorization but was denied. The complaint further states that according to Wigdorowitz, he in the back of the vehicle because he wanted to visit his rabbi’s grave in the United States. Ended stated that he didn’t know Wigdorowitz was in the vehicle.
Wigdorowitz and Enden made initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and were detained.
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 complaints are the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Trumbull County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Trumbull County man has been sentenced to prison in connection with a cross-country drug trafficking operation that transported controlled substances from California to Ohio.
Andre L. Bowers, 55, of Warren, Ohio, was sentenced to 128 months (10 years, 6 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker after he pleaded guilty in September 2025 to Attempted Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute. He was also sentenced to five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Jan. 4, 2025, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) conducted a traffic stop on a trailer truck hauling vehicles from California to Ohio. Troopers received consent from the driver to inspect two vehicles that were suspected of having controlled substances. The vehicles were found to be altered to conceal illegal drugs. Upon further inspection of the gas tanks on both cars, investigators seized a total of 36 brick-sized packages which later tested positive for cocaine and weighed in at just over 36 kilograms (nearly 80 pounds).
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of OhioHowever, troopers allowed the truck to continue to its intended destination. Federal law enforcement officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proceeded to track and observe the truck as it delivered the two vehicles to a location in Warren. Bowers was later seen arriving there and then proceeded to drive each vehicle that previously contained the cocaine packages, to a location on Park Avenue in Warren. Two days later, federal agents conducted a search warrant execution at that location and took Bowers into custody. Agents found that one of the back seats had been taken out and placed next to the vehicle along with gloves and tools used to remove it. Two residences connected to Bowers were subsequently searched and investigators seized 6 firearms, 1.4 kilograms of a fentanyl analogue and 136 grams of pure methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the DEA Youngstown Resident Office, with valuable assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Vasile Katsaros and David M. Toepfer, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
Taunton Man Sentenced for Enticement of a Child and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Taunton, MA, man has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Providence for traveling to Rhode Island to engage in illicit sexual contact with a minor and receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
Paul Fredericks, 38, was sentenced on January 13, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 15 years imprisonment and 15 years of supervised release.
Fredericks pleaded guilty in August 2024, to attempted enticement of a minor, interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
“One of the most important responsibilities of the United States Attorney’s Office is to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. In this case, our message is clear. If you intend to exploit or harm children in the District of Rhode Island, there is no safe haven for you here, and you will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
According to court documents, Fredericks engaged in online communications with an individual he believed to be the father of nearly 10-year-old girl and arranged to meet with him and his prepubescent daughter, with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. The person Fredericks was communicating with was, in fact, a Rhode Island State Police Detective assigned to the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.
On October 5, 2022, Fredericks traveled to Providence and met with the purported father in a parking lot, where he discussed preparing the child for sexual activity. Fredericks was arrested at the conclusion of that meeting by members of the ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). A forensic examination of his cell phone revealed that he had received and possessed CSAM.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force and Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Two Convicted Felons Charged with Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Ke Anthony Javon Blackmon, 29, and Averee Kathryn Savage, 27, both of Pensacola, were indicted by a federal grand jury. Each defendant has been charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Blackmon appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Michael J. Frank in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for March 16, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
Savage appeared for her arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon in Pensacola, Florida. Trial is scheduled for January 20, 2026, at 8:30 am before District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
If convicted, as charged, they each face a minimum mandatory of ten years up to life imprisonment on the drug charges and a maximum of 15 years imprisonment on the gun charge.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case 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 available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution Conspiracy and Illegal Weapons ChargesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Garret Culpepper, 25, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and unlawful possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case is the result of the outstanding investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and our federal law enforcement partners, which dismantled a large-scale drug trafficking scheme by the defendant. My office will continue to deliver successful prosecutions, like this one, to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi through Operation Take Back America that our communities would be liberated from the scourge of drugs and criminal violence that has plagued our streets for far too long.”
Court documents reflect that beginning in 2023, investigators identified the defendant as a significant distributor of illicit marijuana and THC products, including THC ‘vape’ cartridges. Investigators were able to detail the defendant’s involvement in the manufacture and distribution of thousands of THC cartridges, hundreds of pounds of THC products such as wax, and thousands of pounds of raw marijuana. This investigation ultimately led to the execution of a search warrant at the defendant’s Tallahassee residence on March 18, 2025, during which investigators recovered equipment designed to fill THC vape cartridges in bulk, just under 34 pounds of THC products, approximately 15 pounds of raw marijuana, body armor, multiple firearms, including rifles and handguns staged for easy access throughout the residence, and over $80,000 in U.S. currency.
Culpepper faces a total of up to life imprisonment on the combined conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute, and firearms possession charges.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
Sentencing for Culpepper is scheduled for March 16, 2026, at 10:00 am, at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida before Chief United States District Judge Allen C. Winsor.
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.
Spearfish Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South DakotaRead 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 Spearfish, South Dakota, for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on January 12, 2026.
Sindy Richards, 35, was sentenced to 20 years, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Richards was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November 2024. She pleaded guilty on October 6, 2025.
A prolific drug dealer in western South Dakota, Richards joined a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in 2023. During her involvement, she worked with others to obtain methamphetamine from California, typically through the mail, for redistribution in and around the Black Hills. Richards was identified by law enforcement as being closely associated with the main drug dealer in this case, assisting him in meeting with other co-conspirators within the Rapid City area to further distribute methamphetamine. Investigators determined Richards was involved in trafficking approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine during her involvement in the conspiracy.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service, the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), and the Drug Enforcement Administration. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Hodges and Paige Petersen prosecuted the case.
Richards was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Southern Tier man pleads guilty to distribution of child pornographyRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that David J. Johnston, 56, of Olean, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to distribution of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that prior to February 19, 2024, Johnston was in a relationship with co-defendant Kayla R. Kio. During the relationship, he requested that Kio take naked videos of a 5-year-old child that they both had access to. On February 19, 2024, Kio took a sexually explicit video of the minor victim using her cell phone and then sent it to Johnston via text message. He took a screen shot from the video, which constituted child pornography, and sent it back to Kio and to other individuals. During this time, Johnson also sent Kio a different image of child pornography via text message. On March 13, 2024, during the execution of a search warrant at Johnston’s residence, law enforcement seized three cell telephones. A review of the cell phones recovered approximately 11 images and one video of child pornography.
Kio was previously convicted of possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor and is awaiting sentencing.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Butler.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. before Judge Vilardo.
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Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm While Prohibited as a Felon and Drug UserRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on January 12, 2026.
Jamie Perez, 43, was sentenced to 14 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.
Perez was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty on October 7, 2025.
On September 28, 2024, Sioux Falls Police found Perez asleep behind the wheel of his running vehicle, stopped on a city street. The officers later placed Perez under arrest for Driving Under the Influence. The officers then searched Perez’s vehicle and found a scale containing methamphetamine residue and a Smith & Wesson 9MM pistol. In addition to being a drug user, Perez is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2018 felony conviction for Possession of Controlled Substance.
