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22 August 2025
Texarkana felon charged with possessing child pornography in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Texarkana, Texas convicted felon has been charged with federal child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
John Matthew Emerson, 41, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with possession of child pornography.
The indictment alleges that Emerson, while on supervised release for a previous possession of child pornography conviction, was found with a cellular phone that contained images of child pornography.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
If convicted, Emerson faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Teacher’s Aide at New York City Public School Charged with Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Alejandro F. Santos was arraigned on an indictment charging him with transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Santos was arrested on a complaint in July 2025. At the time of his arrest, Santos was employed by the New York City Department of Education as a teacher’s aide at a public school in the Bronx for children with disabilities. Today’s proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI New York), and Francis J. Russo, Director of New York Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), announced the charges.
“The defendant, who held a position of trust as a teacher’s aide in a New York City elementary school, is charged with possessing photos and videos depicting horrific sexual abuse of children,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office is committed to identifying and prosecuting individuals like the defendant who possess such images, which contribute to the depraved market for child pornography and the victimization of vulnerable minors.”
“The details of Alejandro Santos’ alleged crimes are among every parent’s worst nightmare. This defendant worked closely with young kids nearly every day over the course of 23 years. Protecting minors from individuals like this defendant is not only paramount, it’s personal. I implore any person who believes they have information related to crimes involving Santos to contact authorities as soon as possible,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Patel.
“This case underscores the vital role CBP plays in identifying potential criminal activity during border inspections,” stated CBP Director Russo. “Our officers are dedicated to protecting the public, safeguarding our children from exploitation, and collaborating with partner agencies to ensure thorough investigations are conducted.”
As alleged in court filings, on July 15, 2025, Santos arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport on a flight from the Dominican Republic. While proceeding through customs, Santos was stopped by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers pursuant to a law enforcement alert based on information that the defendant was likely in possession of child sex abuse material. Santos was escorted to an inspection area and provided the officers with his iPhone. A subsequent examination of that phone revealed thousands of photographs, videos and other files depicting the sexual exploitation of children, including infants and toddlers. Santos has worked for the New York City Department of Education for 23 years.
The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of transporting of child sexual abuse material, Santos faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.
Anyone with information about criminality involving the defendant should contact HSI New York at hsinyhumanexploitation@hsi.dhs.govThe government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Elizabeth D’Antonio is in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
ALEJANDRO F. SANTOS
Age: 47
Bronx, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-258 (NRM)
Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Assisting in the Filing of False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Survalarie Harris has pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the filing of a false tax return. Harris faces a maximum sentence of three years. Her sentencing has been scheduled for December 10, 2025.
According to court documents, Harris worked as a tax return preparer in Jacksonville. While preparing tax returns for others, Harris knowingly reported false information including false claims of having a business to decrease the amount taxpayers would owe to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and to increase the amount taxpayers would receive as tax refunds from the IRS. IRS agents determined that Harris falsified tax returns in a similar manner multiple times, specifically by creating fictitious business expenses. Despite a lack of documentation from taxpayers, Harris included these fictitious expenses on the tax returns, indicating a net loss for a non-existent business. This would lower the taxpayers Adjusted Gross Income, allowing the taxpayer to apply for an Earned Income Credit, which is a refundable tax credit based primarily on income and filing status.
On March 22, 2022, Harris prepared a 2021 tax return for an undercover IRS agent who posed as a customer. During the conversation, Harris told the undercover agent that the agent was going to owe money on her tax return. Harris asked the undercover agent if she did any work on the side, to which the undercover agent stated she sometimes braided hair. Harris told the undercover agent that she could help the undercover agent receive a refund for an additional fee. Moments later, Harris told the undercover agent that she was receiving a refund of $2,950, minus the additional fee. However, Harris did not ask for, and the undercover agent did not provide, any documentation or information associated with business losses or income. Despite the lack of documentation, Harris prepared the undercover agent’s tax return, which indicated a net loss for a non-existent business. Harris understood that the non-existent business net loss would lower the undercover agent’s Adjusted Gross Income to a point that the undercover agent would qualify for an Earned Income Credit.
Throughout the investigation, IRS agents learned that Harris had been preparing falsified tax returns on behalf of taxpayers since at least 2018. Agents estimated that Harris prepared more than 900 falsified tax returns between the 2020 tax year and the 2022 tax year. As part of her guilty plea, Harris has agreed that the tax loss to the United States is at least $1,824,279.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams.
Summerfield Man Sentenced to 19 Years for Ponzi Scheme and Tax FraudRead the Press Release
Winston-Salem, NC – A Summerfield man was sentenced today, August 22, 2025, to more than 19 years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, securities fraud, tax evasion, and failure to file tax returns in connection with a $20 million Ponzi scheme, announced United States Attorney Clifton T. Barrett of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).
