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29 August 2025
Covington Man Sentenced for Federal Controlled Substances Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAYLON CARTER (“CARTER”), age 24, a resident of Covington, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Susie Morgan to sixty-three (63) months’ imprisonment, three (3) years of supervised release, and $300.00 in mandatory special assessment fees, after previously pleading guilty to three counts of distribution of forty (40) grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
According to court documents, in January 2024, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office received information that CARTER sold “M30 blue pills” out of an apartment complex in Covington or from his vehicle. After St. Tammany detectives confirmed that CARTER lived in the apartment complex, the detectives used an individual CARTER believed to be a legitimate buyer, to make three controlled purchases of fentanyl pills from CARTER at the apartment complex.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
Convicted opioid pill mill doctor must forfeit property and pay restitutionRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Oakton doctor who was sentenced to 13 years in prison for his prescribing of opioids and amphetamines has been ordered to forfeit a $168,000 money judgement and two real properties and to pay restitution of $169,244 to compensate three victims for their losses.
According to court documents, David Allingham, 65, owned Oakton Primary Care Center (OPCC), where he advertised his practice as an “Addiction Medicine Family Doctor” with “special training and skill in preventing, diagnosing, and treating patients with addiction.” Between April 2019 and January 2024, Allingham wrote prescriptions for opioids and amphetamines for numerous patients without properly assessing the individual needs of those patients, which was outside the usual course of professional practice and regulations and without legitimate medical purpose.
Allingham authorized renewals of opioid medication without physically examining patients. Allingham instructed his employees to use “mom and pop” pharmacies to avoid scrutiny of his patients so he could continue to prescribe high-dose opioids for them. Allingham also prescribed amphetamines to multiple chronic pain patients to assist them in weight loss in contravention of regulations, regardless of whether the patients were obese.
Multiple of Allingham’s patients died of drug overdoses within hours, days, or weeks of receiving an oxycodone prescription from Allingham.
In 2024 the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) served an Immediate Order to Show Cause (ISO) that resulted in Allingham surrendering his DEA registration number, relinquishing his authority to handle controlled substances.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Christopher C. Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge for the DEA Washington Division; Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and Col. Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, made the announcement after judgment by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr.
The Fairfax County Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather D. Call and Annie Zanobini prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-2.
Collin County man sentenced for oil and gas fraud scheme in Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Murphy man has been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding investors of over $4 million in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Sameer Praveen Sethi, 42, was convicted of seven counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering by a jury following a lengthy trial before U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan on December 10, 2024. On August 28, 2025, Judge Jordan sentenced Sethi to 151 months in federal prison.
According to information presented in court, over several years, Sethi engaged in a fraud scheme targeting investors of oil and gas joint ventures. Evidence presented at trial showed that Sethi would create a joint venture, prepare investment documents along with his staff, have his sales staff market the investments, and then spend the money raised from investors almost entirely on personal and business expenses. Evidence showed the investment documents contained significant misrepresentations and false statements. Although over $4 million was raised over the course of the joint ventures, investors received almost no returns.
“The sentence handed down by Judge Jordan follows years of investigation by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and a lengthy trial, and shows the serious nature of Sameer Sethi’s crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with the IRS-Criminal Investigation office and the FBI to investigate and prosecute the kinds of investor fraud that occurred in this case and to seek justice for the public and for the innocent victims of these crimes.”
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Texas State Securities Board, and the FBI.
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Clinton County Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK – Bradley Vincent, age 38, of Chazy, New York, was indicted today for sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III; Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.
The indictment alleges that on February 18, 2024, the defendant used a minor female child, then 15 years old, to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct. The indictment also alleges that the defendant distributed those images of child pornography. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “As alleged, Vicent recorded sexually explicit conduct with a 15-year-old girl and then distributed those videos and images. This defendant already had a state conviction for aggravated sexual abuse or sexual abuse and was at that time only sentenced to probation by the state. This is a perfect example of the broken state system failing to protect our children and our citizens in general. This type of conduct is despicable and will be prosecuted vigorously by my office. I want to thank our state and local partners for their aggressive pursuit of this defendant.”
The charges filed against Vincent carry a maximum term of 50 years in prison, a mandatory minimum term of 25 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life.
HSI and NYSP are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carling Dunham is prosecuting the case.
Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (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 https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Citizen of Mexico Sentenced on Illegal Reentry ChargeRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Leonardo Mendoza-Zavala, age 44, a citizen of Mexico, was sentenced to seven months’ imprisonment yesterday by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson on a charge of illegal reentry.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, following convictions in Texas for attempt to take a weapon from an officer, resisting arrest, and terroristic threats, Mendoza-Zavala was removed from the United States on January 6, 2020, through Laredo, Texas. Thereafter, he reentered the United States without obtaining legal permission to do so. On June 21, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested Mendoza-Zavala in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, in the parking lot of a motel.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott R. Ford prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiate 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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Circuit Court Upholds Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing ProgramRead the Press Release
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit published an opinion today upholding the Department of the Interior’s 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The program sets the number and location of offshore oil and gas lease sales that Interior will hold during the ensuing 5-year period.
In one of his first actions, President Donald J. Trump signed the Unleashing American Energy executive order. That order sets a policy “to encourage exploration and production on Federal lands and waters, including on the Outer Continental Shelf…”
“The court today upheld Interior’s critically important oil and gas leasing program on the Outer Continental Shelf,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The program plays a key part in the development of our nation’s abundant energy resources in the service of economic and national security.”
A coalition of environmental groups challenged the program, arguing that Interior failed to account for the effects of offshore oil and gas development on vulnerable communities, violated its own procedures by not modeling the effects of leasing on the endangered Rice’s whale, and inadequately assessed the potential for conflicts between oil and gas drilling and other uses of the sea and seabed. The court rejected those challenges and held that Interior’s rationale for the program was adequately supported by data and analysis and that it reasonably deferred consideration of specific potential conflicts to later stages in the offshore leasing process.
On April 18, while the case was pending, Interior announced that it would begin preparing a revised Outer Continental Shelf Program.
Attorneys with ENRD’s Appellate Section handled the case in the Court of Appeals.
Carjacker Gets 14 Years in Prison for Two Carjackings Committed Days ApartRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Erick Alvarenga, 19, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for his participation in two separate carjackings committed in December 2024 and January 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Alvarenga pleaded guilty on June 23, 2025, in D.C. Superior Court, to one count of carjacking (unarmed) and one count of possession of a firearm during crime of violence for the December 28, 2024, offense, and to one count of carjacking (unarmed) and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for the January 3, 2025, offense. His co-defendant, Malik Kearney, 20, who also pleaded guilty on June 23rd, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2025.
The Honorable Judge Andrea Hertzfeld ordered Alvarenga to serve 60 months in prison on each count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and 84 months in prison for each count of unarmed carjacking. Both charges in the December 28th offense will run concurrent to one another but consecutive to the charges for the January 3rd offense.
According to the government’s evidence, at around 4:45 a.m., on December 28, 2024, Alvarenga and Kearney approached the first victim while he was parked in a Jeep SUV in the 6100 block of Eastern Avenue, Northeast, one of whom was armed with a black handgun. The defendants ordered the victim out of the car and to hand them his car keys. The defendants then drove away from the scene.
Days later January 3, 2025, the second offense, occurred around 3:00 p.m., in the 4200 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, Northeast. The second victim was at a gas station and had finished putting gas in his Dodge sedan. Alvarenga used the Jeep which had been stolen on December 28, 2024, to block in the victim’s car, while Kearney approached the victim with a handgun. After ordering the victim out of his car, Kearney got behind the wheel of the Dodge, and both vehicles then fled in the same direction.
Alvarenga and Kearney were arrested later that evening and have been in custody since. At the time of their arrest, officers recovered two firearms from the location where the defendants were detained -- one had the serial number removed and the other was a PMF ghost gun.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Special Agent Nelson Rhone, Jr..
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant United States Attorneys Randle Wilson and Amanda Hoover, who prosecuted the case.
California Man Guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property from Metairie BusinessRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DEANTHONY BLOCKER (“ BLOCKER”), a California resident, pled guilty on August 27, 2025, to a two-count indictment for conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and interstate transportation of stolen goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2314.
According to the indictment, BLOCKER, and others, conspired to transport cigarettes that had been stolen during a burglary at a Louisiana warehouse facility on November 21, 2024. This group then traveled out of state before being apprehended in Fort Stockton, Texas the following day while still in possession of the cigarettes. The group was further implicated in similar burglaries in North Carolina and Texas in February of 2024.
As to Count 1, BLOCKER faces up to 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. As to Count 2, BLOCKER faces up to 10 years of imprisonment, up to 3 years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Knightdale Police Department, Atlanta Police Department, Rockmart Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Fort Stockton Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Convicted Felon Charged in Federal Indictment for Possession of Narcotics and FirearmsRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jujuan George, 33, of Pensacola, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with distribution of fentanyl and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
George was arraigned in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Hope Thai Cannon on August 28, 2025. Trial is scheduled for October 6, 2025 before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers in Pensacola, Florida.