“This defendant was found by the Sioux Falls Police passed out behind the wheel of a running car, high on methamphetamine and in possession of a loaded gun,” said U.S. Attorney Parsons. “Our streets are immeasurably safer now that he has been shipped off to federal prison.”
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Perez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Serial Sex Offender Sentenced to 48 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Brent Richard Johnson, 52, of Cedar Hills, Utah, was sentenced to 579 months’ imprisonment and a lifetime of supervised release after he produced and possessed a sexually explicit video of a 10-year-old girl.
The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Howard C. Nielson Jr., comes after Johnson was found guilty by a federal jury in August 2025.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between approximately August and November 2013, Johnson used his iPhone to record himself sexually abusing a 10-year-old minor victim while she was sleeping. Years later, the videos were found by law enforcement on a backup of an iPhone on Mr. Johnson’s computer. Separately in a state case, Johnson was convicted of three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and sentenced to three terms of 15-years to life in prison, to run consecutively to each other.
“This 48-year sentence justly reflects the horrific harm that Johnson caused to the ten-year old victim that he repeatedly sexually abused,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah. “There is no greater priority for my office and the Department of Justice than protecting innocent children from predators like Mr. Johnson. I am grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their excellent investigative work and commitment to stopping those who exploit children.”
“The Utah County Sheriff's Office is grateful to have been involved in this investigation with our state, local, and federal partners,” said Sergeant Ray Ormond of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office. “We are especially grateful to the victim in this case for their courage in coming forward and seeking justice against Mr. Johnson.”
"Johnson’s sentencing is a clear indication of the seriousness of his crimes,” said Homeland Security Investigations Denver Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen. “I commend all those who investigated and brought to prosecution this heinous act. HSI agents will never relent when it comes to bringing justice to those who would steal the innocence of children.”
The federal case was investigated jointly by the American Fork Police Department, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carol A. Dain and Joey L. Blanch of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Schenectady Man Sentenced to 330 Months for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Crimes and for Violating Supervised Release ConditionsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jabree Jones, a.k.a. “Breezy,” age 33, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced on January 9, 2026, to 300 months in prison for drug trafficking and firearms crimes, including a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes.
Jones, who was on federal supervised release at the time of his offense, was sentenced to an additional 30 months in prison, to be served consecutively, for violations of his release conditions, including for false statements to U.S. Probation. Jones will serve a total term of 330 months in prison.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Farhana Islam, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Enforcement Division (NYED), and Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
In pleading guilty, Jones admitted to his participation in a drug conspiracy from January to May 2023, that included eleven instances of drug distribution between January and May 2023, and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine on May 23, 2023, after the ATF and DEA searched a property on Western Avenue in Albany where they found one of Jones’ coconspirators, Brandon Bartley, with 34 firearms, including an illegal machinegun, as well as more than 400 grams of fentanyl pills, more than 7,000 grams of pills containing methamphetamine, and more than 700 grams of cocaine. That same day, the DEA and ATF also search a property in Halfmoon, New York, where they found another one of Jones’ coconspirators, Anthony Luizzi, along with about 11 kilograms of fentanyl pills and five firearms, including a defaced shotgun.
Another suspect in the investigation, Anthony Zaremski, was fatally shot during the execution of a federal search warrant at his apartment in Clifton Park, New York on May 23, 2023, after Zaremski opened fire and wounded two officers.
Acting United States Attorney John Sarcone stated, “Jabree Jones was a major driver of drug trafficking and gun violence in this region. While on federal supervision, he chose to flood our communities with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine and to use firearms, including machineguns. This sentence removes an extraordinarily dangerous individual from our streets for decades. Let this case send a clear message: those who combine deadly drugs with illegal guns will face relentless prosecution and severe consequences. Thank you to the brave men and women from DEA and ATF who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe and rid them of the scourge of violent criminals.”
“Today’s sentencing is a true reflection of the dedicated work the DEA New York Enforcement Division and our law enforcement partners have when targeting those individuals who jeopardize the safety of our communities when trafficking illicit narcotics and firearms” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “Mr. Jones’ threat and terror to our communities ends today. The DEA has and remains committed to safeguarding our neighborhoods and strive for a fentanyl-free America.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo stated, “Mr. Jones’ crimes caused a devastating impact on our community by engaging in firearms trafficking and drug distribution. He helped fuel addiction, death and violence. ATF remains committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to disrupt these dangerous networks, to seizing illegal firearms before they reach the streets, and to protecting the safety of the public. We applaud all of the partners involved in making our community safer.”
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also imposed a supervised release term of five years, to begin after he finishes his prison term. Jones was also ordered to pay restitution to the State of California and the State of Georgia for fraudulently obtaining unemployment insurance from those states in 2020 and 2021.
The following defendants were also charged in connection with this investigation:
- Anthony Luizzi pled guilty to drug and gun crimes in connection with his trafficking of large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and his possession of the guns found at the Western Avenue property and Halfmoon property. Luizzi was sentenced to 210 months in prison and a $10,000 fine on October 1, 2024.
- Brandon Bartley also pled guilty to drug and gun crimes in connection with his trafficking of large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and his possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He was sentenced to 180 months in prison and a $5,000 fine.
- Devon Newsome pled guilty to transferring 29 firearms to Jones that were ultimately found at the Western Avenue property. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison.
The DEA and the ATF investigated the case, with assistance from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG), the Rotterdam Police Department, and the Henry County, Georgia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
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Revere Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Role in International Money Laundering OrganizationRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Revere man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds for drug suppliers based in Central and/or South America and for possessing over 17 kilograms of various controlled substances.
Jason Hunter, 48, was sentenced on Jan. 8, 2026 by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In May 2025, Hunter pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine; 500 grams or more of cocaine and other controlled substances; and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
According to court documents, law enforcement received information about large-scale international money laundering organizations that used money brokers in Colombia as liaisons between drug suppliers based in Central and/or South America and their drug customers in the United States. The money brokers arrange contracts with U.S.-based money launderers to conduct pickups of drug proceeds on behalf of the drug suppliers in Latin America. As part of the investigation, undercover investigators posing as money launderers, conducted controlled pickups in connection with contracts offered by the money brokers in cities throughout the United States, including Boston.
Over the course of the investigation, Hunter delivered drug proceeds to undercover investigators on multiple occasions, including on Feb. 28, 2024, when he delivered $140,000 of bulk cash drug proceeds. On April 3, 2024, Hunter was arrested on his way to a money pickup that had been arranged by a broker. At the time of his arrest $100,000 in drug proceeds was seized from Hunter’s possession. A subsequent search of his residence and vehicle resulted in the seizure of over 16 kilograms of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, additional pills containing oxycodone, as well as over a kilogram of cocaine and multiple kilograms of marijuana.
