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14 November 2025
Former Celina teacher/coach charged with production of child pornography in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
SHERMAN, Texas – A former Celina ISD teacher and coach has been charged with federal child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
William Caleb Elliott, 26, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand earlier this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with seven counts of production of child pornography and one count of attempted production of child pornography.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
If convicted, Elliott faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Celina Police Department, Collin County District Attorney’s Office, and the FBI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Calli Bailey.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former Belleville attorney sentenced to prison for stealing from clientsRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a former Belleville attorney to spend 90 months in federal prison after he admitted to embezzling more than $1 million from his clients.
Jason R. Caraway, 51, pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud in February. He was sentenced on Oct. 1.
“This lawyer didn’t just steal—he preyed on clients who trusted him to fight for them after suffering life-altering injuries,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “He pocketed their settlements, grabbed money intended to pay doctors, falsified court records, and even defrauded the children of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Attorneys must be held to account when they fail to honor their duty to serve as officers of the court. This sentence rightly delivers justice for his victims.”
Caraway was a partner at Caraway, Fisher & Broombaugh, P.C., a personal injury law firm in Belleville. According to court documents, Caraway had control of the firm’s bank accounts and misappropriated funds by improperly spending client funds on personal and business expenses, issuing checks to himself, accepting settlements without client notification or payment, failing to pay medical lienholders from legal proceeds, and misapplying retainers without authorization.
The investigation identified more than 40 clients that were impacted and a loss of more than $1 million. To help facilitate his theft, he also forged the signatures of St. Clair County judges on two court orders.
"The actions of Mr. Caraway, which involves stealing from his clients, including child beneficiaries, are reprehensible" said FBI Springfield's Special Agent in Charge, Christopher J. S. Johnson. "FBI Springfield believes this guilty plea offers a measure of peace to the victims and hopes this can restore trust in the justice system."
Caraway represented two children of Ricardo Davis, a Washington Park Police officer who was killed in the line of duty after a tragic accident in 2018. He obtained more than $128,000 for their benefit that was never disbursed to them. Thanks to the ARDC Client Protection Program, the beneficiaries were paid after years of waiting.
FBI Springfield Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross prosecuted the case.
Former Banker Sentenced for EmbezzlementRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Jennifer Lamanna (49, Venice) to 15 months in federal prison for embezzlement by a bank employee and for making a false statement to an agency of the United States. Lamanna pleaded guilty on July 21, 2025.
According to court documents, Lamanna worked for an FDIC-insured financial institution. Over a period of months, Lamanna embezzled $280,000 from the institution by stealing funds from the bank vault. After embezzling the funds, Lamanna deposited the majority of funds into a bank account under her control. To balance out the vault and conceal her embezzlement, Lamanna made multiple large withdrawals and subsequent matching deposits out of a customer’s account. To make the sham transactions appear legitimate, Lamanna filed fictitious Currency Transaction Reports (CTR).
On June 8, 2023, Lamanna made a materially false statement to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a sub-agency of the U.S. Treasury Department, when she completed and submitted a CTR falsely stating that a bank customer deposited $160,100 in cash into his account knowing that no such deposit took place.
This case was investigated by Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Former Assistant Office Manager of Bellingham business sentenced to two years in prison for $1.4 million embezzlement schemeRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 46–year-old Sedro-Wooley, Washington woman was sentenced on Thursday November 6, 2025, to two years in prison for wire fraud and filing a false tax return announced U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Amy Siniscarco was the Assistant Office Manager for a regional hardware retail and leasing business from 2013-2022. During that time, she executed a scheme to embezzle more than $1.4 million from her employer. U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead imposed three years of supervised release to follow the prison term.
According to records filed in the case, for nearly ten years Siniscarco was a trusted employee, being trained to take over as the office manager. However, Siniscarco betrayed that trust by using a variety of methods to steal company funds: Siniscarco issued fraudulent company checks to herself and to organizations whose financial accounts she controlled; she initiated unauthorized electronic payments to herself and on her behalf; she made unauthorized personal purchases on company credit cards; and she misappropriated the company’s petty cash. In order to accomplish the theft Siniscarco forged signatures or inveigled those with signing authority to sign blank checks for a seemingly legitimate purpose. She altered the company books to make it appear that payments were to legitimate vendors or for tax purposes to hide the theft via electronic payments. Instead of cancelling credit cards as requested by company executives, Siniscarco, used the cards to make unauthorized purchases for her personal benefit, including more than 1,800 unauthorized transactions on her personal Amazon account. Siniscarco concealed the credit card statements from the company by having the statements sent electronically only to her work email address.
Siniscarco used the embezzled funds to pay her mortgage, purchase vehicles, fund her travel and leisure, pay her childcare and healthcare, and purchase securities. While Siniscarco lived above her means with stolen funds, her coworkers lost out on bonuses and profit sharing.
While she was stealing from the company, Siniscarco failed to report that income on her tax returns. Over the five years charged in the case Siniscarco failed to report $956,323 in income, leading to a tax loss of $226,826.
In asking for a 33-month prison sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Jehiel Baer wrote to the court, “while Ms. Siniscarco was lining her pockets with embezzled funds, the company was forced to endure budget cuts and borrow at high interest to stay afloat. Ms. Siniscarco’s colleagues also lost bonuses and profit sharing. The whole time, Ms. Siniscarco knew she was secretly stealing, placing the company’s financial security—and her colleagues’ jobs—at risk. When her fraud was finally discovered, Ms. Siniscarco instead placed blame on innocent coworkers, further degrading the trust the company had placed in her.”
Judge Whitehead ordered Siniscarco to pay $1,424,696 in restitution to the victim company and $226,826 to the United States Treasury, with credit for payments made to date.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jehiel Baer.
Florida Woman Sentenced for Role in Mortgage Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Angel Jackson (45, Astatula) to one year and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Jackson pleaded guilty on February 10, 2025.
According to court documents, Jackson and others conspired to create and execute a mortgage fraud scheme targeting financial institutions. To ensure that otherwise unqualified borrowers obtained mortgage loans from financial institutions, Jackson created fictitious and fraudulent paystubs that falsely indicated that the borrowers worked at particular companies for certain periods of time and earned income that they did not. Further, Jackson altered legitimate Social Security benefit letters to reflect exaggerated monthly disability income. She also altered bank statements to show falsely inflated account balances.
This case was investigated by Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Assassinate the PresidentRead the Press Release
Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Christopher Davies (31, Cape Coral) has pleaded guilty to one count of making threats against the President of the United States. Davies faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court documents, Davies wrote a letter to an official at the Charlotte Correctional Institution stating in substance that he intended to kill President Donald Trump. Davies claimed that he had “orchestrated the most daring Presidential assassination that this country has ever seen,” and that “Donald J. Trump must perish.” During questioning by Secret Service agents, Davies admitted to writing the letter and explained that he wanted to kill the President. When asked, hypothetically, what he would do if the President Trump was near him, Davies claimed that he would attempt to kill the President with his bare hands.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick L. Darcey.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Financial Advisor Sentenced for Investment Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 5, 2025, Robert C. Starnes (age: 66) was sentenced to 40 months’ incarceration for an investment fraud scheme that resulted in a loss of more than $3 million to more than a dozen victims.
According to court records, Starnes operated Robert C. Starnes Financial Services in Wauwatosa, holding himself out as a legitimate investment broker and retirement advisor. Over the course of years, Starnes convinced friends, friends of friends, and family members to invest their retirement savings with him. He promised that he would increase the value of their retirement savings through his investment strategies. As part of his scheme, Starnes gave his victims fake statements, showing that their investments were growing. In reality, Starnes accepted checks from his victims and simply deposited them in his personal bank account, where he then used the funds to pay for his own expenses.
At his sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Lynn Adelman noted that Starnes had not invested any funds on behalf of his victims. Judge Adelman also noted that Starnes’s victims were not wealthy, but ordinary, hard-working families.
In addition to the 40-month period of incarceration, Starnes was ordered to pay restitution to his victims in the amount of $3,093,304.17, and to serve a period of 3 years supervised release.
“The sentence in this case takes into account both the significant financial losses caused by the defendant’s scheme and the fact that he abused the trust of his victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Frohling. “The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to working with its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to pursue justice for victims and to hold those who engage in fraud schemes fully accountable for their actions.”
"Illegal activity involving the investment industry has brought financial ruin to many Americans. IRS Criminal Investigation is proud to bring our forensic accounting skills to this joint venture and help put a stop to this and other types of white-collar crime.", said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes of IRS Criminal Investigation. “Today's sentencing demonstrates how law enforcement will work together to help put an end to the criminal behavior of those who prey on investors for their personal financial gain.”
“Defrauding people out of savings for retirement is reprehensible,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Perpetrators of fraud should be held accountable. I’m thankful to those who worked on this case.”
The Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation and the IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case, and it was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carter B. Stewart.