If convicted, George faces up to life imprisonment.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Blood Test Lab Owner Pleads Guilty to Evading over $11.2 Million in Federal Taxes by Using Shill to Illegally Collect Medicare PaymentsRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Burbank man has pleaded guilty to evading the payment of more than $11.2 million in federal taxes by using a shill to illegally collect Medicare reimbursement payments made to his blood-testing company, and to fraudulently obtaining nearly $100,000 in taxpayer-funded COVID-19 business relief, the Justice Department announced today.
Armen Muradyan, 60, pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of tax evasion.
According to his plea agreement, Muradyan owned and operated a Burbank-based blood testing laboratory called Genex Laboratories Inc. Medicare and bank records show that Medicare paid millions of dollars in reimbursements to Genex for blood testing. The reimbursements were wired to bank accounts in the name of an individual identified in court documents as “L.S.” – Muradyan’s long-time friend to whom Muradyan had offered to pay $2,000 per month to pretend to be Genex’s owner.
Muradyan told L.S. that he needed him to submit Medicare enrollment papers to Medicare on Genex’s behalf because Medicare had banned Muradyan from submitting claims.
L.S. and Muradyan opened bank accounts for Genex in L.S.’s name, but which Muradyan controlled. L.S. neither owned nor operated Genex and visited the company’s Burbank office to collect his $2,000 monthly payment and to sometimes sign documents at Muradyan’s direction. Muradyan used the proceeds from the health care fraud conspiracy to pay the mortgage on a property he owned.
For the tax years of 2015 through 2020, Muradyan instructed L.S. to report Genex’s financial activity on L.S.’s personal income tax returns using documents that L.S. provided to his own tax preparer. The documents purportedly showed that Genex had minimal net profit or was operating at a loss, meaning the company had little or no income tax liability.
For the same period, Muradyan submitted income tax returns that reported none of Genex’s financial activity as his own and that he averaged an income of $40,000 per year. In fact, Muradyan personally received and used millions of dollars in Medicare reimbursements to support his own expensive lifestyle.
Muradyan also did not file tax returns for the years 2021 through 2023.
In total, Muradyan’s unreported federal taxable income was approximately $23,915,762, resulting in a total federal income tax due and owing by him of approximately $11,236,357.
In July 2020, Muradyan wired a false and fraudulent application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) that was funded by federal taxpayers. On the application, Muradyan falsely stated that GenMed employed multiple people and generated $800,000 in income for the year 2019. In fact, Muradyan knew GenMed employed no one and generated zero income for that year. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) wired $99,900 to a bank account Muradyan controlled. He then used the money for personal expenses not permitted under the terms of the EIDL. Muradyan admitted he acted with the intent to deceive and cheat the SBA.
United States District Judge John A. Kronstadt scheduled a December 11 sentencing hearing, at which time Muradyan will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud count, up to 10 years in federal prison for the health care fraud conspiracy count, and up to five years in federal prison for the tax evasion count. Muradyan remains free on $2.6 million bond.
IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark Aveis of the Major Frauds Section and Trial Attorney Mahana K. Weidler of the Department of Justice’s Tax Division are prosecuting this case.
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 Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Austin Man Arrested for Alleged Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Through Social MediaRead the Press Release
AUSTIN, Texas – An Austin man was arrested Wednesday on criminal charges related to his alleged sexual exploitation of a minor.
According to court documents, Jonathan Ruiz-Correa, 29, allegedly using the name “Lucas” and claiming to be 17 years old, began chatting on Snapchat with a 14-year-old girl in May. A criminal complaint alleges that Ruiz-Correa knew the minor’s age and that their conversations included discussion of sexually explicit videos Ruiz-Correa wanted the minor to send him—which she eventually did. Ruiz-Correa also allegedly explored the possibility that he would pay for her to travel from out of state to meet him, and on two occasions, he used a PayPal account to send the minor money. Alleged chats between Ruiz-Correa and the minor also occurred on Instagram.
The minor victim allegedly learned the real age of Ruiz-Correa when she initiated a conversation with one of Ruiz-Correa’s female Instagram followers, who said he had been trying to talk to her as well. The girl sent the minor victim a video she had found on Ruiz-Correa’s alleged dating app profile.
As part of the investigation, agents seized a mobile phone containing a sexually explicit video of the minor victim. The phone also contained a video allegedly depicting sexual activity with another minor, whom Ruiz-Correa allegedly traveled to meet in Houston in January.
Ruiz-Correa is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of engaging in activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography. If convicted, he faces 15 to 30 years in prison for the exploitation charge and five to 20 years in prison for the second count. 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 FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Devlin 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 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.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Arvina 13 Gang Member Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment Thursday against Isaac Rodriguez, 26, of Arvin, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, Rodriguez was found to be in possession of a firearm after he was arrested on warrants for violations of probation. Rodriguez cannot legally possess firearms because he has been previously convicted of several felony offenses, including taking a vehicle, evading arrest, and being felon in possession of a firearm.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke Baty is prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Rodriguez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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).
Armed Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Possessing and Distributing Fentanyl in PensacolaRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Corderrius Terrelle McShane, 38, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the excellent work of the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal ATF and DEA agents to make our community safer by getting this dangerous individual off the streets. My office remains fully committed to fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by targeting drug traffickers like this defendant with the full force of the law.”
Court documents showed McShane distributed 55.6 grams of fentanyl in November of 2024. Also, that same month, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle McShane was driving, during which officers located over 230 grams of fentanyl and a loaded firearm. McShane has prior felony convictions for Possession of a Weapon or Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, Resisting Law Enforcement with Violence, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
McShane faces up to life imprisonment, and a lifetime of supervision upon release.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Etherton.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 4, 2025, at 10:00am at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
234 Immigration Cases Added in Western District of Texas This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO – United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced today that federal prosecutors in the district filed 234 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from Aug. 22 through 28.
Among the new cases, Mexican national Joel Guerrero-Sanchez was arrested in Medina County on Wednesday and charged with alien smuggling. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) conducted a traffic stop on a tractor-trailer allegedly driven by Guerrero-Sanchez along I-35. The criminal complaint alleges that a search of the tractor and trailer revealed two illegal aliens hidden in a compartment inside the sleeper cab. If convicted, Guerrero-Sanchez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
A Mexican national was taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody on Aug. 22 after being arrested in San Antonio for evading arrest with previous conviction. Juan Moreno Lopez faces an illegal re-entry charge after being previously removed from the U.S. four times in addition to four voluntary returns to Mexico. His extensive criminal record began with a burglary in 1988 and includes multiple convictions for evading arrest in San Antonio and Williamson County.
In Midland, Mexican national Orlando Everado Aguirre-Barra was federally charged with illegal re-entry. He was initially arrested by DPS on July 25 and had been previously removed from the United States in 2019 following a conviction for illegal re-entry. Aguirre-Barra was also convicted in Phoenix, Arizona in 2014 for criminal trespass and possession of a controlled substance, and in 2015 for burglary.
Samuel Josias Ruiz-Diaz, also a Mexican national, was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Del Rio. He’s charged with being an alien illegally present in the U.S., having been previously removed to Mexico in April. In 2022, Ruiz-Diaz was convicted for two separate DWI charges in Minnesota.
Also in Del Rio, a Fijian national in the U.S. on an immigration visa was arrested on an alien smuggling conspiracy charge. Viliame Fonolahi Ralulu was pulled over on Highway 277 south of Brackettville when U.S. Border Patrol agents allegedly observed a subject in the back seat look up then duck down in an attempt to conceal themselves. During an immigration inspection, two passengers were allegedly discovered in the back seat and determined to be illegally present in the U.S.
A Mexican national with a violent criminal record was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol and charged with illegal re-entry in El Paso. Frederico Bedolla-Bedolla has been removed from the U.S. four times and has been convicted in Arizona for two disorderly conduct charges for fighting and assault causing fear of physical injury, as well as domestic violence.
Justin Ross Meunier, a U.S. citizen with multiple felony convictions, was arrested for allegedly transporting three illegal aliens near the Tornillo Port of Entry. A criminal complaint alleges that U.S. Border Patrol agents observed Meunier’s vehicle stop near an orchard before three individuals emerged from hiding and boarded the vehicle. The agents approached and Meunier allegedly yelled in Spanish for the suspected aliens to get out and run. Meunier has been convicted for alien smuggling twice before, leading to 18 months of probation in 2019 and 21 months in prison in 2021.
U.S. Border Patrol agents also arrested Francisco Vidales-Aldaba for alien smuggling near the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry. An agent allegedly observed two individuals, appearing wet and muddy, exit a residence and flag down a vehicle, which they boarded. Vidales-Aldaba was identified as the driver, and all three individuals were found to be illegal aliens. A criminal complaint alleges that Vidales-Aldaba had been a foot guide to five illegal aliens on Aug. 23 and had smuggled in four to five illegal aliens at a time on 15 occasions between 2022 and 2024. Immigration records indicate he’s been granted 15 voluntary departures through El Paso, the last being on Dec. 11, 2023.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.
These cases are 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).