In May 2025, Hunter’s co-defendant, Walter Norton, was convicted by a federal jury of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Norton is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 25, 2026.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferguson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Repeat felon sentenced again for illegally reentering the country for fifth timeRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 36-year-old Mexican citizen has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the country again, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Jose de Jesus Galicia-Castillo pleaded guilty Sept. 24, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Galicia-Castillo to serve 42 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings again following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about his criminal history while illegally present in the United States.
Galicia-Castillo has two previous convictions for illegally reentering the United States after being removed.
He was first removed in 2008 and returned illegally on at least two other occasions. Most recently, authorities discovered him July 25, 2025, near Falfurrias with no authorization to be there.
Galicia-Castillo has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley A. Pruitt prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Prior felon sentenced on new child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Marcobrien S. Volcy, 28, of Rochester, NY, who was convicted of possession of child pornography following a prior conviction under the laws of New York State relating to the possession of child pornography, was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who handled the case, stated that in August 2023, Volcy pleaded guilty in Monroe County Court to Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child Less Than 16 Years of Age and was sentenced to one to three years in prison. On January 19, 2024, while on New York State probation for his 2023 conviction, Volcy possessed a cell phone that contained images and videos of child pornography. In total, Volcy possessed more than 650 images and videos of child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent children.
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.
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Prior Felon Sentenced for Possessing Stolen Firearm and Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced today for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition and Drug Conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Kenneth Wayne Toney, 41, to 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Toney was indicted in 2024 after being found in possession of a stolen firearm. During a routine traffic stop, Toney claimed he was driving a borrowed car and stated that he did not have a driver's license. After further investigation, officers found that Toney had a suspended driver’s license and arrested him. After a search of the vehicle, officers found methamphetamine and a loaded firearm, which was reported stolen. While booking Toney into jail, officers found an empty holster on Toney’s waistband.
In a separate case, Toney was indicted for drug conspiracy with several others. Toney fled to California to avoid prosecution, was arrested, and brought back to the Northern District for prosecution. Court documents show that Homeland Security Investigations began investigating a group of people believed to be distributing methamphetamine in the Northern District of Oklahoma. After further investigation, the group was working with a Mexican drug trafficking organization and distributed more than 9.7 kilograms of methamphetamine in a month. Toney admitted to conspiring and working with others to distribute methamphetamine.
Court records show that Toney was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including robbery with a firearm and kidnapping. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshal Service, the Sapulpa Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyson McCoy prosecuted the case.
Previously Convicted Killer Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Rocky Lee Brown, 53, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was charged in an indictment returned today in U.S. District Court on one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Brown was wanted on an active warrant out of Maryland when he was arrested Dec. 29, 2025, by the United States Marshals Service on the 5200 block of Hayes Street, NE. An officer with the Metropolitan Police Department responded and allegedly recovered a SCCY CPX-1 9mm pistol from Brown’s jacket pocket. The firearm contained nine rounds of 9mm ammunition in the magazine and one round in the chamber.
Brown did not have a license to carry a firearm in the District. A criminal history check showed that Brown was previously convicted in D.C. Superior Court for second-degree Murder. On May 5, 2006, Brown was sentenced to 25 years of incarceration. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Liss.
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rocky_lee_brown_indictment_1_count_s_1_forfe.pdfAn indictment is only a formal accusation by a grand jury that there is enough evidence for a serious criminal case to proceed to trial.
Poplar man sentenced to prison for sexual assaultRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who sexually abused a minor on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 40 months in prison to be followed by 6 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Chandler Duran Longtree, 19, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of sexual abuse.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on January 18, 2025, Jane Doe was drinking with a group of young people. She eventually separated from her friend and went with the defendants, Chandler Longtree and Payton Montclair, both 18 at the time, to Longtree’s house. While at the house, she was sexually assaulted by Longtree and Montclair. Doe reported the assault and underwent an exam from a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), which revealed evidence consistent with a sexual assault.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.
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Oregon City Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— An Oregon City, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for selling drugs after an investigation into an overdose death led to his prosecution.
Toren Paul Flom, 32, was sentenced to 140 months in federal prison and four years of supervised release.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this crime. This defendant is a career offender with prior felony drug convictions and was on post-prison supervision when he sold drugs to the victim here,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “Drug crimes are not victimless – they tear families apart and weaken our communities as a whole, creating wounds that endure long after the crime itself.”
“Driven by greed, this drug dealer chose to put deadly drugs into our community with no regard for the lives and families harmed,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “Flom’s sentence means he can no longer contribute to overdoses or cause more heartbreak for victims and their loved ones. HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, disrupt, and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that profit from this suffering and to protect the safety of our neighborhoods.”
“I’m grateful for the continued collaboration among law enforcement agencies to hold dangerous drug traffickers accountable,” said Portland Police Chief Bob Day. “Cases such as this help reduce the amount of dangerous drugs in our city and the devastating impact they have on so many lives.”
According to court documents, on June 2, 2024, law enforcement responded to an emergency call regarding a deceased victim who had overdosed on multiple controlled substances. The investigation revealed that Flom had distributed multiple controlled substances to the victim prior to his overdose death. Ultimately, investigators were not able to conclusively establish that Flom was the sole source of drugs that caused the victim’s overdose death. Nonetheless, investigators pursued a criminal investigation into Flom’s drug trafficking activities. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Flom’s residence in July 2024 and seized approximately 7.2 gross kilograms of psilocybin mushrooms, 1.29 gross kilograms of ketamine, 1.2 gross kilograms of cocaine, 607 gross grams of MDMA, and 102 grams of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).
On July 23, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a five-count indictment charging Flom with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, LSD, MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine.
On September 10, 2025, Flom pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
HSI and the Portland Police Bureau – Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassady A. Adams prosecuted the case.
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.
Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to Serve 55 Years in Prison Following Retrial after Shooting Woman in Metro Parking GarageRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – ROBERT LEE HARRISON JR., 52, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve the statutory maximum 660 months in federal prison for attempted kidnapping, illegal possession of ammunition, and attempted carjacking, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
On April 6, 2022, a federal grand jury charged Harrison with illegal possession of ammunition, carjacking, kidnapping, and use and discharge of a firearm during the carjacking. On January 11, 2023, Harrison was tried by a federal jury and found guilty on all counts. Harrison received a life sentence on October 24, 2023.
On appeal, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the kidnapping and use and discharge of a firearm during the carjacking convictions due to changes in the law and authorized a retrial on the charge of attempted kidnapping.
On July 30, 2025, at the retrial, a federal jury convicted Harrison of attempted kidnapping. At the trials, Harrison’s ex-girlfriend testified that he forced her into her car at gunpoint as she left work at the Integris Baptist Medical Center parking garage in Oklahoma City. Evidence further showed that Harrison confined her in the car and repeatedly punched her before she escaped. Harrison then caught her in the elevator lobby of the parking garage, where he shot her approximately eight times before he fled. The following day, Oklahoma City Police Department officers arrested Harrison after a brief foot chase.