For further information contact:Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero
(414) 297-1700
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Federal jury convicts Woodbridge man on income tax chargesRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Woodbridge man today on charges of corruptly endeavoring to obstruct the administration of internal revenue laws and failing to file income tax returns.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Omini Tete Riman, 60, earned income as an information technology specialist and landlord. Riman filed false Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Forms 1040 for tax years 2013 and 2014, resulting in tax refunds of $213,577 for 2013 and $186,468 for 2014, to which he was not entitled. Riman then corruptly attempted to impede efforts by the IRS to recoup the money from those refunds.
In 2016, after notifying Riman about his outstanding tax liabilities, the IRS attempted to recover the funds from him. However, Riman took numerous steps to frustrate the IRS’s collection efforts. For example, he transferred his property to a trust to hide it from the IRS; opened bank accounts in the trust’s name and directed that his income be deposited into that bank account; directed his tenant to ignore IRS notices about him and claimed that they were a “scam;” and submitted false documents to the IRS claiming that the IRS collections officer handling his case had personally received over $600,000 from Riman, which, if accepted by the IRS, would have jeopardized the IRS officer’s job and increased his personal tax liability.
As Riman was attempting to impede IRS collection efforts, he stopped filing tax returns, failing to file returns for tax years 2018 through 2023, despite earning wage and rental income of over $854,000 during that period.
Riman faces up to nine years in prison when sentenced on Feb. 10, 2026. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office; and Andrew McKay, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration Special Agent in Charge of the Mid-Atlantic Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema accepted the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey for the Eastern District of Virginia and Justice Department Trial Attorneys Daniel Lipkowitz and Zachary Cobb are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-99.
Federal Jury Finds Davenport Man Guilty of Armed CarjackingRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Armoni Tyree Moody (24, Davenport) guilty of carjacking, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, and possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Moody faces a minimum penalty of seven years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 21, 2026.
According to evidence presented at trial, Moody arranged over social media to meet an individual to purchase marijuana. Moody entered the passenger seat of the individual’s car, brandished a loaded handgun, and pressed it against the individual’s head. Moody then forced the victim to hand over the victim’s two cellphones and told the victim to get out of the car or he would shoot the victim, before driving away with the victim’s car.
The following day, a search warrant was obtained for Moody’s residence. The victim’s belongings and the loaded firearm were recovered from Moody’s bedroom, and the victim’s car was found parked nearby. Upon further investigation, detectives recovered text messages from Moody’s cellphone where he discussed his intent to commit the robbery a few hours beforehand and videos of Moody in possession of the same firearm on his social media account.
Prior to this offense, Moody had been convicted of robbery with a weapon for which he was still serving a term of probation at the time of the carjacking. As a convicted felon, Moody is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Federal Jury Convicts Muskegon Man Involved in Shooting of Being Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan, Timothy VerHey, today announced that a federal jury convicted Malik Jones-Smith (30, Muskegon, Michigan) of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
In the early morning of December 28, 2024, following a shooting in Muskegon Heights, Jones-Smith and another individual drove away from a Muskegon police officer in a van and then fled on foot. Near the van, police found a stolen pistol loaded with a round partially fed in the chamber and one additional round in the magazine. A search of Jones-Smith’s cell phone showed that he uploaded a video on Snapchat less than 10 hours before with the same firearm:
The search of his phone also showed that Jones-Smith and his passenger in the van were involved in the Muskegon Heights shooting. At the time of the offense, Jones-Smith was on federal supervised release for a prior conviction of distributing fentanyl. Jones-Smith was released from federal custody only 16 days before he possessed the firearm.
“Gun violence destroys communities,” stated United States Attorney Timothy VerHey. “My office remains committed to prosecuting individuals who illegally possess firearms and threaten public safety.”
“The Muskegon Police Department is committed to ensuring that everyone can live without the threat of gun violence. This conviction through the collaboration with the United States Attorney’s office in conjunction with the FBI and ATF strengthens that commitment,” said Muskegon Police Chief Tim Kozal.
"This conviction reinforces FBI Detroit’s commitment to stopping habitual violent offenders, such as Malik Jones-Smith, from inflicting further harm on our Michigan communities,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “I want to thank the FBI Grand Rapids Resident Agency, Muskegon Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Muskegon Major Case Initiative (MMCI), which includes the Michigan State Police and the Muskegon Heights Police Department. These agencies played a critical role in removing this dangerous, convicted felon from our streets. I am also grateful for the work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan in securing this successful prosecution.”
Jones-Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10, 2026, and faces up to 18 years in federal prison for the new conviction and for his supervised release violations.
The Muskegon Police Department - Muskegon Major Crimes Initiative Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vito S. Solitro and Clay Stiffler prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
Federal Jury Convicts Man of Arson Resulting in Injury at Soccer StadiumRead the Press Release
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that a federal jury has found Giovanni Isai Ramirez Reyes (38, Orlando) guilty of arson of a building or property resulting in injury. Ramirez Reyes faces a minimum penalty of 7 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 12, 2026.
According to evidence presented at trial, Ramirez Reyes ignited two marine flares and threw them into a crowd of fans during a Major League Soccer match on February 24, 2024, at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando. The flares caused damage to the stadium and a burn injury to a four-year-old child. Immediately after he threw the flares, Ramirez Reyes retreated to another section of the stadium, where he attempted to disguise himself by removing his hat and jacket, and watched the flares burn. He then fled the stadium. He was subsequently identified using stadium surveillance footage.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Orlando Police Department, and the Orlando Fire Department. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Federal Authorities Charge Las Cruces Man After Series of Retail Assaults and Thefts Spark Local OutcryRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man with a lengthy history of retail thefts and assaults was federally charged under the Hobbs Act after the Las Cruces Police Department publicly condemned the state judicial system for failing to prosecute more than 70 offenses allegedly committed by the defendant since 2022.
According to court documents, between November 2022 and April 2025, Neal Wesley Garcia, 43, allegedly committed multiple robberies and assaults at retail stores throughout Las Cruces, New Mexico. Garcia’s offenses involved violence or threats against employees when they attempted to prevent him from leaving stores with unpaid merchandise.
Court documents allege that:
- On November 21, 2022, Garcia stole a Sony backpack from GameStop after pushing an employee who confronted him.
- On April 24, 2023, Garcia assaulted two employees at Lowes Fiesta Foods after attempting to leave with cleaning products without paying.
- On June 30, 2023, Garcia threatened a Savers employee with a stolen baseball bat and broke a window while fleeing with merchandise.
- On July 7, 2023, Garcia punched a Murphy’s Express employee and damaged the employee’s vehicle after shoplifting.
- On August 24, 2023, Garcia struck an Albertson’s worker while taking grocery items without payment.
- On April 5, 2025, Garcia punched a Walmart employee after concealing items in his waistband and attempting to leave without paying.
Each incident involved goods that were manufactured and shipped from outside New Mexico and Garcia’s criminal conduct impacted the stores’ ability to conduct business and thereby affected interstate commerce.
Garcia is charged with six counts of interference with commerce by threats or violence and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Garcia faces 20 years in prison as to each count.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Y. Armijo is prosecuting the case.
View the Criminal Complaint (Garcia).pdfA criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown.
Far Out: woman guilty of false reports of illegal bank account access from International Space StationRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 50-year-old resident of Sedgwick County, Kansas, has pleaded guilty to lying to law enforcement, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
In July 2019, Summer Heather Worden alleged her estranged spouse had guessed the password and illegally accessed her bank account while the spouse was deployed to the International Space Station.
However, Worden had actually opened the account in April 2018. Both parties had accessed it until January 2019 when Worden changed the credentials.
The investigation revealed Worden had granted her spouse access to her bank records from at least 2015, including her login credentials.
U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett accepted the plea Nov. 13. He will impose sentencing Feb. 12, 2026. At that time, Worden faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Worden was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.
NASA-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard D. Hanes and Brandon Fyffe prosecuted the case.
Ex-Felon Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Bribe ICE OfficerRead the Press Release
Ex-Felon Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Bribe ICE Officer
CONCORD – A native of the Dominican Republic who was facing deportation pleaded guilty to attempting to bribe a law enforcement officer to secure his release from custody, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
On November 5, 2025, Marlon Aramis Suazo-Santos, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to bribe a public official. According to the charging documents and statements made in court, U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement (“ICE”) personnel transported Suazo-Santos from Berlin to Manchester on July 18, 2025. Suazo-Santos was completing a term of incarceration resulting from a 2020 federal conviction and was subject to removal to the Dominican Republic. While he was being transported to ICE’s Manchester facility, Suazo-Santos offered $100,000 to the ICE officer in exchange for his release. The ICE officer promptly reported the bribe offer to other Homeland Security personnel, and the transport vehicle was equipped with an electronic audio recording device. That same day, while the same ICE officer transported Suazo-Santos to a local detention facility, Suazo-Santos made additional inculpatory statements regarding the bribe to secure his release which were recorded.
Suazo-Santos remained in ICE custody until he was arrested on a criminal complaint on August 15. A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment on September 3, 2025. Suazo-Santos remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending his sentencing.
The charges carry a maximum possible sentence of 15 years imprisonment. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Court scheduled sentencing in this matter for February 11, 2026.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations within the United States Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.