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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28 August 2025
York County Man Sentenced to 151 Months Imprisonment on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Joseph Gallego, age 37, of York, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on August 28, 2025, to 151 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Keli M. Neary on drug trafficking charges.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on October 18, 2024, Gallego pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The York County Drug Task Force conducted surveillance on a home in York County and Gallego was observed entering the front door. Upon entering, the officers met two conspirators at the door and then conducted a safety sweep and found Gallego in the basement. Agents received consent to search the residence and recovered a loaded Glock model 40, 10 mm caliber semiautomatic pistol; a plastic bag containing 76.37 grams of cocaine base; a bag containing 1.13 grams of cocaine base; and a digital scale.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the York County Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Ford prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Wise County Man to Serve 15 Years on Narcotics and Illegal Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
ABINGDON, Va. – A Wise County, Virginia man, who trafficked large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin into Southwest Virginia, was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison.
James Edward Williams, 43, pled guilty in February 2025 to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
“Methamphetamine and fentanyl have had devastating consequences on Southwest Virginia. This defendant contributed to that devastation by trafficking large quantities of these drugs into the region,” Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci said today. “Today’s sentence reflects the commitment of this office to aggressively prosecute those who poison our communities for profit.”
According to court documents, on two occasions in April 2024, Williams sold confidential informants approximately 41 grams of methamphetamine from his Wise County residence. In July 2024, Williams and another individual were involved in a single-car vehicle accident. Upon a search of the surrounding area, and the vehicle Williams was driving, police found a black back containing a loaded handgun, approximately 25 grams of methamphetamine, two baggies of green plant material, and two metal smoking devices.
Two weeks later, after leaving a known drug house in Wise County, Williams was pulled over and failed a standard sobriety test. A search of Williams’ person revealed a small plastic baggy containing methamphetamine. In his vehicle, officers found approximately 44 grams of methamphetamine and three lock boxes, each containing a pistol. Officers also found an illegal silencer and a plastic bag containing fentanyl and/or xylazine.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen.
The case was investigated by the Southwest Drug Task Force, Wise County Sheriff’s Office, Norton Police Department, Virginia State Police, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena Busscher is prosecuting the case for the United States.
Watertown Man Pleads Guilty to Drug OffenseRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Seth Demiceli, age 24, of Watertown, New York, plead guilty on Wednesday to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
As part of his plea, Demiceli admitted that on January 16, 2025, he drove from the Albany, New York, area, to Watertown with approximately 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in his vehicle. The methamphetamine was separated into 10 bags, each containing approximately 1 pound of narcotics. Law enforcement apprehended Demiceli as he returned to Watertown. Demiceli had intended to sell the methamphetamine in the Watertown area.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “This drug dealer was apprehended by law enforcement with a terrifying amount of methamphetamine in his car. This office and our law enforcement partners will continue to disrupt, arrest and prosecute those who traffic this poison in the Northern District of New York.”
Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller stated: “Illegal drugs devastate lives and fuel violence. This case shows that those who profit from spreading poison will face serious consequences. Through ATF NY Syracuse Field Office’s strong partnership with the New York State Police, the Metro Drug Task Force, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office NDNY, we remain committed to working together to protect our communities.”
Sentencing is scheduled for December 17, 2025, before United States District Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe. At sentencing, Demiceli faces a prison term of at least 10 years and up to life, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and a supervised release term of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
ATF is investigating the case with assistance from the New York State Police Community Stabilization Unit and the Metro Jefferson Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis is prosecuting the case.
Waianae Resident Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm and Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – Acting United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Jonaven Perkins-Sinapati, 39, of Waianae, Hawaii, was sentenced today in federal court by U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A.S. Park to 120 months’ imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. Perkins-Sinapati pled guilty pursuant to a plea agreement in May 2025.
As part of this guilty plea, Perkins-Sinapati admitted that on May 23, 2024, while driving in Waianae, Hawaii and being followed by law enforcement in connection with an outstanding warrant, Perkins-Sinapati instructed a passenger in his vehicle to throw a bag out of the window and then continued driving. Perkins-Sinapati was arrested shortly thereafter when stopped at an intersection, and law enforcement recovered the bag and searched both the bag and the vehicle, finding approximately 147 grams of methamphetamine, a loaded 9mm pistol with no serial number (commonly referred to as a “ghost gun”), 67 rounds of ammunition, and $1,721 in U.S. currency.
According to information provided to the Court at sentencing, the offenses were committed while Perkins-Sinapati was released on bail for a pending state firearms offense relating to an alleged discharge of a firearm with a high-capacity magazine in a residential neighborhood in Kaneohe, Hawaii in May 2024. There was additional evidence presented to the Court that Perkins-Sinapati allegedly discharged a firearm from his vehicle’s sunroof on multiple occasions in public places in the days leading up to his arrest in this matter.
At sentencing Judge Park emphasized the danger of ghost guns, which are untraceable. She called Perkins-Sinapati’s pattern of discharging firearms “grandiose and reckless” and his disposal of a ghost gun on the side of a public road “extremely dangerous.” Judge Park also admonished Perkins-Sinapati for being “a contributing factor” to the gun violence in Waianae, which she described as “wreaking havoc” on that community.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barbara Eucker and Sara D. Ayabe for the District of Hawaii prosecuted the case.
Violent Drug Dealer Sentenced to 23 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ATLANTA – Royce Cobb, a/k/a “Rapp,” 47, of Atlanta, Georgia, a multi-time convicted felon who was distributing kilogram quantities of dangerous drugs from an Atlanta stash house, will serve a 23-year prison sentence following his convictions for cocaine trafficking and illegal possession of a loaded semiautomatic firearm. Cobb previously served prison sentences in Georgia and North Carolina for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, trafficking and attempted trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in marijuana, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Cobb’s aggravated assault conviction followed a 2001 shooting during which Cobb killed one of his drug customers.
“More than a decade behind bars failed to deter Cobb from trafficking large amounts of drugs from an Atlanta stash house while armed,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thankfully, the determined investigation of the DEA and their state and local partners finally halted Cobb’s illicit activity.”
“Far too many victims have suffered at the hands of repeat offenders who show no remorse for the chaos they create,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA is committed to dismantling criminal networks and protecting our communities.”
“When we team our resources with the resources of our local, state, and federal partners, gang members better beware,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “The removal of drugs, weapons and gang members from the streets immediately makes those communities safer.”
“This case underscores the powerful impact that can be achieved when law enforcement agencies unite with purpose, harnessing their collective strength to dismantle complex drug trafficking networks and deliver a decisive blow to criminal organizations,” said Acting Director Andy Dimond of the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA).
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: Cobb, a large-scale drug trafficker, was responsible for distributing at least 50 kilograms of cocaine, 4 kilograms of methamphetamine, and various quantities of fentanyl and heroin. In 2022, DEA investigators began surveilling Cobb’s southwest Atlanta drug stash location, which enabled them to seize kilograms of illegal drugs, firearms, and thousands of dollars of drug proceeds from Cobb’s customers and associates. Agents observed dozens of drug traffickers, including some from neighboring states, visit Cobb’s residence for suspected drug deals. Agents’ seizures included approximately 17.6 kilograms of cocaine concealed under the bed of a tow truck and approximately 22 kilograms of cocaine in an associate’s vehicle in South Carolina. In 2023, DEA agents seized multiple kilograms of cocaine and other narcotics, and drug proceeds, from drug transporters working with Cobb and his conspirators.
In July 2023, agents executed a search warrant at Cobb’s primary drug stash house, where they seized counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, three bricks of marijuana, and a loaded semiautomatic firearm with a large-capacity magazine. Agents also seized ammunition for two other firearms, money counters, and a pill counter. At another of Cobb’s Atlanta stash locations, agents seized seven kilograms of cocaine. Agents recovered more than a quarter-million dollars of cash from the two stash houses combined.
Yesterday, United States District Judge J.P. Boulee sentenced Cobb to 23 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Cobb was convicted on April 16, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Suwanee Police Department, and Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Georgia State Patrol, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office (South Carolina).
Assistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Dwayne A. Brown, Jr., along with former Assistant United States Attorney Rebeca M. Ojeda, prosecuted the case.
This case was part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
United States Files Civil Complaint Against S.F.-Based Air Carrier to Enforce Penalties for Alleged Drug and Alcohol Testing Program NoncomplianceRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – The United States filed a civil complaint in federal district court this week against passenger air carrier Boutique Air, Inc. to enforce civil penalties that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) assessed for alleged violations of federal regulations governing drug and alcohol records checks on employees.
Boutique Air is a San Francisco-based air carrier that operates scheduled and charter flights. As an FAA-certified air carrier, Boutique Air is required to comply with federal regulations governing workplace drug and alcohol testing, records checks, training, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. Among other requirements, FAA-certified air carriers are prohibited from permitting a newly hired employee to continue performing safety-sensitive functions for more than 30 days unless the carrier checks the employee’s drug and alcohol testing records from the employee’s prior transportation industry employers or makes a good faith effort to obtain the required information.
According to the complaint, Boutique Air failed to conduct requisite drug and alcohol records checks on 21 employees that it hired into safety-sensitive positions, including mechanics, a pilot, and a ground security coordinator. The FAA found that between August 2020 and September 2021, Boutique Air allegedly authorized 21 new employees to perform safety-sensitive functions beyond the 30-day threshold without obtaining, or making a good faith effort to obtain, requisite drug and alcohol testing information from those employees’ previous transportation industry employers.
On Sept. 22, 2023, the FAA issued a letter to Boutique Air outlining the FAA’s conclusion that Boutique Air violated federal regulations governing drug and alcohol records checks on employees on 21 occasions and seeking payment of a civil penalty. The maximum allowed penalty totals $291,417. The complaint seeks collection of the civil penalty.
