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17 September 2025
Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Honduran national residing in Fall River, Mass., pleaded guilty today to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Denis Aguirre-Murillo, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin scheduled sentencing for Nov. 12, 2025. The defendant was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025.
Aguirre-Murillo has been deported from the United States to Honduras on three occasions, in July 2007, March 2016 and January 2021. Sometime after his January 2021 removal, Aguirre-Murillo unlawfully re-entered the United States at an unknown time and place. Immigration authorities became aware that Aguirre-Murillo was unlawfully present in the United States on May 4, 2024, when he was arrested under an alias in Fall River for charges that included intimidation and rape. The rape charge was later amended to an indecent assault and battery charge.
Immigration authorities lodged a detainer for Aguirre-Murillo. However, on Feb. 19, 2025, Aguirre-Murillo was released from local custody without notification. He was later located and taken into immigration custody on May 29, 2025.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Havre man sentenced to 4 years in prison for illegal possession of multiple firearmsRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS – A Havre man who illegally possessed firearms was sentenced today to 48 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Emil Martin Lundstrom, 59, pleaded guilty in May 2025 to prohibited person in possession of a firearm.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on October 10, 2017, Emil Martin Lundstrom was sentenced to 20 years with 5 years suspended on eight counts of felony theft in the Montana Seventeenth Judicial District Court, Phillips County.
On September 6, 2024, law enforcement responded to a Havre business to remove Lundstrom from the property because his employment was being terminated due to theft from the business. Officers learned from the owners Lundstrom had previously been found with bullet shell casings in his work pickup and they knew he was not allowed to be in possession of firearms because he was on probation.
A probation search was executed on Lundstrom’s work pickup. A Ziploc bag with what appeared to be several rounds of 9mm full metal jacket cartridges was found in the pickup.
Law enforcement also searched Lundstrom’s residence and a camper on his property. In the residence, officers found several rifle barrels and rifle buttstocks in a back bedroom under bed sheets, and three firearms in the walk-in closet of Lundstrom’s bedroom, along with a safe containing cash.
In the camper, officers seized pistols, rifles, and shotguns in the living and kitchen areas and a .22 caliber pistol in a black case under the bed mattress.
When the officers asked Lundstrom if they had recovered all the firearms, he suggested they check a pile of items in the garage, which led to the discovery of another rifle in a gun case.
During an interview with law enforcement, Lundstrom admitted he knew he was prohibited because he was on probation. He also said he had acquired many of the firearms before he was placed on probation in 2017, but he purchased additional guns from individuals after being placed on probation. Lundstrom said he bought firearms through private parties after being placed on probation because he could not purchase them from an FFL. He also obtained hunting permits to hunt with firearms for several years after being placed on probation, which he knew would last for the next 20 years.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the ATF, Hill County Sheriff’s Office, and Montana Probation and Parole.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Guatemalan National Illegally Residing in the United States Indicted on Fraud Charges Related to the Sponsorship of Unaccompanied Alien ChildRead the Press Release
An indictment unsealed today in the Middle District of Louisiana charges a Guatemalan national residing illegally in the United States with fraud related to the submission of an application to sponsor an unaccompanied alien child (UAC).
“As alleged, this defendant made fraudulent misstatements to the U.S. government to try to sponsor an unaccompanied child in the United States,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti, of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Defendants who lie to secure the care and custody of an unaccompanied child threaten the government’s ability to ensure that the child is placed in a safe environment with a proper caregiver. The Criminal Division is fully committed to protecting vulnerable children and delivering justice to those who violate the law.”
“I would like to thank our prosecutor and our partners for their tireless work on this matter,” said U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis for the Middle District of Louisiana. “We are committed to eliminating the exploitation of minors and their families by unscrupulous traffickers, and appreciate the resources which were brought to bear by federal authorities to bring this defendant to justice.”
“Deliberately attempting to defraud a government program designed to safeguard vulnerable children is a reprehensible act that demands accountability,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “In close coordination with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to rigorously pursue those who attempt to exploit the Unaccompanied Alien Children’s program and ensure they are held fully accountable under the law.”
According to court documents, Felix Coc Choc, 29, of Rogers, Arkansas submitted an application to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under penalty of perjury to sponsor and obtain custody of a UAC after the UAC entered the United States illegally.
As alleged in the indictment, after a 16-year-old Guatemalan UAC entered the United States illegally in January 2023, Coc Choc submitted an application to sponsor the UAC. Coc Choc allegedly falsely claimed to be the UAC’s brother and asserted that his own name was J.C.J. as listed on a Guatemala national identification card that he submitted in support of the sponsorship application. After initially denying that he was using another individual’s identity, Coc Choc admitted to the misrepresentation. Coc Choc then filed a sponsorship application in his true name. ORR denied this application as a result of the alleged fraud.
Coc Choc is charged with one count of making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement, and one count of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the false statement count, and a mandatory consecutive penalty of two years in prison on the aggravated identity theft count.
These charges are the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and other transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the Americas, including Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Colombia, and the Caribbean that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border, the Northern District of New York, the District of Vermont, and the Southern District of Florida. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), the Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO), and the Office of International Affairs (OIA), among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 415 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 355 U.S. convictions; more than 305 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.
HHS-OIG is investigating the case. Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Legal Attaché team in Guatemala, HSI’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking in Washington, D.C., and ORR provided valuable assistance.
JTFA Trial Attorneys Aaron Jennen and Nicole Lockhart, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from Samantha Usher of the Justice Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
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 other 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 Project Safe Neighborhoods.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Guatemalan National Charged for Resisting Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
BOSTON– A Guatemalan national has been charged in federal court in Boston after allegedly resisting and assaulting federal officers during an immigration arrest.
Manolo Morales Lopez, 29, was charged with one count of forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers while they carried out official duties, prosecutors announced. The defendant appeared in federal court in Boston on Sept. 12, 2025 and was released on conditions.
The complaint alleges that on Sept. 12, 2025, Morales Lopez forcibly resisted and assaulted agents as they attempted to arrest a woman for a violation of the immigration laws in Woburn, Mass. As agents attempted to remove the woman from a car, Morales Lopez allegedly leaned toward the woman and began holding onto her arm, preventing her removal. After the agents warned Morales Lopez repeatedly that he could be subject to arrest himself for interfering with the arrest of the woman, the agents attempted to remove him from the vehicle. It is alleged that after the agents succeeded in getting Morales Lopez out of the car, he raised his arm up and over the head of one of the agents and grabbed him around the neck from behind. The agent ducked under Morales Lopez’s arm to avoid being put in a choke hold or headlock. Morales allegedly continued to struggle and resist the agents as they attempted the put him in handcuffs.
The charge of forcibly assaulting, resisting, opposing, impeding, intimidating, or interfering with federal officers engaged in the performance of official duties provides for a sentence of up to eight years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Richardson of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Guam Man Sentenced for Flying Drone over Military InstallationRead the Press Release
Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Billy Cao Cruz, age 54, was sentenced on September 11, 2025, in the District Court of Guam to two months home confinement for Violation of National Defense Airspace, in violation of 49 U.S.C. §§ 46307 and 40103. The Court also ordered two years of supervised release and a mandatory $25 special assessment fee.
On February 1, 2025, Billy Cao Cruz uploaded a video to his YouTube channel, "Planet Guam," which depicted sensitive footage of a military installation in Guam. The video garnered close to 12,000 views before being taken down. Cruz was previously warned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about photographing military installations.
On April 16, 2025, FBI agents met with Cruz at his residence. During this meeting, Cruz admitted to continuing to operate a specific drone, citing its fewer restrictions and the absence of notification requirements to local airports. In using this specific drone, Cruz stated, "You get away with a lot of things." Following a discussion about the national security concerns raised by the FBI and military, Cruz removed the video from YouTube and expressed understanding the potential threats posed by foreign adversaries, who might use the footage to target United States military installations.
“Nearly all of the airspace over Guam is subject to flight restrictions by aircraft operators,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “These restrictions help ensure the safe operation of commercial, military, and private aircraft. As this case demonstrates, they also protect our national security, including the military personnel who keep our homeland safe. We encourage anyone with knowledge of this activity to contact the FBI at the earliest opportunity.”
“Defending the homeland is at the core of the FBI’s mission, and that includes safeguarding the security of our national defense installations,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “This was not the first time Mr. Cruz had been warned about operating a drone over a military site, and this case demonstrates the consequences drone operators face when they choose to ignore the law in this manner. The FBI will continue to investigate and hold accountable anyone who compromises the national security of the United States and its citizens.”
This investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and collaboration with Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Aviation Administration, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Leon Guerrero prosecuted this case in the District of Guam.
Franklin County Man Who Recorded Sexual Abuse of Toddler Sentenced to 40 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Wednesday sentenced a man who recorded pictures and videos of his sexual abuse of a one-year-old to 40 years in prison.
“This is one of the worst cases of sexual abuse that I’ve seen in 25 years as a judge,” Judge Ross told William Burns before sentencing him. Judge Ross also ordered Burns to pay $146,500 to the victims who appear in the child sexual abuse material he possessed.
Burns, 41, and Rachel Burns, 35, pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to produce child pornography and two counts of production of child pornography. William Burns also pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography and an additional count of production of child pornography.
The Burns were arrested on July 30, 2023, by the University City Police Department. The couple thought they were meeting an 11-year-old girl, and planned to bring her home and sexually abuse her. Rachel Burns told investigators that her husband had child sexual abuse material on multiple electronic devices, leading to a court-approved search by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies then found electronic devices, as well as whips, numerous sexual devices and a 3-foot-7-inch-tall silicone sex doll made to resemble a prepubescent female in their home, their plea agreements say.
Investigators also found a 2022 video showing the couple sexually abusing a one-year-old. They found other videos and images from 2022 and 2023 showing that victim, the couple admitted in their plea agreements. Investigators also found 13,954 image and video files depicting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on a computer and digital storage devices. William Burns used a WhatsApp social media account to exchange CSAM with other WhatsApp users.
In an earlier hearing on September 3, a woman who met William Burns when she was 18 and he was 33 said he initially presented himself as a “man of God” before physically and sexually abusing her. He showed her a video of the rape of an infant. She said he told her that he wanted to have children with her and then have sex with their children.
Burns “has just left a trail of wreckage behind him in his life,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes said in court Wednesday. “He was dedicated to the sexual abuse of children.”
Rachel Burns, 35, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 15. The U.S. Attorney’s office has agreed to recommend no more than 35 years in prison for her.
The University City Police Department, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Former Waterbury Resident Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Multiple Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARLENIN VITO, 45, formerly of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to 41 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for multiple fraud schemes.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Vito was employed as Medicaid Coordinator at an assisted living facility (“Company A”) located in Stamford. Vito’s responsibilities included assisting the residents in applying for nursing home level Medicaid reimbursements, monitoring the residents’ patient trust accounts, and ensuring compliance with Medicaid regulations. She was also responsible for keeping journal entries for the residents’ trust accounts and to credit their accounts when funds were received, and for debiting patient accounts when payments were made on behalf of the residents or when cash was given to residents for incidental expenses.
Between approximately December 2019 and May 2021, Vito defrauded Company A and its residents by generating checks from Company A’s system, forging a fellow employee’s signature on the checks, negotiating the fraudulent checks purportedly to give the cash proceeds to certain residents, and keeping the cash for her own use. Vito then made false entries into Company A’s accounting ledger by debiting the fraudulently obtained cash from the residents’ respective trust accounts. Many of the residents were not healthy enough or mentally capable of tracking their own expenses or monitoring the balances of their own trust accounts.