Eight Men Charged in Conspiracy to Steal More Than 100 Cars and Sell Them to Unsuspecting BuyersRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, and Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), Steven G. James, announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging eight defendants in connection with operating a years-long stolen car ring involving more than approximately 100 stolen cars, primarily Honda, Acura, and Jeep vehicles, worth approximately millions of dollars. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess and sell stolen vehicles, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Six of the defendants were arrested yesterday and presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky.
“New Yorkers have every right to expect safety and security on our streets and in our homes,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New Yorkers are smart. They know that car theft rings and other fraud schemes inflict great harm on their victims and cost all of us. As alleged, the eight men charged stole cars from the streets of New York, time and again, and trafficked them to unsuspecting buyers along the East Coast, causing millions of dollars in losses. Yesterday’s arrests reinforce that when thieves prey upon hardworking New Yorkers, the women and men of the SDNY and our law enforcement partners will bring them to justice on behalf of all law-abiding New Yorkers.”
“This announcement highlights HSI New York's unwavering commitment to ensuring a safer community and to pursuing all individuals and co-conspirators allegedly tied to this auto theft ring,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “This is not a victimless crime; a stolen car disrupts daily life and inflicts lasting harm on innocent New Yorkers, robbing them of their sense of security and stability. The public deserves to know their neighborhoods are safe, that they can park their vehicles without fear, and that their hard-earned purchases are protected. HSI New York, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will continue to identify, dismantle, and deter the criminal networks that exploit our neighborhoods and threaten our livelihoods.”
“Hondas continue to represent a significant number of auto thefts in New York City, and the NYPD is doing exactly what we do best to combat crime: finding the criminals responsible and stopping their illegal operations,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Through precision policing and a multi-year investigation, the world’s greatest detectives dismantled this massive criminal ring – and I want to thank the NYPD investigators for their commitment to this case, as well as HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their continued partnership.”
“Through collaboration among law enforcement partners at all levels, we have intercepted a highly organized car theft operation that was responsible for victimizing car buyers across the East Coast,” said NYSP Superintendent Steven G. James. “The defendants had no regard for the financial damage they inflicted or for the safety of the victims. I commend the efforts of all those involved in bringing this criminal activity to an end and for the outstanding work that led to the charges in this case.”
According to the allegations contained in the Complaint:[1]
From approximately March 2022 through November 2025, the defendants and others conspired to steal cars—primarily those parked on the street in the Bronx or Queens, New York—and sell them to unsuspecting buyers across the East Coast. After stealing the cars, the defendants and their co-conspirators stashed them in so-called lay-up spots for a cooling-off period to avoid law enforcement detection. Meanwhile, they took steps to disguise the fact that the cars had been stolen. They altered the cars’ Vehicle Identification Numbers (“VINs”) and then obtained services for the cars—often an oil change—using the new, fake VINs. This allowed the defendants to obtain vehicle history reports that appeared to show genuine maintenance and other activity, thereby helping the defendants to trick purchasers into believing that the car was not stolen. The defendants then offered to sell the stolen cars, generally starting on a social media platform that allows users to buy and sell products and then completing the sale in person.
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PEDRO MANUEL LOPEZ MARTE, 38, of the Bronx, New York; JERRY LOPEZ PAULINO, 33, of the Bronx; SERGIO DIAZ RAMIREZ, 35, of the Bronx; PEDRO ROJAS, 62, of the Bronx; JUSTIN MARTHA, 24, of the Bronx; ERICK ROJAS CRUZ, 27, of the Bronx; JOSE FERREIRA, 48, of the Bronx; and RONALD ARIAS SANTOS, 30, of Hempstead, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to possess and sell stolen vehicles, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the efforts of the NYPD Auto Crime Division Major Case Team, the special agents and task force officers from the HSI New York Seaport Trade Group, and the NYSP Auto Theft Unit.
The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Mandilk is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
East Pittsburgh Resident Sentenced to Nearly 11 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Minor ConvictionsRead the Press Release
This release was issued following the 43-day government shutdown during which the sentencing occurred.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 130 months of incarceration, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, on his convictions related to the sexual exploitation of minors, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.
United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Richard Snyder, 54, on October 29, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, from on or about July 15, 2023, until August 3, 2023, Snyder knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view on a social media site visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Snyder’s conduct also violated the conditions of his supervised release imposed in 2012 on his conviction for receipt of child sexual abuse material.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Department of Homeland Security-Pittsburgh for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Snyder.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Dulce Man Sentenced for Unprovoked AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man was sentenced to 30 months prison for assaulting a man without provocation and causing severe injuries.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents, on February 2, 2025, James William Julian, 26, an enrolled member of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Tribe, inserted himself into an argument between two other men and repeatedly punched John Doe in the face, causing severe injuries including a nasal fracture, orbit fracture, a fractured rib and lacerations.
Julian pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Upon his release from prison, Julian will be subject to two years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case.
This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown.
Donora Felon Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
This release was issued following the 43-day government shutdown during which the sentencing occurred.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Donora, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 146 months of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of federal drug trafficking and firearm offenses, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.
Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Tre Robert Goins, 31, on October 21, 2025. A federal jury in August 2025 found Goins guilty of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Prior to that trial, Goins pleaded guilty to related charges of distribution of fentanyl and cocaine and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
According to information presented to the Court, on May 24, 2024, Goins fled from a traffic stop initiated by the City of Duquesne Police Department. After leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase and totaling his vehicle, police recovered approximately $10,000 worth of fentanyl and cocaine and a loaded, stolen firearm from Goins’ car. Having previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including a federal firearms offense, Goins is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly M. Locher and Katherine C. Jordan are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the City of Clairton, Rostraver Township, and Duquesne Police Departments; and the Elizabeth Township Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Goins.
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.
Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Daviontae Lately, also known as “Dave,” 32, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to three years and four months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 7, 2023, Lately sold a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Beckley residence where Lately was staying. As part of his guilty plea, Lately admitted to the transaction. Lately further admitted to selling a quantity of fentanyl to the same confidential informant on September 8, 2023.
On September 12, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Beckley residence where Lately was staying and seized additional quantities of fentanyl, a quantity of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and approximately $9,360, including $1,400 from the controlled buys involving the confidential informant. Lately admitted that he intended to distribute the seized fentanyl and crack, and that the seized cash represented proceeds of drug trafficking activity.
Lately has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer, armed robbery, and a weapons offense.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-174.
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Department of Homeland Security Contractor Agrees to Pay $3.9M to Resolve Alleged Violations of the False Claims ActRead the Press Release
Zephyr Aviation LLC, located in Mineral, Virginia, and its owners Frederick Credno Jr. and Frederick W. Credno III have agreed to pay $3,901,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting inflated invoices for aviation contracts to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“Companies that do business with the government are expected to charge the United States accurately for the goods and services they provide,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department will continue to pursue those who knowingly overcharge the government at the expense of the American taxpayers.”
“With this settlement, we are sending a clear message that committing fraud in federal contracts will be met with significant sanctions against those defrauding the American taxpayer,” said Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari of the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). “I commend our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice’s Civil Fraud Section for tirelessly pursuing this investigation to hold these individuals accountable.”
“This settlement showcases CBP OPR’s ongoing commitment to accountability and integrity,” said Acting Assistant Commissioner Robert B. Danley of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Professional Responsibility. “Today’s settlement reaffirms our duty to protect taxpayers and hold accountable those who take advantage of our government programs.”
This settlement resolves allegations pertaining to contracts with DHS under which Zephyr chartered flights to transport persons in the custody of CBP between 2022 and 2025. In connection with these contracts, Zephyr subcontracted with various aircraft operators to fly the required flights, and Zephyr submitted invoices to CBP purportedly based on the required flight times. The United States alleged that Zephyr and its owners routinely submitted invoices to DHS that requested payment for flight hours that exceeded the actual flight times of the aircraft operators.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort among the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and DHS Office of Inspector General. The matter was handled by Trial Attorney Daniel W. Kastner of the Fraud Section.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Note: The Settlement can be read here.
Defense Contractor Executive Sentenced in Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Russell Thurston, a former executive vice president at Cambridge International Systems, Inc., a defense contractor headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, was sentenced in federal court today to 18 months custody, followed by 12 months home confinement, after admitting that he participated in a bribery scheme with other Cambridge employees and former Naval Information Warfare Center employee James Soriano.
According to Thurston’s plea agreement, Cambridge – acting through Thurston and multiple other Cambridge employees – gave various things of value to Soriano, including expensive meals at restaurants in San Diego; a ticket to the 2018 Major League Baseball All Star Game held at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.; and a job at Cambridge for Soriano’s friend, Liberty Gutierrez. According to Gutierrez’s plea agreement, Gutierrez did minimal work at Cambridge and gave Soriano $2,000 a month from her Cambridge salary.
In return, Soriano, acting in his position as a contracting officer’s representative at Naval Information Warfare Center, influenced the procurement process to ensure that Cambridge was awarded two large task orders. Soriano further ensured that Cambridge was able to capture a steady stream of government funds by influencing a series of projects on those task orders to be approved. According to Cambridge’s plea agreement, as a result of the conspiracy, the government obligated more than $32 million on one of the task orders and over $100 million on the other.