United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FAA Chief Counsel Liam McKenna made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sapna Mehta is handling this case. The FAA investigated this matter.
The complaint contains allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
U.S. Government Seizes Online Marketplaces Selling Fraudulent Identity Documents Used in Cybercrime SchemesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced today the seizure of two marketplace domains and one blog used to sell fraudulent identity documents to cybercriminals worldwide. The operators of VerifTools produced and sold counterfeit driver’s licenses, passports, and other identification documents that could be used to bypass identity verification systems and gain unauthorized access to online accounts.
VerifTools Splash PageThe Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began investigating in August 2022 after discovering a conspiracy to use stolen identity information to access cryptocurrency accounts. The investigation revealed that VerifTools offered counterfeit identification documents for all 50 U.S. states and multiple foreign countries for as little as nine dollars, payable in cryptocurrency.
The FBI used the VerifTools marketplace to generate and purchase counterfeit New Mexico driver’s licenses, which were paid for with cryptocurrency. The FBI has identified the equivalent of approximately $6.4 million of illicit proceeds linked to the VerifTools marketplace. The following counterfeit documents are an example of New Mexico driver’s licenses obtained from VerifTools.
Counterfeit New Mexico Driver’s License Counterfeit New Mexico Driver’s License with watermark“The internet is not a refuge for criminals. If you build or sell tools that let offenders impersonate victims, you are part of the crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “We will use every lawful tool to disrupt your business, take the profit out of it, and bring you to justice. No one operation is bigger than us together. With our partners at every level of law enforcement we will protect New Mexicans and defend those who stand up for our community.”
"The removal of this marketplace is a major step in protecting the public from fraud and identity theft crime," said Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Division. "Together with our partners, we will continue to target and dismantle the platforms that criminals depend on, no matter where they operate."
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office made the announcement today.
The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.
The Justice Department collaborated closely with investigators and prosecutors from multiple jurisdictions in this investigation, including the District of New Mexico, Eastern District of Virginia, the Dutch National Police and the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service.
U.S. Attorney announces immigration case updates for the Eastern District of VirginiaRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, announced today case updates on six immigration cases in the district.
On Jan. 20 the President signed executive orders addressing the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. Protecting the American People Against Invasion recognized that enforcing our Nation’s immigration laws is critically important to the national security and public safety of the United States, and that it is the policy of the United States to faithfully execute the immigration laws against all inadmissible and removable aliens, particularly those aliens who threaten the safety or security of the American people. The order tasked the Department of Justice with prioritizing the prosecution of criminal offenses related to the unauthorized entry or continued unauthorized presence of aliens in the United States. Securing Our Borders prioritizes the pursuit of criminal charges against illegal aliens who violate immigration laws and against those who facilitate their unlawful presence in the United States.
Honduran national Oscar Armando Duarte-Salinas, 42, was removed from the United States on June 27, 2005, again on Jan. 26, 2011, and once more on Aug. 10, 2012. On April 18, 2022, officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) learned that Duarte-Salinas had returned to the United States following his arrest in Fairfax County. Duarte-Salinas was arrested for public drunkenness 11 times since April 2022, eight of which led to convictions, and charges remain pending for public drunkenness, felony breaking and entering, petit larceny, and failure to appear. Duarte-Salinas pled guilty today to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 1:25-cr-228
Pursuant to a final order of removal, on May 22, 2019, Salvadoran national Pablo Arnoldo Argueta Gonzalez, aka Jose Rodriguez-Montoya, 43, was removed from the United States. On March 14, ICE agents learned that Argueta-Gonzalez had unlawfully returned to the United States when he was detained at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail in James City County following his arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). On Aug. 19, Argueta-Gonzalez pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 4:25-cr-39
Pursuant to a final order of removal, on June 29, 2011, Guatemalan national Jiber Nemias-Lucs, 34, was removed from the United States. Less than three months later, Nemias-Lucs again illegally entered the United States and was removed. After illegally reentering a third time, in 2015 Nemias-Lucs was charged in Arlington County with assault and battery of a family member and in 2016 was found guilty in absentia of driving the wrong way on a roadway and driving without a license. In August 2017, Nemias-Lucs was convicted of DUI and refusal in Arlington County, and he was removed again. He subsequently returned to the country and in February 2018 was convicted of illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He once again illegally reentered the United States and in August 2023 was charged and convicted in absentia in Arlington County for being drunk in public. In June 2024 he was convicted of obstruction of justice. In November 2024 he was charged with two counts of assault and battery, and in December 2024, he was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. On Feb. 17, Nemias-Lucs was arrested for robbery by force and on Feb. 18 ICE entered a detainer. On June 24, Nemias-Lucs was again arrested for being drunk in public and was taken into federal custody. On Aug. 20, Nemias-Lucs pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 1:25-cr-240
On July 22, 2014, pursuant to a final order of removal, Salvadoran national Marlon Omar Flores Quintanilla, 35, was removed from the United States. Flores Quintanilla subsequently reentered the United States illegally and on Dec. 1, 2015, was removed again. On May 16, ICE officers learned that Flores Quintanilla was detained at the Prince William County Adult Detention Center. On Aug. 21 Flores Quintanilla pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 1:25-cr-237
Pursuant to a final order of removal, Guatemalan national Abel Enrique Carrillo Cobo, 29, was removed from the United States on Oct. 6, 2014, again on Jan. 27, 2015, and once more on May 21, 2018. After his most recent removal, Carrillo Cobo unlawfully reentered the United States and on July 20, 2022, was arrested in Fairfax County for carrying a concealed weapon. ICE agents learned of the arrest on April 3, 2025. Carrillo Cobo pled guilty yesterday to illegal reentry after removal subsequent to a felony conviction. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 1:25-cr-187
Guatemalan national Jose Adolfo Veliz, 53, illegally entered the United States on Aug. 14, 1990. On Aug. 24, 2009, a designated immigration officer with the San Bernardino County (California) Sheriff’s Department encountered Veliz and, pursuant to a warrant of removal, Veliz was removed from the United States on Oct. 19, 2009. On April 21, Veliz was arrested by the Hanover County Police Department for charges related to sexual battery. On Aug. 26, Veliz pled guilty to illegally reentering the United States following a previous removal. He remains subject to the prior order of removal. Case No. 3:25-cr-86
Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for the case number provided above.
U.S. Air Force Major Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Steven Dennis Mack (40, Tampa) to five years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Mack was also ordered to pay $42,500 in restitution; $40,000 in fines; and will be required to register as a sex offender. Mack entered a guilty plea on March 6, 2025. An Air Force court martial is pending.
According to court documents, Mack, while in another state, sent an image of CSAM from his personal email address to an individual with an email address that geo-located to the Philippines. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Mack’s email address and found hundreds of emails exchanged with the Philippines user in which they discussed engaging in sexual activities with minors. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Mack’s Tampa residence, where they seized a cellphone and laptop computer. A search of the laptop showed that Mack searched terms consistent with CSAM and accessed pornographic content. A search of the cellphone revealed that it contained 64 images of CSAM. Further investigation revealed that Mack had viewed most of those images in Tampa in June and December 2023.
This case was investigated by the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 340 at MacDill Air Force Base and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Three Federal Inmates Plead Guilty to Retaliating Against A Government Witness After Vicious AttackRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Jose Carbajal (35, Palm Springs, CA), Edward Camacho (21, Winter Garden), and Jose Lugo (41, Kissimmee) have pleaded guilty to retaliating against a government witness and conspiracy to retaliate against a government witness. Each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to records and information presented in court, in November 2024, Carbajal was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for drug and money laundering conspiracies. For several years, Carbajal had shipped large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California to his partner in a drug trafficking organization operating in the Middle District of Florida. During the course of that investigation, several cooperating sources came forward, including Witness 1.
On December 26, 2024, Carbajal was in the Seminole County Jail awaiting transport to begin serving his prison sentence for the drug and money laundering conspiracies. Witness 1 was accidentally placed in the same jail housing unit with Carbajal. Within a few minutes, Carbajal recruited two other federal inmates, Camacho and Lugo, to help him retaliate against Witness 1. While Witness 1 was sitting at a table with his back turned, Carbajal, Camacho, and Lugo snuck up from behind and attacked Witness 1. The three inmates knocked Witness 1 to the ground and punched, kicked, and stomped him repeatedly. Carbajal also used a jail telephone to beat him. Detention deputies were able to stop the attack after more than a minute and a half, just after Carbajal shattered a broomstick over Witness 1’s head and back. After the attack, Carbajal, Camacho, and Lugo all made incriminating jail calls indicating their motive and coordinated involvement in the attack. Camacho (4 years, 3 months) and Lugo (7 years, 8 months) are currently serving federal prison sentences for separate offenses.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyrie K. Boyer.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Texas Woman Pleads Guilty to Multiple Fraud OffensesRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Texas woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland today to bank fraud, false use of a passport, and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, in June 2024, Andrea Cochran, 51, entered a credit union in Westbrook and used a falsified passport card to withdraw money from a victim’s accounts. The falsified passport card presented by Cochran bore her picture but had the personal information of the victim account holder. She also presented the victim’s Social Security number and forged the victim’s signature for each withdrawal.
