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6 October 2025
Alleged Member of Chicago Street Gang Charged with Soliciting the Murder of Senior Law Enforcement Official Involved in “Operation Midway Blitz”Read the Press Release
CHICAGO — An alleged ranking member of a Chicago street gang has been charged in federal court with soliciting the murder of a senior law enforcement official involved in the immigration enforcement operation known as “Operation Midway Blitz.”
A criminal complaint unsealed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago charges JUAN ESPINOZA MARTINEZ, 37, of Chicago, with one count of murder-for-hire. Martinez was arrested this morning. His initial appearance in federal court has not yet been scheduled.
According to the complaint, Martinez is a ranking member of the Latin Kings, a street gang that has engaged in acts of violence and other illicit activities in Chicago and elsewhere. Martinez stated in a Snapchat message, “2k on information when you get him” and “10k if u take him down,” the complaint states. Included in the message was a photo of the senior law enforcement official, who has recently participated in immigration enforcement operations in Chicago on behalf of the U.S. Border Patrol, an agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the complaint states.
The complaint and arrest were announced by Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General, Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew J. Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago.
“Placing a bounty on the head of a federal officer is an attack on the rule of law and on every American who depends on law enforcement to keep them safe,” said Deputy Attorney General Blanche. “This case is exactly what we mean when we say Take Back America - taking back every neighborhood and street corner from violent thugs and criminal gangs and returning them to the law-abiding members of our communities. The Department of Justice will never allow violent gangs or criminal networks to target those who protect our borders and our communities. We will use every authority, every resource, and every partnership at our disposal to bring anyone who threatens or harms our officers to justice - swiftly and decisively.”
“Putting a price on the life of a law enforcement officer is a line that can never be crossed,” said Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. “The defendant’s actions in this case demonstrate a profound contempt for human life and public safety. Under my leadership, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will hold defendants accountable for their grave criminal actions and ensure that no federal officer has to fear for their life for doing their job."
“The arrest of this ruthless and violent member of the Latin Kings, a criminal organization notorious for its cruelty and disregard for the law, highlights the steadfast commitment of Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners to protect our communities and those who uphold justice,” said HSI SAC Scarpino. “Targeting a senior federal officer is a brazen and direct assault on the rule of law, and HSI will remain persistent in dismantling violent gangs like the Latin Kings that threaten public safety.”
The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
martinez_complaint.pdf
5 October 2025
Federal Complaint Charges Two Individuals with Using Their Vehicles to Assault, Impede, and Interfere with the Work of Federal Agents in ChicagoRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – Two individuals have been charged in federal court with using their vehicles to assault, impede, and interfere with the work of federal agents in Chicago.
According to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago, MARIMAR MARTINEZ and ANTHONY IAN SANTOS RUIZ used their vehicles to strike a vehicle being driven by an agent of U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Saturday morning near the intersection of West 39th Street and South Kedzie Avenue on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Two other CBP agents were also in the government vehicle. After striking the agents’ vehicle, the defendants’ vehicles boxed in the agents’ vehicle, the complaint states. The agent was unable to move his vehicle and exited the car, at which point he fired approximately five shots from his service weapon at Martinez, the complaint states.
Martinez drove off but paramedics discovered her and her vehicle at a repair shop about a mile away. Martinez was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where she received treatment for gunshot wounds, the complaint states.
Ruiz also drove away after the collisions, but law enforcement located him and his vehicle at a gas station about a half block away, the complaint states. Both defendants remain in law enforcement custody, pending initial appearances in federal court in Chicago.
The complaint charges Martinez, 30, and Ruiz, 21, both of Chicago, with forcibly assaulting, impeding, and interfering with a federal law enforcement officer.
The federal charges were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI.
The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
martinez_ruiz_complaint.pdf
4 October 2025
Statement of United States Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and Federal Law Enforcement Leadership in Chicago on Ongoing Criminal Immigration Enforcement OperationsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and federal law enforcement leadership in Chicago today issued the following statements regarding ongoing criminal immigration enforcement actions in Chicago:
“As U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, my office will enforce all federal criminal laws and protect our federal employees and property. Assistant U.S. Attorneys will staff the FBI-led command post on a daily basis to monitor real-time developments and take swift action as needed when criminal offenders assault, obstruct, or impede law enforcement personnel or destroy federal property. During this surge, we have filed federal charges against more than 12 individuals and continue to review cases for additional criminal charges. The people of Chicago deserve safe streets and peaceful neighborhoods, and we will deliver justice on their behalf.”
-Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
Federal law enforcement leaders in Chicago echoed U.S. Attorney Boutros’s statement:
“We speak with one voice when we say that we expect any protest or assembly in Chicago to remain peaceful. There is no place for violence against law enforcement officers, obstruction of justice, or destruction of federal property. Any criminal actions taken against the brave men and women in uniform will be met with swift criminal prosecution. Our agencies will continue to work closely with each other to execute federal law fully and completely.”
-Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI
-Matthew J. Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago
-Russell Hott, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Chicago
-LaFonda Sutton-Burke, Director of the Chicago Field Office of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
-Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives
-Shane Catone, Special Agent-in-Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division
-LaDon A. Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. Attorney Boutros also remarked:“As I have emphasized repeatedly (see here, here, and here), we are a law and order district. We vigorously prosecute crimes in all program areas. We will not hesitate to hold accountable those who attack and undermine the rule of law, including by resorting to violence and criminal mischief to interfere, obstruct, or impede the important work of the federal government as it is conducted in the Northern District of Illinois. The entire federal law enforcement partnership in Chicago also thanks Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall, all of the other judges in the Northern District of Illinois, and Clerk of Court Thomas G. Bruton for their leadership and hard work in ensuring that Chicago’s federal courtrooms remain open to handle the increased volume of criminal cases being presented before the Court for adjudication.”
-Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
3 October 2025
Undocumented Immigrant Sentenced to More than a Year in Prison for Unlawfully Re-Entering United States After DeportationRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — An undocumented immigrant with an extensive criminal history in Illinois has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after deportation.
LUIS CHAVEZ was deported from the United States to his native Mexico in 2015 after being convicted of firearm and attempted burglary offenses in Kankakee County, Ill. At some point between 2015 and 2024, Chavez re-entered the United States without inspection or admission by U.S. immigration authorities. On Feb. 17, 2024, Chavez was found to be present in Kankakee County and was later taken into federal custody.
Chavez, 34, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal charge of illegal re-entry. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Chavez to 15 months in federal prison with credit for the time he already served in federal custody pending the final disposition of his case.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Russell Hott, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Chicago.
“The defendant in this case committed serious criminal offenses in the United States before his deportation and removal,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “He then ignored a Court order and returned to the United States without authorization. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago will continue to enforce all federal criminal immigration laws to promote respect for the law, keep our communities safe from defendants with criminal histories, and protect the integrity and sovereignty of our borders.”
“This case underscores the critical importance of enforcing our nation’s immigration laws,” said Field Office Director Hott. “Chavez’s unlawful re-entry into the United States after deportation, combined with his extensive criminal history, posed a threat to public safety and the rule of law. ERO Chicago remains committed to identifying, apprehending, and removing individuals who violate our immigration laws and endanger our communities.”
Three Individuals Charged in Federal Court in Chicago with Using Their Vehicles to Impede and Interfere with the Work of Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO – Three individuals have been charged in federal court in Chicago with using their vehicles to impede and interfere with the work of federal agents in the Chicago area.
The charges allege that two of the three defendants rammed their vehicles into vehicles being driven by federal agents, while the third defendant rear-ended a federal law enforcement vehicle, according to criminal complaints filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
The defendants have made their initial appearances in federal court. The charges are as follows:
WIDMAN OSBERTO LOPEZ FUNES, 18, of Bensenville, Ill., is charged with felony assault of a federal officer and depredation of U.S. property. Lopez Funes was driving a vehicle in Bensenville, Ill., on Oct. 1, 2025, when he allegedly forcibly struck a vehicle being driven by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
MIGUEL ESCARENO DE LOERA, 20, of Woodridge, Ill., is charged with felony assault of a federal officer. De Loera was driving a vehicle in Woodridge, Ill., on Oct. 2, 2025, when on three occasions he allegedly forcibly struck a vehicle being driven by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
JOEL GONZALEZ, 23, of Chicago, is charged with forcibly impeding and interfering with a federal officer, a misdemeanor. Gonzalez was driving a vehicle in Chicago on Oct. 2, 2025, when he allegedly impeded and interfered with a group of vehicles being driven by agents from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The federal charges were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Matthew J. Scarpino, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago.
The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
lopez_funes_complaint.pdf de_loera_complaint.pdf gonzalez_complaint.pdfPembroke Man Pleads Guilty for Misusing CARES Act Funds to Purchase a Golf CourseRead the Press Release
Pembroke Man Pleads Guilty for Misusing CARES Act Funds to Purchase a Golf Course
CONCORD – A Pembroke man pleaded guilty on October 3, 2025, for fraudulently obtaining over $1 million of CARES Act funds from the United States government, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Michael Kirouac, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for January 15, 2026.
Kirouac owned or controlled four companies: HK Manchester, HK Loudon, HK Hudson, and HK Pelham. He applied for and obtained over $1 million worth of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) for the companies. Kirouac certified that he would use the loan proceeds solely as working capital and would not use the funds for personal expenses or to relocate the businesses from one location to another.
Beginning in 2021, Kirouac was looking to purchase a golf course. He was unable to obtain financing from banks and private lenders and instead obtained EIDLs on behalf of HK Manchester and HK Loudon. Kirouac used approximately $600,000 of EIDL funds intended for HK Manchester and HK Loudon to help purchase the Angus Lea Golf Course in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. Kirouac also misused EIDL funds he obtained for HK Pelham.
Separately, Kirouac obtained a $260,500 EIDL for HK Hudson. However, Kirouac had already agreed to sell HK Hudson to a third party when he signed for the loan. Kirouac did not disclose that fact to the SBA.