Soriano also allowed Cambridge employees to draft various procurement documents for him, even when Cambridge was competing for contracts against other bidders. Thurston and Soriano also worked together to remove document properties so that other government employees would not know of Cambridge’s involvement in drafting the documents.
Cambridge was separately charged and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in 24-cr-00759-TWR. Cambridge was ordered to forfeit the $1,672,102.23 in profits it obtained from the bribery conspiracy and pay a $2.25 million fine.
According to Thurston’s plea agreement, Thurston received periodic pay bonuses from Cambridge – which totaled between $150,000 and $250,000 – based on the profits Cambridge received from the bribery conspiracy.
“Defense contracting is built on trust, integrity, and a solemn duty to protect the nation, but this defendant and his accomplices shattered that trust,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “Today’s sentence makes clear that those who corrupt the system for personal gain will face decisive consequences.”
“The sentencing of Mr. Thurston for his role in subverting the Department of Defense’s (DoD) procurement process should act as a deterrent to those seeking to enrich themselves through fraudulent contracting practices,” said John E. Helsing, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the DoD Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office. “DCIS remains committed to working jointly with the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to investigate public corruption affecting the DoD and the American taxpayer.”
“Today’s sentencing of Russell Thurston is a reminder that corruption in the federal contracting process carries serious consequences,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “By conspiring to bribe a government official, Mr. Thurston not only violated the law - he also undermined the integrity of a system meant to serve our military and protect taxpayer dollars. IRS Criminal Investigation remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to expose and dismantle these schemes, and to ensure that those who abuse positions of trust are held fully accountable.”
“Through his misdeeds, Mr. Thurston undermined the integrity of the Department of the Navy’s procurement process in order to line his own pockets with millions of dollars in contract awards,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS remains steadfast in our commitment to work with our partners to investigate and deter public corruption that would bring discredit to the Navy and Marine Corps.”
“This case demonstrates our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to root out fraud and corruption in government contracting,” said Tim Larson, SBA OIG Western Region Acting Special Agent in Charge. “By exploiting the 8(a) program this scheme not only defrauded the government but also compromised the integrity of the program designed to uplift deserving entrepreneurs. I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners for their continued pursuit of justice and holding accountable those who engage in fraudulent schemes.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Swan and Carling E. Donovan.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24-cr-0341-TWR-2
Russell Thurston Age: 52 Mt. Pleasant, SC
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Commit Bribery - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; a maximum $250,000 fine or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense, whichever is greatest; and a term of supervised release up to three years.
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Defense Criminal Investigative Service
Naval Criminal Investigative Service
Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General
Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation
Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General
If you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098
Defendants Face Justice for Distributing 3,200 Kilos of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
ATHENS, Ga. – A dozen defendants involved in a major methamphetamine ring operating between Mexico and a conversion site in Monroe, Georgia, responsible for converting and distributing thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine shipped in from Mexico and hidden in boxes of jalapeños, are being held accountable for their crimes at the federal level in an Operation Take Back America investigation.
“This Operation Take Back America case amplifies the kind of major law enforcement efforts occurring across the Middle District of Georgia, focused on breaking dangerous cartels and armed drug trafficking organizations that destroy lives,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “I commend our dedicated federal, state and local law enforcement partners who work side-by-side with our office to bring justice and make our communities safer.”
"This investigation is a prime example of the critical work being done to dismantle violent drug trafficking organizations that operate with impunity, bringing dangerous narcotics into our communities,” said Paul Bown, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Office. “The FBI’s role in this investigation, alongside our dedicated federal, state and local law enforcement partners, has led to the disruption of a significant methamphetamine operation and the arrest of multiple individuals responsible for poisoning our communities.”
“Methamphetamine destroys families, fuels violent crime and erodes the safety of our neighborhoods,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. By taking down this network of a dozen traffickers, we’re not just removing drugs, we’re removing the source of addiction, exploitation and tragedy in our communities.”
“This investigation underscores the power of collaboration between federal, state and local partners to dismantle large-scale drug trafficking operations that threaten our communities,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The sheer volume of methamphetamine seized in this case represents thousands of lives that could have been destroyed. The GBI remains committed to working alongside our partners to identify, investigate and stop transnational criminal networks operating in Georgia.”
“The vast amount of methamphetamine being supplied is truly alarming and serves as a strong reminder that even in safe, close-knit communities like Walton County, we must stay vigilant,” said Walton County Sheriff Keith Brooks. “Collaboration at all governmental levels is essential for operational success, and we appreciate the strong partnerships.”
“This investigation is another great example of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working together toward the shared goal of keeping our community safe. I’m proud of the collaboration and teamwork invested in this case, which led to the seizure of a significant amount of dangerous drugs. These substances have devastating effects on our community and far too often claim lives unnecessarily. Because of the continued dedication of these men and women, there are fewer narcotics and violent offenders on our streets, and our community is safer as a result,” said Athens Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters.
The following co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on Jan. 12, 2026:
James Len Ramey, 53, of Comer, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Oct. 14, and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.
Kendell Cawthon, 60, of Baldwin, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.
Bonterris Turner, 45, of Athens, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.
Demetrius Appling, 38, of Crawford, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.
Yirla Adame Gomez, 25, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.
Rafael Gomez Flores, 22, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.
Andrea Robinson, 42, of Cleveland, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The following co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on Feb. 11, 2026:
Yuretzi Adame Gomez, 40, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and a $10 million fine.
The following co-conspirators pleaded guilty and have been sentenced:
Christopher Hyatt, 46, of LaGrange, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 292 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Aug. 5, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 1.
Uriel Garcia, 34, of Mexico, was sentenced to serve 240 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release on Aug. 5, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine on May 2.
Jared Kenyatta Calhoun, 33, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to serve 210 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 8.
Ebony Jones-Tate, 33, of Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced to 90 days of home confinement and three years of supervised release after she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine on May 8.
According to court documents and statements referenced in court, the FBI in Athens received information in January 2024 that Ramey was selling kilogram amounts of methamphetamine from Rapid Lube in Athens, where he worked. The FBI investigation revealed that Ramey was supplied with drugs by individuals operating a methamphetamine conversion lab inside a residence on Mountain Creek Church Road in Monroe, Georgia (Walton County). The FBI installed a pole camera outside the Mountain Creek house and frequently observed the occupants taking boxes out of the house and loading them into vehicles, which agents suspected contained kilogram amounts of methamphetamine. The FBI also used two confidential informants to make multiple purchases of methamphetamine from Ramey at his workplace, totaling more than six kilograms of pure methamphetamine and multiple ounces of cocaine between Jan. 19, 2024, and June 25, 2024.
The FBI identified Cawthon as Ramey’s courier, who he frequently directed to drive to various parking lots throughout metro Atlanta to retrieve large boxes containing multiple kilograms of methamphetamine from unidentified Hispanic males and females. After receiving the boxes, Cawthon would immediately transport them to Ramey at Rapid Lube, where the boxes were taken into the garage and stored. On the morning of Sunday, June 30, 2024, Ramey and Cawthon were observed over an FBI-installed pole camera arriving at Rapid Lube and loading boxes into the bed of Cawthon’s truck. Ramey and Cawthon left Rapid Lube driving in tandem.
FBI Task Force Agents surveilled the defendants as they drove towards Ramey’s house in Comer. GSP conducted a traffic stop on Cawthon’s truck; it was searched, and the boxes that he and Ramey had removed from Rapid Lube just minutes before and placed in the bed of his truck were found to contain approximately 20 kilograms of pure methamphetamine. Ramey was arrested on July 3, 2024, and admitted that he was being supplied multiple kilograms of methamphetamine. Ramey said he met his supplier while serving a prison sentence in Georgia. In the weeks and months following Ramey’s arrest, Rapid Lube employees found approximately six kilograms of suspected methamphetamine hidden in oil filter boxes in the Rapid Lube garage.
In August 2024, a federal search warrant was issued for the Mountain Creek House and for a Chevrolet Traverse observed by agents transporting drugs from the residence. On Aug. 13, occupants inside the Mountain Creek House were seen leaving the residence in the Traverse and travelling to a Home Depot parking lot in Monroe. An occupant in the Traverse carried a box from the Traverse to the occupants of a Chevrolet Camaro with an Alabama license plate. Certain that a drug transaction had just occurred in their presence, the FBI asked Walton County Sheriff's Office deputies to stop the Camaro. The deputy smelled marijuana inside the Camaro driven by Jones-Tate; Calhoun was a passenger. Officers found four kilograms of pure methamphetamine in the box inside the car.
Following the arrest of the Jones-Tate and Calhoun, agents stopped the Chevrolet Traverse as it left the Mountain Creek House. Inside the Traverse, agents found 983.3 grams of pure methamphetamine and $4,350 in U.S. currency. Garcia, Yuritzi Gomez, Yirla Gomez and Gomez Flores were arrested. Agents then executed the search warrant on the Mountain Creek House and found, as they suspected, an active methamphetamine conversion laboratory. Over four kilograms of "finished" crystal methamphetamine were found inside the house, while the bulk of the methamphetamine was in liquid form waiting to be converted. Based on measurements and samples obtained at the scene, the DEA estimates that the amount of seized liquid methamphetamine would produce over 300 kilograms of finished crystal methamphetamine.