At a sentencing hearing on January 12, 2026, U.S. District Judge Bernard M. Jones, II, sentenced Harrison to serve 660 months in federal prison and ordered Harrison to pay restitution in the amount of $13,907.41. In announcing his sentence, Judge Jones noted the defendant’s criminal history, his lack of remorse, and the fact that he was at a heightened risk of future conduct because of the “violent and horrific” offense.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department, with assistance from the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Nichols, Jr. and Jacquelyn Hutzell prosecuted the case.
This case is part of “Operation 922” and operation “Shots Fired,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. “Operation 922” prioritizes prosecution of federal firearms violations connected to domestic violence. “Shots Fired” targets cases involving individuals who discharge firearms as part of their criminal activity, such as drive-by shootings or when shots are fired during robberies, domestic disputes, or other incidents. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://justice.gov/psn.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
Ohio Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Thousands of Child Sex Abuse FilesRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A 52-year-old Lorain County man who trafficked a high-volume of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has been sentenced to prison.
Robert L. Scarvelli, of Sheffield Lake, Ohio, has been sentenced to 107 months (8 years and 9 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz, after he pleaded guilty in September 2025 to receipt and distribution of real minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $5,000 in restitution to a victim of his crimes.
According to court documents, from about June 6 to August 31, 2024, Scarvelli was engaged in knowingly receiving and distributing, and possessing digital files of children as they were being sexually abused. During a search warrant execution of Scarvelli’s residence, federal agents seized several electronic devices containing thousands of images and videos of CSAM. Many of these files included sadistic and masochistic depictions of children under the age of 12 or the exploitation of infants and toddlers. More than 100 videos were recordings of children being sexually abused for 10 minutes or longer. One video file showed a child being sexually abused for nearly one hour.
The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division.
The prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer J. King for the Northern District of Ohio.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and 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 justice.gov/PSC.
To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org, or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Ohio Man Arrested and Charged for Firearms Dealing, Unlawful Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Ohio man has been arrested and charged in connection with multiple sales of firearms transported from Ohio to Massachusetts.
Ruben Joel Sanchez Jr., 31, was charged with one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Sanchez made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Jan. 9, 2026.
According to the charging documents, beginning at least as early as June 2025 through January 2026, Sanchez engaged in the business of unlawful trafficking in firearms. In June 2025, Sanchez, who is not licensed to deal in firearms, sold three firearms to an individual in exchange for $4,000. On Jan. 8, 2026, Sanchez was recorded and observed selling four additional firearms to the same individual in return for $8,500. When Sanchez was arrested at the scene, an AR-style pistol equipped with a loaded, 100-round drum; a rifle equipped with a loaded, 100-round drum; a loaded pistol equipped with an extended magazine; and an additional loaded pistol were recovered.
The charge of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $ 250,000. The charge of unlawful trafficking in firearms provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $ 250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julissa Walsh 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.Ohio Doctor Sentenced to Prison for $14M Healthcare Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – A Lorain County man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a healthcare billing conspiracy scheme that was intended to fraudulently bill Medicare for more than $14.5 million.
Timothy Sutton, 44, of North Ridgeville, Ohio, was sentenced to 64 months (5 years and 4 months) in prison by U.S. District Judge David A. Ruiz, after he pleaded guilty in April 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, false statements related to health care matters, and aggravated identity theft. He was also ordered to serve 3 years of supervised release and pay nearly $6 million in restitution to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Judge Ruiz imposed the sentence Jan. 12.
“Mr. Sutton deliberately lied about performing patient examinations and then used his role as a trusted medical professional to line his pockets at the expense of taxpayers. We will not tolerate those who utilize their positions of authority to defraud Medicare, or any government agency,” said United States Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “Thanks to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Cleveland FBI’s thorough investigations, we have put a stop to this rampant fraud and abuse of power.”
According to court documents, Sutton used his position as a licensed medical doctor in the state of Ohio to cause submission of claims on behalf of patients who did not need the medical treatment. He was employed by two telemedicine companies based in Florida which provided him with pre-completed orders for durable medical equipment (DME), such as braces, and/or cancer genetic testing (CGX) for him to approve and digitally sign. In doing so, he affirmed that he had examined each patient using a telemedicine platform and then determined that they needed DME. He also falsely affirmed that he was the treating physician of the patients who he had signed orders to receive CGX testing. However, federal investigators found that Sutton never examined any of the patients whom he claimed to have examined.
“Violating a position of trust and abusing the privilege of serving as a healthcare provider by willfully defrauding the government and other entities for personal gain is cruel and calculating,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Gregory Nelsen. “When funds from programs like Medicare are not used as intended, taxpayers and people who are entitled to those funds suffer. The FBI will continue its commitment to work with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate criminals like Mr. Sutton and ensure that federally funded healthcare programs are not abused by providers.”
Once Sutton prescribed medical equipment or ordered testing through the telemedicine companies who had hired him, the orders were then either forwarded to other medical businesses, which were part of the conspiracy, or sold to other medical entities.
“When a physician knowingly violates their oath and exploits patients for personal financial gain, it erodes the very foundation of trust in our health care system,” said Mario M. Pinto, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to safeguard taxpayer dollars and ensure that those who abuse these vital programs are held accountable.”
This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, and the FBI Cleveland Division.
Assistant United States Attorney Michael L. Collyer prosecuted the case.
To submit a complaint about healthcare fraud or abuse of services, visit oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud.
Oahu Man Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Prison for Trafficking Carfentanil and Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Travis Kalani Hong-Ah Nee, 36, of Oahu, was sentenced on January 12 in federal court by Senior United States District Judge J. Michael Seabright to a total of 78 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute carfentanil, possessing with intent to distribute carfentanil, and possessing ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony. Hong-Ah Nee has been detained since his initial arrest in this case on November 17, 2023.
According to court records, on November 17, 2023, Hong-Ah Nee was pulled over by a Honolulu Police Officer and then fled at a high rate of speed, later collided with an unmarked police car and left the scene, and subsequently led officers on a foot pursuit. When he was apprehended by law enforcement, Hong-Ah Nee was found to be in possession of carfentanil as well as a loaded ghost gun, also known as a privately made firearm. Hong-Ah Nee later admitted he was part of a conspiracy that was acquiring controlled substances through the U.S. mail and was engaged in the distribution of carfentanil on Oahu. At sentencing, Hong-Ah Nee was held responsible for over 50 grams of carfentanil.
Carfentanil is a fentanyl analogue that is used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals. The lethal dose range for carfentantil in humans is unknown; however, carfentanil is approximately 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which can be lethal at the 2-milligram range, depending on route of administration and other factors.
Hong-Ah Nee is one of eleven defendants charged in three separate indictments for crimes related to the operation of a trans-Pacific drug trafficking network, nine of whom have pled guilty with the remaining awaiting trial. The overall investigation yielded seizures of more than 150 pounds of methamphetamine, several kilograms of fentanyl and carfentanil, eight firearms, ammunition, and over $150,000 in cash.
Hong-Ah Nee was charged in a standalone superseding indictment and is the fifth defendant of eleven to be sentenced. Those charged in other related indictments have been sentenced as follows:
- On April 30, 2025, Shawn Pauahi Santana was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and to distributing methamphetamine.