Cochran faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $1 million to be followed by up to five years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Westbrook Police Department and the Windham Police Department.
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Tampa Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing over $500,000 in COVID Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Terrance Bradford (46, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to eight counts of wire fraud. Bradford faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, Bradford devised a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration by submitting multiple false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications. These programs were some of the sources of economic relief provided for by the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Contrary to the certifications made on his loan applications, at the time Bradford was applying for the loans, he was excluded from receiving any federal contracts and one of his businesses had filed for bankruptcy. Had Bradford truthfully disclosed this information, he would have been precluded from receiving CARES Act funding.
As part of his sentence, Bradford also faces an order of forfeiture of $533,648.32, the proceeds of the criminal conduct to which he pleaded guilty.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer.
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 www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Cocaine and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Torrey Taylor (44, Tampa) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and distribution of cocaine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Taylor faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to court records, Taylor conspired with his co-defendant, Temeko Evans, to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Between February 11 and March 26, 2025, detectives from the Tampa Police Department conducted a series of controlled purchases from Evans and Taylor to include approximately two ounces of crack cocaine and two ounces of methamphetamine.
Evans’s case is currently pending trial in the October 2025 trial term.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tampa Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.
Tallahassee Violent Felon Pleads Guilty to EscapeRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Derek Somerset, 46, of Tallahassee, Florida pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday August 22, 2025, to escape from the custody of the Attorney General and the Attorney General’s authorized representative. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I commend the efforts of our local law enforcement partners, working with the U.S. Marshal’s office, to get this violent felon off our streets and back in federal custody.”
Court documents reflect that on October 15, 2024, Somerset was furloughed from federal prison, where he was serving a 48-month sentence for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Somerset was to report the next day to a residential re-entry facility in Tallahassee to complete his sentence. Somerset, though, failed to report and was found a little over two months later in a motel parking lot overdosing on fentanyl.
Somerset faces up to five years’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release when he is sentenced.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the United States Marshal’s Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Tallahassee Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Eddie Lee Shular Jr., 36, of Tallahassee, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I applaud the excellent work of our local and federal partners to make our community safer by getting this dangerous individual off the streets. My office remains committed to fulfilling the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by targeting criminals who are endangering our communities with the full force of the law.”
Court documents reflect that in March 2025, an officer from the Tallahassee Police Department found a vehicle illegally parked in Jack McLean Park overnight. The officer made contact with two occupants and could smell marijuana and see drug paraphernalia. During a search of the vehicle, a firearm was found in the glovebox. Subsequent DNA testing found Shular’s DNA on the firearm.
Shular has 17 prior felony convictions. He faces imprisonment for up to 15 years.
The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 6, 2025, at 11:00 am at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker
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).
As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors.
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.
St. Louis Sheriff Indicted on Civil Rights ChargeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery was indicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on a civil rights charge. He appeared in court Thursday morning and pleaded not guilty.
Montgomery, 28, was indicted on a misdemeanor count of deprivation of rights under color of law, namely the right to be free from unreasonable seizure.
The indictment alleges that on Feb. 14, 2025, Montgomery deprived the acting commissioner of the St. Louis City Justice Center of her right to be free from unlawful detention by a person acting under color of law, when he directed and participated in the restraint and detention of her.
The charge is punishable by up to one year in prison, a fine of up to $1,000 or both prison and a fine..
A charge set forth in an indictment is merely an accusation and does not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Krug is prosecuting the case.
South Bend Woman Ordered to Repay Funds from PPP Loan FraudRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Rachael Robinson, 37 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to a federal felony for wire fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Robinson was ordered to pay $55, 280.47 in restitution to the victims of the offense.According to documents in the case, in February and April 2021, Robinson submitted two fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) relief funds for a business that did not exist. The PPP program was designed to approve loans to small businesses for job retention and other expenses as part the CARES Act that provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of her fraudulent representations, Robinson received about $50,000.00 in PPP funds which she used for her own benefit rather than for any legitimately approved purpose.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Luke N. Reilander and Joel Gabrielse.
Six-Time Felon Who Threatened Metro Bus Passenger with a Gun and Caught with a Switch Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – Clenest Demon Wells Jr, age 28, has been sentenced in U.S. District Court to 116 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release for illegally possessing firearms as a felon and possessing a machinegun, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“Minneapolis belongs to the families who ride the bus to work, the parents who take their children to school, and the residents who build this community, not to felons who terrorize it,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Wells is a six-time felon armed with guns and a switch who threatened an innocent passenger on a Minneapolis bus. He is now going to federal prison for nearly a decade.”
According to court documents, a federal jury convicted Wells proceeded to trial and a federal jury found him guilty on all four counts. Evidence presented at trial proved that on three separate occasions between 2020 and 2023 law enforcement caught Wells illegally carrying firearms.
On April 6, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to reports of a passenger wearing a black vest and grey winter hat on a Metro Transit bus in Minneapolis threatening another passenger with a firearm. Law enforcement officers located and boarded the Metro Transit bus at the intersection of Penn and Lowry Avenue North, identified a passenger who closely fit the description, and conducted a pat-down search. The passenger was later identified as Wells, who was found in possession of a black HiPoint 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
On May 23, 2022, Minneapolis Police Department officers on patrol observed a Pontiac G6 speeding through a residential area and conducted a traffic stop. Wells was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. Officers searched the car and found Wells in possession of a black Springfield Model XD9 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol.
On July 30, 2023, Wells fled from law enforcement in a busy entertainment district of downtown Minneapolis while he possessed a loaded machinegun, an extended firearm magazine, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Wells’ Glock pistol was equipped with a “switch” conversion device that enabled the firearm to fire in fully automatic mode. The gun was capable of firing 10 rounds of ammunition in well under a second.
Prior to 2020, Wells has been convicted of six felonies, so he was prohibited from possessing firearms. His prior convictions include multiple felony assault convictions for attacking and throwing bodily fluids at law enforcement officers while in jail.
Wells was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Donovan W. Frank to 116 months imprisonment. When handing down his sentence Judge Frank noted, “The amount of gun violence we are having in Minnesota is just off the charts.”
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Metro Transit Police Department, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David B. Green and Syngen Kanassatega prosecuted the case.
Sisseton Man Sentenced to Almost 30 Years in Federal Prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Sisseton, South Dakota, convicted of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The sentencing took place on August 26, 2025.
Chauncey Allen White, age 31, was sentenced to two years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100 on the Assault with a Dangerous Weapon charge.
White was sentenced to 26 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200 on the Sexual Abuse of a Minor charge. Upon release from federal prison, White must register as a sex offender. White’s sentences are to be served consecutively, which amounts to 29 years and four months in federal prison.
White was indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in March 2024. He was indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse of a Minor in July 2024. White pleaded guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon on November 18, 2024. He pleaded guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Minor on June 9, 2025.
The Assault with a Dangerous Weapon conviction stemmed from an incident on February 28, 2023, when White assaulted his romantic partner with a knife. The victim was trying to break up with White, which angered White. While sitting in the victim’s vehicle in the parking lot where she worked, White held a knife to the victim’s body and asked how she wanted to die. The victim was able to escape without physical injury. White, however, stabbed the center console of the victim’s car causing property damage.
The Sexual Abuse of a Minor conviction stemmed from an incident in 2014 when White, 20-21 years old at the time, provided alcohol to two young teenage girls. The girls became heavily intoxicated and lost consciousness. White then removed the clothes of minor victim 1 and began to vaginally rape her. She came to and was able to push him off. White then found minor victim 2 and proceeded to vaginally rape her before she regained consciousness. The incident happened at White’s family home on the Lake Traverse Reservation.
These cases were investigated by the FBI and the Sisseton Wahpeton Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
White was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Women Sentenced to 16 Years and 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced two Sioux Falls women convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance.
Hailey Schneiderman, 25, was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The sentencing took place on August 4, 2025.
Heather Downey, 54, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The sentencing took place on August 25, 2025.
Schneiderman and Downey were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in November 2024. Schneiderman pleaded guilty on May 8, 2025. Downey pleaded guilty on June 4, 2025.
Schneiderman obtained methamphetamine from a source in California and sold it to Downey and others in the Sioux Falls area. Downey also sold methamphetamine in the Sioux Falls area. Schneiderman was identified when she twice sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant. In total, those sales involved more than 100 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
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.
Schneiderman and Downey were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Salvadoran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salvadoran national unlawfully residing in Chelsea, Mass. pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation.
Juan Carlos Gil-Ochoa, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien before U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley who scheduled sentencing for Oct. 3, 2025. In June 2025, Gil-Ochoa was indicted by a federal grand jury. He was arrested by immigration authorities on May 12, 2025.
Gil-Ochoa was deported from the United States to El Salvador in April 2013. Sometime after his removal, Gil-Ochoa illegally reentered the United States without permission and was encountered by immigration authorities in October 2023.