The cell phones belonging to the occupants in the Traverse were seized and searched. The search of the phones revealed that drugs were sent to the Mountain Creek House from Mexico. concealed in truckloads of boxes of jalapeños, which explained why agents located hundreds of pounds of rotting jalapeños and discarded jalapeño boxes in the backyard of the house. More importantly, inside the residence, agents found a drug ledger which showed that from Feb. 28, 2024, until August 8, 2024, 1,546.5 kilograms of methamphetamine had been converted inside the Mountain Creek House. Approximately 3,200 kilograms of methamphetamine from four different shipments from Mexico arrived at the Mountain Creek House concealed in boxes of jalapenos.
The collaborative effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Georgia State Patrol (GSP).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison is prosecuting the case for the Government.
This press release about a case that occurred during the 43-day government shutdown is now available after the return to normal operations.
Dallas men convicted in East Texas federal drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – Two Dallas men were found guilty of federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Corey Buchea Grant, 31, and Calvin Autae Thompson, 36, were found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and crack cocaine following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on November 3, 2025.
According to information presented in court, Grant worked at a “trap house” in East Dallas, which was managed by Thompson, where multiple types of drugs were sold, to include heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin laced with fentanyl. Drugs supplied by the two were believed to be responsible for a fentanyl overdose death in Lewisville, Texas.
According to information presented by prosecutors, drug dealers went to the Dallas “trap houses” to purchase the drugs, which would then be distributed in the Eastern District of Texas. Evidence presented by the court included cell phone messages, social media messages, cell phone location data, financial records, and testimony of cooperating defendants.
At sentencing, Grant and Thompson face up to life in federal prison. The statutory maximum sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Dallas Police Department, U.S. Secret Service’s Dallas Digital Evidence Forensics Lab, Lewisville Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Rattan and Eric Erlandson.
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Cryptocurrency Investment Firm Founder Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Defrauding Investors in $9.4M Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
An Oklahoma man was sentenced yesterday to 60 months in prison and ordered to pay over $1 million in forfeiture and over $170,000 in restitution for his leading role in a cryptocurrency investment fraud conspiracy.
According to court documents and admissions, Travis Ford, 36, of Glenpool, Oklahoma, was the CEO, co-founder, and head trader of Wolf Capital Crypto Trading LLC, a cryptocurrency investment firm that raised $9.4 million from approximately 2,800 investors. From at least January 2023 through at least August 2023, Ford solicited investments through the company website and other social media and internet-based promotion activities. Ford held himself out as a sophisticated trader, able to deliver high returns of 1–2% per day (approximately 547% per year). As part of his guilty plea, Ford admitted that he did not believe those promised investment returns were possible to achieve consistently. Instead, Ford and his co-conspirators allegedly made such false promises to induce members of the public to invest money in the company. Ford then misappropriated and diverted investor funds to benefit himself and his co-conspirators, to the financial detriment of investors.
In January 2025, Ford pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Acting Assistant Attorney Matthew R. Galeotti and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement.
The USPIS is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney John J. Liolos of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.
Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced for New Child Sex CrimesRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Daniel Norman Pulley (60, St. Petersburg) to 35 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, coercion and enticement of a minor, possession of CSAM, and penalties for registered sex offenders. The court also ordered Pulley to forfeit five cellphones, a PlayStation 4, and two flash drives, which are traceable as instrumentalities of the offense. Pulley was found guilty by a jury on July 30, 2025.
According to court documents, Pulley was a registered sex offender following a 2009 federal conviction for possessing CSAM. In 2022, Pulley used Snapchat to communicate with a minor online, coercing her to produce CSAM for him. He also specifically detailed the different ways he wanted to rape the teenage minor. Pulley also possessed various CSAM images on his cellphone, including depictions of young children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abigail K. King and Muriel Moore.
This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Contra Costa County Woman Indicted on Charges of Assaulting Crew Members During Flight and Assaulting Federal Officer and Security Personnel at SFORead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal grand jury has indicted Reshma Kamath on two counts of interference with flight crew members and attendants, one count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer, and one count of interference with security screening personnel.
According to an indictment filed on November 5, 2025, and unsealed yesterday, Kamath, 40, of Bethel Island, California, was a passenger on board Air India flight 173 flying from Delhi, India, to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on June 28 and 29, 2025. During the flight, Kamath allegedly assaulted and intimidated two flight crew members, including by verbally abusing, threatening, and striking them. Upon landing at SFO, Kamath allegedly assaulted an SFO employee with security duties and resisted arrest by and struck a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.
Kamath made her initial appearance in district court on November 13, 2025. She is next scheduled to appear in federal court on January 7, 2026, before Senior U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.
An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Kamath faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of interference with flight crew members and attendants in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46504, eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a), and 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the count of interference with security screening personnel in violation of 49 U.S.C. § 46503. Any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only upon consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Yeh is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the San Francisco Police Department Airport Bureau, and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
Clearwater Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material of an InfantRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virigina M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced William Jack Filing (30, Clearwater) to 15 years in federal prison for receiving child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Filing to register as a sex offender and serve a lifetime of supervision following his release. A federal jury convicted Filing on July 15, 2025.
According to evidence presented at trial, using the online persona “Calcifer_Starflame,” Filing discussed his desire to sexually abuse a baby boy in a one-on-one chat with a co-conspirator on a social media platform. At Filing’s request, the co-conspirator sent videos of an infant child being sexually abused. In response, Filing said that it was his “daydream” to sexually abuse a baby himself and sent explicit photos of himself. When the co-conspirator asked about his preferred age, Filing stated, “1-4, maybe 5 or 6, less words the better.”
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations–Tampa, with substantial assistance from the Clearwater Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce of Central Florida. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Claire Favorit and Abigail K. King.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Clearfield Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Possessing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
This release was issued following the 43-day government shutdown during which the sentencing occurred.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 168 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his conviction of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced.
United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Jason Lentz, 31, on October 14, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, in and around January 2024, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Lentz possessed with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pennsylvania State Police; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Lentz.
Clay County Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing A Loaded Firearm as A Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Dustin Neil Haas (38, Clay County) has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Haas faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and forfeiture of a Bryco Jennings 9mm pistol and ammunition used in the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Law enforcement arrested Haas on September 22, 2025, and he was subsequently detained.
According to court documents, on August 11, 2025, a deputy from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office pulled over a motorcycle driven by Haas for driving without a tag. The deputy also determined that Haas was driving on a suspended license. Upon making contact with Haas, the deputy observed a large bulge in the vest Haas was wearing. During a subsequent search of the vest, the deputy located a black Bryco Jennings 9mm pistol, loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Haas had multiple prior felony convictions which prohibit him from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
NOTE: This matter occurred on a previous date but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
Citizen of Mexico Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Edelicio Castillo-Ramos, age 34, a citizen of Mexico, received a time-served sentence of nearly four months in prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry on October 15, 2025, by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann. Castillo-Ramos was transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) custody for immediate deportation.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Castillo-Ramos faced one count of Illegal Reentry following his arrest in Clinton County on June 20, 2025, after previously being removed from the United States. Castillo-Ramos had been removed from the United States on July 12, 2012, through Calexico, California, and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so.
This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case.
This case is 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).
This matter occurred on date indicated but not issued at that time due to the government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
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Citizen of Guatemala Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Victor Manuel Mazariegos-Palacios, age 46, citizen of Guatemala, pled guilty to illegal reentry into the United States and was sentenced on October 15, 2025, to time-served, approximately four months in prison by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on or about February 8, 2023, Mazariegos-Palacios was found in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, after previously having been removed from the United States. Mazariegos-Palacios was removed from the United States in 2006 and reentered without first obtaining legal permission to do so. Mazariegos-Palacios will be deported to his native country.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alisan Martin prosecuted the case.
This case is 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).
This matter occurred on date indicated but not issued at that time due to the government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
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Cherokee County felon charged with federal firearms violations in relation to the shooting of a Jacksonville police officerRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas –A Jacksonville convicted felon has been charged with federal firearms violations in connection with the shooting of a police officer in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Bobby Michael Dennis, 64, was named in a complaint in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and while being convicted of a crime of domestic violence.
According to information presented in court, on November 2, 2025, Dennis opened fire on a Jacksonville police officer, striking her twice, with an AR-15-style rifle when the officer attempted to identify him pursuant to multiple outstanding warrants. After firing numerous rounds at the officer, her K9, and her car, Dennis fled, leading to a multi-agency manhunt, during which Jacksonville-area schools canceled classes for two days. A search warrant executed at Dennis’ residence in Jacksonville discovered four additional firearms. Dennis was apprehended safely on the evening of November 5, 2025, during the execution of a search warrant at a bunker that Dennis had built near Cuney, Texas. An additional firearm was recovered from the bunker.