In certain instances, Vito cancelled residents’ supplemental health insurance coverage, but continued to deduct funds from the trust accounts and took the funds for herself. Also, when certain residents’ trust accounts were credited with Economic Impact Payments (COVID-19 stimulus payments), Vito took the funds for herself and then debited the residents’ accounts at a rate of approximately $60 a day until the stimulus funds were depleted.
During the scheme, Vito fraudulently negotiated approximately 500 checks, stealing approximately $310,820. When she was confronted by family members of certain residents, Vito created and provided to those family members false account statements that misrepresented the balances in the residents’ trust accounts.
After she was terminated by Company A, Vito obtained employment as a bookkeeper and scheduler at an alarm company (“Company B”) located in White Plains, New York. Vito stole from the company by making false representations about overtime for herself and her daughter, and by using company funds to order more than $10,000 worth of products to be delivered to her Waterbury residence. Company B was defrauded of approximately $23,558 through these schemes.
After she was terminated by Company B, Vito was employed as a bookkeeper at a law firm in Hartford (“Company C”). Vito took fraudulently generated checks drawn on Company C’s bank account and issued as “Pay to the Order of ‘Petty Cash, ’” forged the signature of an authorized employee on the checks, cashed the checks, and kept the funds for herself. She then recorded the fraudulently negotiated checks in Company C’s books and records as “Petty Cash.” Vito stole approximately $27,179 from Company C.
Judge Oliver ordered Vito to pay full restitution.
On June 13, 2025, Vito pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
Vito, who is released on a $25,000 bond and residing in the Bronx, New York, is required to report to prison on October 17.
Vito has pending state cases in New York, where it is alleged that she embezzled approximately $100,000 from a small business in Brewster, New York, and in Connecticut, where she is alleged to stolen from an employer in Ridgefield.
This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Stamford Police Department, Hartford Police Department, Ridgefield Police Department, and the Putnam County (N.Y.) Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael S. McGarry and Nathan J. Guevremont.
Former Metropolitan Police Department Officer Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking a MinorRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Linwood Barnhill, 59, a registered sex offender residing in the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to sex trafficking a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
According to court documents, between April 2024 and April 2025, Barnhill, a former Metropolitan Police Department officer, recruited minor girls to engage in commercial sex acts. Barnhill collected over $10,000 in profits from one of the minor girls whom he exploited in commercial sex. Barnhill also used his victims to find additional minor girls to victimize, by forcing them to work in commercial sex.
Judge Jia M. Cobb scheduled sentencing for Dec. 12, 2025. Sex trafficking of a minor carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life.
This case was investigated by FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Burrell.
This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Former D.C. Corrections Employee Sentenced to Prison Time for Accepting Bribes to Smuggle ContrabandRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Herbert Baylor, 68, a former D.C. Department of Corrections caseworker who resides in the District, was sentenced today to six months in federal prison followed by a term of six months of home detention in connection with his role in a contraband smuggling scheme at a facility operated by the Department of Corrections (DOC), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Pamela Porter, 56, also of the District, was sentenced to six months of home detention for her role in the scheme.
Baylor pleaded guilty April 16 to one count of bribery before U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan. In addition to the six-month prison term and six months of home detention, Judge Chutkan ordered Baylor to serve one year of supervised release and complete 60 hours of community service.
Porter pleaded guilty April 17 to one count of bribery. In addition to six months of home detention, Judge Chutkan ordered Porter to complete 60 hours of community service.
Joining in the announcement were FBI Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the Washington Field Office Criminal Division and D.C. Department of Corrections Director Thomas Faust.
According to court documents, Baylor was a case manager employed by DOC to assist and manage inmates housed at the Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF), a specialized medium security facility that houses inmates receiving specialized medical treatment or monitoring related to substance dependencies.
Beginning in October 2023, Baylor worked with Inmate-1 and others to smuggle contraband into CTF in exchange for money. Specifically, Inmate-1 directed his non-incarcerated associates, including Pamela Porter, to send CashApp payments to Baylor. Baylor then hid cigarettes or controlled substances on himself to clear security at CTF. Once through security, Baylor brought Inmate-1 to his office and provided him with the contraband. Inmate-1 then distributed the contraband to other inmates at CTF in exchange for money. As part of this scheme, Porter sent Baylor $1,200. In total, Baylor received $7,995, between Oct. 20, 2023, and June 21, 2024.
On Sept. 19, 2024, Inmate-1 asked Baylor if Inmate-1 could call his attorney to talk about an appeal. Baylor authorized the inmate’s request. But instead of calling an attorney, Inmate-1 called Individual-1 to set up the delivery of prohibited objects to be smuggled into CTF. Baylor agreed to smuggle Suboxone strips into the CTF facility for Inmate-1. Suboxone strips contain Buprenorphine—a Schedule III narcotic drug.
On Sept. 23, 2024, Baylor met Individual-1 in the parking lot of CTF. Baylor accepted $1,000 in cash from Individual-1 and received a cigarette carton Baylor believed to be filled with Suboxone strips. Following the meeting with Individual-1, Baylor placed the $1,000 in his personal vehicle. He put the cigarette carton inside his underwear. Baylor went through security at the entrance to CTF and entered the facility. At that time, he was arrested.
As a DOC employee, Baylor’s conduct was governed by the DOC’s Contraband Control policy which states that trafficking contraband of any kind to inmates is strictly prohibited. The policy describes any illegal drug or controlled substance and any tobacco product as major contraband. Additionally, federal law makes it a crime to provide “prohibited objects” to an inmate. Prohibited objects include any controlled substance or any object that threatens “the order, discipline, or security of a prison, or the life, health, or safety of any individual.”
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the D.C. Department of Corrections Office of Investigative Services. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold.
Baylor: 25cr87
Porter: 25cr59
Former Chief and Captain of Bethany Beach Police Department Receive Prison Sentences for Theft of Federal FundsRead the Press Release
Wilmington, Del. – Two men, the former Chief and Captain of the Bethany Beach Police Department, have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment for theft of federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Julianne E. Murray. Michael Redmon, 58, of Selbyville, was sentenced to 13 months in prison, and ordered to pay restitution of $81,890 and a fine of $50,000. Darin Cathell, 50, of Frankford, was sentenced to two months in prison followed by six months of home detention and ordered to pay restitution of $67,790 and a fine of $25,000.
According to court documents, Redmon, the former Chief of the Department, and Cathell, the former Captain of the Department, spent years claiming to work overtime shifts that they did not, in fact, work. Redmon falsely claimed at least 174 overtime shifts, totaling at least 760 hours and at least $81,890. Cathell falsely claimed at least 185 overtime shifts, totaling at least 800 hours and at least $67,970. Some of the funds Redmon and Cathell received were federal grant funds.
U.S. Attorney Murray stated, “Michael Redmon and Darin Cathell were sworn to uphold the law. They instead broke it – over and over, for years and years – to the detriment of the Town of Bethany Beach, their fellow officers in the Bethany Beach Police Department, and indeed every citizen who puts their faith in law enforcement. These just sentences reflect the seriousness of the defendants’ crimes.”
“Not only did they fail to lead by example, Michael Redmon and Darin Cathell betrayed the Bethany Beach community and their police colleagues. Their greed fueled a lengthy overtime fraud scheme, overtaking the oath they swore. As these sentences show, no one is above the law and the FBI is committed to rooting out corruption on behalf of the hard-working officers who carry out their duties honestly and honorably," said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno.
U.S. Attorney Murray made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly. The case was prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and investigated by the FBI and the Delaware Attorney General’s Office.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 25-CR-01-CFC and 25-CR-02-CFC.
Florida Man Convicted at Trial of Mail Fraud in Connection with Mass-Mailing ScamRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that, on September 15, 2025, ROBERT W. LEDERHILGER III was convicted of mail fraud in connection with a years-long, mass-mailing scam. The defendant was found guilty following a one-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter.
“Robert W. Lederhilger III defrauded tens of thousands of small businesses over the course of more than seven years,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Lederhilger mailed fake bills for webhosting services to businesses across the country and collected payments from victims without providing them with webhosting—or any other service. This federal criminal conviction demonstrates that New Yorkers will not tolerate fraud and want those who victimize the public through lies held accountable.”
According to the Indictment, statements made in public court proceedings and filings, and the evidence at trial:
Beginning in 2015, LEDERHILGER operated companies through which he purported to offer webhosting services. LEDERHILGER designed and executed a scheme in which he mailed, and caused others to mail, over three million mailers that looked like invoices for webhosting services. LEDERHILGER sent those mailers to, among others, small businesses that already had websites in order to make those businesses believe that LEDERHILGER was their current webhosting provider and that they needed to pay him. When victim businesses made payments to LEDERHILGER, they received no service in return. The only thing the victims received was a “renewal” bill a year later, asking for another payment. Between approximately 2015 and 2021, LEDERHILGER made at least approximately $2.99 million from this scheme.
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LEDERHILGER, 44, of Bradenton, Florida, was convicted of one count of mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Camille L. Fletcher, Getzel Berger, Kevin Grossinger, and Daniel G. Nessim are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Christopher Harris and Alexandra LeBaron.
Felon Charged with 7 Counts in Connection to Armed Robberies in AustinRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – A Kyle man made his initial appearance in federal court after being indicted for multiple alleged armed robberies that occurred in June and July.
According to court documents, Yael Williams Jr., 38, a convicted felon, allegedly used a firearm during robberies at a Subway restaurant and two 7-11 stores in Austin over the summer. An indictment alleges that, in the presence of store employees, Williams obtained U.S. currency and other property by means of actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury, by threatening the employees with a .22 caliber revolver.
Williams is charged with three Hobbs Act robberies, one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a felon. If Williams is convicted, 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.
The Austin Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Buie is prosecuting the case.
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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Former Contractors for the Florida Prepaid College Program Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy, Fraud, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, FLORIDA – Julie Michelle Shuler, 32, and Taylor Skiey Bradham, 26, both of Tallahassee, Florida, were sentenced to 36 months and seven months in federal prison, respectively, after previously pleading guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Shuler was also sentenced to prison for four counts of mail fraud. The sentences were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These defendants sought to exploit Florida parents’ investments in their children’s futures for their own personal gain, but thanks to the diligent collaboration between my office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, their profiteering scheme has been dismantled and a prison cell awaits them.”
Court documents reflect that Shuler and Bradham worked for the company contracted to provide customer service and records administration service for the Florida Prepaid College Program. According to court records, Shuler and Bradham used their positions to fraudulently access and view the personal identifying information (PII) of Florida Prepaid College Program account owners and beneficiaries. Records show that the women used and conspired to use such PII to fraudulently change ownership of existing Florida Prepaid College Program contracts and plans without the authorization or knowledge of the account owners or beneficiaries. Shuler and Bradham then fraudulently took over control, and conspired to take over control, of such accounts to request termination of those contracts. By canceling the contracts, Shuler and Bradham caused refund checks to be mailed by the Florida Prepaid College Program to addresses that they designated. Once the checks were delivered, Shuler and Bradham, and others working at their direction, cashed or deposited the checks into bank accounts. In doing so, Shuler and Bradham stole or attempted to steal approximately $86,000 in Florida Prepaid College Program funds.