- On December 10, 2025, Faith Michelle Nelson was sentenced to 151 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- On December 16, 2025, Francis Anthony Abergas, Jr. was sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm and ammunition after having been previously convicted of a felony.
- On January 8, 2026, Trish Leila Henderson was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment and 5 years’ supervised release after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui Police Departments, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret C. Nammar is prosecuting the case.
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New Jersey Woman and Colombian Man Charged with Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jael Watts, age 44, of Bridgeton, New Jersey, and Luis Pino-Copete, age 41, of Bogota, Colombia, were indicted on December 4, 2025, on a wire fraud conspiracy charge related to their operation of a transportation company called Pearl Transit. Watts was separately charged with ten counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Brian C. Gallagher, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG), Northeastern Region, and State of New York Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli made the announcement.
According to the superseding indictment, Watts and Pino Copete operated a non-profit company called Pearl Transit Corporation that claimed to provide transportation services to elderly and disabled persons in New York and several other States. Watts applied for grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) under the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Section 5310 program, which was awarded and managed by New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT). Between September 2024 and July 2025, Watts submitted vouchers to New York State for reimbursement of operational costs associated with providing transportation to eligible riders and, with Pino-Copete’s help, provided false supporting documentation in support of their requests. Watts and Pino-Copete fraudulently sought payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars, including Section 5310 funds, by falsely representing to New York State that Pearl Transit had transported disabled and elderly residents. However, Pearl Transit never provided any transportation nor employed a single driver. The indictment further alleges that on or about March 20, 2022, Watts used the name of an attorney on an FTA grant application without that attorney's knowledge or consent.
The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “As alleged, Watts, working with her husband Pino-Copete, perpetrated a massive fraudulent scheme against the Department of Transportation in New York. She submitted requests for reimbursement for services that were made up out of thin air. Those funds were meant to help transport some of our most vulnerable—the elderly and disabled. These charges show that these crimes will only transport you to prison, as Watts and Pino-Copete now face the prospect of many years in prison.”
DOT-OIG Special Agent in Charge Brian C. Gallagher stated: “Today’s indictment illustrates the depth of the alleged fraud committed by Watts and Pino-Copete. The DOT-OIG takes very seriously our responsibility to investigate and pursue those who commit fraud and attempt to steal from government funds. We’re committed to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to protect taxpayer dollars and uphold the integrity of federally funded programs.”
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli stated: “Watts and Pino-Copete allegedly conspired to scam the State of New York out of more than $1 million dollars meant to transport deserving New Yorkers for needed care and services. Thanks to the work of my office, this fraud was detected before any payment was made. My office will continue to aggressively root out fraud and partner with law enforcement to hold offenders responsible. I thank Acting United States Attorney Sarcone and the United States DOT Inspector General for their work with my office in protecting public funds.”
Watts was originally arrested on July 21, 2025, on a criminal complaint. On August 19, 2025, following several detention hearings, United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart ordered Watts detained pending a trial before United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi. She was previously indicted on October 16, 2025, on ten counts of wire fraud.
Pino-Copete was arrested on December 9, 2025, in New Jersey, at which time he was ordered detained pending trial. Pino-Copete was arraigned on the superseding indictment on December 29, 2025, in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart.
Pino-Copete faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. Watts faces at least 2 years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
DOT-OIG, the New York State Comptroller’s office, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case.
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New Jersey Man Sentenced to 151 Months’ Imprisonment for Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Marquise Maxey, age 39, of Haledon, New Jersey, was sentenced on January 13, 2026, to 151 months’ imprisonment and a term of supervised release by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for distribution of fentanyl.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Maxey pled guilty in 2024 to one count of distribution of fentanyl. As part of his plea, Maxey admitted that he had sold approximately 26 grams of fentanyl to a Confidential Source in exchange for $18,000. This quantity represents over 13,000 potentially fatal dosages of fentanyl.
The matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Pocono Mountain Regional Police, the Scranton Police Department, the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, and the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney James M. Buchanan prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.
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New Haven Man Sentenced to More Than 23 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIE FRANCO, 37, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 280 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2016, Franco was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 80 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for distributing crack cocaine and heroin. That investigation also revealed that, in January 2015, Franco distributed heroin to an individual in East Haven who died after ingesting the drug. Franco was released from federal prison in December 2020.
In 2021, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating resumed narcotics trafficking activity by Franco and his then girlfriend, Daniella Fox. The investigation revealed that, beginning in approximately February 2021, parcels originating in Arizona and California that likely contained narcotics had been mailed to addresses associated with Franco and Fox. Investigators also determined that two overdose deaths in August 2021 in Branford and Guilford, and one overdose death in September 2021 in Milford, were connected to Franco’s drug activities.
In early March 2022, investigators intercepted a U.S. Postal Service parcel destined for an address in East Haven associated with Franco and Fox. A court-authorized search of the parcel revealed approximately one kilogram of cocaine and one kilogram of fentanyl. On March 7, 2022, investigators made a controlled delivery of the intercepted parcel to the East Haven address. Franco and Fox, who were waiting in a car that was parked on the street, were arrested after Fox retrieved the package. A subsequent search of Franco and Fox’s New Haven residence resulted in the seizure of more than one kilogram of fentanyl, a quantity of crack cocaine, digital scales and other narcotics packaging paraphernalia, a loaded Glock .40 pistol with an obliterated serial number, a drum extended magazine for a rifle, a bulletproof vest, ammunition, and more than $300,000 in cash.
Subsequent analysis of cellphones seized from Franco revealed hundreds of videos depicting Franco’s drug trafficking activity and possession of firearms. In certain cellphone recordings intended for his drug suppliers, Franco complains that the fentanyl is not strong enough and says he needs fentanyl strong enough to kill people.
Franco has been detained since his arrest. On February 26, 2025, a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the New Haven Police Department, East Haven Police Department and Connecticut State Police. The Task Force includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut State Police, the Hartford Police Department, and the Plainville Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Hal Chen.
Murder, Drug Possession and Firearm Charges Yields Guilty Plea from D.C. ManRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Quateze Moore, 46, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to the shooting death of Martinez Robinson in Northwest D.C. on August 23, 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Moore entered a global guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter while armed. Moore also pleaded guilty to possessing a controlled substance (cocaine) with the intent to distribute it while armed, before Superior Court Associate Judge Jason Park. Judge Park ordered that Moore continue to be held without bond pending sentencing.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled to occur before Judge Park on March 27, 2026.
According to the government’s evidence, on August 23, 2024, Moore was at 14th and Girard Street Park when he and the victim, Martinez Robinson, encountered one another. After a short period of time, Robinson ran out of the park and the defendant followed, shooting him as he was running away. Moore’s gunfire struck Robinson three times, once in the right arm, once in the right thigh, and once in the torso, causing injuries from which Robinson died. The defendant’s dog, Ace, was also struck by his gunfire and killed. Moore confirmed that, in shooting Robinson, he was acting voluntarily, and that he was not acting in self-defense. Robinson was found in possession of a Glock 23 .40 caliber firearm with a laser, a giggle-switch and 19 live cartridges in a 22-capacity magazine, which he had not fired.