The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year 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, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
Safety Inspectors Charged with Fabricating Hundreds of Gas Pipeline Test Results Throughout New York City and WestchesterRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the New York State Inspector General, Lucy Lang, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging LIAM TREIBERT and MICHAEL VASCONCELLOS with wire fraud arising out of their scheme to defraud a regulated utility company (“Utility-1”) in connection with fraudulent safety inspections of natural gas pipelines that Utility-1 was installing throughout New York City and Westchester County. TREIBERT was arrested today in North Carolina and will be presented in Raleigh federal court. VASCONCELLOS was arrested today in New York and will be presented in White Plains federal court.
“As alleged, Liam Treibert and Michael Vasconcellos violated the trust placed in them to ensure the safety of natural gas pipelines that were being installed throughout New York City and Westchester County,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “They lied about having performed hundreds of inspections and then covered up those lies with fraudulent paperwork. Their actions put the lives of New Yorkers at risk. The safety of New Yorkers is of paramount importance to our Office.”
“When deliberate misconduct - as alleged here - puts entire communities at risk, those responsible must face swift and decisive consequences,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. “Today’s arrests, made in partnership with the Southern District of New York, demonstrate my agency’s unwavering commitment to protecting critical infrastructure and pursuing accountability on behalf of all New Yorkers.”
As alleged in the Indictment:[1]
Between at least in or about 2016 and 2023, TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS were supposed to perform safety inspections of welds on natural gas pipelines that were being installed throughout New York City and Westchester County. Those inspections were necessary to ensure that the welds did not contain defects that could cause gas leaks or explosions. TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS lied about having inspected hundreds of welds that they never actually reviewed and created fraudulent records to cover up what they had done. As a result, Utility-1 paid for hundreds of sham inspections and were deceived by TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS into thinking that its pipelines had passed critical safety tests that TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS never performed.
As part of the pipeline installation process, Utility-1 or its contractors would typically place gas pipelines into the ground in segments and then weld those segments together. Before a pipeline could be put into service, the welds throughout the pipeline had to be inspected to assess their quality. Those inspections included non-destructive testing.
One common form of non-destructive testing of pipeline welds involved radiographs, often referred to as x-rays. Radiographic testing required a team to radiograph each weld and then examine the films to identify any defects in the welds. If a defect was identified, then the weld would have to be repaired before the pipeline was put into service. Failure to repair a defect before a pipeline was put into service could have led to critical failures, including gas leaks or explosions.
During the period alleged, TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS, while performing radiographic testing for Utility-1, repeatedly engaged in a practice referred to in the non-destructive testing industry as “radaring.” Radaring typically involved radiographing the same weld twice and then passing off one copy of films as having come from a second weld. For instance, a radiographer might radiograph Weld A twice, and then claim that the second set of films are of Weld B, even though the radiographer never inspected Weld B.
In total, hundreds of welds across Utility-1’s pipelines installed throughout the Bronx and Westchester County between in or about 2016 and 2023 were affected by radaring engaged in by TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS. And although TREIBERT and VASCONCELLOS did not actually inspect those welds, invoices for those inspections were submitted to Utility-1. Utility-1 paid those invoices through, among other methods, bank transfers.
* * *
TREIBERT, 30, of Wendell, North Carolina, and VASCONCELLOS, 44, of Mahopac, New York, are each charged with one count of wire 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 defendants will be determined by a judge.
Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the Offices of the New York State Inspector General and the special agents with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Markewitz and Jay McMahon are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
u.s._v._treibert_et_al._indictment.pdf
[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitutes only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.
Shipping Company Fined $2m for Maritime Pollution OffenseRead the Press Release
V.Ships Norway A.S. (V.SHIPS) pleaded guilty today to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and was sentenced to pay a $2 million fine. V.Ships admitted that oily bilge water and oily waste was discharged from the Motor Tanker Swift Winchester (M/T Swift Winchester) and the discharges were omitted from the Oil Record Book.
“Dumping oil-contaminated waste into the waters around our ports and coasts violates the law and poses an unnecessary health and environmental hazard,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The crew took pains to hide their illegal activity by knowingly keeping inaccurate records. We will not turn a blind eye to this kind of irresponsible and fraudulent activity.”
“The Gulf of America and the Texas ports are amazing places with great natural beauty. They are also vital to our economy,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas. “When a foreign ship operated by a foreign company discharges polluting wastes, it threatens waters that are vital to the United States and the state of Texas. We will hold those responsible for polluting the Gulf of America accountable.”
“The criminal prosecution of this case underlines our commitment to enforcing the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ellison C. Travis for the Middle District of Louisiana. “The illegal discharge of bilge water and oily waste from vessels poses a significant threat to our waters and marine life and by holding those accountable who violate these standards, we send a clear message that we will not tolerate actions that endanger our environment. We remain dedicated to ensuring that the maritime industry operates responsibly and in compliance with environmental laws.”
“Coast Guard Marine Inspectors, Pollution Responders and Investigating Officers undergo rigorous and specialized training to detect and gather evidence of environmental crimes. This expertise alongside our federal partnerships was crucial to the successful prosecution of this violation,” said Capt. Jennifer Andrew, the Commanding Officer of Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur. “The Coast Guard maintains one of the world’s most comprehensive and thorough vessel inspection programs, and we will continue to leverage this robust capability to ensure strict compliance with domestic and international maritime laws.”
Between February 2022 and August 2022, a hose was connected between the incinerator waste oil tank and the sewage holding tank on the M/T Swift Winchester. This allowed oily waste to transfer into the sewage holding tank and then to be discharged directly into the sea, bypassing required pollution prevention equipment. A low-ranking engine crewmember reported this to a Superintendent at V.Ships. The Superintendent investigated the matter and discovered what appeared to be oil in the sewage tank. V.Ships dismissed the Chief Engineer. In August 2022, the new Chief Engineer ordered the engine crew to clean the Oil Water Separator (OWS) filter. The engine crew took the filter onto the deck and hosed it down with a degreaser and the oily waste washed directly overboard through a scupper.
Coast Guard members from U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur conducted an examination, during which an engine room crewmember disclosed the discharges and provided photographic and video evidence documenting the illegal discharges. The M/T Swift Winchester entered Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Aug. 25, 2022, and Port Arthur, Texas, on Sept. 7, 2022, with a knowingly falsified Oil Record Book.
U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Kenneth E. Nelson and Trial Attorney Lauren Steele of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Batte for the Eastern District of Texas, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Warner for the Middle District of Louisiana prosecuted the case.
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Romanian Citizen Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Reentry; Faces DeportationRead the Press Release
Williamsport-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nicolae Strava, age 30, a citizen of Romania, was sentenced today to nine months in prison by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann for illegally reentering the country after having previously been removed.
According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Strava was indicted by a federal grand jury after being arrested for theft by deception in Centre County, Pennsylvania, on September 20, 2024. Strava had previously been removed from the United States pursuant to a court order on April 23, 2019, through Houston, Texas. Strava pleaded guilty to illegal reentry prior to being sentenced.
An ICE detainer is lodged against Strava for deportation proceedings.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Roanoke Man Pleads Guilty to Witness Tampering After Sending Illicit Texts to TeenRead the Press Release
ROANOKE, Va. – A Roanoke man, who was a registered sex offender and on federal supervised release for a previous conviction on charges of soliciting minors, pled guilty yesterday to witness tampering after he sent a 16-year-old boy inappropriate text messages he knew violated the terms of his supervised release.
Lenny Baldwin Jr., 30, pled guilty yesterday to one count of witness tampering. At sentencing, Baldwin faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to court documents, on May 10, 2023, Baldwin was released from federal prison and began a term of supervised release. In the summer of 2023 while working at Dollar Tree, Baldwin met and befriended a 16-year-old boy (MV1). Baldwin eventually spent time with the boy and his mother at their Roanoke home.
In October 2023, Baldwin began exchanging sexually charged text messages with MV1 while using an iPhone. During the conversation, Baldwin used the iPhone’s “unsend” feature to unsend three of the messages to conceal these messages from being discovered, knowing that these communications violated the terms of his supervised release. The following day, Baldwin, using a different phone number, texted MV1 and asked him to delete the messages between the two of them, telling MV1 that he did not want “the wrong eyes” to see the messages.
On November 30, 2023, Baldwin began texting MV1 using a different phone connected to a different phone number. Baldwin did not notify his probation officer of this new phone or phone number. Again, the messages sent to MV1 were sexually charged, and Baldwin knew they violated the terms of his supervised release. Baldwin again asked MV1 to delete the messages.
Finally, on December 24, 2023, Baldwin sent MV1 additional messages of a sexual nature and in violation of his supervised release.
Throughout the totality of the text message conversations between Baldwin and MV1, Baldwin unsent multiple messages to conceal them from his probation officer, knowing they constituted a violation of the terms of his supervised release. In addition, Baldwin asked MV1 to delete their text messages to conceal from his probation officer the fact that he was sending sexual text messages to a minor.
Robert N. Tracci, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia made the announcement.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the City of Roanoke Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff is prosecuting the case.
Providence Resident Admits to Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Providence man found to be in possession of more than 1,500 fentanyl-laced pills and more than 400 grams of fentanyl powder today pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.
Court records reflect that during a court-authorized search of his residence in November 2022, Carols Molina, 35, was found to be in possession of 1,503 fentanyl-laced pills designed to look like prescription drugs (weighing a total of 170.6 grams) and a mixture of powder containing fentanyl weighing 411.75 grams.