“These defendants targeted students pursuing their education and, stole money intended to pay for college,” said Bladismir Rojo, Acting Inspector in Charge, Miami Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is relentless in pursuing anyone who exploits the financial system to steal money from unsuspecting victims.”
After their imprisonment, Shuler and Bradham will be required to serve three years of supervision upon their release. Both defendants were also ordered to pay restitution to the Florida Prepaid College Program and its insurance carrier.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 33 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Ralph Daniel Clark Ricon, age 49, was sentenced on September 11, 2025, in the District Court of Guam to 33 months imprisonment for Possession of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered three years of supervised release, 50 hours community service, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits. Ricon is a lawful permanent resident who also faces deportation because of this conviction.
On the evening of April 5, 2024, Guam International Airport Police officers initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Ricon. During the stop, the defendant claimed to be Rodrigo Clark Ricon. He appeared to be nervous, heavily sweating, and having difficulty speaking. He was unable to provide a valid driver's license, or any documents related to the vehicle. Ricon verbally consented to a search of his vehicle. Officers seized several bags containing 80.6 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, and drug packaging material. Following the search, DEA Task Force agents responded to the scene. After being advised of his rights, Ricon admitted to possessing the methamphetamine.
At the time of the traffic stop, there was an active arrest warrant for "Rodrigo Clark Ricon." The Department of Correction positively identified Ricon and determined he had two open Superior Court felony drug cases with warrants for failure to report and failure to appear.
“I applaud the relentless efforts of our local and federal law enforcement partners in combatting drug trafficking on island,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “This successful prosecution resulted in another repeat offender going to federal prison.”
“Methamphetamine remains a top killer in our country. This deadly drug is extremely potent, unrelenting, devastating families and crushing dreams. Each time we take a drug dealer off the streets; we make a difference,” said Brian M. Clark, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Field Division, which oversees Guam. “Today’s sentencing should put drug distributors on notice. If you choose to push poison to line your pockets, you will be held accountable for your actions. DEA and law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our commitment to protect the health and safety of our island communities.”
This investigation was conducted the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Guam International Airport Authority Police.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devarup Rastogi in the District of Guam
Dominican National Sentenced to a Decade in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Dominican national residing in the Bronx, N.Y., was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in operating a fentanyl distribution hub in the Bronx that sent fentanyl laced with xylazine, a horse tranquilizer, throughout Massachusetts, Vermont and New York.
Jairo Collazo, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In May 2025, Collazo pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Collazo was charged by criminal complaint in April 2024 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2024.
Collazo, and others, operated a fentanyl distribution hub out of a basement in the Bronx, from which he distributed fentanyl to destinations including Boston, Mass.; Fitchburg, Mass.; Springfield, Mass.; Syracuse, N.Y.; and the State of Vermont. Collazo and his coconspirators, whom he called “employees,” used the basement to package fentanyl into glassine wax paper bags for distribution. Collazo traveled to Massachusetts on two occasions, in December 2023 and January 2024, to distribute fentanyl to a witness working with law enforcement. On April 12, 2024, during a search of the Bronx basement, fentanyl packaged for distribution, materials used for cutting fentanyl with other substances and bottles of xylazine were recovered. Collazo used xylazine to cut the fentanyl and offered to sell it to the cooperating witness. More than two kilograms of fentanyl was seized from Collazo.
According to court records, in 2021, Collazo pleaded guilty in New York Supreme Criminal Court to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree (heroin) and was sentenced to two years in state prison. Collazo was deported to the Dominican Republic and returned.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Fitchburg Police Department and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Davenport Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender While on Federal Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced on September 15, 2025, to 180 months in federal prison for attempting to entice a minor and failure to register as a sex offender.
According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Gerald Brian Hoard, 52, was on federal supervised release due a 2022 conviction for attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor. In July 2024, Hoard sent pictures and arranged to meet up with a person who Hoard believed was a 14-year-old male. Hoard made plans to meet the minor at a Davenport movie theatre, and said he wanted to engage in sexual acts with the minor. After Hoard arrived at the movie theatre, law enforcement approached Hoard. Hoard admitted that he planned to meet a 14-year-old and that they had discussed sex acts. Hoard’s cell phones were examined, which revealed evidence of internet identifiers, including Facebook and Grindr accounts, which Hoard failed to register as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Hoard will be required to serve a ten-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Hoard’s supervised release for his prior federal conviction was revoked and the Court sentenced Hoard to 12 months imprisonment, concurrent to the 180-month sentence.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Davenport Police Department and Scott County Sheriff’s Office.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.
D.C. Man Arrested for the Murder of a 17-Year-Old ClassmateRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Carlton Simon, 20, of Washington, D.C., was arrested and charged with a homicide that occurred in the afternoon of May 29, 2025, in Northwest D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Simon made his initial appearance before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Heide L. Herrmann on September 16, 2025, where Judge Herrmann found probable cause that Simon committed the offense of second-degree murder while armed and ordered that Simon be held without bond pending trial.
According to court documents Simon, a classmate of the 17-year-old victim Angel Dominguez, approached Dominguez on Florida Avenue with a firearm in tow. As Dominguez walked away from him, Simon pointed a gun at Dominguez’s back, before putting him in a chokehold and ultimately shooting him in the chest. Dominguez died as a result of his injuries shortly thereafter.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi.
These charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Convicted Honduran Sexual Predator Sentenced in Del Rio for Illegal Re-EntryRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – A Honduran national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 21 months in prison for illegal re-entry.
According to court documents, Neri Farid Ardon-Calix, 30, was found hiding in a railcar near Eagle Pass on Jan. 13. He had been previously deported from the U.S. in September 2023, following a conviction and two-year prison sentence for sexual assault of a child in Houston.
Ardon-Calix pleaded guilty on April 23. U.S. District Judge Ernest Gonzalez sentenced him on Sept. 11, remarking that Ardon-Calix was a danger to the community.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daisy Gonzalez prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Machinegun and a FirearmRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced to illegally possessing two firearms, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
Chief U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Kelvontae Rashad Wallace, 26, of Pell City, Alabama, to 79 months in prison. In June, Wallace pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a machinegun.
According to the plea agreement, between December 2023 and January 2024, Wallace illegally possessed a firearm and a machinegun on two separate occasions:
On December 15, 2023, Talladega police officers responded to a call of a person shot at the Orange #1 gas station. Officers responded to the scene and found a victim lying on the ground that had been shot in the stomach, back, and both legs. Officers collected five .45 caliber spent shell casings from the scene and there were at least three bullet holes in the glass on the store windows and door. Surveillance video from the store showed Wallace drive up to the store, exit his vehicle, and shoot the victim with a Glock pistol that had been converted to a machinegun using a machinegun conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch.”
On January 2, 2024, the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force and Pell City police officers went to Wallace’s apartment to arrest him for warrants for Assault, First Degree and Shooting into an Occupied Building arising from the December incident in Talladega. When the officers arrived, Wallace attempted to flee out the back door of the apartment, but the officers were able to apprehend and arrest him. Officers recovered a Century Arms Micro VSKA 7.62x39mm pistol with a round chambered and a loaded magazine from Wallace’s apartment.
ATF investigated the case along with the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force, Pell City Police Department, Talladega Police Department, and Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.
Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime Involving Beckley-Area Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – David Anthony Lacy, 52, of Charleston, was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, for use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. Lacy admitted to an offense related to a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine base, also known as “crack,” in Beckley and elsewhere within the Southern District of West Virginia.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 24, 2024, Lacy called Tilford Joe Bradley Jr. to request that Bradley provide approximately 3.5 grams of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and asked to discuss buying fentanyl from Bradley to redistribute to make more money. As part of his guilty plea, Lacy admitted to making the phone call. Lacy further admitted that he received crack from Bradley throughout the month of April 2024 and redistributed it in and around the Southern District of West Virginia.
Lacy has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for drug possession, criminal conspiracy, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Lacy and Bradley are among 12 individuals indicted on charges alleging they participated in the DTO, which operated from in or about June 2023 to in or about May 2024. All 12 defendants pleaded guilty, with Lacy and another defendant pleading guilty to separate offenses in lieu of the offenses charged in the indictment. Bradley, 47, of Beckley, was sentenced on July 10, 2025, to 12 years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department.
Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and Brian D. Parsons and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case.
The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-1.
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Cedar Rapids Man Who Shot Another Person During a Failed Drug Deal Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who shot another person during a failed drug deal was sentenced today to 18 years in federal prison.
Seth John Lee McGraw, age 25, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 3, 2025 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm.
On August 24, 2024, McGraw met with an individual in Cedar Rapids to sell marijuana. The deal did not go according to plan, and McGraw ultimately pulled out a firearm and fired multiple shots at the individual, striking that individual twice. Law enforcement officers searched McGraw’s apartment later that same day and located multiple firearms and drugs. One of the firearms that officers located at McGraw’s apartment was a short-barreled rifle that was not properly registered to McGraw.
McGraw was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. McGraw was sentenced to 216 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
McGraw is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-7.
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Carver Man Charged in Animal Crushing CaseRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Bryan Wesley Edison, age 32, has been federally indicted with sixteen counts of Animal Crushing, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. Edison created hundreds of videos showing animals being tortured, drowned, dismembered, disemboweled, attacked, and killed, which he published and sold on his pay-per-view YouTube channels. Edison made his initial appearance in federal court today.
“Animal crushing is not only sickening, it is a federal crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “When someone takes pleasure in the torture of defenseless animals, it signals a deeper danger to our community. Especially in these troubled times, we will not allow these warning signs to go unchecked.”
In 2019, President Trump overhauled and expanded the “Crush Video Statute” with the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act (“PACT Act”) to make it unlawful for any person to purposely engage in animal “crushing,” that is, purposely crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating, impaling, or otherwise subjecting to serious bodily injury living mammals, birds, reptiles, or amphibians. This act recognized that individuals who intentionally torture and kill animals pose a unique danger to others and to society as a whole.
Since 2022, Bryan Edison, of Carver, Minnesota, operated pay-per-view YouTube Channels that depicted animals being crushed and tortured for Edison and his viewers’ sadistic enjoyment. Edison posted nearly 350 animal crush videos on his YouTube channels. Edison created and then posted videos in which he purposefully placed live animals into artificial enclosures such as a playpen, a bathtub, and a shower. These animals included birds, hamsters, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, lizards and other large live reptiles, dogs, and snapping turtles. Edison would sometimes costume the animals or set up a “scenario” in which the torture would occur. Edison would then create crush videos in which the animals suffered prolonged torture and death through impalement, crushing, drowning, suffocating, and being skinned and dismembered alive by the larger animals.
Edison allowed the public to freely access some videos. Other videos required a subscription by the user. Edison set up different “membership” levels offered for $0.99, $9.99, $44.99, or $99.99 per month, with the latter being granted access to “custom” videos commissioned by the member. Edison advertised that the videos with the most graphic torture were behind the membership paywalls.
Edison developed logos for his channels and advertised merchandise offered for sale bearing those logos. Edison attempted to drive viewers to his YouTube pages with “clickbait” that emphasized the torture aspects of the videos, using titles and descriptors such as “slow death,” “shred,” “cracks head open,” “screaming,” “tear apart,” “kills mouse brutally,” and “THAT REALLY HURTS.”
Edison narrated many of the videos he created. His commentary included, “Shredder, do your worst,” “the poor black bunny is losing air by the second,” “there’s nothing I can do to save you,” “the squeal of displeasure, now the panic sets in,” and “gurgling screams.”