The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigations, and SBA’s Office of the Inspector General led the investigation. The Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
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During the early part of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act included multiple relief provisions to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Private lenders could participate in the PPP. The loans, which were supposed to be used for payroll, were fully guaranteed by the government. If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness. The CARES Act also opened up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were supposed to be used for payroll and other business expenses such as rent and mortgage.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Nicholas Roske Sentenced to over Eight Years in Prison for Attempted Murder of Supreme Court Justice in MarylandRead the Press Release
Nicholas John Roske, 29, of Simi Valley, California, was sentenced today to 97 months in federal prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release for attempting to kill a United States Supreme Court Justice. The Department of Justice advocated for a sentence of at least 30 years to life.
“The attempted assassination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was a disgusting attack against our entire judicial system by a profoundly disturbed individual,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will be appealing the woefully insufficient sentence imposed by the district court, which does not reflect the horrific facts of this case.”
“Nicholas Roske will now pay the price for attempting to assassinate a Supreme Court Justice in a violent plot to alter the court’s composition and its rulings,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Violence against federal judges or other public officials is unacceptable and will be met by the full force of the law. The FBI will work aggressively with our law enforcement partners to detect and stop these schemes and protect our nation.”
“Politically motivated violence has no place in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O’Hayes for the District of Maryland. “The attempt to assassinate a Supreme Court Justice is an extreme, unconscionable act that must be met with the full weight of the law. We, along with our federal partners, are committed to relentlessly pursuing, prosecuting, and punishing anyone involved in planning and executing these brazen, violent crimes. Violence against others will not be tolerated.”
“Roske flew across the country armed with a gun and zip ties, prepared to kill at least one sitting Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States because of how he imagined the Justice would rule,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “No public servant, let alone a Justice, should have to consider his safety or that of his family’s in discharging his duty. Even in failure, Roske’s plot violated that basic tenet and threatened judicial independence, a critical component of the rule of law.”
As part of a guilty plea, Roske admitted that on June 7, 2022, Roske flew from Los Angeles International Airport to Dulles International Airport with a firearm and ammunition in a checked suitcase. Roske then took a taxi from the airport to Montgomery County, Maryland, with the intent to kill the Supreme Court Justice.
On June 8, 2022, at approximately 1:05 a.m., two Deputy U.S. Marshals, protecting the residence of a Supreme Court Justice, observed Roske arrive in and get out of a taxi in front of the residence. Roske wore dark clothing and had a backpack and suitcase. As Roske would tell a Detective later that morning after being arrested and Mirandized, “I noticed immediately that there were people sitting outside and this was a very like empty neighborhood, so I was like, okay, they’re keeping a lookout. So then I went around the house on the other side[.]”
Shortly after, Roske told a Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center call taker that Roske was having homicidal and suicidal thoughts, had a gun in his suitcase, and flew from California to kill a specific Supreme Court Justice.
MCPD officers responded to the location and took Roske into custody. A search of Roske’s suitcase and backpack revealed a firearm; black tactical chest rig and tactical knife; two magazines, each containing 10 rounds of ammunition; 17 additional rounds of ammunition; pepper spray; zip ties; a hammer; screwdrivers; nail punch; crowbar; pistol light; duct tape; hiking boots with padding on the outside of the soles; and lock-pick tools, along with other items.
Law enforcement transported Roske to a MCPD station. After being Mirandized, Roske stated that Roske was upset about a recently leaked Supreme Court draft decision on abortion as well as the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Roske also admitted that he came from California with the intent to use the firearm and burglary tools and to kill the Supreme Court Justice. When asked “If everything was clear, what was your plan to do?,” Roske responded, “Break in [and] shoot” the Associate Justice.
The FBI Baltimore Field Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the MCPD, and the Supreme Court Police Department investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas M. Sullivan and Coreen Mao for the District of Maryland prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance from Trial Attorney John Cella of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Man Unlawfully Living in Oregon Charged with Assaulting FBI Agents and Distributing Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A man made his first appearance in federal court today after assaulting two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents following his arrest on federal drug distribution charges.
Ezequiel Ramos Hernandez, 28, has been charged by criminal complaint with multiple felony crimes including Assaulting Federal Agents and Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances.
According to court documents, on October 1, 2025, the FBI, along with the Woodburn and Salem Police Departments, executed a search warrant at Ramos Hernandez’s Woodburn hotel room. Agents seized distributable quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. FBI agents arrested Ramos Hernandez and began driving him to be lodged on federal drug distribution charges. During the transport, Ramos Hernandez managed to escape from the moving vehicle while handcuffed. Two FBI agents chased Ramos Hernandez who actively resisted and was observed kicking one of the FBI agents in the face multiple times. Ultimately, FBI agents were able to subdue Ramos Hernandez with the assistance of multiple civilian witnesses. Ramos Hernandez later told an FBI agent that he tried to escape from agents because he thought he was being deported.
Defendant Ramos-Hernandez made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was detained pending further court proceedings.
Assaulting a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Man Unlawfully Living in Oregon Charged with Aiming a Laser at a Customs and Border Protection HelicopterRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A man made his first appearance in federal court today after pointing a laser at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter in the Portland metro area.
Hector Miranda-Mendoza, 35, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft.
According to court documents, on the evening of September 27, 2025, law enforcement identified Miranda-Mendoza as an individual who targeted multiple aircraft with a laser pointer, including a CBP helicopter. Lasers can cause blindness and spotting in vision, making it a challenge for pilots to identify other aircraft and obstacles, which could lead to a catastrophic event. CBP used an on-board mapping system to locate the origin of the laser at a Portland residence. Investigating officers contacted the defendant who admitted he recently purchased the laser and knew it was strong. Defendant reported he thought the helicopter was a drone and he remembered flashing the helicopter four or five times. Law enforcement seized the laser pointer and referred this matter for federal prosecution.
“Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft endangers lives and is a federal crime. This conduct put the lives of CBP personnel and the community directly at risk, and my office will aggressively pursue those who engage in this illegal activity,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
“The laser strike on a CBP helicopter over the skies of Portland put our community at risk and endangered the lives of federal law enforcement officers. This activity is unacceptable, and FBI Portland will aggressively pursue anyone anywhere targeting federal agents, especially those currently holding the line at the Portland ICE facility,” said Douglas A. Olson, FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge.
Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 29 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.
Miranda-Mendoza made his first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was detained pending further court proceedings.
Aiming a laser pointer is punishable by up to five years in federal prison.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Illegal alien with multiple violent crime convictions sentenced for unlawfully returning to the United StatesRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
HOUSTON – A 34-year-old man from El Salvador has been ordered to federal prison for illegally reentering the country after removal, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Carlos Membreno-Lainez pleaded guilty June 30.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner has now ordered Membreno-Lainez to serve 72 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court determined an upward variance was appropriate to deter Membreno-Lainez from committing further crimes.
Membreno-Lainez has convictions for evading arrest and theft as well as a significant sentence for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. He was removed in November 2018 with no permission to return to the United States. However, authorities encountered him again Nov. 30, 2024, following an arrest in Harris County on charges of felony assault of a family member impeding breath.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luis Batarse is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Honduran National Charged with Assaulting 2 Federal Officers at a Karnes Immigration Processing CenterRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Honduran national made his initial appearance in a federal court in San Antonio on Thursday, charged with assaulting two detention officers at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center.
According to court documents, Jorge Alberto Maradiaga-Carias began arguing with a detention officer (DO) and refused to comply with the officer’s instructions, making provocative gestures toward the officer. A criminal complaint affidavit alleges that after the DO called his supervisor for assistance, Maradiaga-Carias made threats to assault the DO and advised other detainees that they did not have to listen to the DOs because they were not ICE officers.
The affidavit further alleges that when the supervisor arrived to assist, Maradiaga-Carias grabbed him and struck the supervisor in the head before putting him in a head lock. The initial officer involved attempted to restrain Maradiaga-Carias, who allegedly managed to break one leg free and kick him on the side of the head twice, with one of the kicks forcing the DO to fall backward and hit his head on a brick wall.
During the struggle, Maradiaga-Carias allegedly attempted to gain access to the supervising DO’s Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) aerosol spray canister on his duty belt but was unsuccessful. Additional DOs arrived and assisted in securing Maradiaga-Carias with handcuffs. The two DOs were medically evaluated, with one receiving treatment for minor injuries and placed on medical leave while the other was treated and diagnosed with a mild concussion.
Maradiaga-Carias is charged with one count of assaulting, resisting or impeding a federal officer(s). If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
ICE is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wannarka is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Defendant Pleads Guilty to Felony Intimidation of a Federal Officer and Resisting ArrestRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Defendant Julie Winters, 47, of Portland, pleaded guilty yesterday to Felony Intimidation of a Federal Officer and Resisting Arrest.
According to court documents, on June 24, 2025, Winters brandished a large knife and swung it back and forth at officers in an attempt to intimidate the officers when they engaged with Winters at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.
On August 20, 2025, Winters reported to the Pretrial Services Office after violating the conditions of her pretrial release. As federal law enforcement attempted to arrest Winters on a federal warrant, she resisted arrest by causing forcible contact with U.S. Deputy Marshals after the U.S. Marshals attempted to place the defendant under arrest.
Winters will be sentenced in December 2025 before a U.S. District Court Judge.
These cases were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Protective Service, ICE, and the United States Marshals Service. These cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
14 Members of a Transnational Criminal Organization known as La V Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Crimes—Two Remain FugitivesRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury issued a superseding indictment on September 25, 2025, charging 14 members of a transnational criminal organization from the municipality of Camuy with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession, and distribution of controlled substances, firearms violations, and money laundering, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Defendants [3] Victor Hernandez and [9] Yamil González-Vargas remain at large and are considered fugitives. Members of the public with information concerning their whereabouts may contact HSI’s sector San Juan communication center at (787) 729-6969 or HSI’s Tip Line at (866) 347-2423 and https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form.
“One of our top priorities continues to be the disruption and dismantling of violent drug trafficking organizations, at every level,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The result of this joint operation, with the collaboration of our state counterparts, shows our commitment to making our communities safer.”