The defendant was arrested on January 1, 2024, while seated in the front passenger seat inside a vehicle. At the time of his arrest, members of MPD recovered a firearm from under Moore’s seat. MPD also recovered a clear plastic bag from in-between the center console and Moore’s seat. The clear plastic bag contained numerous substances that, after chemical testing, yielded positive results for cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone.
Moore has been in custody since his arrest.
Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Dinan.
Mexican national sentenced for illegally reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Mexican national was sentenced to seven months in prison for illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He remains subject to the prior order of removal.
“This case underscores the importance of immigration enforcement to protect our nation and our people,” said Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Esteban De Paz Jimenez repeatedly violated our immigration laws and committed a serious assault against his then-estranged wife. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect victims and remove violent criminals who pose a threat to public safety from the United States.”
According to court documents, De Paz Jimenez, 39, has been deported from the United States on three separate occasions dating back to 2010. De Paz Jimenez illegally reentered the United States following each removal. De Paz Jimenez has six convictions for driving without a license between 2016 and 2020.
U.S. Immigration officials learned of his illegal presence in the United States following his arrest on April 7, 2025, in Caroline County on state charges of strangulation, preventing summoning of law enforcement, and malicious wounding. On March 30, 2025, De Paz Jimenez located his then-estranged-wife and followed her home where he argued with her, then choked her and shoved her to the ground. During the altercation, De Paz Jimenez pulled the victim’s hair so hard he removed a large portion of hair from her scalp. De Paz Jimenez then took the victim’s phone to prevent her from calling 911.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Day 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-82.
Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentryRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Mexican man who illegally re-entered the United States was sentenced today to time served, 97 days, and was remanded to the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Justino Sanchez-Melo, 42, pleaded guilty in December 2025 to one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Sanchez-Melo was one of four illegal aliens encountered at a hotel in Great Falls on October 10, 2025. Prior to the apprehension and arrests, law enforcement received information regarding possible illegal aliens working in Great Falls, Montana and living at the hotel. Law enforcement conducted surveillance on the location and located numerous vehicles registered to possible illegal aliens with prior removals and without permission to be, work, or live in the United States.
At approximately 7:00 a.m. on October 10, 2025, law enforcement consensually encountered Sanchez-Melo walking near the hotel parking lot. Officers identified themselves and conducted an immigration inspection on Sanchez-Melo. Sanchez-Melo readily admitted to being a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States. At this point, Sanchez-Melo was placed under arrest and was transported to the Sweetgrass Border Patrol Station for further investigation and processing.
Sanchez-Melo was advised of his rights. He acknowledged his rights and was unwilling to answer questions without a lawyer present.
The investigation revealed Sanchez-Melo has the following immigration history:
- Originally apprehended and ordered removed by United States Border Patrol on February 24, 2011, and was removed on February 26, 2011, through Calexico, California.
- Encountered on March 14, 2011, where his order of removal was reinstated. Sanchez-Melo was then removed on March 18, 2011, through Del Rio, Texas.
- Encountered on September 2, 2013, where his order of removal was reinstated. Sanchez-Melo was then removed on December 14, 2013, through Eagle Pass, Texas.
- Encountered on May 22, 2023, where his order of removal was reinstated. Sanchez-Melo was then removed on September 19, 2023, through Nogales, Arizona.
Sanchez-Melo has 3 previous federal convictions of 8 U.S.C. § 1325, Improper entry by alien.
There is no indication in the files of Department of Homeland Security that Sanchez-Melo ever applied for or obtained the permission of the United States Attorney General or successor, or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to reenter the United States.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Border Patrol conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
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Mexican Native Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Mexican citizen was sentenced on January 14, 2026, to six months in federal prison for illegally returning to the United States after being deported.
According to public court documents, Alan Hernandez Lagunas, 42, had previously been deported from the United States three times. On February 21, 2025, law enforcement encountered Hernandez Lagunas in Columbus Junction, Iowa when he was arrested for and later convicted of operating while intoxicated and interference with official acts. Hernandez Lagunas rear-ended a semi-tractor, exhibited signs of intoxication, and resisted arrest. Hernandez Lagunas had been convicted in Iowa of operating a vehicle while intoxicated in 2010 and 2012.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Hernandez Lagunas will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations.
Mesa Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Setting Fire to Tesla DealershipRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Ian William Moses, 35, of Mesa, Arizona, was sentenced Jan. 13, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Diane J. Humetewa to 60 months of imprisonment, the mandatory minimum, followed by 36 months of supervised release, for setting fire to a Tesla vehicle and a Tesla dealership in Mesa, Arizona, on April 28, 2025. Restitution will be determined at a hearing set for April 13, 2026.
A federal grand jury in Phoenix previously returned a five-count indictment charging Moses with maliciously damaging property and vehicles by means of fire, and Moses pleaded guilty to all charges on Oct. 27, 2025.
“Arson can never be an acceptable part of American politics. Mr. Moses’ actions endangered the public and first responders and could have easily turned deadly,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This five-year sentence reflects the gravity of these crimes and makes clear that politically fueled attacks on Arizona’s communities and businesses will be met with full accountability.”
“This sentence sends a clear message: violence and intimidation have no place in our community,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “Setting fire to a business in retaliation for political or personal grievances is not protest—it is a crime. Our community deserves to feel safe, and this sentence underscores that Maricopa County will not tolerate political violence in any form.”
According to court documents, surveillance cameras showed Moses was at the Tesla dealership in Mesa shortly before 2 a.m. on Monday, April 28, 2025, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, tan ballcap, grey pants, black boots, and a black mask. He also carried a red plastic gas can and a black backpack. While in the Tesla dealership parking lot, Moses was captured on video as he placed fire starter logs next to the dealership building. Moses then poured gasoline onto the starter logs, the building, and three Tesla vehicles. At around 1:38 a.m., Moses ignited the starter logs, causing a fire that destroyed a silver Tesla Cybertruck. Video shows Moses leaving the dealership on a dark colored bicycle shortly thereafter.
Mesa police officers arrested Moses approximately a quarter mile from the Tesla dealership at around 3 a.m., still dressed in the same clothes as he was seen wearing at the scene. After his arrest, officers found a hand drawn map of the area in Moses’ pocket, which included a box with the letter “T” marking the dealership’s location.
“Arson is a violent crime, that not only endangers members of our community, but our first responders as well,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Shawn Stallo. “Our certified fire investigators, supported by the National Fire Research Laboratory, enables ATF to work with our local, state, and federal agencies to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.”
“The safety of our community is of the utmost importance to the Mesa Police Department,” said Chief Dan Butler. "We do not tolerate violence or malicious actions that can lead to injury or death to members of the public or first responders. We are pleased with the swift justice delivered in this case. We appreciate the strong work of the Maricopa County and U.S. Attorneys’ offices.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI Phoenix Field Office, Mesa Police Department, Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond K. Woo and Maricopa Deputy County Attorney Luke Coyne prosecuted the case. Coyne also acts as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney.