Edison’s animal crush channels, including “Prince’s Pet Planet” and “Prince’s Chomp Squad,” were ultimately removed by YouTube for multiple and severe violations of YouTube’s policy on violence.
“Animal crushing is an appalling abuse of power over vulnerable creatures,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The exercise of violence over the defenseless is never acceptable. The FBI stands with our law enforcement partners to rigorously enforce the laws that prevent and punish such heinous acts of cruelty.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Evans is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Carjacker Charged with Carjacking Spree that Killed Two Women Makes Initial Appearance in Federal Court, Ordered DetainedRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Edward Tiki Arrington, 45, made his initial appearance in federal court today, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. Arrington was charged by complaint on September 5, 2025, with one count of carjacking and one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
On September 4, 2025, Arrington engaged in a carjacking and shooting crime spree, targeting at least eight victims. Arrington crashed his carjacked vehicle, killing two young women and seriously injuring a child. Arrington was hospitalized and has now been transferred into federal custody. He was ordered detained today pending a detention hearing on Monday, September 22, 2025.
“A little over two weeks ago, a career criminal took the lives of two women and severely injured a child,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “That is loss devastating and it is permanent. I wish we could do more, but the truth is we can never make it right. What we can and will do is ensure that Arrington is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to the complaint, around 8 am on September 4, 2025, 911 calls began to come in about a man with a gun around 334 Lake Street East in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Edward Tiki Arrington, also known as Troy Mike Payton, was the gunman.
Arrington was driving erratically towards Lake Street that morning. He was speeding, swerving into oncoming traffic, and driving on the sidewalk. Arrington drove his red SUV through a red light and crashed into another car, a white Infiniti SUV.
Arrington got out of his SUV and ran towards the other car, pointing a gun at the driver. Arrington tried to open the door of the white Infiniti but the driver accelerated away and was able to get away from Arrington.
Arrington then ran towards another car, a black Volkswagen Passat. Again, Arrington brandished the firearm at the driver. Arrington carjacked the driver—he ordered the driver out of her car at gunpoint, got into the black Passat, and drove the car against traffic.
Arrington drove the black Passat back to his red SUV. Arrington tried to remove two dogs from his red SUV. He was eventually able to get the dogs into the carjacked Volkswagen Passat.
As this was happening, a black Jeep approached the intersection. Arrington pointed his gun at this third victim, the driver of the black Jeep. The driver ducked and she was able to accelerate away.
Arrington then ran up to a fourth victim, a woman walking on foot on Lake Street. Arrington ran up to the pedestrian and pointed his gun at her. The pedestrian put her hands up. Arrington grabbed her hands and demanded to know where her guns were. The pedestrian said she didn’t have a gun. Arrington released her and ran back to the stolen black Passat.
As Arrington began to drive away in the black Passat, he fired a shot out of the vehicle. He appeared to be shooting at a work van that was passing by the black Passat. Arrington left the intersection around 8:10 am and drove to North Minneapolis.
The Minneapolis Police Department sent out a city-wide notice on the black Volkswagen Passat used in a shots-fired call. MPD officers located Arrington driving the carjacked black Passat in North Minneapolis. Officers attempted to pull Arrington over but he fled, driving towards downtown Minneapolis. Recognizing the immediate threat to public safety and human life, officers followed.
Arrington fled through the intersection of Penn Avenue and Olson Memorial Boulevard. He sped through the intersection, running a red light without stopping. As he did so, Arrington crashed at full speed into a blue Ford Focus sedan, which was driving lawfully through the intersection. In crashing his carjacked vehicle into the blue sedan, Arrington killed two women in their 20s and seriously injured a six-year-old child in the back seat; the child suffered bilateral femur fractures and a traumatic brain injury. One of the women killed was the child’s mother.
Arrington has a long and extensive criminal history that includes state convictions for assault and firearms offenses and a 2009 federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
“This violent suspect had an extensive criminal history and showed a complete disregard for the value of human life,” said Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara. “His reckless and violent actions claimed the lives of innocent people and put countless others at risk. We are grateful for the partnership with the United States Attorney’s Office as we all work to ensure that he is held fully accountable and that justice is pursued for the victims and their families to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Two innocent young women died yesterday, and a young child was hospitalized, due to the reckless and senseless actions of Edward Tiki Arrington, aka Troy Mike Payton,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston, Sr. “Violent carjackings have permeated Minneapolis for far too long; these federal charges represent the commitment by the FBI, our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to reduce violent crime in Minnesota. The FBI will bring every resource available to ensure a safe community where its residents can thrive. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
These cases result from an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol and the FBI.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office extends its profound sympathies to the families of the decedents in this case, and to all the victims. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is grateful for the cooperation with its federal, state, and local partners, and thanks the Minneapolis Police Department, the Minnesota State Patrol, and the FBI for their hard work in this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Green is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Canadian national sentenced to federal prison for Texas firearms violationRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas –An Ontario, Canada woman has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jahtaya O’Dayjah Hamilton, 24, pleaded guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm and was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on September 16, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on November 6, 2024, Hamilton traveled from Ontario, Canada to Houston, where she obtained 22 firearms, including four stolen firearms and a short-barrel rifle, from an unknown firearms trafficker. Hamilton then hired a rideshare driver to transport her from Houston to Little Rock, Arkansas. Hamilton initially attempted to hire the driver to transport her to New York state. The vehicle Hamilton hired was stopped in Angelina County for a traffic violation. During the stop, the deputy could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and a search was conducted. The search resulted in the discovery of the firearms and Hamilton was arrested.
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).
This case was investigated by the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.
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Callaway man who allegedly paid for “live child sexual abuse videos” of minors in the Philippines Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Callaway County, Mo., man was charged with nine counts of attempted production of child pornography.
David Lee Maddox, 59, was charged by indictment with nine counts of attempted production of child pornography on Aug. 5, 2025. The charges were made public today following the arrest and first appearance in court by Maddox.
The investigation began on Aug. 8, 2023, when the St. Louis Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office received a referral from HSI Portland, Me pertaining to the defendant’s apparent communication via Microsoft Skype with known traffickers/sellers of live and recorded child sexual abuse videos operating in the Philippines. The investigation showed defendant used Skype to receive “shows” from minor victims in the Philippines and paid for the shows by sending money via money transmittal services. From on or about Sept. 20, 2021, through Dec. 23, 2023, the defendant received “shows” depicting underage females on approximately 20 occasions.
The charges contained in the indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Under federal statutes, if convicted, Maddox faces a federal prison sentence of up to 30 years on each count to be served without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is provided by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from Holts Summit, MO Police department and Missouri State Technical Assistance Team (STAT).
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Burlington Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Distribution Quantity of Methamphetamine and a Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced on September 16, 2025, to 288 months (24 years) in federal prison for possessing a distribution quantity of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm as a prohibited person.
According to public court documents, Chad Jacob Runnells, 49, sold and received methamphetamine during several controlled purchases to law enforcement. In September 2024, law enforcement officers executed search warrants at Runnells’ residence and adjacent stash house and found about 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine, a loaded firearm, and more than $10,000. Based on evidence obtained during the investigation, Runnells was responsible for distributing more than 65 pounds of methamphetamine. Runnells was prohibited from possessing firearms, including based on a 2021 conviction for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver as a habitual offender in the Iowa District Court for Des Moines County, and a 2013 conviction for domestic abuse assault impeding airflow in the Iowa District Court for Warren County.
After completing his term of imprisonment, Runnells will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Burlington Police Department, West Burlington Police Department, Des Moines County Sheriff's Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Henry County Sheriff's Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Brentwood Man Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Prison for Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Materials, Possession of Unregistered FirearmRead the Press Release
OAKLAND – Michael Lee Patterson was sentenced today to 103 months in federal prison for receipt of child pornography and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle. U.S. District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. handed down the sentence.
Patterson, 44, of Brentwood, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 18, 2024, and pleaded guilty on May 21, 2025, to both counts. According to the plea agreement, Patterson attempted to meet an individual whom he believed to be a 13-year-old girl to perform sexual acts on her. After his arrest, Patterson was found to be in possession of over 600 videos and 1,000 images containing depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement also found Patterson in possession of a short-barreled rifle, which he had not registered with the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by law.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian, U.S. Secret Service (USSS) San Francisco Field Office Special Agent in Charge Shawn Bradstreet, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Topper made the announcement.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Gilliam also sentenced Patterson to a 10-year period of supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution. The defendant was immediately remanded into custody to begin serving his sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonah P. Ross is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the USSS, ATF, Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Brentwood, Concord, and Walnut Creek Police Departments, and the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office.
Boston Man Charged with Loan and Check FraudRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and stealing a U.S. Treasury tax refund check as well as a check from a New York law firm.
Lonnie Smith-Matthews, 33, was indicted on two counts of wire fraud; one count of theft of government funds; two counts of bank fraud; and two counts of money laundering. In June 2025, Smith-Matthews was arrested and charged by criminal complaint as part of a federal crackdown on stolen U.S. Treasury checks. He will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date.
According to the indictment, in 2021, Smith-Matthews fraudulently obtained two PPP loans by falsely claiming business income of $128,000, when he actually made less than half that amount and did not actually have a business. Additionally, in 2024, Smith-Matthews allegedly obtained and deposited a U.S. Treasury tax refund check for $150,000 that had been altered and forged to be payable to a defunct clothing company that Smith-Matthews owned. In fact, the U.S. Treasury check had been issued to a married couple in North Carolina as a refund on their 2023 income taxes. After depositing the check, Smith-Matthews allegedly laundered the proceeds using cashier’s checks made payable to a purported roofing company. It is further alleged that later in 2024, Smith-Matthews obtained and deposited a $232,000 check stolen from a New York firm. Like the U.S. Treasury check, the law firm check had allegedly been altered and forged to be payable to Smith-Matthews’ defunct company.
The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of $500,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in charge of the U.S. Dept. of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Beckley Woman Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Leann Marie Keyes, 42, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between October 2024 and January 2025, Keyes conspired with another individual sell drugs in and around the Southern District of West Virginia. As part of her guilty plea, Keyes admitted that she and her co-conspirator sold a total of 12.34 grams of fentanyl on four occasions during the time period, each time to a confidential informant. Keyes further admitted she communicated with the confidential informant about each sale beforehand and that her co-conspirator conducted the hand-to-hand sales at the Beckley residence where she and her co-conspirator lived.
Keyes is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Keyes’ co-conspirator and husband, Justin Scott Keyes, 36, of Beckley, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2026.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-cr-73.
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Beaufort County Felons to Spend Decades in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – Bobby Lee Moore, Jr., age 45, and Andre Trell Hamilton, age 43, were sentenced for conspiring to distribute and aiding and abetting one another to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and heroin. Moore pleaded guilty on March 20, 2025, and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. Hamilton pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025, and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
“These two sold a lot of drugs flooding our families and communities with poison,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue to work with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA to go after these big shark bad boys and hold them accountable in federal court. The streets of Beaufort County will be safer for the next two decades while they think about who they hurt.”
According to court records and evidence presented at their sentencings, from February 2021 to July 2023, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) utilized a confidential source to arrange controlled purchases of methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl from Moore. On each occasion, Moore communicated directly with the source to set up the drug deals. On May 31, 2023, Hamilton sold drugs after Moore set the meeting location. Hamilton sold 56.77 grams of pure methamphetamine in exchange for $1,000 in U.S. currency.