“We will not allow drug smugglers, money launderers, and weapons traffickers, to threaten the safety of our communities. HSI is focused in identifying criminal networks that fuel violence, destabilize neighborhoods, and prey on our children and families. The message is clear, we will continue to strike at every level these organizations, cutting off their profits, seizing their weapons and ensuring that those responsible face justice,” said Rebecca González-Ramos, Special Agent in Charge, HSI San Juan (Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands).
The superseding indictment alleges that from 2021 through September 25, 2025, [1] Emilio Lopez-Vargas led a continuing criminal enterprise, responsible for the importation and distribution of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine for substantial profit. As set forth in the superseding indictment and other court filings, “La V” was a large-scale drug trafficking organization directed by [1] Emilio Lopez-Vargas based out of Camuy, Puerto Rico, that operated in coordination with Dominican Republic sources of supply (the “La V” or the “Lopez-Vargas Drug Trafficking Organization”). La V used boats to import multi-kilogram shipments of cocaine from the Dominican Republic into Puerto Rico. Some of the boats that were utilized by La V had hidden compartments designed to conceal the cocaine. Upon the arrival of the cocaine shipments to Puerto Rico, portions of the cocaine would be distributed and sold throughout Puerto Rico. Other portions of the cocaine shipments would be shipped to the continental United States via a global logistics company and the United States Postal Service. La V utilized employees of the United States Postal Service and a global logistics company to protect the shipments of cocaine sent to the continental United States. Once the cocaine was transported to the continental United States members of the organization would cut the cocaine with adulterants and repackage it for greater profit. Members of the organization would then provide samples of cocaine to end users to test the quality of the cocaine. Finally, La V would distribute the cocaine to end users. In Puerto Rico, members of the drug organization would store fentanyl and cocaine at residences where it was packaged for distribution and finally distributed to end users. Members of the La V also transported firearms from Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic via vessels generating substantial income and profit. The drug proceeds were then laundered back to Puerto Rico.
Defendants [1] Emilio Lopez-Vargas and [2] John Lopez-Peralta were responsible for the coordination and the importation of cocaine into the United States from their contacts in the Dominican Republic. They procured boats with hidden compartments and [1] Emilio Lopez- Vargas also shipped firearms to the Dominican Republic.
Members of La V, including [1] Emilio Lopez-Vargas, [4] Axel Manuel Cardec-Lugo,[5] Richard Romero-Rodriguez, [10] Jeiric Gilberto Ramos-Rodriguez, and [14] Whilhelm Lopez-Afanador shipped packages containing cocaine through the mail to members of the organization located the continental United States. The packages would contain kilogram quantities of cocaine. Members of the organization would store the proceeds of the cocaine sales in various stash houses and make periodic commercial flights returning to Puerto Rico with large sums of United States currency stored in suitcases, or the proceeds would be laundered back into the organization. [4] Axel Manuel Cardec-Lugo was an employee of a global logistics company and would provide information to [1] Emilio Lopez-Vargas about shipments. Members of law enforcement seized approximately 203 kilograms from packages in which [4] Axel Manuel Cardec-Lugo was the courier.
The defendants charged in the drug trafficking conspiracy are: [1] Emilio Lopez-Vargas, also known as “Macanita” and “La M”, [2] John Lopez-Peralta, also known as “Macana”, [3] Victor Omar Hernandez, also known as “El Indio” and “Vic”, [4] Axel Manuel Cardec-Lugo, also known as “Axel Carde-Lugo” and “Maquina”, [5] Richard Romero-Rodriguez, also known as “Riche”, [6] Owen Alexander Roman-Ramos, also known as “La O”, [7] Kevin Orlando Collazo-Fernandez, also known as “Maluma”, [8] Noel Mercado-Rosa, also known as “Sangre”, [9] Yamil Yaniel Gonzalez-Vargas, also known as “Yamo”, [10] Jeiric Gilberto Ramos-Rodriguez, [11] Carlos Ramon Santiago-Velazquez, also known as “Gordo”
[12] Hector Armando Roa-Ramos, [13] Jovanni Perez-Garcia, also known as “Jova” and “Jomo”, [14] Whilhelm Lopez-Afanador, also known as “Wille Bombe”, Nine defendants are charged in Count twelve with conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Asset Recovery, Money Laundering, and Transnational Organized Crime Section Myriam Y. Fernández-González, Deputy Chief of the Asset Recovery, Money Laundering, and Transnational Organized Crime Section Maria L. Montañez-Concepción and AUSA Ryan R. McCabe are prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the drug charges, the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. The defendants charged with possession of machineguns in furtherance of drug trafficking face a sentence of thirty years to life in prison, consecutive to the sentence imposed on the drug charges.
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.
All defendants charged in the drug conspiracy are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $11,000,000. The property to be forfeited includes, but is not limited to, the properties listed in the Continuing Criminal Enterprise Forfeiture Allegation of the superseding indictment.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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.50 caliber straw purchaser sentenced in relation to illegal firearm shipment destined for MexicoRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
HOUSTON - A 50-year-old Houston man has been ordered to prison for making a false statement in the purchase of firearms and purchasing firearms knowing they were to be exported to Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for less than 20 minutes following a three-day trial before finding John Castellano guilty April 30.
U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. has now ordered Castellano to serve 70 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted that Castellano was not just simply purchasing firearms, he was getting them through others with money people in Mexico had provided. Judge Werlein commented that these were .50 caliber rifles destined for Mexico and that Castellano was looking to purchase more.
On or about Dec. 16, 2019, Castellano lied to a federal firearms licensed dealer. He falsely claimed he was purchasing two Barrett .50 caliber rifles for himself, each valued at approximately $8,000. In reality, they were intended for others and ultimately destined for Mexico.
The jury heard evidence that Castellano purchased the rifles with approximately $17,000 in cash from Jacinto Zuniga.
Evidence revealed Castellano had picked up the firearms from a federal firearms licensed dealer with a friend, who was a previously convicted felon.
The jury also heard he was attempting to obtain additional Barrett .50 caliber rifles.
Experts provided testimony regarding the regulations and various licensing requirements necessary for exporting firearms to Mexico. The jury also had the opportunity to view the rifles Castellano had straw purchased.
The defense attempted to convince the jury that the accusations were false, he was wrongfully accused and that incriminating text messages were lies. They did not believe those claims and found Castellano guilty as charged.
Previously released on bond, Castellano was taken into custody following the sentencing where he will remain pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Zuniga, 44, Houston, previously pleaded guilty for his role in the scheme and was sentenced to 34 months.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Houston Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Department of State. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Smith and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Stotts prosecuted the case.
2 October 2025
Somersworth Man Arrested on State Assault Offense Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution ChargeRead the Press Release
Somersworth Man Arrested on State Assault Offense Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution Charge
CONCORD –Antoine Valentin, 43, of Somersworth, pleaded guilty October 2, 2025, in federal court for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
According to the plea agreement, on November 1, 2022, law enforcement authorities arrested Valentin at his Somersworth residence on a state assault charge, which led to the seizure of more than 100 grams of fentanyl and drug proceeds totaling $1,300 in United States Currency.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of not less than 5 years and up to 40 years in federal prison, at least four (4) years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $5,000,000. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled sentencing for January 15, 2026.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Somersworth Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is prosecuting the case.
This 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 (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).
Portland Woman Charged with Assaulting Federal Law Enforcement Officer Near Local ICE OfficeRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland woman made her first appearance in federal court yesterday after assaulting a federal officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in South Portland.
Katherine Meagan Vogel, 39, has been charged by criminal complaint with the felony offense of assaulting a federal officer.
According to court documents, on the evening of September 30, 2025, federal officers detained Vogel after she applied red paint to the driveway of the ICE facility. Federal officers escorted Vogel to the ICE facility to interview her for conduct related to depredation of government property. While federal officers processed her, Vogel struck one of the federal officers in the jaw with a closed fist. Officers then arrested her for the additional charge of assaulting a federal officer.
“Violence and property damage at the ICE building or any other federal building will not be tolerated. If you assault a federal law enforcement officer or damage federal property, you will be arrested and federally prosecuted,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Since June 13, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office has charged 28 defendants with federal crimes for offenses committed at the ICE building, including assaulting federal officers, failure to comply, and depredation of government property.
Vogel made her first appearance in federal court today before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was released on conditions pending further court proceedings.
Felony assault of a federal officer is punishable by up to eight years in federal prison.
A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Mexican national receives 66 months following conviction for illegally reentering country for 4th timeRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
HOUSTON – A 44-year-old Mexican national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for entering the country without authorization, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Wilfredo Sanchez pleaded guilty May 22.
U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge has now ordered him to serve 66 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is again expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court considered his previous convictions and the dangerousness of his crimes, lack of respect for the law and need for deterrence.
Sanchez has felony convictions for illegal reentry as well as burglary of habitation and evading arrest with a motor vehicle. He was first removed in 2007 and illegally returned four times, most recently in February 2022. Authorities discovered him in Harris County following an arrest for evading detention.
He will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration Customs Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brooke Fuselier and Carrie Law prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Lincolnton Woman Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Linked to Teenager's Fatal OverdoseRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. –Madison Dare Winslow, 26, of Lincolnton, N.C., was sentenced on October 2, 2025, to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for selling fentanyl that caused a teenage victim to fatally overdose, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Tyler Whisenant of the Maiden Police Department join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement.
“This defendant knowingly sold fentanyl-laced pills to an unsuspecting teenager, with devastating consequences,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “As fentanyl continues to claim the lives of too many young people in our communities, drug dealers who callously push this deadly drug into our neighborhoods and endanger children will face the full weight of federal prosecution.”
“Fentanyl is a poison that continues to devastate families and communities across our nation. This case is a tragic reminder of the deadly consequences of fentanyl trafficking, especially when it targets our youth. HSI remains steadfast in its commitment to dismantling drug networks and holding those who profit from this lethal trade accountable. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to fight tirelessly to protect our communities and save lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Morant.
“With today’s sentencing, our hope is this outcome brings a measure of justice and accountability while underscoring the dangers these drugs present,” said Chief Whisenant. “The Maiden Police Department along with the family, friends, and our community remember and mourn the young life lost. The Maiden Police Department remains steadfastly committed to our mission of working to prevent drug overdoses, protect our community, and arrest those who choose to traffic in illegal drugs.”