CASE NUMBER: CR25-0657-PHX-DJH
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-005_Moses# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Meridian Man Sentenced to 42 Months for being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Meridian man was sentenced on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, to 42 months of incarceration for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Neshoba County. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine and serve 3 years of supervised release following his incarceration.
According to court documents, Elton Wayne Fairley, 40, was found by Philadelphia Police Department to be in possession of a firearm on February 24, 2025. The firearm was concealed in the vehicle during a traffic stop in Philadelphia, Mississippi, with a round loaded in the firearm’s chamber and a large capacity magazine. Fairley had a previous felony conviction for narcotics offenses and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Fairley was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 15, 2025, and pleaded guilty on September 10, 2025. Fairley will serve his term of imprisonment consecutive to a ten-year state sentence from Lauderdale County.
U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the FBI Jackson Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI investigated this case with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Philadelphia Police Department; and Meridian Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the ATF as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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).
McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Larry Douglas Martin, age 54, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Martin with possessing a semi-automatic rifle and a semi-automatic pistol after having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
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.
Martin will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Massachusetts Company Charged with Violating OSHA Rule Leading to Worker’s DeathRead the Press Release
BOSTON – John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete, Inc., a corporation doing business in East Freetown, Mass. has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to willfully violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) safety standards in a 2023 incident that led to a worker’s death.
According to court documents, the company utilized a large soil screener for purposes of processing and screening soil and similar substances. The soil screener was approximately 46 feet long and 13 feet high, and weighed approximately 35,880 lbs. The tail conveyor of the soil screener – which weighed approximately 1,500 pounds – could be placed in a vertical closed position or could be opened to an approximate 45° angle. It is alleged that at various occasions in 2022 or 2023, the tail conveyor of the soil screener closed unexpectedly, and the soil screener had suffered a ruptured hydraulic pressure line.
On Sept. 6, 2023, a company employee was working alongside a co-owner on the tail conveyer of the soil screener, which was in the open position. At the time, there was no equipment in place to prevent the tail conveyer from closing. According to the charging documents, as the employee was seeking to remove a bolt, the tail conveyor closed unexpectedly. The employee held onto the upper frame of the soil screener as the tail conveyer closed into the vertical position, crushing the employee’s head. The employee suffered massive head trauma and was pronounced dead soon thereafter.
For willfully violating an OSHA safety standard, John Oliveira & Sons Stamp Concrete, Inc. faces a term of probation of up to five years, a fine of up to $500,000 and restitution payable to the estate of the deceased victim. Sentences are imposed by a federal judge based upon statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Jeff Erskine, Regional Administrator of the Department of Labor OSHA Boston Region; and Maia Fisher, Regional Solicitor for Department of Labor Boston Region made the announcement today. Assistance in the investigation was also provided by, OSHA Criminal Investigations Team, Boston Region. Assistant U.S. Attorney William F. Abely, Chief of the Criminal Division 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.
Marshall Man Admits to Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Marshall, Mo., man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to drug and gun charges arising out of a May 2025 search warrant, during which two Pettis County deputies were injured.
James Joseph Elsea, 62, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, discharging and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possessing firearms after a prior felony conviction. In a plea agreement filed with the court after the hearing, Elsea admitted that while Pettis County Sheriff’s Office deputies were executing a no-knock search warrant at his home on May 2, 2025, Elsea fired shots from inside the residence, hitting and injuring two deputies. Approximately nine minutes after the shots were fired, Elsea made a 911 call reporting that he believed he had shot someone. Later, after the officers arrested Elsea and made entry into his residence, they found evidence that Elsea had discarded methamphetamine down the toilet, leaving loose methamphetamine on the bathroom floor, around and underneath the toilet, on the toilet seat, and in the toilet bowl. Firearms were also found within the home. Elsea has prior felony convictions and is not permitted to possess a gun.
Under federal statutes, Elsea is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and up to 15 years for his possession of a firearm after a prior felony conviction. He is also subject to a sentence of not less than 10 years for possession and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, which must be consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case. These maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes, but Elsea’s ultimate sentence will be determined by the court based on advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren E. Kummerer. It was investigated by the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
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.
Maplewood Man Admits Selling Machine Gun Conversion DevicesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Maplewood, Missouri on Wednesday admitted selling nine machine gun conversion devices to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Tanario Darden, 23, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two felony counts: transporting prohibited weapons without a license and transferring machine guns. He admitted using his Instagram account to offer machine gun conversion devices (MCDs) for sale. MCDs, also known as switches or auto sears, convert a semi-automatic firearm into fully automatic weapon. MCDs are defined as a machine gun under federal law.
ATF agents learned of the Instagram account in the spring of 2024 and an undercover agent contacted Darden. After arranging the sale via Darden, an intermediary delivered two MCDs on April 29, 2024. A different man delivered seven more on May 29, 2024.
Darden is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15.The transporting prohibited weapons charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison. The machine gun charge carries a penalty of 10 years in prison.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.
Marianna Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Distributing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lionel Mitchel Crawford, 54, of Marianna, Florida was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to Distribution of 5 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and 50 Grams or More of a Mixture and Substance Containing Methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Methamphetamine has a devastating impact on our communities, but our state and federal law enforcement partners remain relentless in their execution of operations like this one to rid our streets of this deadly drug and the criminals who peddle it. My office will continue to deliver on the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi through Operation Take Back America to use the full force of the law to protect our communities from drug traffickers like this defendant.”
According to court records, on December 12, 2024, the defendant sold over 50 grams of methamphetamine during a law enforcement undercover operation. The sale occurred at the defendant’s property in Jackson County, Florida. The defendant has a previous conviction for a serious drug felony.
“This joint effort brought a methamphetamine trafficker to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Bobbitt of DEA Miami Field Division. “Methamphetamine destroys families and DEA will not stop until the flow of this poison is stopped.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eric Welch and Jessica 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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Large-Scale Counterfeit Pill Manufacturer Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Cambridge, Mass. man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with an ongoing investigation of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Over the course of the past four years, the defendant is alleged to have been responsible for the manufacturing of over 200 kilograms of counterfeit pills.
Schuyler Oppenheimer, a/k/a “SK,” a/k/a “Michael Sylvain,” 35, of Cambridge pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of wire fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2026. In July 2025, Oppenheimer was arrested and charged. He was subsequently was indicted in August 2025.
According to court documents, Oppenheimer is known to be technically skilled in the chemical processes used in the synthesis of fentanyl, the compounding of controlled substances for distribution and the manufacturing of counterfeit pills. Recipes, pill press molds used in the manufacturing process, documents and invoices demonstrating that Oppenheimer purchased numerous pill presses and parts for pill presses from online vendors were seized. Multiple packages shipped from China to Oppenheimer, and various female associates of Oppenheimer, that contained pill press parts, were also seized.