Hamilton’s criminal history spans two decades. Courts previously convicted him of multiple assaults, domestic violence, breaking and entering, burglary and several larcenies. In Beaufort County, courts convicted him of habitual misdemeanor assault in both 2012 and 2013.
Moore’s criminal history dates back to September 2001. The state convicted him of drug distribution and crimes of violence, with five prior drug-related convictions.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judges. Agencies involved in the investigation include the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00073-D-RJ.
Baltimore Woman Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes and Defrauding Maryland Unemployment Insurance ProgramRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Natonia Johnson, 52, of Baltimore, Maryland, pled guilty today, to one count of wire fraud in connection with a bribery scheme that she conducted as a Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) contractor to issue fraudulent unemployment insurance funds.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Baltimore.
Unemployment insurance (UI) is a joint state and federal program that provided monetary benefits to eligible beneficiaries. UI payments are intended to provide temporary financial assistance to lawful workers who became unemployed through no fault of their own. Beginning in or around March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several federal programs expanded UI eligibility and increased UI benefits. This included the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, and Lost Wages Assistance Program.
In Maryland, residents seeking UI benefits submit online applications. In the application, applicants must answer specific questions to establish eligibility to receive UI benefits, including their name, Social Security Number (SSN), and mailing address, among other things. Additionally, the State requires applicants to self-certify that they are unemployed, partially employed, or unable to work for a COVID-19-related reason. The MD-DOL relies upon the information from the application to determine UI benefits eligibility.
According to the guilty plea, between June 2020 until about November 2021, Johnson executed a scheme to defraud the MD-DOL and United States. Johnson assisted friends, family members, and strangers with fraudulently filing and obtaining UI benefits they were not eligible to receive in exchange for bribes and kickback payments.
Initially, Johnson assisted individuals with uploading fraudulent documents in support of UI claims. She then falsely asserted that these individuals were self-employed. Later, through her employment as a contractor at Company #1, Johnson staffed MD-DOL’s UI call center and gained access to MD-DOL’s internal UI database. Then Johnson used this access to remove flags and holds on various co-conspirators’ UI accounts that established these individuals were ineligible to receive UI benefits. Additionally, Johnson backdated claims, removed fraud holds, and caused MD-DOL to issue additional UI benefits that these co-conspirators were ineligible to receive. In exchange, Johnson received between $200 and $500 from each co-conspirator whose claims she assisted with. Through the scheme, Johnson defrauded the MD-DOL of more than $250,000 in UI claims.
Johnson faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2026, at 11 a.m.
The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, visit 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: justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG and HSI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Wenner who is prosecuting the federal case. She also recognized the Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for their valuable assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
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Antitrust Division Contributes to Historic Efforts to Unleash Prosperity Through DeregulationRead the Press Release
Note: A previous version of this release stated "over 170". This has been corrected below to "over 125
Today, the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice announces its collaboration with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to identify over 125 anticompetitive regulations in response to the President’s Executive Order on Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers. Under the leadership of President Trump, the Antitrust Division, in close coordination with the FTC and federal agencies, conducted a comprehensive, government-wide effort to identify and reform anticompetitive regulations that distort markets and stifle competition.
“In America we believe in free markets, not central planning by government regulators or powerful monopolists,” said Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Lowering barriers to entry by removing anticompetitive regulations will free America’s innovators and entrepreneurs to do what they do best: drive America’s future success.”
The Executive Order recognized that federal regulations should not predetermine economic winners and losers, yet some regulations “operate to exclude new market entrants.” It tasked the Chairman of the FTC and the Attorney General to consult with the heads of agencies and to develop a consolidated list of regulations that warrant rescission or modification in light of their anti-competitive effects. The FTC and DOJ worked closely and effectively on this review, and today Chairman Ferguson submitted an extensive list of anti-competitive regulations to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
16 September 2025
Westbrook Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Westbrook man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for distributing cocaine and cocaine base.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Francis Mezan, 35, to 27 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Mezan pleaded guilty on April 8, 2025.
According to court records, a cooperating source working with law enforcement purchased cocaine and cocaine base from Mezan on three separate occasions, spanning from July 18, 2024, through September 5, 2024. These purchases were recorded and monitored by investigators.
The FBI investigated this case, with assistance from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Portland Police Department.
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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West Valley City Man Indicted Following Alleged Credit Union RobberyRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –A federal complaint was unsealed following a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City indicting a Utah man with a violent crime after he allegedly robbed a Cyprus Credit Union in the District of Utah.
Joseph Troy Ortega, 57, of West Valley City, Utah, was charged by complaint on August 29, 2025.
According to court documents, on August 28, 2025, officers with the West Valley City Police Department and members of the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force responded to a robbery at the Cyprus Credit Union in West Valley City. As alleged, the suspect, later identified as Ortega, entered the credit union, approached the teller and demanded money. The teller provided the suspect with $3,690 in cash and Ortega then fled the credit union in a black Toyota Rav 4 with an obscured plate. Using facial recognition technology by the Statewide Information Analysis Center, a hit for Ortega was returned, and a 2011 Rav 4 was registered in his name. On the same day, a Toyota Rav 4 was observed on 5600 West and 3500 South. The vehicle was stopped and Ortega, the driver and sole occupant, was taken into custody. During an executed search of the vehicle, law enforcement seized a wallet with a large amount of U.S. currency, an envelope that contained $2,690, narcotics, and narcotic paraphernalia.
Ortega is charged with one count of credit union robbery. His initial appearance on the indictment was September 15, 2025. His three-day jury trial is scheduled for November 24, 2025, before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force and West Valley City Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Warm Springs Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Warm Springs, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for assault resulting in serious bodily injury and prohibited possession of a firearm.
Antoine Scott, 28, was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, in June 2023, Scott approached a truck on the Warm Springs reservation and began punching the passenger through the window. The passenger suffered a head injury as well as a hand injury requiring stitches.
After being released from custody, Scott absconded from pretrial supervision. When arrested in June 2024, police recovered two firearms from Scott’s residence. Jefferson County deputies also recovered methamphetamine from Scott’s sock.
On May 21, 2025, Scott pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and prohibited possession of a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Warm Springs Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pam Paaso.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
Venezuelan Man Sex-Trafficked Illegal Aliens, Sentenced to Decade in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – A Venezuelan national was sentenced in federal court today to 10 years in prison for two human trafficking charges and being an alien in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, Edson Jose Contreras-Torrealba, 34, conspired with codefendant Eyleen Aular-Marin from February 2024 to Aug. 19, 2024, to recruit, entice, harbor, provide and transport multiple adult women, to provide sexual services for a fee in San Antonio. The victims were not free to leave Contreras-Torrealba’s apartment or the designated hotel rooms without permission from the co-conspirators, and they were required to work every day at all times of day and night. Additionally, Contreras-Torrealba always carried a 9mm pistol and was in possession of the handgun when he was arrested at a hotel in San Antonio on Aug. 19, 2024.
Contreras-Torrealba recruited one of the victims, an undocumented Venezuelan, over Facebook when she was living in Colombia. He provided money for the woman to travel from Colombia across the Mexico-U.S. border and once she was out of ICE detention in April 2024, Contreras-Torrealba harbored her in an apartment and told her she owed $30,000 for her travel debt. He instructed her to pay off the debt with proceeds from commercial sex. The victim facilitated up to 20 appointments per day for sexual intercourse for a fee, none of which went to the victim herself. Contreras-Torrealba charged the victim $50 per day to reside in the apartment as well as $50 for every prostitution appointment that required transportation. The victim was arrested twice in 2024, and Contreras-Torrealba added the cost of her bond to the debt she owed him.
A second victim, also an undocumented Venezuelan woman, lived in Dallas and was recruited over social media. Similar to the first victim, she was restricted to a hotel room and facilitated up to 25 appointments per day for sexual intercourse with no days off. Unlike the first victim, she split proceeds from sexual services with Contreras-Torrealba, keeping 30 percent.
“We cannot be a society that tolerates the commoditization of humans for the purposes of sex,” said Justin R. Simmons, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas. “If you intend to profit off of the sexual commoditization of humans, do not come to San Antonio, or anywhere else in the Western District of Texas because our law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal levels, are dedicated to ending the proliferation of human trafficking in San Antonio and throughout the District.”
“This sentencing of this international predator underscores our unwavering commitment to protecting those most vulnerable and combatting transnational criminal organizations,” said ICE HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “This case highlights the critical importance of collaboration between our local partners to dismantle criminal networks that affect San Antonio and beyond. HSI will continue to prioritize the fight against human trafficking and gang to ensure justice is served. We thank our law enforcement partners and prosecutors for their dedication to this case.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message that human trafficking and organized criminal activity have no place in San Antonio,” said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. “We will pursue justice relentlessly and continue our commitment to safeguarding victims, alongside our federal partners. The courage of those who came forward and the dedication of our investigators show what is possible when our community stands together against exploitation.”
Aular-Marin was sentenced on Sept. 3 to 70 months in prison. Another co-defendant, Ronayde Salazar-Garcia, who, for two weeks, served as a driver for the victims in the human trafficking scheme and helped ensure the victims did not leave their confined locations, is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 21..
ICE and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia McNab prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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U.S. Attorney's Office Collects $48 Million Restitution Ordered Against Insys Executives Convicted of Health Care Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced today that her office has collected the entire $48,344,036 in criminal restitution awarded to victims of a health care racketeering conspiracy committed by the founder and six former executives of Insys Therapeutics.
John N. Kapoor, Insys founder and former Executive Chairman; Richard M. Simon, the former National Director of Sales; Sunrise Lee, a former Regional Sales Director; Joseph A. Rowan, a former Regional Sales Director; and Michael J. Gurry, the former Vice President of Managed Markets, were convicted by a federal jury in May 2019 in connection with bribing medical practitioners to prescribe Subsys, a highly-addictive sublingual fentanyl spray intended for cancer patients experiencing breakthrough pain, and for defrauding Medicare and private insurance carriers. Two other Insys executives – Michael Babich, the former CEO and President of the company and Alec Burlakoff, the former Vice President of Sales – pleaded guilty.
The court ordered the defendants to pay $48,344,036 in restitution to victims of the defendants’ crimes, including individual patient-victims, several insurance companies and Medicare. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is responsible for collecting criminal restitution. Since the defendants’ sentencings, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has diligently pursued enforcement of the restitution until it was collected in full.
Subsys, a drug owned and manufactured by Insys Therapeutics, Inc., was a fentanyl-based, rapid-onset opioid approved to treat cancer patients suffering intense breakthrough pain. From May 2012 to December 2015, the defendants conspired to bribe practitioners, many of whom operated pain clinics, in order to induce them to prescribe Subsys to patients, often when medically unnecessary. The defendants used pharmacy data to identify practitioners who either prescribed unusually high volumes of rapid-onset opioids, or had demonstrated a capacity to do so, and bribed and provided kickbacks to the practitioners to increase the number of new Subsys prescriptions as well as to increase the dosage and number of units of Subsys. The defendants measured the success by comparing the net revenue earned from targeted practitioners with the total value of bribes and kickbacks paid. The defendants used this information to reduce or eliminate bribes paid to practitioners who failed to meet satisfactory prescribing requirements.
The defendants also conspired to mislead and defraud health insurance providers who were reluctant to approve payment for the expensive drug when it was prescribed for patients without cancer. Medicare would not approve payment for the drug unless the patient was being treated for breakthrough cancer pain.