According to court records and the sentencing hearing, Winslow was trafficking fentanyl in and around Catawba County. On February 14, 2022, Winslow sold fentanyl-laced pills to a 17-year-old that were pressed to appear as prescription pills containing oxycodone hydrochloride. On February 16, 2022, the minor ingested one or more of the pills sold to him by Winslow, causing the victim to fatally overdose. Based on the minor’s autopsy and toxicology report, the cause of the victim’s death was fentanyl toxicity.
Court records show that law enforcement interviewed Winslow regarding her connection with the victim’s fatal overdose. Winslow admitted to selling the pills to the victim and to knowing that the pills likely contained fentanyl. Worse, Winslow continued to traffic fentanyl after that, even though she knew the drugs she was selling were linked to a fatal overdose. On April 4, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on of Winslow’s vehicle. During the traffic stop, law enforcement determined that Winslow possessed 60 pills pressed to appear as oxycodone hydrochloride, later determined to contain fentanyl.
On February 13, 2025, Winslow pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl. She will remain in federal custody until she is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked HSI, the Maiden Police Department, and the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and remains the deadliest drug threat in the United States. Laboratory testing indicates 7 out of 10 pills seized by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. According to the DEA, in 2024, the agency seized more than 60 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 8,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. That’s equivalent to more than 380 million lethal doses of fentanyl. So far this year, the 2025 fentanyl seizures represent over 262 million deadly doses.
For information and resources related to substance use disorder, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit the online treatment locator.
Guatemalan National Sentenced for His Third Illegal Reentry ConvictionRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Francisco Reymundo-Reymundo, 30, a citizen of Guatemala, to eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally reentering the United States following removal. This marks Reymundo-Reymundo’s third illegal reentry conviction.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Field Office Director Jeremy Bacon, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office.
According to Court filings, the U.S. previously deported Reymundo-Reymundo four other times. Following his second removal, law enforcement encountered Reymundo-Reymundo for a third time in August 2014, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As a result, Reymundo-Reymundo was convicted of a felony for illegal reentry, resulting in his removal from the U.S. for a third time.
On July 9, 2019, law enforcement encountered Reymundo-Reymundo for a fourth time, this time in West Burlington, Iowa. Reymundo-Reymundo was again convicted of a felony for illegal reentry, resulting in his removal from the U.S. on September 14, 2020, for a fourth time.
Then on April 6, 2025, law enforcement encountered Reymundo-Reymundo for a fifth time, this time in Baltimore County, Maryland. Reymundo-Reymundo voluntarily and unlawfully reentered the United States on an unknown date.
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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ICE-ERO for its work in this investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys John D’Amico and Michael C. Hanlon who prosecuted the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Former Des Moines Superintendent Arrested on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
DES MOINES, Iowa – The former Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent, and citizen of Guyana made his initial appearance before a United States Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa today on a criminal complaint charging him with being an illegal alien in possession of firearms.
According to allegations in the criminal complaint, Ian Andre Roberts, 54, possessed four firearms on September 26, 2025, being an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States. Roberts will remain detained in federal custody pending further proceedings.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
"A copy of the criminal complaint may be located here: Ian Andre Roberts Criminal Complaint - 4:25-mj-630."
1 October 2025
Webster County Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
A man who possessed an unregistered short-barreled firearm pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.
Jason Jay Hoogland, 38, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession of an unregistered firearm, a short-barreled shotgun.
At the plea hearing, Hoogland admitted that on January 20, 2025, in Fort Dodge, he possessed a short-barreled 20-gauge shotgun which was not registered to him as required in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. That same day, he also possessed a stolen pistol. Law enforcement located these items, and drug paraphernalia, at defendant’s residence after executing a search warrant based on information that he had used a firearm to assault a person being treated at a local hospital. Later, on April 23, 2025, in Fort Dodge, Hoogland was found to possess another stolen firearm and short-barreled firearms not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Hoogland remains in custody of the United States Marshals Service and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Hoogland faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Fort Dodge Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
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 also 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).
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 25-CR-03033. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
U.S. Attorney's Office Files Petition to Enforce Administrative Subpoenas to Locate Violent CriminalsRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.— Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon and the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice filed a petition to enforce administrative subpoenas issued to four Oregon counties, including Clackamas, Washington, Multnomah, and Marion, seeking information to locate 10 violent felons who are likely subject to removal from the United States.
Following lengthy prison sentences, Oregon correction officials released 10 violent felons, who are likely subject to removal from the United States, into Oregon communities. Before their release, federal immigration authorities sent immigration detainers to Oregon officials seeking notification before Oregon officials released these criminal aliens into the community. State officials did not honor those detainers, like many others since 2021, and released the following 10 violent criminals into Oregon communities:
Criminal Alien 1 was first convicted in 2004 of Assault in the Second Degree, Assault in the Third Degree, and Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree and sentenced to over 60 months in prison. In 2008, Criminal Alien 1 was convicted of Manslaughter in the First Degree and sentenced to over 150 months in prison and post-prison supervision. He was released into the community in 2023.
Criminal Alien 2 was convicted in 2013 of three counts of Rape in the Third Degree and three counts of Sodomy in the Third Degree involving a minor child under the age of 16. Criminal Alien 2 was sentenced to over 90 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was subsequently convicted of nine counts of Sexual Abuse in the Second Degree and sentenced to several years in prison to run concurrent to the sentence in the prior case. He was released into the community in 2022.
Criminal Alien 3 was convicted in 2011 of Kidnapping in the First Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Assault in the Fourth Degree. He was sentenced to over 150 months in prison and post-prison supervision. He was released into the community in 2025.
Criminal Alien 4 was convicted in 2018 of Assault in the Second Degree, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree, Attempt to Commit a Class B Felony, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He was sentenced to over 60 months in prison and post-prison supervision. He released into the community in 2023.
Criminal Alien 5 was convicted in 2010 of two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving two separate victims who were under the age of 14. He was sentenced to over 60 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2022.
Criminal Alien 6 was convicted in 2015 of Rape in the First Degree. In his plea petition, he admitted an aggravating fact alleged in the indictment – that during this offense, he used or threatened to use a weapon. He was sentenced to over 90 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2023.
Criminal Alien 7 was convicted in 2015 of Rape in the First Degree. He was sentenced to over 120 months in prison with a lengthy term of post-prison supervision and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2023.
Criminal Alien 8 was convicted of three counts of Rape in the First Degree involving a child under the age of 12 and two counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree involving a child under the age of 14. He was sentenced to over 150 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2022.
Criminal Alien 9 was convicted in 2008 of Rape in the First Degree and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree and sentenced to over 90 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and required to register as a sex offender. Shortly after completing that sentence, Criminal Alien 9 was convicted in 2016 of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. He was sentenced to over 70 months in prison, post-prison supervision, and the continued requirement to register as a sex offender. He was released into the community in 2022.
Criminal Alien 10 was convicted in federal court of possessing and using a fake Border Crossing Card to enter the United States in October 2012. In early January 2013, upon release from federal prison, he was transferred to Oregon for an outstanding warrant, where he was subsequently convicted of Robbery and Kidnapping in the First Degree. He was sentenced to over 100 months in prison. He was released into the community in 2023.
The information sought by federal authorities will assist with apprehending these violent criminal aliens in order to remove them from the United States. Since 2021, Oregon public officials have disregarded immigration detainers and have released violent felons, who are likely subject to removal from the United States, into Oregon communities.
“Removing violent criminal aliens from our local communities and country is a matter of public safety and a top priority for federal law enforcement,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow Statement on the Lapse in Congressional AppropriationsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow released the following statement regarding the continuing operations of the Puerto Rico U.S. Attorney’s Office during a lapse in appropriations:
The Department of Justice, including the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, is comprised of components that have a broad array of national security, law enforcement, criminal justice, and other responsibilities. The Department’s mission is to enforce the law and defend the interests of the United States, to protect the public from all threats - foreign and domestic, to provide federal leadership in preventing crime and prosecuting criminals, including the protection of human life and property, and to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all.
Notwithstanding the lapse in Congressional appropriations, the public safety mission in Puerto Rico will continue to be carried out without interruption. The dedicated and hard working personnel in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all of our federal law enforcement partner agencies will remain steadfast and will not relent.
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Two Men Sentenced for Their Roles in Fentanyl Overdose Death of 17-Year-OldRead the Press Release
Two men who distributed fentanyl that caused the death of a seventeen-year-old boy were sentenced to federal prison on September 29, 2025, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Tecose Dchaz Martin, 38, of Mesquite, Texas, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison for his role in distributing fentanyl that led to the teen’s death, an offense to which he pled guilty in July 2025. In addition to this offense, his criminal history includes numerous prior drug felony convictions. Connor Miller, 22, of Richardson, Texas, likewise pled guilty in May 2025 to aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl resulting in the seventeen-year-old’s death. Miller was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison. Senior United States District Judge David C. Godbey sentenced both men.
According to plea documents and evidence presented in Court at sentencing, on January 30, 2024, Miller contacted co-defendant Jesse Medina, also known as “Plug,” to purchase fentanyl. Medina agreed to sell Miller the pills. Miller and a seventeen-year-old boy then travelled to meet Medina at a location on Harry Hines Boulevard in Dallas, Texas. Once there, Medina sold Miller and the teenager four fentanyl pills in exchange for $40. Miller and the teen travelled back to Miller’s residence, where they crushed up and used the fentanyl pills Medina had provided. The seventeen-year-old died after using the fentanyl. A review of the teen’s medical records revealed that he would not have died but for ingesting the fentanyl.
Electronic evidence gathered during the investigation allowed investigators to trace the fentanyl pills sold by Medina to Tecose Dchaz Martin, a/k/a “Blues Man.” Evidence presented in court revealed that Martin told a person identified as Moe, “We can get rich off blues [fentanyl pills],” about 10 minutes after sending Moe a message that contained a link to a news story from Denver, Colorado.