Based on the review of orders and invoices from companies selling powders and other substances used in the pill manufacturing process, since 2019, Oppenheimer obtained over 200 kilograms of these filler powders. According to the recipes recovered during the investigation, when manufactured into counterfeit pills, 200 kilograms of filler powder equates to millions of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Additionally, Oppenheimer communicated directly with an illegal chemical supplier based in China. During this conversation, Oppenheimer inquired about the availability of controlled substances and fentanyl precursor chemicals and sought to purchase kilogram quantities of these substances. Fentanyl precursor chemicals are substances that can be used to synthesize raw fentanyl in a laboratory setting. Oppenheimer sought to synthesize his own fentanyl through the importation of these fentanyl precursor chemicals into the United States.
Lastly, Oppenheimer obtained over $40,000 through two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications that were submitted in April 2021. Oppenheimer submitted false statements concerning his income through self-employment for the 2019 tax years and provided false tax return documents substantiating that income.
During the execution of a search warrant on Parker Street in Cambridge on July 18, 2024, over five kilograms of suspected counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and a loaded firearm were recovered. Based on prior felony convictions, Oppenheimer is prohibited from possessing firearms.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Jennifer B. De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cambridge Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.
Lackawanna County Man Sentenced to 48 Months’ Imprisonment for Conspiracy and Theft and Concealment of Major ArtworkRead the Press Release
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Joseph Atsus, age 51, of Covington Township, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on January 13, 2026, to 48 months’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release, and to pay restitution in the amount of $1,071,150, by Senior United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for conspiracy, theft of major artwork and concealment/disposal of major artwork.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, a jury found Atsus guilty of four counts following a nearly month-long trial earlier this year. The jury found that, along with his co-defendants and other co-conspirators, Atsus was responsible for the theft of following:
- “Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol and “Springs Winter” purportedly by Jackson Pollock stolen in 2005 from the Everhart Museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania;
- Three antique firearms stolen in 2006 from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum in Wantage, New Jersey.
- “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey, worth approximately $120,000, stolen in 2011 from Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey.
- Antique firearms worth over $150,000, stolen in 2011 from Ringwood Manor in Ringwood, New Jersey.
- Memorabilia belonging to Christy Matthewson, stolen in 1999 from Keystone College in Factoryville, Pennsylvania.
- Golf trophies and memorabilia belonging to Art Wall, Jr., stolen in 2011 from the Scranton Country Club located in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.
- Over $100,000 worth of gold nuggets stolen in 2011 from the Sterling Hill Mining Museum located in Ogdensburg, New Jersey; and
- Nine World Series rings, seven championship and other rings, and two MVP plaques all belonging to Yogi Berra stolen in 2014 from the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center located in Little Falls, New Jersey.
Atsus committed the above thefts as part of a larger, eight-person conspiracy. Co-conspirators Nicholas Dombek, age 55, of Thornhurst, Pennsylvania, and Damien Boland, age 50, of Covington Township, Pennsylvania, were also convicted alongside Atsus of conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property, as well as multiple related substantive offenses. Boland was sentenced last month to 108 months’ imprisonment. Dombek is presently awaiting sentencing.
Three additional co-conspirators pled guilty pursuant to felony informations and were sentenced by Judge Mannion earlier this year. They include:
- Thomas Trotta, age 50, of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, who was sentenced to 96 months’ imprisonment for theft of major artwork;
- Dawn Trotta, age 53, of Dunmore, Pennsylvania, who was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property;
- Frank Tassiello, age 52, of Taylor, Pennsylvania, who was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property; and
- Ralph Parry, age 47, of Springbrook Township, Pennsylvania, who was sentenced to three years of probation as well as a period of home-confinement for conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment and disposal of major artwork, and interstate transportation of stolen property.
After stealing the above-described items, the conspirators would transport the stolen goods back to Northeastern Pennsylvania, often to the residence of Dombek, and melt the memorabilia down into easily transportable metal discs or bars. The conspirators would then sell the raw metal to fences in the New York City area for hundreds or a few thousands of dollars, significantly less than the sports memorabilia would be worth at fair market value.
Dombek burnt the painting “Upper Hudson” by Jasper Crospey, valued at approximately $125,000, to avoid the painting being recovered by investigators and used as evidence against the members of the conspiracy. The whereabouts of many of the other paintings and stolen objects are currently unknown, however, several antique firearms stolen from the Space Farms: Zoo and Museum and the Ringwood Manor Museum, both in New Jersey, were recovered by investigators, including an antique gun which Boland had earlier hidden at a relative’s house in a different state.
The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the New York State Police, the New Jersey State Park Police, the Newport Police Department (Rhode Island), the Fargo Police Department (North Dakota), the Chester Police Department (New York), the Exeter Borough Police Department (Pennsylvania), the Scranton Police Department, the Franklin Police Department (New Jersey), the Village of Goshen Police Department (New York), the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington, D.C.), the West Milord Township Police Department (New Jersey), the Montclair Police Department (New Jersey), the Saratoga Springs Police Department (New York), the Canastota Police Department (New York), the South Abington Police Department (Pennsylvania), the Bernards Township Police Department (New Jersey), the Salisbury Township Police Department (Pennsylvania), the Montclair State University Police Department (New Jersey) the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office (Pennsylvania), the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office (New Jersey), the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office (New Jersey), the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (New York), and multiple other local law enforcement agencies from across the country. Assistant United States Attorneys James M. Buchanan and Jenny Roberts prosecuted the case.
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Kemper County Man Sentenced to 37 Months for being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
JACKSON, MS – A Preston man was sentenced on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, to 37 months of incarceration for being a felon in possession of a firearm in Kemper County. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine and serve 3 years of supervised release following his incarceration.
According to court documents, Joshua Ryan Burns, 41, was found by Kemper County Sheriff’s Department to be in possession of a sawed-off shotgun and a pistol during a probation home visit in Preston, Mississippi. Burns had previous felony convictions for burglary and aggravated assault which prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
Burns was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 19, 2025, and pleaded guilty on September 10, 2025. Burns will serve his term of imprisonment consecutive to a 16-year state sentence from Neshoba County.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, J.E. Baxter Kruger and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The ATF investigated this case with assistance from the Kemper County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the ATF as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) 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).
Kansas City Man Indicted for Distribution of Controlled Substances and Illegal Sales of FirearmsRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – German Alvarez-Rubio, 28, of Kansas City, Mo., was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, and psilocybin as well as firearms offenses.
Alvarez-Rubio made his first appearance in federal court after his arrest on January 12, 2026.
The indictment alleges that on July 22, 2025, the Alvarez-Rubio distributed cocaine. On July 29, 2025, Alvarez-Rubio distributed cocaine and methamphetamine and illegally sold ten firearms. On August 19, 2025, Alvarez-Rubio distributed methamphetamine, cocaine, and psilocybin (mushrooms) and illegally possessed a machinegun.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Siegele. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
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.