Dennis is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law as a three-time convicted felon, with previous convictions for aggravated robbery in Smith County and aggravated assault and possession of a controlled substance in Pulaski County, Arkansas.
If convicted of the federal firearms charges, Dennis faces up to life in prison.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the FBI; Homeland Security Investigations; Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office; Jacksonville Police Department; Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division; and the Texas Rangers. The case is being prosecuted in federal court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Locker and Lucas Machicek.
A complaint or grand jury indictment are not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Cross City Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Trafficking in MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Khiri Jackson, 31, of Cross City, Florida, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This case exemplifies the excellent partnerships between our state and federal law enforcement partners that are forged in the unified commitment to rid our communities of deadly drugs and the criminals who traffic this poison. My office stands ready to aggressively pursue drug traffickers with the full force of the law.”
Court documents reflect that the Drug Enforcement Administration had been investigating the drug trafficking activities of Jackson since late 2024. On April 15, 2025, a traffic stop was conducted as Jackson returned to Old Town from the Ocala area, where officers believed his source of supply was located. After a canine alerted on Jackson’s vehicle, approximately a pound of methamphetamine was located in a vacuum sealed bag on the driver’s floorboard. Jackson has prior state convictions for selling methamphetamine.
"This sentence sends a clear message that drug trafficking will not be tolerated in Dixie County. Methamphetamine has devastated too many families in our community, and we will continue to work side by side with our federal, state, and local partners to hold offenders accountable and keep our neighborhoods safe," said Sheriff Darby Butler.
“Stopping drug traffickers and keeping deadly drugs out of our communities is our mission,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “Every Mr. Jackson we bring to justice is one step closer to protecting our communities.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Hapner and James A. McCain.
This case is 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).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Crawfordville Felon Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jason Rigdon, 44, of Crawfordville, Florida was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our state and federal law enforcement partners did a great job removing this violent, drug-dealing felon from our streets, and my office will continue to support their efforts with aggressive federal prosecutions to keep our communities healthy and safe. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to Take Back America from the drug traffickers who have flooded our communities with deadly drugs, and this successful prosecution is yet another step toward achieving that goal.”
According to court records, in February 2025, investigators developed information indicating that the defendant, who was a multi-time convicted felon, was involved in the trafficking of methamphetamine and illegal firearms. After a series of controlled operations during which methamphetamine and a handgun were purchased from the defendant, investigators executed a search warrant in March 2025 at his residence. During the search of the residence and a vehicle the defendant was arrested in, thirteen firearms, two of which had been reported stolen, were recovered. Ammunition and methamphetamine were also seized. The defendant has prior felony convictions for Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement, Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Trafficking in methamphetamine, Carrying Concealed Firearms, Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement, and Possession of Methamphetamine.
“The Leon County Sheriff’s Office is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect our community,” said Sheriff Walt McNeil. “We will not tolerate dangerous crimes like drug trafficking and illegal firearms anywhere in our region, and we will continue to collaborate to ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
“Protecting our community from violent offenders remains one of our highest priorities,” said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. “This outcome demonstrates the strength of our partnerships and the determination of law enforcement to hold accountable those who traffic dangerous drugs and illegally possess firearms. Together, we are making Tallahassee a safer place for everyone.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
This case is 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).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Bloomsburg Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison in Fentanyl Overdose CaseRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tysheem Dunlap, age 28, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania was sentenced on October 28, 2025, by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to 22 years in prison for a drug delivery resulting in death.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Dunlap was convicted by a jury in May 2025 of three counts of drug delivery (fentanyl) resulting in death or serious bodily injury, and two counts of distribution of cocaine. The charges resulted from Dunlap distributing drugs on August 20, 2022, that were used by four individuals in Bloomsburg, PA, who believed they were using cocaine. The drugs distributed by Dunlap contained fentanyl, however, and resulted in the death of one individual and the non-fatal overdose of two others who were revived by paramedics.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bloomsburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey MacArthur and Alisan V. Martin prosecuted the case.
This case is 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).
This case was also 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.
This matter occurred on date indicated but not issued at that time due to the government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
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Beaufort County Men Charged with Child Sex Trafficking, Coercion, Child Sexual Abuse Material DistributionRead the Press Release
NOTE: This press release is about a case that occurred during the 43-day government shutdown and is now available after the return to normal operations.
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a nine-count indictment charging four Beaufort-area defendants with sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking conspiracy, coercion and enticement, and child sexual abuse material offenses:
- Jaquan Duvall Barnes, 30, of Port Royal, was charged with human trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of a minor, distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
- William James Youmans 35, of Beaufort, was charged with human trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of a minor, distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
- Guy Frank Talley, 28, of Beaufort, was charged with coercion and enticement of a minor.
- Alban Bryan, 64, of Saint Helena Island, was charged with sex trafficking of a minor, distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, a minor female victim had particular vulnerabilities—including drug dependance and status as a runaway—which were known to one or more of the defendants.
Between December 2023 and January 2024, Bryan recruited, enticed, harbored, coerced, and trafficked a minor victim, knowing her status as a runaway, and obtained sex acts from the minor in exchange for drugs and housing. It is further alleged that Bryan received and distributed child sexual abuse material depicting the minor victim. At a detention hearing, evidence was presented that Bryan, who had a familial relationship with the minor, also produced child sexual abuse material of the minor.
Between January 2024 and March 2024, Barnes, Youmans, and Talley coerced and enticed the minor victim to engage in sex acts that violate federal and state law. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Barnes and Youmans trafficked the minor victim into the commercial sex trade in exchange for drugs, housing, and money, all while knowing the victim was a minor. Barnes and Youmans are accused of working together to exploit the minor, including by obtaining child sexual abuse material and compromising photographs of the minor, advertising her on the internet for commercial sex, communicating with customers to arrange commercial sex acts, transporting the minor to hotels, supplying the minor with illegal narcotics, and confiscating proceeds from the commercial sex scheme. Talley facilitated the exploitation by advertising the minor on the internet for commercial sex. The indictment further alleges that Youmans and Bryan received and distributed child sexual abuse material depicting the minor victim.
Each defendant faces a mandatory 10 years and up to life in federal prison. The defendants also face a lifetime supervision by the federal court system following any term of imprisonment, sex offender registration, and mandatory restitution payable to victims.
Barnes, Talley, Youmans were arraigned in federal court on Oct. 9 and were all ordered detained. Bryan was ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker pending trial after a contested detention hearing on Oct. 16. U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks will preside over the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), with assistance from the Hardeeville Police Department, Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, Georgia Highway Patrol, and Jacksonville (Florida) Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy F. Bower and Elliott B. Daniels are prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”
Athol Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – An Athol, Mass. man has been arrested and charged for sexually exploiting minors and receiving and possessing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). Defendant allegedly convinced minors to send CSAM over Snapchat.
Michael Indelicato, 41, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Worcester on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, aiding and abetting; one count of sexual exploitation of a minor; two counts of receipt of child pornography; and one count of possession of child pornography. Indelicato was arrested on Oct. 7, 2025 and remains in federal custody.
According to court records, on or about Nov. 16, 2020, Indelicato told an individual over Snapchat that he would pay the individual $1,500 to make CSAM of the individual’s younger sibling, a pre-pubescent minor, and to send them to Indelicato. It is alleged that Indelicato convinced the individual to make the CSAM and Indelicato received it from the individual over Snapchat. Later, on or about Jan. 12, 2021, Indelicato allegedly convinced a different minor over Snapchat to make and send him CSAM of the minor, which Indelicato received from the minor over Snapchat. Further, on May 1, 2025, a search warrant was executed at Indelicato’s home, where allegedly a large amount of CSAM belonging to Indelicato was found.
The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 15 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Arizona Man Arrested in Undercover Fentanyl StingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man was arrested after attempting to sell 10,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover agent.
According to court documents, in September 2025, an undercover agent from the Isleta Police Department began communicating with Daron Andrey Holmes, Jr., 35, of Arizona, via Facebook regarding the purchase of 10,000 fentanyl pills. Holmes and the agent agreed to meet at the Isleta Resort and casino on the Isleta Pueblo on the evening of October 29, 2025, to effectuate the sale. When Holmes arrived, he was arrested by a team of agents and officers from the Isleta Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, U.S. Marshal Service, New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office.
After Holmes was taken into custody, Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office K9 Zara performed an open-air sniff of Holmes’ vehicle and alerted to the presence of the odor of narcotics. Agents and officers conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle. Inside they located a large amount of U.S. currency and approximately 4,102 grams of fentanyl pills.
U.S. currency and fentanyl seized from Holmes' vehicleHolmes is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted of the current charges, Holmes faces up to life in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Shawn Stallo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today.
The Homeland Security Investigations El Paso investigated this case with assistance from Isleta Police Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services, U.S. Marshal Service, New Mexico State Police and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Mysliwiec is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This press release was posted November 14, after the end of the federal government shutdown
Antifa Cell Members Indicted in Prairieland ShootingRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in Fort Worth, Texas indicted nine North Texas Antifa Cell operatives, and seven more were charged by information, with offenses including rioting, using weapons and explosives, providing material support to terrorists, obstruction, and attempted murder of an Alvarado police officer and unarmed correctional officers at the Prairieland Detention Center on July 4, 2025, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Yesterday’s twelve-count indictment charges Cameron Arnold, a/k/a Autumn Hill, Zachary Evetts, Benjamin Song, Savanna Batten, Bradford Morris, a/k/a Meagan Morris, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto, and Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada with multiple offenses for their roles related to the Prairieland attack. The defendants are set for arraignment on December 3, 2025, in front of a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Texas.