The Asset Recovery Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office oversaw restitution enforcement, which was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Amrhein and Raquelle L. Kaye.
Two Sentenced in Firearms Trafficking Operation in Berkeley CountyRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two people have been sentenced for their roles in a firearms trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
Marcus De’Angelo Brown, age 40, of Largo, Maryland, was sentenced to 137 months in federal prison for trafficking in firearms and the unlawful possession of a firearm. Matthew Blake Robinson, age 28, of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 37 months in prison for the straw purchase of a firearm. Brown and Robinson worked together to fraudulently purchase and transfer firearms in Berkeley County and elsewhere.
Brown is prohibited from having firearms because of prior felony convictions.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Two San Fernando Valley Men Arrested on Federal Complaint Alleging They Exported $611 Million of Electronics Obtained by FraudRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – Two San Fernando Valley men were arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging them with running a Van Nuys-based company that exported hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of consumer electronics and gift cards, nearly all derived from criminal activities such as identity theft, credit card theft, and fraud.
Saman Delafraz, 32, of Woodland Hills, and Benjamin Daneshgar, 34, of Studio City, are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering.
They are expected to make their initial appearances tomorrow in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, Delafraz and Daneshgar owned and operated Wireless World, a company that operates from warehouses in Van Nuys and New Castle, Delaware. Wireless World uses these locations to aggregate electronics before shipping them out of the United States. Since 2019, Wireless World has exported more than $611 million in electronics from the United States, nearly all of which law enforcement believes to be crime proceeds.
In addition, and pursuant to federal warrants, the Van Nuys and Delaware warehouses and Delafraz’s residence were searched today, and Wireless World’s bank accounts were seized.
Delafraz and Daneshgar procured electronics and gift cards from many illicit sources, including Blade Bai, 37, of El Monte, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2023 of federal money laundering charges. Bai sold electronics and gift cards to Wireless World and those items were largely derived from telephone scams in which victims were duped into buying and providing gift cards numbers over the phone. Those gift cards then were used to buy electronics and laundered into new gift cards to conceal the source of the funds.
Juan Carlos Thola-Duran, 58, a.k.a. “Parcero,” of Canyon Country, also sold electronics and gift cards to Wireless World, which he provided the company from December 2018 to August 2024. Thola is in federal custody and charged in a separate federal criminal case with acting as a coordinator and fence for South American crime tourism groups and other individuals who obtained electronics and gift cards using illegal means, including stolen bank cards. Thola and several other defendants are scheduled to go to trial in January 2026.
Delafraz and Daneshgar also acquired electronics directly themselves through fraud. They bought electronics from Best Buy, The Home Depot, and other retailers using gift cards loaded with fraud proceeds – primarily via stolen credit cards. Those electronics often were shipped directly to the Wireless World warehouse or to mailboxes the defendants controlled.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI are investigating this matter. The Los Angeles Police Department, the Cobb County Police Department (Georgia) provided significant assistance.
Assistant United States Attorney Khaldoun Shobaki of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan J. Waters of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case.
Two Pennsylvania Men Charged with Defrauding Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program of Nearly $220,000Read the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Alexander Daravina, aka Alexander Danazina and “Colombian Al,” 38, of Dallas, Pennsylvania, and Moses Benabe, 25, of Philadelphia, Pa., were charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, seven counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of aggravated identity theft, arising from a scheme to defraud the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (“PUA”) program of at least $218,570.
The PUA program was established as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, enacted in March 2020, and provided unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended unemployment benefits. When PUA applications were approved, applicants were eligible to receive benefits via electronic funds transfer, or in a check or debit card mailed to the address on the application.
The indictment alleges that, from about July 2020 through September 2020, Daravina, while incarcerated at State Correctional Institution Phoenix (“SCI Phoenix”), obtained the personal identification information (“PII”), such as names, dates of birth, and social security numbers, of dozens of real people, including other inmates at the facility. Daravina then shared that PII with Benabe and others and directed them to apply for PUA benefits on behalf of those people, even though the defendants both knew that the individuals weren’t eligible for PUA benefits.
The indictment further alleges that Benabe used the PII provided, including the information of dozens of SCI Phoenix inmates, to fraudulently apply for PUA benefits. When the applications were approved, Benabe had the debit cards sent to addresses under the control of members of the conspiracy. He and his co-conspirators then withdrew cash from ATMs and purchased items, using the fraudulently issued cards.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum possible sentence of 161 years’ imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of two years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $3.75 million fine.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Dubnoff.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Tucson Man Sentenced to over 8 Years in Prison for Attempted Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
TUCSON, Ariz. – John Stephen Baker, 71, of Tucson, was sentenced on September 10, by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 8.5 years in prison, followed by a term of lifetime supervised release. Baker previously pleaded guilty to Attempted Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity.
Beginning around February 6, 2023, and continuing through May 10, 2023, Baker communicated with a person he believed to be a 14-year-old female, who was actually an undercover special agent with Homeland Security Investigations. During his chats with the undercover agent, Baker asked about previous sexual experiences and expressed fears with engaging in sexual intercourse with an underage female because of the potential for arrest. Nonetheless, on May 10, 2023, Baker traveled from his home in Tucson to Sahuarita, Arizona, with the intent to engage in illicit sexual activity with the person he believed to be an underage female.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Officers and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathaniel J. Walters and Jennifer H. Berman, District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01362-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-148_Baker# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.
Tren de Aragua Members Charged with May 2024 Double Murder in the Bronx and Other Racketeering OffensesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of a superseding indictment (the “superseding indictment”) charging 10 members of the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA) with participating in a racketeering conspiracy and committing multiple violent crimes in aid of racketeering.
Keiber Jaen Martinez, also known as “Keybe;” Samuel Gonzalez Castro, also known as “Klei” and “Kley;” Eferson Morillo-Gomez, also known as “Jefferson” and “Efe Trebol;” Keiver Silva-Jimenez, also known as “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky”; Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica, also known as “Keiner;” and Marlon Farias, also known as “Bili,” were charged with participating in the murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless on May 24, 2024, in the vicinity of 2290 Davidson Avenue in the Bronx, New York, which also resulted in a third victim being shot and injured. Gonzalez Castro was also charged with participating in the shooting of a rival gang member on Aug. 3, 2024, in the vicinity of Roosevelt Avenue and 90th Street in Queens, New York, which also resulted in an innocent bystander being shot and injured. Six of the 10 defendants charged in the superseding indictment were previously charged with racketeering, firearms, drug, and sex trafficking offenses on April 16. Eight of the defendants are already either in federal custody or state custody. Silva-Jimenez is currently at large. Farias was previously removed from the United States by immigration authorities. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote for the Southern District of New York.
“The Department of Justice is completely committed to destroying Tren De Aragua and bringing its members to justice for their horrific crimes against the American people,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s indictment reflects our ongoing efforts to dismantle this terrorist organization by any legal means necessary.”
“Tren de Aragua is one of the most violent and ruthless terrorist gangs on planet earth,” said U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem. “They murder those who stand against them. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are utilizing a whole-of-government approach to arrest and deport these foreign terrorists. Today’s murder and racketeering indictment is a victory for the rule of law and the American people. Thanks to our collaboration with federal and local partners, Americans can rest easy at night knowing these dangerous terrorists are off our streets. Let me be clear: If you are in this country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you will never return. That’s a promise.”
“As alleged, these members of Tren de Aragua were illegally present in the United States and committed a series of devastating and horrific crimes, including robberies, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and the murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless outside of an apartment building in the Bronx,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “We are committed to putting cartels, gangs, and others who poison our children and pursue violence as a way of life out of business. We and our law enforcement partners know that is what New Yorkers want, and it is what they deserve.”
“As demonstrated with today’s allegations, the Tren de Aragua street gang has unleashed a reign of terror in New York, marked by brutal and unforgiving violence that defies humanity,” said Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Field Office. “With ruthless tactics and a disregard for human life, this foreign terrorist organization has become a symbol of unchecked brutality. HSI New York, together with our law enforcement partners, is waging an unyielding offensive against TdA and Anti-Tren, dismantling gang operations piece by piece and pursuing their members with relentless determination. HSI will not rest until this ruthless criminal enterprise is obliterated and the streets are reclaimed from their grip of savagery.”
“Tren de Aragua has been terrorizing New York City streets, causing widespread violence and claiming lives,” said New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Over the past few months, the NYPD has taken significant action to root out this criminal enterprise and shut down their operations across the city, and today’s indictment reflects our relentless efforts. I want to thank all our law enforcement partners for their continued commitment to making New York City safer.”
According to the allegations contained in the superseding indictment:
TdA is a criminal organization that operated throughout New York City, including the boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, as well as internationally in Venezuela, Peru, and elsewhere. The purposes of TdA included:
- Preserving and protecting the power and territory of TdA and its members and associates through acts involving murder, assault, robbery, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at former members and associates of TdA who associated with a splinter organization known as Anti-Tren.
- Enriching the members and associates of TdA through, among other things:
- The unlawful smuggling of individuals, including young women from Venezuela, into Colombia, Peru and the United States;
- The sex trafficking of young women (whom members and associates of TdA often refer to as “multadas”) who had been unlawfully smuggled into Peru and the United States;
- The trafficking of controlled substances, including a mixed substance called “tusi” that contains ketamine;
- And armed robberies.
- Keeping victims and potential victims in fear of TdA and its members and associates through threats and acts of violence.
- Promoting and enhancing TdA and the reputation and activities of its members and associates.
- Providing assistance to members and associates of TdA who committed crimes for and on behalf of TdA, such as lodging and interstate transportation for members and associates of TdA to flee prosecution.
- Protecting TdA and its members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation, threats, and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by members of TdA.
Members and associates of TdA transported young women, again often referred to by members and associates of TdA as “multadas,” from Venezuela into Peru and the United States in exchange for debts that the young women would pay back to TdA by engaging in commercial sex work. Members of TdA enforced compliance among these young women by, among other things:
- Threatening to kill the young women and their families,
- Assaulting the young women,
- Shooting or killing the young women,
- And tracking down and kidnapping the young women who tried to flee.
Members of TdA also committed and conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit, acts of violence, including acts involving murder and assault, to protect and expand TdA’s criminal operations; resolve disputes within TdA; to retaliate against rival organizations, including Anti-Tren; and to maintain control over sex trafficking victims. TdA members and associates also trafficked controlled substances, committed robberies, and obtained, possessed, trafficked, and used firearms and ammunition.
On May 24, 2024, Jaen Martinez, Gonzalez Castro, Morillo-Gomez, Silva-Jimenez, Ibarra-Mujica, and Farias agreed with others to kill Daniels and Lawless in the vicinity of 2290 Davidson Avenue in the Bronx. Jaen Martinez, Gonzalez Castro, Morillo-Gomez, Silva-Jimenez, Ibarra-Mujica, and Farias then shot and aided and abetted the shooting of Daniels, Lawless, and another victim (Victim-3), which resulted in the deaths of Daniels and Lawless, and multiple non-fatal gunshot wounds to Victim-3. Daniels was 44 years old, and Lawless was 36 years old.
On Aug. 4, 2024, Gonzalez Castro shot and injured a rival gang member from Anti-Tren (Rival-1), a splinter organization of former TdA members, in the vicinity of Roosevelt Avenue and 89th Street in Queens. During the shooting, a bystander (Victim-4) was also shot and injured.