William Lamar Rhew, III, age 39, was sentenced to 235 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release by the Honorable Thomas D. Schroeder, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC.
According to court records, from November 2017 to December 2023, Rhew defrauded at least 117 investors of at least $24 million. He induced victims to invest with his company Chadley Capital, LLC which would allegedly buy accounts receivable at a discount, sell them for a profit, and provide consistently high rates of return on investment. Rhew touted the company’s increasing deal flow and underwriting standards and, in offering materials, claimed $300 million in transactions in 2023, consistent returns in excess of 20% per year, and nearly 74% total growth over 24 months. All of Rhew’s representations were false. Instead of investing victims’ funds as promised, Rhew used their money to pay his personal expenses including the purchases of a boat, a beach house, and luxury cars, payments on his personal credit cards, and to make “interest” and “withdrawal” payments to other victim-investors as part of the Ponzi scheme.
In addition, for Tax Years 2018 through 2022, Rhew willfully failed to report nearly $9 million in income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and evaded over $3 million in taxes. According to court records, Rhew maintained a shell business entity, funded in part by Chadley Capital, LLC victim funds, to support his personal lifestyle. Rhew claimed payments into this shell business entity as business expenses but lied to his accountant about the existence of any corresponding reportable income. Rhew also falsely reported his personal spending from Chadley Capital, LLC as business expenses. Finally, Rhew willfully failed to file Forms 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, for the tax years 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
“This defendant devastated the personal finances of individual victims and defrauded the public at large by failing to file and pay taxes to the IRS,” said United States Attorney Barrett. “We will prosecute such schemes to the full extent of the law. We appreciate the robust investigation conducted by our law enforcement partners in this matter.”
“The defendant victimized his investors and defrauded American taxpayers by concealing his income from the IRS and evading his tax liability,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS-CI’s collaborative investigative efforts alongside our law enforcement partners led to justice for the victims in this case.”
“The time Rhew will spend behind bars will never make up for the millions of dollars he stole from more than a hundred people. He promised to make them rich, instead Rhew is the one who profited. He bought fancy cars, a beach house, and even a boat. Fraud of this magnitude can have a lasting impact not only financially, but emotionally for victims. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to hold fraudsters who rip off hard working Americans accountable,” said James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge.
“Through the combined efforts of the SBI and our partner agencies, this individual was held accountable for exploiting his investors’ trust,” said NCSBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Cardwell. “Together, we will continue to pursue those who commit fraud and help protect our citizens.”
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI). This case was prosecuted by MDNC Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Jeanne Dildine.
Stockton Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Trafficking Firearms on InstagramRead the Press Release
Julian Arellano-Taylor, 21, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to nine years in prison for dealing firearms without a license and distribution of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between May 3, 2023, and March 3, 2024, Arellano-Taylor advertised and sold firearms on Instagram. Unbeknownst to Arellano-Taylor, one customer was a confidential informant and purchased 11 firearms from him. These firearms included ghost guns without serial numbers that were designed to replicate Glock pistols and AR-15-style rifles. At the same time as he was selling firearms, Arellano-Taylor was also selling cocaine.
This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Sacramento Police Department, the Lodi Police Department, the Stockton Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Gang Suppression Unit, and the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura prosecuted the case.
The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF.
Springfield Man Convicted of Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD – A Springfield, Mass. man was convicted yesterday, following a 4-day trial, of possession and receipt of child pornography and sexual exploitation of children.
Bairon Ubeda, 45, was convicted by a federal jury of one count of possession of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of sexual exploitation of children. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy scheduled sentencing for Nov. 24, 2025. Ubeda was previously indicted in May 2023. At the time, Ubeda was serving a state sentence for aggravated rape and abuse of a child, posing or exhibiting a child in a state of nudity, disseminating child pornography, trafficking of a person for sexual servitude, extortion, larceny, assault and battery and trafficking of a person under 18 years of age for sexual servitude.
Evidence introduced at trial demonstrated that Ubeda carried out a multi-year effort to trick and coerce women using fraudulent social media persona and accounts while claiming to represent a fictitious adult modeling company. Ubeda would trick women targeted by the scheme into providing explicit images as well as personal information and identification. Ubeda would then threaten to make the images and information public if the women did not agree to engage in sexual acts with him. For women with children, Ubeda would threaten to provide the images and information to child protective services so that the women would lose custody of their children.
Ubeda was charged in federal court after he coerced a woman caught up in a scheme to use a three-year-old minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing child pornography. Ubeda was also charged with knowingly receiving and possessing that child pornography.