An information also filed yesterday charges Nathan Baumann, Joy Gibson, Susan Kent, Rebecca Morgan, Lynette Sharp, and John Thomas with one count of providing material support to terrorists. A sixteenth defendant, Seth Sikes, was charged by information in late October with one count of providing material support to terrorists. Guilty plea hearings for Baumann, Gibson, Thomas, Sharp, and Sikes will be held in front of a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Texas next week, with Morgan set to plead guilty the following week.
The indictment and informations follow on the heels of federal complaints brought against the defendants in July soon after the July 4 attack. According to the charges, the defendants were members of a North Texas Antifa Cell, part of a larger militant enterprise made up of networks of individuals and small groups primarily ascribing to an ideology that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and the system of law. Antifa’s coordinated efforts involve obstructing Federal law through organized riots, violent assaults, and armed confrontations with law enforcement officers, increasingly targeting agents and facilities related to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement in opposition to the agency’s deportation actions. The indictment alleges that most of the Antifa Cell involved in the Prairieland attack looked to Benjamin Song as a leader. As alleged, Song acquired firearms that he distributed to co-defendants and recruited members at gun ranges and combat sessions he conducted, as well as from various ideologically aligned groups. For example, defendants Ines Soto, Elizabeth Soto, and Savanna Batten are alleged to have been part of a group that created and distributed insurrectionary materials called “zines.”
The charges reflect that, late at night on July 4, at least eleven of the defendants rioted and attacked the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was using to house illegal aliens awaiting deportation. The defendants dressed in “black bloc”—dark clothing with head and face coverings that concealed their identities—designed to hide each individual’s identity but also to aid and abet those members engaged in illegal acts by making members indistinguishable from one another to law enforcement. According to the charges, after Antifa Cell members arrived at Prairieland, they began shooting off and throwing fireworks at the facility and vandalizing vehicles and a guard shack on Prairieland property.
According to the charges, an Alvarado police officer responded to the scene after correctional officers called 911. When the officer began issuing commands to defendant Nathan Baumann, Benjamin Song allegedly yelled, “get to the rifles!” and then opened fire on the officers, striking the Alvarado police officer in the neck as the unarmed correctional officers ducked and ran for cover. Police arrested most of the Antifa Cell shortly after the attack, many near the scene. Benjamin Song escaped and remained at large with the help of others until his capture on July 15, 2025.
Collectively, the Antifa Cell allegedly acquired over 50 firearms in the Fort Worth/Dallas area prior to July 4. As alleged in the indictment, members used an encrypted messaging app to coordinate with each other that had auto-delete functions, permanently deleting some Antifa Cell members’ communications. They also used monikers in group chats to hide their identities, and some of the planning chats included only trusted participants. Members in this limited group allegedly conducted reconnaissance and discussed what to bring to the riot, including firearms, medical kits, and fireworks.
The nine individuals indicted yesterday are charged with the following offenses:
- Riot, with the intent to commit an act of violence, involving conduct such as shooting and throwing fireworks and explosives, slashing tires on a government vehicle, spraying graffiti on property and vehicles, destroying a closed circuit camera, shooting at officers, and dressing in black bloc.
- Defendants charged: Cameron Arnold, Zachary Evetts, Benjamin Song, Savanna Batten, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Soto
- Providing Material Support to Terrorists, including property, services, training, communications equipment, weapons, explosives, personnel (including themselves), and transportation.
- Defendants charged: Arnold, Evetts, Song, Batten, Morris, Rueda, E. Soto, and I. Soto
- Conspiracy to Use and Carry an Explosive, and Using and Carrying an Explosive, during a riot.
- Defendants charged: Arnold, Evetts, Song, Batten, Morris, Rueda, E. Soto, and I. Soto
- Attempted Murder of Officers and Employees of the United States, involving the unlawful attempt to kill with malice aforethought Correctional Officers-1 and 2, and an Alvarado Police Officer.
- Defendants charged: Song, Arnold, Evetts, Morris, and Rueda
- Discharging a Firearm During, and in Relation to, and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, i.e., the attempted murder of two correctional officers and an Alvarado Police Officer.
- Defendants charged: Song, Arnold, Evetts, Morris, and Rueda
- Corruptly Concealing a Document or Record, by transporting a box containing numerous Antifa materials, such as insurrection planning, anti-law enforcement, anti-government, and anti-immigration enforcement documents and propaganda from Sanchez Estrada’s residence to a location in Denton, Texas, intending to conceal the box’s contents and impair its availability for use in a federal grand jury and federal criminal proceeding.
- Defendant charged: Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada
- Conspiracy to Conceal Documents and other objects that would implicate Maricela Rueda in the riot and shooting at the Prairieland facility.
- Defendants charged: Sanchez Estrada and Maricela Rueda
If convicted, Song, Arnold, Evetts, Morris, and Rueda each face a minimum penalty of ten years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Batten, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto each face a sentence ranging from a minimum of ten years up to fifty years in federal prison. Sanchez Estrada faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count.
The sole count of providing material support to terrorists brought in the information against Baumann, Gibson, Kent, Morgan, Sharp, Thomas, and separately, Sikes’s information, mirrors the material support offense charged in yesterday’s indictment. If convicted, each of these defendants face a sentence of up to fifteen years in federal prison.
Charges brought by indictment and information are merely allegations of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
“This is the first indictment in the country against a group of violent Antifa cell members,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “The charges the Grand Jury has leveled against these defendants, including material support for terrorists, address the vicious attack perpetrated by an anti-ICE, anti-law enforcement, anti-government, anarchist group. I applaud the tenacious work of the FBI, ICE, our state and local law enforcement partners, and the prosecutors and staff in my office. They have tirelessly pursued justice in this case, and will continue to pursue justice in any cases like it. We are firm in our resolve to protect our law enforcement officers and federal facilities against organized domestic terrorist cells.”
“The updated charges in this case underscore the seriousness of the crimes committed at the Prairieland Detention Center on July 4. We would like to thank our law enforcement partners for assisting us with this investigation. This collaborative effort reflects our collective commitment to holding these individuals accountable for this coordinated attack,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.
“Four months ago, in an attempt to sow anarchy and chaos and to undermine the rule of law, a coordinated attack was carried out on the Prairieland Detention Center, leaving one of our local law enforcement officers injured and a community in disarray,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas Acting Field Office Director Robert Cerna. “In response, the law enforcement community banded together to expose the cowardly thugs responsible for that heinous attack and hold them accountable. Yesterday’s indictments are a first step in that process, as we continue to work collectively to ensure that justice is served.”
The investigation was conducted by the FBI—Dallas, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), ATF, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Alvarado Police Department, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Gatto and Shawn Smith are prosecuting the case.
- Riot, with the intent to commit an act of violence, involving conduct such as shooting and throwing fireworks and explosives, slashing tires on a government vehicle, spraying graffiti on property and vehicles, destroying a closed circuit camera, shooting at officers, and dressing in black bloc.
Anchorage woman guilty of drug trafficking conspiracyRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage woman yesterday for her role in a local drug trafficking conspiracy to traffic cocaine, cocaine base, methamphetamine, and heroin.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Erica Elisoff, 51, and her boyfriend and co-defendant, Larry Kennedy, 65, were selling drugs out of adjacent apartments that they jointly occupied, as well as from Kennedy’s auto repair shop.
Between August and December 2021, law enforcement officials arranged multiple controlled purchases of cocaine base, aka crack cocaine, from both Kennedy and Elisoff. On three separate occasions in August, law enforcement purchased roughly seven grams of cocaine base from Kennedy, respectively. On one occasion in December, law enforcement executed a controlled purchase from Elisoff for 21 grams of cocaine base.
In May 2022, law enforcement officials executed search warrants at the apartments Elisoff and Kennedy shared. In one apartment, law enforcement discovered over $123,100 in cash, five heat sealed plastic bags containing over three kilograms of cocaine, over 745 grams of heroin, multiple scales, drug packaging materials, and other assorted drug paraphernalia. In the other apartment, law enforcement discovered over 20 grams of methamphetamine, over 15 grams of heroin, over $4,000 in cash, two scales, and other assorted drug paraphernalia.
Elisoff was convicted of one count of distribution of cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. She faces between five years to life in prison. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 4, 2026. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
On March 31, 2025, Kennedy pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. On Sept. 29, 2025, Kennedy was sentenced to five years in prison and upon release, will serve three years on supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford of the District of Oregon and Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska has been recused from this case with the exception of certain personnel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven D. Clymer from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York has been appointed as Special Attorney to the United States Attorney General to assist with this and other recused cases. He reports to and acts under the direction of the Deputy Attorney General, or his delegee, or U.S. Attorney Bradford in these cases. Special Attorney Clymer supervises personnel from the District of Alaska who have been exempted from the recusal.