Information presented in court also revealed that Martin purchased fentanyl pills in quantities of 1,000 for $1.50 to $1.60 per pill. Martin then sold those pills to lower-level dealers such as Jesse Medina in varying quantities for $2 to $5 per pill. Martin admitted that he liked to sell fentanyl pills in larger quantities because he felt that there was “more chance of somebody O.D.’ing [overdosing]” for people who purchase four or five pills at a time. As such, Martin told officers he “didn’t really doodle in five and four” because he would rather have someone else deal with “all that.”
At the time of Martin’s arrest, officers located 88 fentanyl pills on Martin’s person, 805 fentanyl pills at his apartment, and two firearms. Court records reflect that Martin had multiple prior drug-related felony convictions, including a 2017 state court conviction for manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance in a drug-free zone. Martin received a 25-year sentence for that offense and was on parole at the time that he was selling fentanyl to Jesse Medina and others.
“Lengthy prison sentences are one step in our continuing fight against the deadly consequences of fentanyl trafficking,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Nancy E. Larson. “Every trafficker removed from the drug trade is a victory for our community. I commend the tireless work of our law enforcement partners in this investigation, which enabled my office to bring these defendants to justice. Our efforts won’t stop until the flood of deadly drugs into our community stops.”
“Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Field Division. “The sentences handed down to Mr. Miller and Mr. Martin is a clear message the production and trafficking of fentanyl will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods. DEA and all our law enforcement partners, such as the Richardson Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Texas, will continue to work together to keep this poison off our streets.”
“This sentencing sends a strong and necessary message to those who peddle poison in our communities: actions that result in the loss of life will be met with the full force of justice,” said Richardson Police First Assistant Chief Michael Bussiere. “We are proud to have worked alongside our federal, state, and local partners in bringing this case to a just conclusion. While no sentence can undo the heartbreak suffered by the victim’s family, we hope this outcome provides some measure of accountability and peace.”
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division and the Richardson Police Department conducted the investigation of this case with the Hickory Creek Police Department, the Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, the Mesquite Police Department, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Section. Special assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George Leal.
Texas Man Found Guilty of Sexually Assaulting a Passenger During a Flight Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Robert Sutherland MacLean, 59, of Frisco, Texas, was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment after he was convicted by a jury in July of abusive sexual contact in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
In addition to MacLean’s term of imprisonment, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Dale Kimball imposed a term of three years’ supervised release, a fine of $10,000, and ordered MacLean to pay $7,261.60 in restitution.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on March 1, 2022, during an approximately 3-hour flight from Chicago to Salt Lake City, MacLean repeatedly sexually assaulted the victim seated next to him in the first-class cabin of a United Airlines Flight. MacLean also made calculated and sexually laced statements to the victim throughout the duration of the flight.
According to court documents, MacLean has a history of misconduct on an airplane and was cited by the Federal Aviation Administration civilly for interference with a flight crew where his reported conduct was similar to conduct at issue in this case in which he was convicted.
The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Kennedy and Bryan N. Reeves of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
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*This press release was posted December 1, 2025, after the end of the federal government shutdown.Sugar Land man convicted in conspiracy involving smuggling firearms to IraqRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
HOUSTON – A 54-year-old Iraqi national has been convicted for conspiracy to violate gun export laws, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before finding Hassan Al Gharawi guilty on one count of conspiracy to violate export control laws following a three-day trial.
From approximately November 2020 to June 2021, Gharawi conspired with others to knowingly stockpile, conceal and transport firearms in vehicle parts bound for Iraq.
At trial, the jury heard Gharawi received two deliveries in 2020 and 2021 totaling approximately 77 firearms, which he had stored in his home.
On June 10, 2021, authorities observed Gharawi load firearms into his vehicle and transport them to a storage facility.
The jury saw photos of more than 500 firearms and listened to recordings of Gharawi discussing the trafficking plan.
The defense argued Gharawi acted under duress from the traffickers in Iraq. The jury rejected those claims after seeing the extent of his involvement and found him guilty as charged.
U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen presided over the trial and set sentencing for Jan. 21, 2026. At that time, Gharawi faces up to 20 years in prison for violating export laws. He also faces a maximum $1 million fine.
Previously released on bond, Gharawi was taken into custody following the conviction where he will remain pending sentencing.
FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Pearson, Steven Schammel and Heather Winter are prosecuting the case.
Second man sentenced for role in carjacking linked to human smugglingRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 19-year-old Richmond resident has been ordered to federal prison for stealing a car that was later used in an alien smuggling scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Christian Brayden Hardy pleaded guilty Oct. 2, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Hardy to serve 18 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of Hardy’s conduct and the fact that he took a bad situation, alien smuggling, and made it far worse.
Jesus Jonathan Rodriguez had recruited Hardy to help smuggle two aliens from McAllen to San Antonio for $1500. They initially traveled in a truck to pick up the aliens in the Rio Grande Valley, but it had mechanical problems and broke down several times. They then decided to steal an alternate vehicle.
Both men approached the driver of a Ford Fiesta. Hardy struggled with the victim, while Rodriguez brandished a firearm and told him it was not worth losing his life. Hardy then drove off in the stolen vehicle with Rodriguez as passenger.
They picked up the aliens and drove to the Border Patrol checkpoint in Falfurrias. Hardy claimed to be heading to Houston, while Rodriguez displayed nervous behavior and looked in every direction which prompted a referral to secondary inspection.
Law enforcement found two illegal aliens hiding in the trunk. They also discovered the vehicle had been stolen.
Hardy was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Rodriguez, 19, Houston, was sentenced Jan. 8 to 42 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol, Edinburg Police Department and Brooks County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Martin prosecuted the case.
President of Masonry Contractor Sentenced to 7½ Years in Prison for Conspiring to Bribe Amtrak Employee, Making a False ClaimRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mark Snedden, 70, of Munster, Indiana, was sentenced today to 90 months in prison, one year of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and joint restitution of $2,062,374 by United States District Judge Wendy Beetlestone, for conspiring to commit federal program bribery and making and presenting a false claim.
The defendant was charged by information in March of this year and pleaded guilty to the offenses in April.
As detailed in court filings, on or about December 10, 2015, a masonry restoration contractor (the “Contractor”) was awarded a $58,473,000 contract by Amtrak to be the main contractor on a façade repair and restoration project at Amtrak’s 30th Street Station in Philadelphia.
Federal funding supplied approximately 90% of the money Amtrak used to pay the Contractor for the repair and restoration of the 30th Street Station façade.
Snedden was the sole owner and President of the Contractor, with responsibility to provide executive oversight of the Vice Presidents of the Contractor and the Contractor’s performance on the 30th Street Station façade project.
Donald Seefeldt, charged elsewhere, was the Senior Executive Vice President of the Contractor, with responsibility to provide executive oversight of the Contractor’s performance on the 30th Street Station façade project.
Lee Maniatis, and Khaled Dallo, also charged elsewhere, were Vice Presidents of the Contractor, with responsibility to supervise the Contractor’s performance on the 30th Street Station façade project.
Amtrak Employee #1 was employed by Amtrak as the Project Manager on the repair and restoration project. In that capacity, Amtrak Employee #1 was responsible for communicating with the Contractor about the work being done on 30th Street Station. Amtrak Employee #1 was also responsible for reviewing the invoices, change orders, and requests for payment that the Contractor submitted to Amtrak. Amtrak Employee #1 had the power to approve or reject these invoices, change orders, and requests for payment. Although Amtrak Employee #1 did not have the singular authority to approve Amtrak payments to the Contractor, his approval was a critical step in that process.
The contract between Amtrak and the Contractor prohibited Snedden and other Contractor officials from “offer[ing] to any Amtrak employee, agent, or representative any cash, gift, entertainment, commission, or kickback for the purpose of securing favorable treatment with regard to award or performance of any contract or agreement.”
As detailed in the information and admitted to by the defendant, from in or about May 2016 through in or about November 2019, the defendant conspired with several others, including Amtrak Employee #1, Maniatis, Dallo, and Seefeldt, to knowingly and corruptly give, offer, and agree to give, a thing of value to Amtrak Employee #1, intending to influence and reward Amtrak Employee #1 in connection with any business, transaction and series of transactions.
Specifically, Seefeldt, Maniatis, Dallo, and others, with Snedden’s knowledge and agreement, provided Amtrak Employee #1 with gifts and other things of value totaling approximately $323,686, including, among other things, paid vacations, jewelry, cash, dinners, entertainment, a dog, training for that dog, and transportation, to ensure that Amtrak Employee #1 used his power and influence to benefit the Contractor during the performance of the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project.
In return for these gifts and other things of value, Amtrak Employee #1 allegedly used his position at Amtrak to access internal agency information available only to Amtrak employees about the 30th Street Station Project and shared this internal information with the defendant and other officials with the Contractor.
Court filings further allege that Amtrak Employee #1 used his position at Amtrak to approve additional, more expensive changes to the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project, thereby increasing the amount and value of the work to be performed by the Contractor. These additional expenses were reflected in a series of change orders or contract modifications. In total, Amtrak Employee #1 approved over $52 million of additional payments from Amtrak to the Contractor.
Amtrak Employee #1 and officials with the Contractor falsely inflated the true costs of some of the work to be performed by the Contractor under these change orders, causing Amtrak to be substantially overbilled by over $2 million for the completion of the 30th Street Station Repair and Restoration Project.
This case was investigated by the FBI, Amtrak Office of Inspector General, and Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Grenell.
Note: the posting of this press release was delayed, due to the federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.
Oxon Hill Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Lester Massey, Jr., 42, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, to 30 months in federal prison for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition. In July 2025, after a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted Massey of the federal crimes.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland announced the conviction with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).
According to the evidence presented at trial, on August 11, 2023, ATF agents, with the assistance of PGPD officers, executed a court-ordered search-and-seizure warrant at Massey’s residence. During the search, law enforcement located and recovered 243 live rounds of ammunition throughout the apartment.
Law enforcement also found assorted gun parts — including an AR style receiver — and a slide, spring, barrel, additional magazines, and gun tools. The ammunition traveled in interstate commerce prior to law enforcement finding Massey in possession of it in August 2023. Massey was previously convicted of two state crimes punishable by more than two years imprisonment and was aware that his criminal history prohibited him from possessing firearms and ammunition.