On Sept. 30, 2024, Valero-Calderon, Gonzalez Castro, and Morillo-Gomez committed a gunpoint carjacking and robbery of an employee of a car dealership (Victim-1) in the Bronx.
A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.
The maximum potential penalties in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
The Justice Department praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and NYPD and also thanked the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office; the Aurora Police Department in Aurora, Colorado; Joint Task Force Vulcan; the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Gang Unit and New York Human Intelligence Division; ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations New York; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the New York City Crime Analysis Center at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
This case is a part of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Southern District of New York; the Eastern District of New York; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; the Southern District of Texas; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; HSI; the ATF; USMS; and the Federal Bureau of Prisons have been essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
This case is being handled by attorneys from JTFV and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jun Xiang, Kathryn Wheelock, Timothy Ly, and Andrew K. Chan for the Southern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
COUNT
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MAX. PENALTIES
1
Racketeering
conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,”
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Brayan Oliveros-Chero,
Sandro Oliveros-Chero, and
Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia”
Life in prison2
Drug trafficking conspiracy
21 U.S.C. § 846
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Brayan Oliveros-Chero,
Sandro Oliveros-Chero, and
Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia”
20 years in prison3
Carjacking conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 371
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Five years in prison4
Carjacking
18 U.S.C. § 2119
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
15 years in prison5
Hobbs Act robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
20 years in prison6
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – September 30, 2024
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (ii), and 2
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of seven years in prison
7
Attempted Hobbs Act extortion
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
20 years in prison8
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 924(o)
Jarwin Valero-Calderon aka “La Fama,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,” and
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
20 years in prison9
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 924(o)
Brayan Oliveros-Chero, and
Sandro Oliveros-Chero
20 years in prison10
Firearm use, carrying, and possession
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2
Brayan Oliveros-Chero20 years in prison11
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
Brayan Oliveros-Chero15 years in prison12
Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
Sandro Oliveros-Chero15 years in prison13
Firearm use, carrying, and possession
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2
Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia”Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison
14
Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
Armando Jose Perez Gonzalez aka “Biblia”15 years in prison15
Murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering – Claretha LaQuesha Daniels
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison or death
Mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison
16
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Claretha LaQuesha Daniels
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison
17
Murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering – Justin Lawless
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison or death
Mandatory minimum penalty of life in prison
18
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Justin Lawless
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison
19
Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering – Victim-3
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
20 years in prison20
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Victim-3
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison
21
Conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeeringKeiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison
22
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
Keiber Jaen Martinez aka “Keybe,”
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”
Eferson Morillo-Gomez aka “Jefferson,” and “Efe Trebol,”
Keiver Silva-Jimenez aka “Josue Reuben Silva,” and “Chuky,”
Keineyer Ibarra-Mujica aka “Keiner,” and
Marlon Farias aka “Bili”
15 years in prison23
Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering – August 3, 2024, ShootingSamuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”20 years in prison24
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – August 3, 2024, Shooting
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”Life in prison
Mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison
25
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
Samuel Gonzalez Castro aka “Klei,” and “Kley,”15 years in prisonNote: A copy of the superseding indictment can be found here.
Tren De Aragua Members Charged with May 2024 Double Murder in the Bronx and Other Racketeering OffensesRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton; Attorney General of the United States, Pamela Bondi; Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), Kristi Noem; Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel; and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today a Superseding Indictment (the “Superseding Indictment”) charging 10 members of the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (“TdA”) with participating in a racketeering conspiracy and committing multiple violent crimes in aid of racketeering. KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ, a/k/a “Keybe”; SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO, a/k/a “Klei,” a/k/a “Kley”; EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ, a/k/a “Jefferson,” a/k/a “Efe Trebol”; KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ, a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,” a/k/a “Chuky”; KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA, a/k/a “Keiner”; and MARLON FARIAS, a/k/a “Bili,” were charged with participating in the murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless on May 24, 2024, in the vicinity of 2290 Davidson Avenue in the Bronx, New York, which also resulted in a third victim being shot and injured. GONZALEZ CASTRO was also charged with participating in the shooting of a rival gang member on August 3, 2024, in the vicinity of Roosevelt Avenue and 90th Street in Queens, New York, which also resulted in an innocent bystander being shot and injured. Six of the 10 defendants charged in the Superseding Indictment were previously charged with racketeering, firearms, drug, and sex trafficking offenses on April 16, 2025. Eight of the defendants are already either in federal custody or state custody. SILVA-JIMENEZ is currently at large. FARIAS was previously removed from the U.S. by immigration authorities. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.
“As alleged, these members of Tren de Aragua were illegally present in the United States and committed a series of devastating and horrific crimes, including robberies, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and the murders of Claretha LaQuesha Daniels and Justin Lawless outside of an apartment building in the Bronx,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “We are committed to putting cartels, gangs, and others who poison our children and pursue violence as a way of life out of business. We and our law enforcement partners know that is what New Yorkers want, and it is what they deserve.”
“The Department of Justice is completely committed to destroying Tren De Aragua and bringing its members to justice for their horrific crimes against the American people,” said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Today’s indictment reflects our ongoing efforts to dismantle this terrorist organization by any legal means necessary.”
“Tren de Aragua is one of the most violent and ruthless terrorist gangs on planet earth,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. “They murder those who stand against them. Under President Trump’s leadership, we are utilizing a whole-of-government approach to arrest and deport these foreign terrorists. Today’s murder and racketeering indictment is a victory for the rule of law and the American people. Thanks to our collaboration with federal and local partners, Americans can rest easy at night knowing these dangerous terrorists are off our streets. Let me be clear: If you are in this country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and you will never return. That’s a promise.”
“As demonstrated with today’s allegations, the Tren de Aragua street gang has unleashed a reign of terror in New York, marked by brutal and unforgiving violence that defies humanity,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “With ruthless tactics and a disregard for human life, this foreign terrorist organization has become a symbol of unchecked brutality. HSI New York, together with our law enforcement partners, is waging an unyielding offensive against TdA and Anti-Tren, dismantling gang operations piece by piece and pursuing their members with relentless determination. HSI will not rest until this ruthless criminal enterprise is obliterated and the streets are reclaimed from their grip of savagery.”
“Tren de Aragua has been terrorizing New York City streets, causing widespread violence and claiming lives,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Over the past few months, the NYPD has taken significant action to root out this criminal enterprise and shut down their operations across the city, and today’s indictment reflects our relentless efforts. I want to thank all our law enforcement partners for their continued commitment to making New York City safer.”
According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictment:[1]
TdA is a criminal organization that operated throughout New York City, including the boroughs of the Bronx and Queens, as well as internationally in Venezuela, Peru, and elsewhere. The purposes of TdA included:
- Preserving and protecting the power and territory of TdA and its members and associates through acts involving murder, assault, robbery, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at former members and associates of TdA who associated with a splinter organization known as Anti-Tren.
- Enriching the members and associates of TdA through, among other things:
- The unlawful smuggling of individuals, including young women from Venezuela, into Colombia, Peru and the U.S.;
- The sex trafficking of young women (whom members and associates of TdA often refer to as “multadas”) who had been unlawfully smuggled into Peru and the U.S.;
- The trafficking of controlled substances, including a mixed substance called “tusi” that contains ketamine;
- And armed robberies.
- Keeping victims and potential victims in fear of TdA and its members and associates through threats and acts of violence.
- Promoting and enhancing TdA and the reputation and activities of its members and associates.
- Providing assistance to members and associates of TdA who committed crimes for and on behalf of TdA, such as lodging and interstate transportation for members and associates of TdA to flee prosecution.
- Protecting TdA and its members and associates from detection and prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation, threats, and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by members of TdA.
Members and associates of TdA transported young women, again often referred to by members and associates of TdA as “multadas,” from Venezuela into Peru and the U.S. in exchange for debts that the young women would pay back to TdA by engaging in commercial sex work. Members of TdA enforced compliance among these young women by, among other things:
- Threatening to kill the young women and their families,
- Assaulting the young women,
- Shooting or killing the young women,
- And tracking down and kidnapping the young women who tried to flee.
Members of TdA also committed and conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit, acts of violence, including acts involving murder and assault, to protect and expand TdA’s criminal operations; resolve disputes within TdA; to retaliate against rival organizations, including Anti-Tren; and to maintain control over sex trafficking victims. TdA members and associates also trafficked controlled substances, committed robberies, and obtained, possessed, trafficked, and used firearms and ammunition.
On May 24, 2024, JAEN MARTINEZ, GONZALEZ CASTRO, MORILLO-GOMEZ, SILVA-JIMENEZ, IBARRA-MUJICA, and FARIAS agreed with others to kill Daniels and Lawless in the vicinity of 2290 Davidson Avenue in the Bronx. JAEN MARTINEZ, GONZALEZ CASTRO, MORILLO-GOMEZ, SILVA-JIMENEZ, IBARRA-MUJICA, and FARIAS then shot and aided and abetted the shooting of Daniels, Lawless, and another victim (“Victim-3”), which resulted in the deaths of Daniels and Lawless, and multiple non-fatal gunshot wounds to Victim-3. Daniels was 44 years old, and Lawless was 36 years old.
On August 4, 2024, GONZALEZ CASTRO shot and injured a rival gang member from Anti-Tren (“Rival-1”), a splinter organization of former TdA members, in the vicinity of Roosevelt Avenue and 89th Street in Queens. During the shooting, a bystander (“Victim-4”) was also shot and injured.
On September 30, 2024, VALERO-CALDERON, GONZALEZ CASTRO, and MORILLO-GOMEZ committed a gunpoint carjacking and robbery of an employee of a car dealership (“Victim-1”) in the Bronx.