Leading up to the search of his residence, while under surveillance by DEA agents and DEA Drug Task Force officers, Molina made multiple sales of fentanyl-laced counterfeit prescription pills to another induvial. A total of 2,416 pills were seized immediately following the transactions.
Molina is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2, 2025. The sentence imposed in this matter will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force.
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Postal Employee Admits Role in Conspiracy to Steal Checks from the MailRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A mail carrier on Thursday admitted stealing checks from the mail and selling the key that allowed her co-conspirators to steal mail.
Cambria M. Hopkins, 30, of Florissant, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of unlawful use of a mail key. Hopkins, a postal carrier based in Clayton, joined a conspiracy to steal mail to obtain personal and business checks, knowing that they would be used to commit fraud. On March 20, 2022, Hopkins sold her “arrow key,” which allows access to U.S. Postal Service collection boxes, to Malik A. Jones. She also told Jones which boxes the key would open. Jones then paid others to steal mail using Hopkins’ key.
Hopkins also stole mail at the Post Office and mail that she encountered on her route. From roughly August 2022 to August 2023, Hopkins sold checks to Jones multiple times. He paid her in cash, via CashApp or in groceries.
Hopkins is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1. The conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine. The mail key charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Jones, now 28, pleaded guilty October 25 to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft and is awaiting sentencing. He admitted recruiting other people who would then allow him to use their bank accounts to deposit forged and fraudulent checks that had been stolen from the mail.
The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.
Pennsylvania Man Who Used Snapchat to Gain Access to Abuse Minors Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Codi Vaughan, who had been contacting minors and seeking self-produced child pornography for more than a year, will spend 17 years in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
On June 2, 2023, Vaughan, 25, of Fair Chance, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Little Rock on five counts of production of child sexual abuse material and three counts of receipt or distribution of child sexual abuse material. On October 16, 2024, Vaughan pleaded guilty to count seven of the Indictment. Chief Judge Baker sentenced Vaughan to 204 months in federal prison and 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On February 3, 2023, the FBI received a tip from the Secretary of the Air Force Inspector General tip hotline stating Vaughan wanted to have sexual relations with minors and purchased child pornography. Vaughan worked as a mechanic for the Air Force and lived on the Little Rock Air Force Base. Special Agents from the FBI interviewed the caller, a minor who lived in Maryland. The minor stated Vaughan contacted her through Snapchat wanting to purchase child pornography from her and her minor friends. On February 6, 2023, Vaughan used Snapchat to contact another minor in Maryland, again asking for the minor to send him self-produced child pornography. In both instances, Vaughan offered to pay the minors for the child pornography. Special Agents learned that Vaughan regularly communicated with minors in Maryland and Virginia through Snapchat and has been doing so since at least January 2022. This pattern of abuse of minors led to a sentencing enhancement. In January 2023, Vaughan offered a minor $1,000 to perform sexual acts.
An investigation revealed that Vaughan regularly paid or offered to pay minors for child pornography through CashApp. A review of Vaughan’s CashApp history revealed numerous payments to minors. During the times he contacted them, Vaughan knew they were minors.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Air Force, Office of Special Investigations, with assistance from the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant.
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Additional information about the office of the
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at
https://www.justice.gov/edar
X (formerly known as Twitter):
@USAO_EDAR
Operator of illegal alien stash house at center of smuggling-for-ransom scheme sentenced to federal prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 33-year-old Guatemalan national who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison for conspiracy to transport other illegal aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Junior Morales-Chutan pleaded guilty April 24.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Morales-Chutan to serve 48 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment.
“As this office has pointed out several times before, the human smuggling business is ruthless, inhumane, and sometimes deadly,” said Ganjei. “This case shows how those who make their living smuggling and warehousing human beings have no respect for the safety or dignity of their fellow man. Don’t put your life, or the lives of your loved ones, in their hands. Stay home and stay safe.”
Morales-Chutan ran a stash house in Houston where illegal aliens were kept after being smuggled into the United States from various countries. There, associates used weapons and threats to keep them from leaving. Morales-Chutan was also in charge of picking up money paid in relation to the smuggling scheme.
In August 2023, the father of two illegal aliens had paid $25,000 for their transportation from Guatemala to the United States. Once they were in Houston, Morales-Chutan demanded an additional $32,500 in ransom for their release. He threatened that if he did not get the money by the end of the day, he would turn them over to the cartel.
The investigation led to a residence on Tanager Street in Houston, where authorities recovered firearms, cash and ledgers detailing human smuggling.
The smuggled individuals were later released and identified Morales-Chutan as the one in charge of the stash house and that there had been up to 20 other illegal aliens there at various times.
Morales-Chutan is also an illegal alien himself, having been previously removed from the United States and reentered unlawfully approximately 18 months prior to the smuggling offense. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Day prosecuted the case.
Nigerian Citizen Guilty of Years-Long Romance Scam that Victimized Multiple United States CitizensRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that DANIEL CHIMA INWEREGBU(“INWEREGBU”), age 40, a citizen of Lagos, Nigeria, pled guilty on August 21, 2025 before United States District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown to two of the counts pending against him, including conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and using an assumed name to commit a mail fraud scheme, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1342, 1343 and 1349 (Count 1), and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), 1957, and 1956(h) (Count 12). INWEREGBU’s plea stemmed from his role in a lengthy romance scam targeting American citizens.
According to court documents, a “romance scam” was a confidence scheme in which the perpetrator feigned romantic intentions towards a victim, gained their affection, and used the victim’s goodwill to commit fraud. These fraudulent acts might involve such acts as obtaining access to the victim’s money, bank accounts, credit cards, passports, e-mail accounts, or national identification numbers; convincing the victim to transmit things of value to the perpetrator or his witting or unwitting co-conspirators; or inducing the victim to, unintentionally, commit or participate in the commission of financial fraud against third parties on behalf of the perpetrator.
Between at least July 1, 2017, and December 16, 2018, INWEREGBU, and his co-conspirators, devised and operated a “romance scam” whereby they sought to obtain money and property from multiple American women, including 4 victims, by means of false and fraudulent representations and promises. Specifically, INWEREGBU and his co-conspirators created profiles on social media and online dating sites using the alias “Larry Pham,” purportedly a middle-aged male, to attract middle-aged female victims.
The co-conspirators, including INWEREGBU, used online messaging platforms and email, to contact victims, introduce themselves, and appeal to victims’ longing for companionship. If the victim responded favorably, INWEREGBU and his co-conspirators began to cultivate a romantic relationship that emotionally attached the victims to “Larry Pham.” Once the relationship was established, the defendant and his co-conspirators, posing as Larry Pham, requested victims send them money under various scams and ruses to domestic bank accounts they opened and managed. INWEREGBU’s scheme resulted in actual and intended losses to the victims of over $405,000. Thereafter, INWEREGBU and his co-conspirators laundered the funds, by conducting financial transactions using the proceeds of their wire and mail fraud scheme, designed in whole or in part to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds, by directing the victims’ funds through intermediaries.
INWEREGBU faces up to twenty years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a fine of $250,000 as to Count 1. He faces up to twenty years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a fine of $500,000 as to Count 12. He also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count. Sentencing before Judge Brown has been scheduled for December 4, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the great support provided by United States Department of Justice Office of International Affairs and the United States Department of State. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.
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Newport News man sentenced to over eight years in prison following neighborhood shootingRead the Press Release
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to eight years and one month in prison for two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Nov. 5, 2023, Newport News Police (NNPD) responded to a report of a man brandishing a firearm. As police arrived, Jimmy Lee Scott, 33, was firing a handgun. The shooting damaged multiple vehicles. Scott fled the scene but was arrested in a neighboring back yard after a brief pursuit.
During a search of a residence associated with Scott, investigators recovered six firearms, including a stolen revolver. One of the firearms recovered from the residence matched all twenty casings recovered from the scene of the shooting.
Scott was previously convicted for disorderly conduct, driving on a suspended license (twice), carrying a concealed weapon (twice), trespassing, possession with intent to distribute marijuana (twice), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. As a previously convicted felon, Scott cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-21.
New Jersey fast-food restaurants owner pleads guilty to $2.4M tax fraud schemeRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A New Jersey man who owns fast-food restaurants in multiple states pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to conspiring to commit tax fraud.
As part of his plea, Ali Shahid Butt, 56, of Princeton Junction, New Jersey, has agreed to pay more than $2.4 million in restitution to the IRS.
According to court documents, from 2015 through 2021, Butt partially owned several fast-food restaurants throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic, including in Zanesville. He frequently controlled the relationship with the restaurant franchisor.
With Butt’s knowledge, his franchise co-owners and managers paid certain employees in cash and did not report or pay over tax withholdings for those employees. In many cases, these employees were paid in cash because they were illegal aliens without work authorization.
For example, co-conspirator Bahadar “Sam” Durrani and Butt caused a tax loss of more than $1.2 million by failing to withhold, account for and pay over employment taxes on cash wages for employees at several restaurants, including in Zanesville.
Butt was charged by a bill of information on Aug. 11 and pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit tax fraud.
Durrani has also pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced in October.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.
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Murfreesboro Woman Charged with Threat to Murder United States Senator Marsha BlackburnRead the Press Release
NASHVILLE – Penelope R. Convertino, age 22, of Murfreesboro, has been charged by criminal complaint with making a threat to murder a federal official with the intent to impede, intimidate, and interfere with U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn while she was engaged in the performance of her official duties, announced Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee.