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.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and PGPD for their work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Appleby-Rumon and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Nicholas Potter who prosecuted the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Okmulgee Resident Found Guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Drugs and Illegally Possessing Firearms, Machine Gun, and SilencersRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA —The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Jason Dale Cole, age 46, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was found guilty at trial by a federal jury on ten counts of federal drug and firearm charges.
At trial, the federal jury found Cole guilty of:
- Two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine,
- One count of Possession of a Machine Gun,
- Two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm,
- Two counts of Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime,
- One count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana,
- One count of Possession of Unregistered Firearm,
- One count of Maintaining Drug Involved Premises.
The jury trial began with testimony on September 29, 2025, and concluded on October 1, 2025, with the guilty verdicts.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that in the early hours of November 18, 2023, an OHP trooper conducting a traffic stop discovered Cole in possession of two loaded pistols—one with a machinegun conversion device—and over 50 grams of methamphetamine individually packaged for distribution.
The United States also presented evidence of a search conducted later that same morning on Cole’s Okmulgee residence. There, law enforcement officers serving a search warrant found over 500 grams of methamphetamine and a large quantity of marijuana, both federally controlled substances, as well as scales covered in a crystal residue that later tested positive for methamphetamine, approximately $12,000 in cash, a money counting machine, seven firearms, and five unregistered silencers.
The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Cole will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals until sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarrod A. Leaman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.
Mother of the man who killed Sheridan Police Sergeant Nevada Krinkee is sentencedRead the Press Release
Eileen Marie Hurley, 71, of Sheridan, Wyoming, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison with one year of supervised release for transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person and for making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson on Oct. 1, 2025, in Cheyenne.
According to court documents, in May 2022, the defendant purchased three handguns and matching ammunition for her son, William Lowery in Sheridan. She specifically filled out Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) forms wherein she swore that she was the actual purchaser of the handguns. The defendant then gave them to Lowery even though she knew he was legally prohibited from possessing them due to his prior felony and domestic violence convictions.
On Feb. 13, 2024, Sheridan Police Sergeant Nevada Krinkee encountered Lowery when he served Lowery with a trespass notice outside a rental home where Lowery had been evicted. When Sergeant Krinkee attempted to restrain him, Lowery pulled a handgun from his waistband and shot Sergeant Krinkee several times in the presence of witnesses. Sergeant Krinkee sadly died from his injuries. Lowery was eventually shot and killed by law enforcement after a 30-hour standoff when he attempted to flee, armed with a rifle. Law enforcement found one of the pistols, purchased by the defendant, in the bathroom of the house where Lowery was barricaded. The other two handguns with ammunition purchased in 2022 by the defendant, were in Lowery’s truck.
In an initial interview with the ATF and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the defendant claimed she did not have “any idea where he [Lowery] got those guns.” Text messages exchanged between the defendant and her son indicated that she was specifically buying the guns for him despite knowing that her son was a violent felon, repeat domestic violence perpetrator, and drug addict. The ATF and DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige Hammer and Margaret Vierbuchen prosecuted the crime.
U.S. Attorney Darin Smith said, “If you buy a gun for a known violent prohibited person and they use that gun to commit a violent crime, you will be prosecuted. Although we cannot prevent all violent crime, this is the first line of defense in keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals who are a danger to our communities. We offer our support and condolences to the Krinkee family and the Sheridan Police Department. The government cannot obtain justice for the murder of Sgt. Krinkee, but others will now think twice before becoming a firearm straw-purchaser due to the precedent set in this case.”
“Having first served our country in the U.S. Army and later his community as a sergeant with the Sheridan Police Department, Sergeant Nevada Krinkee truly exemplified what it means to “protect and serve,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. “Tragically, his life was taken by a violent felon armed with a gun that was illegally purchased and transferred. Today’s verdict cannot bring back the son, father, husband, and friend that so many love. But we hope it serves as a powerful reminder: straw purchasing is not just illegal, it’s preventable and can have deadly consequences.”
"Today’s sentencing brings a mix of emotions for all of us. While it provides some accountability, it also reminds us of the deep pain caused by the loss of Sgt. Nevada Krinkee. Nothing can make our department or community whole again, but each step toward justice helps us continue healing and honoring Nevada’s memory. We are extremely grateful to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Attorney's Office, who worked tirelessly to see this case through,” said Chief of Police for the Sheridan Police Department Travis Koltiska.
This case was brought as a result 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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mobridge Man Sentenced to over 1 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Malicious Destruction of PropertyRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Mobridge, South Dakota, who was convicted of Malicious Destruction of Property. The sentencing took place on September 29, 2025.
Kendall Lee White Tail, age 34, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. White Tail was further ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,450.22.
White Tail was indicted by a North Dakota federal grand jury in March 2025. The case was transferred to South Dakota for plea and sentencing with the consent of the parties. White Tail pleaded guilty on August 4, 2025.
On the evening of January 18, 2024, White Tail escaped from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Correctional Facility in Fort Yates, North Dakota. During his escape, White Tail caused over $3000 of property damage to the facility. On January 26, 2024, law enforcement arrested White Tail at a residence in Bullhead, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandi Russell and Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
White Tail was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mission Man and Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison in Assault and Larceny CaseRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man and woman, both from Mission, South Dakota, following their convictions in an Assault and Larceny Case.
Moran and Lapointe were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
Julian Moran, age 31, pleaded guilty on June 24, 2025, to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon and Larceny. On September 29, 2025, he was sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Jalynn Lapointe, age 30, pleaded guilty on June 26, 2025, to Assault With a Dangerous Weapon. On September 30, 2025, she was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The convictions stem from an incident that occurred on September 8, 2024, in Mission, SD, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Moran confronted a man in the parking lot of a convenience store and punched him in the face, knocking the man to the ground. The victim got up and ran toward the store, but Moran pursued him and knocked him down again. Moran then produced an expandable baton and repeatedly struck the victim with the baton. Lapointe subsequently approached and repeatedly kicked the victim multiple times while he was lying on the ground. Moran noticed that the keys to the victim’s vehicle had fallen on the ground. He picked them up, walked to the victim’s vehicle, got inside, and drove away.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Moran and Lapointe were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Mexican national sentenced to 97 months for possession of sexually explicit videos and images of childrenRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 42-year-old man has been sentenced for possession of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Cesar Orlando Aldana-Aguirre pleaded guilty Sept. 27, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now sentenced Aldana-Aguirre to 97 months imprisonment for possession of child pornography. He was further ordered to pay $54,000 in restitution to the victims and will serve 20 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Aldana-Aguirre will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“Given his proclivities, Aldana-Aguirre is not somebody we want or need in our country,” said Ganjei. “Thanks to the excellent work of our law enforcement partners, he won’t be out walking the streets of community. This case is just one example of how Project Safe Childhood and a secure border work hand-in-glove to ensure predators aren’t free to victimize American citizens.”
On July 12, 2024, Aldana-Aguirre attempted to enter the United States through the Brownsville and Matamoros port of entry. Law enforcement referred him to secondary inspection where they conducted a search of his cell phone and located CSAM.
Forensic analysis of the devices resulted in the discovery of 219 videos and 149 images of CSAM.
Aldana-Aguirre will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ana C. Cano prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Mexican National Sentenced for Unlawfully Residing in Catoosa After Previous Deportation for Killing his 38-Day-Old BabyRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Mexican national who was found residing in Catoosa and was previously deported after killing his son was sentenced today for Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Carlos Ambriz-Estrada, 53, to 24 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. He is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence.
In March 2025, the Fugitive Operations Team with Immigration Customs Enforcement began investigating Ambriz-Estrada due to his prior conviction of deliberate homicide in Montana and the possibility of him being present in the United States unlawfully. He was arrested in April 2025 after law enforcement discovered that he was unlawfully living in Catoosa and that he did not have permission to re-enter the United States after being removed.
Court records show that in 1994, Montana law enforcement was dispatched to the hospital to investigate apparent child abuse. Ambriz-Estrada and his wife brought their 36-day-old baby to the hospital for treatment. The detective spoke with a doctor who confirmed that the baby had five broken ribs, detached retinas in both eyes, swelling of the head, bruises on the neck and abdomen, consistent with strangulation. The doctor reported that they believed the baby was strangled and without oxygen for some time, likely causing severe brain damage.
When being interviewed, Ambriz-Estrada admitted that he was angry with his wife and took it out on the baby. While the baby was crying, he squeezed the child’s throat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the baby lost consciousness. Afterward, he put the baby in a crib. The baby woke up crying one hour later, and Ambriz-Estrada admitted to picking up the baby and shaking him. Ambriz-Estrada told detectives the baby's breathing was irregular and appeared to have a seizure.
After two days in intensive care, the baby had no brain activity and was declared brain dead at 38 days old.
After pleading guilty to deliberate homicide, Ambriz-Estrada was ordered to 40 years imprisonment and served 12 years. After being released in 2006, Ambriz-Estrada was deported. After being deported, Ambriz-Estrada returned to the United States unlawfully sometime in 2020.
Ambriz-Estrada is expected to face removal proceedings following the sentence. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ammon Brisolara and Augustus Forster prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Mexican Man Guilty of Illegally Re-Entering the United StatesRead the Press Release
A man who illegally re-entered the United States after having been convicted of a felony offense pled guilty yesterday in federal court in Sioux City, Iowa.
Jesus Banuelos-Lepe, 49, who is a citizen of Mexico but had been living in Maurice, Iowa, was convicted of one count of illegal re-entry as a felon.
At the plea hearing, Banuelos-Lepe admitted that on July 20, 2025, he was arrested in Sioux County, Iowa, for operating vehicle while intoxicated. Following his arrest, he was booked into the Sioux County Jail but provided an alias to law enforcement. Further investigation proved his true identity as Banuelos-Lepe, a citizen of Mexico who had been removed from the United States on five occasions, and did not have permission to legally be in the United States. Banuelos-Lepe had previously been convicted of felony transportation of an illegal alien, in April of 2007, in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Banuelos-Lepe remains in custody of the United States Marshal Service and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Banuelos-Lepe faces a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security.