* * *
A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and NYPD. He also thanked the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office; the Aurora Police Department in Aurora, Colorado; Joint Task Force Vulcan; the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service (“USMS”); the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Gang Unit and New York Human Intelligence Division; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s New York Enforcement and Removal Operations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”); the New York City Crime Analysis Center at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
This case is a part of Joint Task Force Vulcan (“JTFV”), which was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Southern District of New York; the Eastern District of New York; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; the Southern District of Texas; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI; DEA; HSI; the ATF; USMS; and the Federal Bureau of Prisons have been essential law enforcement partners with JTFV.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit and JTFV. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jun Xiang, Kathryn Wheelock, Timothy Ly, and Andrew K. Chan are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
COUNT
CHARGE
DEFENDANTS
MAX. PENALTIES
1
Racketeering
conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,” 29
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” 29
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,” 20
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ, a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,” a/k/a “Chuky,” 23
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA, a/k/a “Keiner,” 28, MARLON FARIAS, a/k/a “Bili,” 31
BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO, 29
SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO, 26, and
ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Biblia,” 30
Life in prison2
Drug trafficking conspiracy
21 U.S.C. § 846
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO,
SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO, and
ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Biblia”
20 years in prison3
Carjacking conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 371
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
Five years in prison4
Carjacking
18 U.S.C. § 2119
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
15 years in prison5
Hobbs Act robbery
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
20 years in prison6
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – September 30, 2024
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and (ii), and 2
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison
7
Attempted Hobbs Act extortion
18 U.S.C. §§ 1951 and 2
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
20 years in prison8
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 924(o)
JARWIN VALERO-CALDERON,
a/k/a “La Fama,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,” and
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol”
20 years in prison9
Firearm use, carrying, and possession – conspiracy
18 U.S.C. § 924(o)
BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO, and
SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO
20 years in prison10
Firearm use, carrying, and possession
18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2
BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO, and
SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO
20 years in prison11
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
BRAYAN OLIVEROS-CHERO15 years in prison12
Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
SANDRO OLIVEROS-CHERO15 years in prison13
Firearm use, carrying, and possession
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i) and 2
ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Biblia,”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison
14
Possession of a firearm and ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
ARMANDO JOSE PEREZ GONZALEZ,
a/k/a “Biblia,”
15 years in prison15
Murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering – Claretha LaQuesha Daniels
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,” 33
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili,”
Life in prison or death
Mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison
16
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Claretha LaQuesha Daniels
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
17
Murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering – Justin Lawless
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
Life in prison or death
Mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison
18
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Justin Lawless
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
19
Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering – Victim-3
18 U.S.C. §§ 1959(a)(1), (a)(3), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
20 years in prison20
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – Victim-3
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
21
Conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeeringKEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
22
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
KEIBER JAEN MARTINEZ,
a/k/a “Keybe,”
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley,”
EFERSON MORILLO-GOMEZ,
a/k/a “Jefferson,”
a/k/a “Efe Trebol,”
KEIVER SILVA-JIMENEZ,
a/k/a “Josue Reuben Silva,”
a/k/a “Chuky,”
KEINEYER IBARRA-MUJICA,
a/k/a “Keiner,” and
MARLON FARIAS,
a/k/a “Bili”
15 years in prison23
Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering – August 3, 2024, ShootingSAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley”
20 years in prison24
Firearms use, carrying, and possession – August 3, 2024, Shooting
18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley”
Life in prison
Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison
25
Possession of ammunition by an illegal alien
18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5) and 2
SAMUEL GONZALEZ CASTRO,
a/k/a “Klei,”
a/k/a “Kley”
15 years in prison
u.s._v._jaen_martinez_et_al._superseding_indictment.pdf
[1] The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Topsham Man Sentenced for Firearm Charges Stemming from Brunswick BurglaryRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Topsham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for being a felon in possession of firearms and possessing stolen firearms.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Christopher Tucker, 34, to 75 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Tucker pleaded guilty on March 19, 2025.
According to court records, in May 2024, officers from the Brunswick Police Department responded to a citizen’s report of suspicious activity at a nearby residence. Responding officers found that the door of the residence’s garage was open and cabinets inside appeared to have been pried open, with ammunition scattered on the floor. Officers located a vehicle matching the description provided by the reporting witness. Tucker, the owner and only occupant of the vehicle, fled on foot. After a brief manhunt, he was located and arrested. Officers subsequently recovered 20 firearms from his vehicle, all of which had been stolen from inside the Brunswick residence. Tucker was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Brunswick Police Department and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
Project Safe Neighborhoods: This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psn.
###
Tips to NCMEC CyberTipline Lead to 20-Year Sentence for Lewiston Man Who Possessed, Distributed Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.
Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Harold Clayton III, 35, to 20 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Clayton pleaded guilty on March 26, 2025.
According to court records, in June 2022, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (MSPCCU) received two CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and traced the identified phone number to Clayton. In September 2022, MSPCCU and the Lewiston Police Department executed a search warrant at Clayton’s residence. A cell phone and laptop seized from Clayton and the residence contained multiple images and videos of children, some as young as toddlers, being sexually abused by adult men. The cell phone also contained Telegram Messenger communications in which Clayton distributed such images and videos.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and MSPCCU investigated the case with assistance from the Lewiston Police Department.
“HSI commends the reporting of this heinous abuse of children to the CyberTip line, enabling law enforcement to take action and make sure Harold Clayton faced the full weight of justice,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “It is critically important the public join us in this fight against online child sexual exploitation by reporting suspicious activity. Together, we can protect and safeguard our children.”
To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, NCMEC received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678. If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
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Three Sentenced in Fentanyl Drug Trafficking Operation in Eastern PanhandleRead the Press Release
MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three more have been sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking organization.
The indictment, returned in January 2024 charged 82 defendants, including Gary Brown, Jr., for their roles in an organization that was selling substantial amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine in Berkeley and Jefferson Counties.
Those sentenced this week include:
- Bradley David Welsh, age 53, of Boonsboro, Maryland, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison.
- David Lewis Pennington, Jr., age 21, of Huntington, West Virginia, was sentenced to 87 months.
- Lynn Wood Campbell, age 45, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 84 months in prison.
Of the 82 defendants, 81 have been convicted. Including this week’s three, 77 defendants have been sentenced. Brown, Jr. was sentenced to 327 months in federal prison in May 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane prosecuted the cases on behalf of the government.
U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.
Investigative agencies include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Pittsburgh Field Division and Baltimore Field Division); the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the West Virginia State Police; the West Virginia Air National Guard; the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office; Ranson Police Department; Martinsburg Police Department; Charles Town Police Department; the Berkeley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Stafford County Sheriff's Office (Virginia); Frederick County Sheriff's Office (Maryland); Frederick County Sheriff's Office (Virginia); Winchester Police Department; and the Clarke County Sheriff's Office (Virginia).
This investigation 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).
Find the original case press release here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/investigators-dismantle-fentanyl-drug-trafficking-network-eastern-panhandle
Three More Plead Guilty in 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare Fraud CaseRead the Press Release
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Three former employees of 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare, including the director of nursing, pled guilty today to healthcare fraud and misprision charges.
Shekita Gore, a.k.a. Shekita Steele, 38, of Clinton, Maryland, and Eno Utuk, 47, of Stafford, Virginia, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. At sentencing, both defendants face a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Elizabeth Ilome, 41, also of Stafford, Virginia, pled guilty today to misprision of a felony. Ilome faces a maximum possible penalty of 3 years in prison.
In recent weeks, Carolyn Bryant-Taylor, 61, of Clinton, Maryland, Kafomdi “Josephine” Okocha, 49, and Samuel Okocha, 52, both of Upper Marlboro, Maryland all pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
According to court documents, Bryant-Taylor, Josephine Okocha, and Samuel Okocha were owners and operators of 1st Adult N Pediatric Healthcare Service, a Medicaid-enrolled home health agency providing private duty nursing, personal care, and respite care services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, including in the Western District of Virginia. Gore was the director of nursing, while Utuk and Ilome were employed by 1st Adult to provide nursing and personal care.
The defendants conspired to submit false claims to Medicaid for services that were not provided to patients, including falsifying records and documentation in support of the fraudulent claims submitted for reimbursement.
Gore admitted to filling out blank nursing notes to support the nursing services that 1st Adult billed Medicaid for but were not provided.
As part of this scheme, between 2017 and 2023, Bryant-Taylor and her co-defendant, Josephine Okocha, planned arrangements to pay the parents or guardians of patients in exchange for blank, signed nursing notes which would be filled out and used to support billing to Medicaid. In these arrangements, the amount billed to Medicaid either reflected nursing services that were not provided at all, or an amount of nursing services that was in excess of what was provided.
Utuk and Ilome both worked to provide personal care to patients. They admitted to paying cash to the family members of those they provided care in exchange for signing blank nursing notes that would be used to bill Medicaid for skilled nursing services and personal care services that were not actually provided.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Farina of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Virginia Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit are investigating the case, with assistance from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Jones and Laura Taylor, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Terry, a Senior Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, are prosecuting the case.
Third Defendant Charged on Firearms Violations in Connection with Convenience Store ShootingRead the Press Release
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – A third Trumbull County man has been charged in connection with a convenience store shooting Aug. 3, in Warren, Ohio, that left one person dead.
A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Sean King, 37, with being a felon in possession of ammunition. He was previously convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (crack), fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and heroin; and distribution of heroin and fentanyl in 2022.
The grand jury also returned indictments for two individuals previously charged via criminal complaint in connection to the Aug. 3 shooting:
- Jumal Ellis Rowe, 32, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition; he was previously convicted of trafficking cocaine in 2013 and possession of cocaine in 2020.
- Rayjon Ray McElroy, 25, charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person; he was previously convicted of domestic violence in 2022.
All defendants are from Warren, Ohio.
According to court documents, on Aug. 3, the Warren Police Department and the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of gunshots and of an individual who was shot at a Convenient Food Mart in Warren. Investigators reviewing the store’s surveillance footage found that around 5 a.m., several individuals were loitering and playing a dice game on the walkway just outside the main door. A fight broke out shortly thereafter and then escalated into a mass shooting incident in the parking lot between multiple individuals. One individual was later pronounced dead and another injured as a result.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 15 years in federal prison. Each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Youngstown Field Office, Warren Police Department, and the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Yasmine Makridis and Kevin E. Bringman for the Northern District of Ohio.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Theodore Man Sentenced to Nine Months in Prison for Trafficking Illegal Machinegun-Conversion DevicesRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Theodore man was sentenced to nine months in prison for trafficking illegal machinegun-conversion devices.
According to court documents, Bryan Figueroa Guzman, 29, was recorded on three occasions in early 2025 selling, purchasing, and possessing illegal machinegun-conversion devices (“MCDs”), commonly referred to as “Glock switches.” On January 20, 2025, Guzman sold two MCDs to a cooperating informant for $600. Later, on March 6, 2025, sold another MCD to the informant for $300. Finally, on March 14, 2025, Guzman purchased 20 MCDs from an informant and an undercover federal agent. When agents arrested Guzman, he was beginning to install one of the 20 MCDs on a Glock firearm that he had brought with him to the transaction.
In addition to the nine-month prison term, Senior United States District Judge William H. Steele ordered Guzman to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will be subject to drug testing. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Steele ordered Guzman to pay $100 in special assessments.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and Jessica Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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).
Texas Man Sentenced to More than 17 Years in Prison for Kidnapping a ToddlerRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Texas man has been sentenced for conspiring to kidnap a toddler, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.
U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Steven Andrew Holguin, 42, of El Paso, Texas, to 210 months in prison followed by a life term of supervised release. In April, Holguin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping.
According to the plea agreement, on November 4, 2021, a police officer with the Birmingham Police Department responded to a call at a residence in Birmingham regarding the kidnapping of a three-year-old female from the residence. Holguin and his co-conspirator, Elis Salgado-Galindo, kidnapped the toddler with the intent of taking her to her father, who lives in Honduras. With Holguin’s assistance, Salgado-Galindo grabbed the toddler and fled the residence. An Amber Alert was issued and law enforcement along the Alabama/Mississippi state line were provided the description of the vehicle, toddler, and suspects. That same evening, deputies with the Rankin County, Mississippi Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle matching the description of Holguin’s vehicle. Deputies instructed Holguin, who was the driver of the vehicle, to exit the vehicle and walk back to the officer’s vehicle. Deputies then removed the other individuals from the vehicle, including the toddler. A deputy recognized the toddler from the Amber Alert and sent a picture of her to a detective with the Birmingham Police Department. The detective showed the picture to the toddler’s mother, who confirmed that it was her daughter. Both men were immediately taken into custody, and the toddler was safely returned to her mother.
Holguin was previously convicted in 2020 in the United States District Court in the Western District of Texas for conspiracy to transport aliens. He was sentenced to six months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.
In December 2023, Elis Salgado-Galindo, a citizen of Mexico, was also charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit kidnapping. On December 14, 2021, Salgado-Galindo was released from state custody on a bond, placed into ICE custody, and deported. A federal warrant for his arrests remains outstanding.
Homeland Security Investigations, Birmingham, investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Pearl Mississippi Police Department, and the Rankin County Mississippi Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case.