“Our public officials should be able to do their jobs without receiving vile death threats,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “Threatening public officials with deadly violence cannot and will not be tolerated. We will not hesitate to hold those who make these kinds of violent threats accountable for their crimes.”
According to court documents, on Friday, May 30, 2025, a voice message was left on the voicemail for Senator Blackburn’s Nashville satellite Senate office. One of Senator Blackburn’s staff listened to the voicemail the following Monday. In it, the caller said, “My name is mother**ker and I’m gonna kill Marsha Blackburn. I’m gonna shoot her with a gun. I’m gonna blow up her head on national TV. She will literally have brains splattered behind her because she will not be a person. She will be a dead f**king body.”
Convertino was arrested earlier today by FBI agents.
If convicted, Convertino faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office. Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire is prosecuting the case.
A complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Militia Members Sentenced for Conspiracy to Murder Border Patrol Officers, Attempted Murder of FBI AgentsRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two members of the 2nd American Militia were sentenced on Aug. 27, 2025, in federal court for their roles in a 2022 conspiracy to murder U.S. Border Patrol agents and, related to their shooting at FBI agents during the execution of a search warrant, of attempting to murder federal agents.
Bryan C. Perry, 39, of Clarksville, Tenn., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 15 consecutive life terms in federal prison without parole for his convictions for one count of conspiracy to murder a federal officer and fourteen counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The court also sentenced Perry to concurrent terms of imprisonment of 20 years for his convictions for seven counts of attempted murder of a federal officer, seven counts of assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and one count of assault of a federal officer that inflicts bodily injury. Perry further received concurrent sentences of varying terms of imprisonment for his convictions for conspiracy to assault a federal officer, conspiracy to injure an officer, assault of a federal officer that involves physical contact, depredation of government property, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of body armor by a violent felon, and communicating a threat to injure. The court also sentenced Perry to five years of supervised release following his incarceration and a restitution amount of $3,717.98.
Jonathan S. O’Dell, 35, of Warsaw, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 165 years in federal prison without parole for one count each of conspiracy to murder a federal officer, conspiracy to assault a federal officer, conspiracy to injure an officer, assault of a federal officer that inflicts bodily injury, depredation of government property, possession of a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, communicating a threat to injure, making a false statement, escape from custody, two counts of assault of a federal officer involving physical contact, seven counts each of attempted murder of a federal officer and assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and 14 counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The Court also sentenced O’Dell to five years of supervised release following his incarceration and a restitution amount of $19,234.63.
On Nov. 7, 2024, Perry and O’Dell were found guilty after a 9-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo. The jury deliberated for about two hours and 23 minutes before returning guilty verdicts, ending a trial that began on Oct. 28, 2024. On the morning of the first day of trial, O’Dell pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, one count of making a false statement to a federal agent, and one count of escaping from custody.
Evidence introduced during the trial showed that, throughout the summer, and fall of 2022, Perry and O’Dell recruited and attempted to recruit other individuals to join the 2nd American Militia, a group they co-founded, and join in their plan to travel to the United States-Mexico border to go to war with U.S. Border Patrol. Perry posted several videos on TikTok in an attempt to recruit other members into their conspiracy and they advertised a recruitment event in Warsaw.
On Sept. 5, 2022, Perry, bringing at least two stolen firearms, body armor, and gas masks with him, traveled from Tennessee to Warsaw to live with O’Dell. They used O’Dell’s residence as a staging site as they prepared for their trip to the border and collected firearms, paramilitary gear, ammunition, and other supplies.
On Sept. 12, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he discussed illegal immigrants coming into the United States from Mexico. Perry stated that the U.S. Border Patrol was committing treason by allowing these illegal immigrants to enter the United States, and that the penalty for treason was death. Perry posted another video on TikTok the next day in which he stated that he was “ready to go to war against this government.”
On Sept. 22, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we’re out to shoot to kill” and that “our group is gonna go protect this country.” On Oct. 3, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we were going out huntin’,” that his group was taking their “full kits,” and that they were leaving for the United States – Mexico border on Oct. 8, 2022.
O’Dell and Perry continued to conduct preparatory steps to further their conspiracy, including continuing to recruit others, attempting to acquire other gear, and practicing shooting at targets with firearms.
On Oct. 7, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at O’Dell’s residence. Federal agents approached the property at about 6 a.m. in vehicles with red and blue lights activated. As the FBI approached, an agent utilized a loudspeaker in the lead armored vehicle, the “Bearcat,” to announce they were with the FBI and that they had a search warrant for the residence. Seven agents were inside or behind the Bearcat. The FBI agent began to repeat the announcement, again stating that they were with the FBI, when gunshots were fired from a front window at the lead FBI vehicle. Perry fired 11 shots from his Voodoo Innovations multi-caliber rifle with an AM-15 lower receiver. Several rounds hit the lead FBI vehicle.
Agents responded by deploying flash bangs around the residence. Agents used the Bearcat to conduct a breach of the front door of the residence using an affixed ram. Agents did not return fire and, after the gunshots ceased, the FBI established a perimeter and began communicating with the persons inside the residence to come out.
O’Dell and his girlfriend came out of the residence and surrendered to authorities. Perry eventually came out of the residence. Perry took down an American flag from the front porch of the residence and walked down the steps while waving the flag. After beginning to walk to the agents, Perry then turned around and moved back to the residence. Agents pursued Perry, who began to fight and swing his fists, striking the agents several times and causing injury to at least one agent before he was taken into custody.
Agents then searched the residence and found six firearms, 23 magazines filled with ammunition, 1,770 rounds of various other ammunition, 11 spent casings, two sets of body armor with corresponding plate carrier vests, one handheld radio, two sniper rests, two gas masks, two ballistic helmets, multiple containers of a binary explosive mixture commonly sold as an exploding target, zip ties, medical supplies, and two 2nd American Militia patches. Agents also found two go-bags that contained food, provisions, and other gear.
Later, on Sept. 29, 2023, while O’Dell was in custody awaiting trial on the charges, he escaped from the Phelps County, Mo. Jail and eventually led authorities on a high-speed chase in Ray County, Mo., before being apprehended.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Ray County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
Mexican National with Three Prior Deportations and Multiple Felony Convictions Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Illegally Reentering the United StatesRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Gloria Navarro to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally reentering the United States after being removed from the country on three prior occasions.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Salvador Gonzalez-Sanchez was found by immigration officials in Nevada after he was previously deported in 2011, 2017, and 2023. Gonzalez-Sanchez has four previous felony convictions: illegal alien in possession of a firearm from 2010, deported alien found unlawfully in the United States from 2016, assault with firearm on person from 2021, and conspiracy to violate uniform controlled substance act from 2023.
Gonzalez-Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of Deported Alien Found in the United States. This was his second such conviction, as he was convicted in 2016 for the same crime.
After Gonzalez-Sanchez serves his sentence, he will be deported to Mexico for a fourth time.
Acting United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Jason Knight made the announcement.
The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
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Mexican National Sentenced to 228 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
FORT WAYNE – Heriberto Martinez Contreras, 24 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor.
Martinez Contreras was sentenced to a total of 228 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.According to documents in the case, Martinez Contreras is an alien illegally present in the United States. He led and organized a mission from Indianapolis to Fort Wayne to deliver ten pounds of methamphetamine for an anticipated $18,000 payday. Law enforcement intercepted the delivery in Fort Wayne and, after a traffic stop, recovered the drugs along with an AK-style rifle, four high-capacity magazines, and ammunition. Laboratory testing later confirmed the methamphetamine to be approximately 97% pure, weighing over 4.3 kilograms.
“Heriberto Martinez Contreras wanted to sell ten pounds of near-pure poison to those who would distribute it across our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “And he was willing to take dangerous measures to protect that transaction, as he demonstrated when he armed himself with a style of high-powered rifle best known for its reliability in combat. Thankfully, the excellent work of our law enforcement team ended Martinez Contrera’s attempt to extract a profit from the suffering that drugs like methamphetamine inflict on Americans. This case should leave no doubt in the minds of foreign criminals: if you come to northern Indiana to ply your trade, you will be discovered, you will be prosecuted, you will pay for your crimes with many years of your life, and you will then be deported.”
“Today’s guilty plea makes clear that the FBI will not tolerate drug traffickers who combine deadly narcotics with firepower,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge, Timothy O’Malley. “Heriberto Martinez Contreras, an illegal alien, sought to deliver ten pounds of methamphetamine of near total purity while armed with an AK-style rifle and multiple magazines of ammunition. His actions represent not only a severe threat to public safety, but also highlight the dangers posed to our country when individuals who are in the United States illegally engage in violent criminal activity. The FBI remains resolute in its mission to protect our communities and safeguard our nation by dismantling trafficking operations and ensuring that violent offenders face justice.”
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Indiana State Police, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration North Central Laboratory, and the Indiana State Police Regional Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Teresa L. Ashcraft.
This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation and furthers the mission of both the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) and Operation Take Back America. 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. HSTF and Operation Take Back America specifically target those involved in transnational crime, including those who traffic in illegal drugs.
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.