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).
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-04045. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Little Eagle Woman Sentenced to 3 Years of Federal Probation for Committing Child AbuseRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a woman from Little Eagle, South Dakota, convicted of Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on September 29, 2025.
Taleeya Rose Bird Horse, age 25, was sentenced to three years of federal probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bird Horse was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. She pleaded guilty on June 16, 2025.
The conviction stems from conduct that occurred between May 12, 2023, and November 21, 2023, when Bird Horse and co-defendant Leslie Bobtail Bear severely neglected their baby, leading to the child’s emergency hospitalization. The conduct occurred within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
Bobtail Bear also pleaded guilty to Child Abuse and was sentenced on September 15, 2025, to nine months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, authorizes certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country to be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Kenel Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Kenel, South Dakota, convicted of two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on September 29, 2025.
Jesse Norman White Bull, age 45, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, followed by ten years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
White Bull was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He was convicted on July 10, 2025, following a three-day federal jury trial.
At trial, the evidence established that on multiple occasions between June 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, White Bull sexually abused a juvenile girl, who was then between the ages of twelve and thirteen years old. The abuse included White Bull’s acts of groping the child’s genitalia under her clothing. The offenses occurred within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
White Bull was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Jefferson County Man Sentenced to More than 10 Years in Prison on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man has been sentenced on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Wayne Carnell Brown, 74, of Birmingham, to 130 months in prison. In February, Brown pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the plea agreement, on July 1, 2024, the Birmingham Police Department Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant on Brown’s residence. Detectives recovered multiple firearms, bulk cash, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and digital scales during the search.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Garnett prosecuted the case.
Individual Associated with the 5-9 Brims Gang Charged in Connection with August 17, 2025 Mass Shooting in Crown HeightsRead the Press Release
A complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Elijah Roy, also known as “Eli Spice” and “Swervo,” with crimes related to the August 17, 2025 shooting at Taste of the City Lounge in Brooklyn, New York, in which three individuals were murdered and an additional 10 were shot and injured. Specifically, Roy is charged with assault in-aid-of racketeering and with being a felon in possession of ammunition. The defendant is an associate of the 5-9 Brims, a subset of the Bloods street gang, operating in and around Brooklyn.
Roy was arrested on September 18, 2025 in North Carolina. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the complaint this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the charges and arrests.
“As alleged, the defendant and other associates of a violent gang unleashed gunfire in the middle of a crowded bar, creating a killing zone that, in a matter of seconds, left three people dead and 10 victims wounded,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Such a flagrant disregard for human life will not go unpunished and this prosecution underscores the resolve of our Office and law enforcement to eradicate gangs in the district. It is my hope that this arrest will give some comfort to the victims’ loved ones and the traumatized survivors of this heinous crime.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to FBI/NYPD Metro Safe Streets Task Force, Brooklyn South Homicide Squad, the 71st Precinct Detective Squad, Brooklyn South Video Collection Team, and the first responders to this mass casualty shooting incident.
“Elijah Roy, a Bloods associate, allegedly participated in a mass shooting in a crowded local restaurant, killing three and significantly injuring another ten in about six seconds,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “This alleged act of egregious violence harmed bystanders caught in the crosshairs of a gang’s territorial dispute. These Summer Heat arrests reflect the FBI’s unwavering determination to dismantle all criminal enterprises using our city for their turf war.”
“The charges brought against Elijah Roy marks another step forward in our mission to dismantle the violent street gangs that terrorize our communities with illegal firearms,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Alleged associates of the 5-9 Brims Gang turned a crowded club into a scene of carnage when they opened fire on their rivals, killing three people and wounding ten more. I would like to thank our NYPD investigators, including the Gun Violence Suppression Division who have carried out the most gang takedowns in the unit’s history this year, and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their hard work.”
As set forth in the criminal complaint, in the early morning hours of August 17, 2025, the defendant was present at Taste of the City Lounge, a restaurant and hookah bar in Brooklyn, New York. Roy was with other associates of the 5-9 Brims, including Marvin St. Louis, who died as a result of the shooting. Also present at the Lounge were individuals associated with the Folk Nation Gangster Disciples (or “GD”), a rival of the 5-9 Brims that operates in and around Brooklyn, New York, including Jamel Childs, another victim of the shooting. At approximately 3 a.m., associates of the 5-9 Brims began shooting at associates of GD, who returned fire. Roy then proceeded to shoot back towards where Childs and the group of GDs were standing. Within approximately six seconds, over 40 shots were discharged by the defendant and others into the crowded bar. As a result of the shooting three people died and ten were shot and injured.
The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Dana Rehnquist and Daniel J. Marcus are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Samantha Ward, Paul Padilla and Elizabeth Reed.
The Defendant:
ELIJAH ROY (also known as “Eli Spice” and “Swervo”)
Age: 25
Brooklyn, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-262
Illegal alien sentenced to 20 years for producing child sexual abuse materialRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
LAREDO, Texas – A 45-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced for sexual exploitation of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Felipe Hernandez-Mata pleaded guilty March 3.
U.S. District Judge John Kazen has sentenced Hernandez-Mata to serve 240 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court also heard additional information from the victim’s relative who described how the family trusted Hernandez-Mata and were shocked by what he did, commenting on how the trauma has deeply affected the child. In handing down the prison term, the court noted Hernandez-Mata effectively destroyed the minor victim’s life by exploiting her when he offered her money in exchange for child sexual abuse material. Hernandez-Mata was further ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution and will serve 10 years of supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Hernandez-Mata will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
“The American people have little patience for those that produce child sexual abuse material, particularly for those abusers who are illegally in the country,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas is committed to a secure southern border, which will keep people like Hernandez-Mata out of our country and away from our children.”
Hernandez-Mata admitted to asking a minor to take sexual images and videos of herself in exchange for money. He also admitted to sending the minor a photo of his genitalia.
The investigation began when a relative reported suspicious communications indicating Hernandez-Mata had directed the minor to send him nude photos.
Forensic analysis of the victim’s cell phone revealed Hernandez-Mata received, at his own direction, approximately 25 images and two videos containing child sexual abuse material. There were also images from Hernandez-Mata of various amounts of money.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine A. Cortez prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Illegal Alien Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – An illegal alien has been sentenced for producing child pornography involving a minor victim, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Juan Martin Sanchez-Suarez, 24, a citizen of Mexico, to 360 months in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. This conviction will require Sanchez-Suarez to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). As part of his sentence, Sanchez-Suarez was ordered to pay a $3,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Act. In November, Sanchez-Suarez pleaded guilty to production of child pornography.
According to the plea agreement, Sanchez-Suarez filmed himself engaging in a sex act with a 12-year-old female child. Sanchez-Suarez created the video without the child’s knowledge. He later sent the video to the child. Sanchez-Suarez was aware of the child’s age and told her that as long as neither of them told anyone, they would not get in trouble.
The Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case, along with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Lipscomb Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case.
If you believe someone is the victim of child sexual exploitation, please contact the Know2Protect tip line at 1-833-591-KNOW. All information received via the tipline will be reviewed by appropriate personnel and referred to HSI field offices for potential investigation. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org.
ICE takes very seriously its obligation to enforce our nation’s immigration and customs laws, and employs practices that are intended to accomplish this in a fair, efficient, and professional manner. If you have information, you may call our public tip line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (866-347-2423). For further information related to ICE, please visit our website at www.ice.gov.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit
www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Unlawful ReentryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Benjamin Vasquez-Hernandez, a/k/a Benjamin Vasquez, a/k/a Benjamin Santiago Vasquez, age 53, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Muskogee, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division.
The Indictment alleged that on July 31, 2025, Vasquez-Hernandez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on September 13, 2019.
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 Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Vasquez-Hernandez will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dak T. Cohen represented the United States.
ISIS Supporter Pleads Guilty to Material Support of TerrorismRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan, 23, pleaded guilty today to one count of Attempting to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“There is no margin for error when it comes to terrorism,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Hassan flew the ISIS flag, venerated attacks on the homeland, and wanted to kill Americans. We are not taking chances. We will not let Minnesota become a safe haven for terrorists.”
According to court documents, the FBI received a tip of an online social media user publicly supporting Al Shabab, and later ISIS, in multiple posts. Both Al Shabab and ISIS have been designated by the Secretary of State as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Further investigation showed that the posts were made by Hassan’s social media accounts. Hassan’s social media posts included, among other things, propaganda videos calling for jihad, or holy war, in Somalia, the overthrow of the Somali government and establishment of an Islamic caliphate, and logos of the black ISIS flag. Hassan highlighted and praised ISIS and ISIS-inspired terrorist attacks, both globally and in the United States, including the January 1, 2025 New Orleans attacker who killed 14 individuals. The day after the attack, Hassan referred to this murderer as “the legend that killed Americans.”
In December 2024, Hassan twice attempted to travel one-way from Minnesota to Somalia, via Ethiopia, with the intent to join and fight on behalf of ISIS. FBI agents conducted surveillance of Hassan on both attempts. On the first attempt, Hassan was denied boarding by the airline, because he did not have proper travel documents. After purchasing additional travel documents, including a visa, Hassan again attempted to travel to Somalia to join ISIS on the same one-way itinerary. Customs and Border Protection agents in Chicago interviewed and conducted a secondary inspection of Hassan and his belongings before his international flight to Ethiopia. Inside Hassan’s only carry-on bag, agents found Hassan’s birth certificate, naturalization certificate, and high school diploma.
An inspection of Hassan’s cell phones revealed multiple social media posts supporting ISIS and jihad, direct messages with an ISIS media wing, as well as text exchanges with an apparent ISIS recruiter, whom Hassan referred to as “uncle” and “commander,” discussing Hassan’s travel to Somalia and referencing the “battlefield.” Agents also located two downloaded .pdf documents regarding sniper skills and sniper trading within a social media messaging app channel displaying the ISIS flag as a logo.
During the interview, Hassan admitted that he supports ISIS, regularly views and posts ISIS propaganda on social media, and professed his belief in establishing an Islamic caliphate.