The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from the DEA Anchorage District Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan Collins and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case.
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13 November 2025
Zuni Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting a Shotgun at Another ManRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man is facing an agreed-upon 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to the federal felonies of assault with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a crime of violence and discharging that firearm.
According to court documents, at about 9:50 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2025, Cody Laweka, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Zuni, drove with another person to a home on the Pueblo of Zuni. The person with whom Laweka drove had a shotgun in his truck bed. On the way to this residence, Laweka asked to use this shotgun. When Laweka arrived at the residence, he exited the vehicle with the shotgun and shot at least twice at a car occupied by John Doe. After this shooting, Laweka got back into the truck with the other person and left the scene. No one was hit by Laweka’s gunshots.
At the time Laweka committed these crimes crime, he was on supervised release for committing a prior federal crime. Sentencing in this case is not yet scheduled.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Pueblo of Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones and Nicholas Marshall are prosecuting this case.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.
Zuni Man Pleads Guilty to Assault for Unprovoked StabbingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man admitted to stabbing another man without provocation, causing serious injuries
According to court documents, on June 16, 2025, Adrian Cheama, 37, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, stabbed John Doe in the abdomen with a sharp metal object, causing serious bodily injury to Doe.
Cheama pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. At sentencing, Cheama faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Cheama will be subject to up to three years of supervised release.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.
Zuni Man Indicted for Federal Charges in Triple HomicideRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man has been indicted on federal charges in connection with the deaths of three individuals on July 4.
According to court documents, on July 4, 2025, Willis Kylestewa, 41, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, killed John Doe, Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2.
Kylestewa is charged with three counts of second-degree murder and will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Kylestewa faces any number of years up to life in prison.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department and Zuni Open Space. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas J. Marshall and Amy Mondragon are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.
Zuni Man Charged for March 2025 ShootingRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man has been charged after he opened fire in a residential area, seriously wounding the victim, then lied to police about his involvement.
According to court documents, on March 20, 2025, Shane Austin Loretto, 31, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, discharged a shotgun from the front seat of a vehicle, hitting the victim, who was seated in another vehicle across the street, in the face and neck with buckshot. A witness drove the victim to a local hospital where he was treated.
During a subsequent interview, Loretto claimed he had heard about the gunshots but did not know where where they came from. Law enforcement located the shotgun and ammunition in a safe inside a shed adjacent to Loretto's residence.
Loretto is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing. If convicted of the current charges, Loretto faces 10 years in prison.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This press release was posted November 13, after the end of the federal government shutdown.
Worcester College Student Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Cyber ExtortionsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Assumption University student was sentenced on Oct. 14, 2025 for hacking into the computer networks of two U.S.-based companies and extorting them for ransoms.
Matthew D. Lane, 20, of Sterling, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to four years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $25,000, restitution of $14,075,540.58 and forfeiture. In June 2024, Lane pleaded guilty to cyber extortion conspiracy, cyber extortion, unauthorized access to protected computers and aggravated identity theft.
Lane was sentenced in connection with two separate cyber extortion incidents. Between April and May 2024, Lane agreed with others to extort a $200,000 ransom payment from a telecommunications company by threatening to publicly disseminate data that had previously been stolen from the company’s computer network. When the victim company questioned whether a ransom payment would in fact end the threat of its customer data being leaked, Lane responded, “We are the only ones with a copy of this data now. Stop this nonsense [or] your executives and employees will see the same fate . . . . Make the correct decision and pay the ransom. If you keep stalling, it will be leaked.”Between August and December 2024, Lane used stolen login credentials to access the computer network of a second victim company – a software and cloud storage company that served school systems in the United States, Canada and elsewhere. Lane caused personally identifying information of students and teachers stored on that company’s networks to be transferred to a computer server Lane leased in Ukraine. Later, the second victim company and others received threats that the names, email addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, medical information, residential addresses, parent and guardian information, and passwords, among other data, of more than 60 million students and 10 million teachers would be “leak[ed] . . . worldwide” if the company did not pay a ransom of approximately $2.85 million in Bitcoin.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. The Assumption University Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.
Woman Admits Embezzling $305,000 from St. Louis County CompanyRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – The former head of payroll for a St. Louis County company on Thursday admitted paying herself an extra $305,000 in salary and bonuses.
Deborah Stinebaker, 49, of O’Fallon, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of fraudulently effecting transactions. She admitted that while the head of the company's payroll department, she used the company’s financial software to pay herself an extra $305,469 from January 2016 to March of 2024. Her employer discovered her crime when an audit revealed that the company’s financial instability resulted from the embezzlement.
Stinebaker is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 17, 2026. Stinebaker’s charge carries a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. She will also be ordered to repay the money.
The FBI and the Maryland Heights Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.
Wheeling Attorney Guilty of Money Laundering and FraudRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - A Wheeling attorney was convicted today of fraud and money laundering for fraudulently handling client funds and using client funds to conduct unlawful monetary transactions, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
A federal jury found Paul J. Harris, 62, of Wheeling, guilty of 29 counts today. The jury heard testimony that Harris used client funds for personal expenses, such as the purchase of his home and paying for his law office, without the clients’ permission. Harris received and moved funds from his client trust account to his law firm operating account, at times using one client’s money to pay funds he had misappropriated from other clients.
“Attorneys are meant to relieve clients of their stressors. Mr. Harris preyed on vulnerable clients who trusted him with their money and legal matters, betraying that trust through unethical acts. I commend the jury for their verdict and for delivering justice to the victims,” said U.S. Attorney Harvey.
The government is seeking a monetary judgement, restitution for the victims, as well as the forfeiture of the property of Harris Law Offices in Wheeling.
Harris faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the mail and wire fraud counts and up to 10 years in prison for each of the unlawful monetary transaction counts.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarod J. Douglas and Jennifer T. Conklin prosecuted the case on behalf of the government, and the matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Westfield Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Narcotics and Firearm OffensesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Westfield man was sentenced on Oct. 17, 2025 in federal court in Worcester for his role in a conspiracy to traffic drugs from California to Massachusetts and launder the proceeds.
David Cruz, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to nine years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. On Sept. 6, 2017, Cruz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin, conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon.
Between approximately 2015 and his arrest on Sept. 12, 2016, Cruz conspired to – and did – import cocaine, heroin and fentanyl from Mexico into California, and then transport it across the United States and distribute it to local dealers in western Massachusetts and southern Vermont. According to court records, Cruz distributed approximately 32 kilos of cocaine and approximately 1 kilo of fentanyl. Cruz also used various methods to launder the proceeds to his organization in California and Mexico, including through wire transfers and cash money drops. Lastly, Cruz possessed a loaded .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol to protect his drugs and drug proceeds.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. DEA’s Carlsbad Resident Office, Homeland Security Investigations and the Westfield Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Breslow and Neil L. Desroches of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Waterloo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Ammunition as a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
A man who possessed ammunition as a prohibited person was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.
Nicholas Edward Schubich, age 45, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 8, 2025 guilty plea to one count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
At the guilty plea, Schubich admitted he possessed the ammunition knowing that he had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year as well as a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. On April 20, 2025, following a traffic stop on a car that Schubich was a passenger in, officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, and a box of ammunition in Schubich’s backpack.
Schubich was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Schubich was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Schubich is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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.
This case is 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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol, the Waterloo Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-2032.
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Waterbury Drug Distributor Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS MUNOZ, also known as “P.R.” and “Puerto Rico,” 41, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 40 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a Waterbury drug trafficking organization.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force and other law enforcement agencies investigated two drug trafficking organizations based in the city of Waterbury. One organization was headed by Angel Quiros and operated in the area of William Street, and the other was headed by Daniel Diaz-Rivera and operated in the area of Maple Avenue. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that the two organizations distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers. The organizations shared sources of supply, worked together to further their operations, and sold narcotics all hours of the day and night.
Munoz distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl as part of the Quiros organization.
Munoz, Quiros, Diaz-Rivera, and 14 associates were charged with federal offenses as a result of the investigation. Munoz, Quiros, Diaz-Rivera, and several codefendants were arrested on November 29, 2023. In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine, more than 900 vials (“caps”) of crack, approximately 200 grams of loose fentanyl, more than 1,600 dose bags of fentanyl/heroin, two stolen firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, and more than $39,000 in cash. Investigators seized from Munoz approximately 234 grams of cocaine, 22 grams of fentanyl, and $2,100 in cash.
On March 7, 2025, Munoz pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Released on $100,000 bond, he is required to report to prison on January 16.
Quiros and Diaz-Rivera pleaded guilty to related charges. On August 19, 2025, Quiros was sentenced to 63 months of imprisonment, and on June 23, 2025, Diaz-Rivera was sentenced to 210 months of imprisonment.
The FBI’s Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task includes members from the FBI, the Waterbury Police Department, the Naugatuck Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Connecticut State Police, Wolcott Police Department, and Meriden Police Department have assisted the investigation.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha Freismuth and Shan Patel through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the Waterbury State Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.