In February 2025, Hassan posted two videos of himself while driving his car. One video briefly displayed an unfolded buck-style knife on Hassan’s lap and the other video showed Hassan holding a homemade black ISIS flag while driving.
At the time of his arrest by FBI agents in late February 2025, the FBI seized two cellphones and the folding buck-style knife, noted above, on Hassan’s person, and the homemade black ISIS flag in Hassan’s vehicle. During a warrant-authorized search of Hassan’s cellphones, the FBI discovered, among other things, various .pdf files, some in Arabic, consisting of instruction manuals on making explosive C-4, explosive urea nitrate, explosive hexamine, explosive HMTD, and ammunition. The search also revealed a messaging app exchange from December 21, 2024 wherein Hassan stated, “I will become ISIS straight away.” Additionally, the cellphones revealed numerous internet searches about ISIS and ISIS activities between December 2024 and February 2025, including such terms as: “Somalia weapons,” “gun ranges,” “isis areas,” “urea fertilizer,” and “isis supporter America.”
“Today’s guilty plea reflects many hours of hard work by agents and analysts from the FBI,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “Keeping Minnesota safe from those who support Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations like ISIS and Al Shabab is a top priority of the FBI. ISIS and Al Shabab represent a clear threat to all Americans. We will identify and investigate anyone foolish enough to provide support to these terrorists.”
Hassan pleaded guilty this morning to Attempting to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization before District Judge Donovan W. Frank in U.S. District Court. The defendant’s sentencing hearing will be held at a later date. The defendant has been detained throughout this case and remains detained pending his sentencing.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, Customs and Border Protection, and the New York Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Bejar is prosecuting the case.
Final two members of deadly human smuggling ring sent to federal prisonRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Two Starr County residents have been sentenced for conspiring to smuggle illegal aliens from the Rio Grande Valley to other parts of the United States which resulted in multiple deaths, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Julia Isairis Torres, 39, and Erasmo Garcia, 24, Roma, pleaded guilty Sept. 27, 2023, and Oct. 3, 2023, respectively.
U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now imposed a 48-month-term of imprisonment for Torres, while Garcia received 32 months. Both must also serve two years of supervised release following their sentences. In handing down the prison terms, Judge Olvera noted the severity of human smuggling and admonished both that should they ever return to criminal activity, they could be facing extensive time in federal prison.
On March 24, 2019, law enforcement attempted to stop a Nissan Xterra in Duval County. The vehicle failed to stop, crossed into oncoming traffic and eventually overturned, killing four illegal aliens and seriously injuring six others.
The victims were from the countries Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Ecuador. One victim was a minor.
“Human smuggling is a dangerous and deadly business. Here, the reckless actions by these smugglers claimed four lives and endangered law-abiding citizens traveling on our roads,” Ganjei said. “If you’re thinking of employing an alien smuggler, think again. They will gladly risk your life—or sacrifice it—to make a few bucks.”
As part of their pleas, Torres and Garcia admitted to conspiring to transport illegal aliens using vehicles. Garcia admitted acting as a scout, while Torres admitted to recruiting others to serve as scouts during the smuggling attempt.
Garcia will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Torres was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol, Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, Police Departments in Port Mansfield and South Padre Island, Texas Rangers, Texas Game Wardens, Sheriff’s offices in Kenedy, Duval and Willacy Counties and the Willacy County District Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jose E. Arreola Jr. and Jose Esquivel Jr. prosecuted the case.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing and Attempting to Rob Banks and Credit UnionsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Dorian Trevor Sykes, 42, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to four counts of bank and credit union robbery and an attempted bank robbery, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Reuben C. Coleman, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, between March 6 and 12, 2025, Sykes robbed two credit unions and one bank of over $20,000 and attempted to rob one bank. In the last two incidents, Sykes used a high-end luxury car – rented at over $1,000 per day – which he also used to lead police on a high-speed chase.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 17, 2026. A conviction for bank and credit union robbery or attempted bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
This case was investigated by the FBI Macomb County Gang and Violent Crime Task Force, with assistance from Sterling Heights Police Department, Livonia Police Department, Redford Township Police Department, and Lathrup Village Police Department. This case was prosecuted by the Violent and Major Crimes Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Corpus Christi man sentenced for sexual exploitation of a childRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 20-year-old Corpus Christi resident has been ordered to prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Angel Valdez pleaded guilty April 28.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now sentenced Valdez to 72 months in federal prison. In handing down the prison term, the court noted the severity of the offense and Valdez’s past criminal conduct. Valdez was further ordered to serve 10 years on supervised release following the completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Valdez will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.
The investigation began in December 2023 when Valdez left a comment on a social media page supporting the work of an individual sentenced to prison in Australia for animal cruelty. Australian law enforcement subsequently began undercover conversations with Valdez, in which he spoke about his interest in animal cruelty and CSAM.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant June 28, 2024, which resulted in the discovery of a laptop containing CSAM. Valdez also admitted he had participated in distributing CSAM.
Valdez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and Corpus Christi Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of authorities in Australia.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Overman prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page. For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page.
Columbus man sentenced to life in prison for leading narcotics, sex trafficking & financial fraud conspiraciesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in federal court here today to life in prison for leading drug, sex trafficking and financial fraud conspiracies and then attempting to obstruct justice and tamper with witnesses. The defendant caused an overdose death, coerced addicts into prostitution, and used threats, violence, and manipulation of drug dependencies to ensure individuals carried out his criminal schemes.
Ricco Lamonte Maye, 43, was found guilty on all counts in November 2024 following a three-week jury trial.
“Ricco Maye used unrelenting violence as a tool to maintain control of the people he needed to carry out his many criminal schemes and finance his criminal lifestyle. His actions caused lives to be lost and numerous women to endure physical and emotional pain,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “The devastating repercussions of his actions in this case, the many years of violence that are documented in his criminal history, and his continuing disregard for the harm he has caused all warrant the life sentence he received today.”
Court documents and trial testimony detail that Maye used individuals to buy and sell drugs, sell women for sex, and fraudulently apply online for COVID-19 relief funds. Proceeds from all the crimes went to the defendant.
Beginning in at least 2018, Maye’s drug trafficking organization primarily distributed narcotics to addicts in street-level quantities. He regularly purchased narcotics from supply sources both inside and outside of Ohio and used addicts to help sell the drugs in Columbus. In addition to cash, Maye would accept stolen goods, gift cards, Social Security numbers, and other items as payment for the drugs.
Maye initially gave drugs to women for free and later manipulated their addiction by requiring them to earn drug money through prostitution. Maye provided the means for the women to engage in prostitution – frequently obtaining hotel rooms, having the women driven to the hotels, providing cell phones, and directing Internet prostitution ads. Maye collected the prostitution proceeds, enforced specific rules on the women, and punished the women through physical violence.
Maye also provided fentanyl that resulted in an overdose death. In November 2018, Maye communicated with the victim in the hours before his death. The victim had been obtaining cocaine from Maye off and on for years and sought to obtain cocaine from Maye again on the night of his death. Maye was out of town but instructed his co-conspirators to complete the drug sale to the victim. The co-conspirator gave the victim a fatal dose of fentanyl from Maye’s stash instead of the cocaine the victim sought.
Trial testimony detailed that Maye used violence against victims as part of overseeing his drug trafficking organization, including “stomping victims out,” smacking them, punching them, breaking their bones and knocking out their teeth.
In a financial conspiracy, Maye and other defendants filed for and received more than $30,000 in fraudulent Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Maye kept all or a portion of the others’ benefits.
Maye was originally charged by indictment in November 2020. Approximately one year later, the grand jury returned a 13-count third superseding indictment that charged Maye and 10 of his-coconspirators. After his initial arrest, while Maye remained in custody, he attempted to obstruct the ongoing investigation into his sex trafficking and other criminal activities and conspired to tamper with witnesses. Maye’s obstruction of justice included his directing the threatened murder of a potential government witness.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; John Smerglia, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Adam Lawson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other officials with the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which was formed under Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, announced the guilty verdicts. Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill and Assistant United States Attorney Kevin W. Kelley represented the United States in this case.
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Clinic owner arrested in multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving non-existent psychotherapy servicesRead the Press Release
Editor's Note: This matter occurred on date indicated, but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.
HOUSTON – A 47-year-old Houston resident has been taken into custody for his alleged role in a $4 million Medicare fraud and identity theft scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Dempsey Spears made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Bennett.
A federal grand jury in Houston returned a nine-count indictment Sept. 23, which was unsealed upon his arrest. The indictment alleges that from 2016 to 2024, Spears submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for psychotherapy services that were never provided.
According to court documents, Spears owned and operated two mental health clinics – Transitional Life Counseling and Consultation in Texas City and Spears Community Services in Mesquite. He allegedly continued billing under the names of seven licensed clinical social workers after they resigned from TLCC. The charges further allege he submitted claims for services purportedly provided to Medicare beneficiaries who were deceased at the time of the billed treatment.
From 2016 to 2023, Spears allegedly billed Medicare approximately $4 million in fraudulent psychotherapy claims tied to the seven former LCSWs and was paid approximately $1.5 million.
If convicted, Spears faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each count of health care fraud. He could also receive an additional two years for aggravated identity theft which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. The charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
The Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson is prosecuting the case.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
California Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Threatening Federal Judge in Northern District of TexasRead the Press Release
A California woman was sentenced today to the statutory maximum sentence after pleading guilty to transmitting an interstate threat to a United States District Judge based in the Northern District of Texas, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Dolly Patterson admitted in court that on or about April 16, 2023, she knowingly sent a threatening message via an online “Contact Us” form directed at a federal judge in Amarillo. The message, transmitted from California to Texas, read: “Tell that anti-abortion judge he better watch his back . . . for the rest of his life!”
Ms. Patterson acknowledged that she sent the message with the intent that it be perceived as a genuine threat and with knowledge that it would be viewed as such. She further agreed that the communication constituted a true threat to injure another person under federal law.“The safety of our federal judiciary is paramount,” said Acting United States Attorney Nancy Larson. “Threats of violence to our judges are becoming all too common—whether made online or in person. Such threats are illegal and will be prosecuted.”
The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service.