The charge of sexual exploitation of a child provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentenced of up to 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi; and Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers of the Springfield Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Maynard and Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by 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.
Southbridge Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Southbridge man pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to conspiring to distribute cocaine in Central Massachusetts.
Eric Rivera, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Nov. 12, 2025. In November 2024, Rivera was indicted by a federal grand jury along with alleged co-conspirators Luis Sastre Pagan and Miguel Lopez.
From in or about April 2023 through April 2024, Rivera participated in a conspiracy that shipped kilograms of cocaine into Central Massachusetts. Specifically, Rivera provided addresses to be used as “drop addresses” for drug packages in Worcester County and drove packages of cocaine to other known drug traffickers in the Springfield area.
Over the course of the investigation, four packages related to the drug trafficking organization were seized, each of which were found to contain cocaine. This includes one package seized in February 2023 that was addressed to Rivera and found to contain three kilograms of cocaine. In total, between 15-50 kilograms of cocaine is attributable to Rivera as part of his participation in the conspiracy.
Rivera’s alleged co-conspirators have pleaded not guilty and are pending trial.
The charge of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the DEA Puerto Rico and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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 https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Shooting That Killed One Man and Wounded Another Leads to Guilty PleaRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Walter Jenkins, 36, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty yesterday to second-degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for the November 2021 shooting of two men, killing one and wounding another, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Jenkins pleaded guilty on August 21, 2025, to one count of second-degree murder while armed and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon is contingent upon the Court’s approval. Jenkins faces a sentence range of between 18 and 33 ½ years under the District of Columbia Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt accepted the factual basis for the plea and scheduled sentencing for November 18, 2025.
According to a proffer of facts submitted at the plea hearing, at approximately 4:47 p.m., on November 14, 2021, MPD Seventh District officers responded to the 2000 Block of Alabama Avenue SE, for the report of the sounds of gunshots. Upon conducting a canvass of the area, officers located two victims near a vehicle on Bruce Place. They found Mr. David Williams, who was breathing but barely conscious, suffering from multiple gunshots to the body. DC Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and transported Mr. Williams to George Washington University Hospital where all lifesaving efforts failed, and he was pronounced dead more than an hour later. The second victim was conscious and breathing, suffering from gunshot wounds to the lower legs. He was transported to Med-Star where he was admitted in stable condition.
Jenkins was arrested on February 4, 2022, and has been in custody since.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by officers, detectives, and other personnel of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Horton and Miles Janssen.
San Diego Man Sentenced to More Than 21 Years for Sexual Exploitation of 14-Year-Old GirlRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Eric Jin of San Diego was sentenced in federal court today to 262 months in prison for sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl by directing her to produce child sex abuse material.
Jin was indicted on May 15, 2024, and pleaded guilty in October 2024, admitting he ordered the young victim to take sexually graphic pictures of herself without clothing in December 2022 and again in February 2023. The girl did as Jin directed.
Also in February 2023, Jin ordered the victim to carve his first name, “Eric,” into her skin and send him a photo. The victim again did as Jin directed. Jin knew the victim was 14 years old.
Jin also admitted in his plea agreement that he possessed and sent pictures to the girl via his cell phone of other minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Jinsook Ohta told the defendant that his “truly hurtful and evil actions on young children …defies adequate description.”
“Mr. Jin managed to exploit a vulnerable child despite the parents’ diligent efforts to protect her,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “This office will do everything legally possible to achieve justice for children and hold predators like the defendant accountable.”
“Today’s sentence demonstrates the seriousness with which the FBI takes crimes-against-children investigations,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Dargis of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Jin coerced heinous activity from an innocent 14-year-old girl, unconscionable demands no child should ever have to endure. The FBI will continue to do everything within our authorities to hold accountable those who sexually exploit children, vigorously investigating such actions to protect the most vulnerable in our community.”
According to the FBI, the most important advice for parents is to have open and ongoing conversations about safe and appropriate online behavior. Educate yourself about the websites, software, games, and apps that your children use. Immediately report any inappropriate contact between an adult and your child to law enforcement or your local FBI field office. You can also call the FBI at 1-800-CALL FBI (800-225-5324) or submit a report online at tips.fbi.gov.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Sherwood and Katie Grammenidis.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr1071-JO
Eric Jin Age: 31 San Diego, CA
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2251(a) and (e)
Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and a $500,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
Federal Bureau of Investigation
SDTX files a whopping 372 new cases this week as part of ongoing Operation Take Back America effortsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A total of 376 people have been charged from Aug. 15-21 in continuing efforts to secure the southern border, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The filed cases include 18 people allegedly involved in human smuggling. A total of 206 more are charged with illegally entering the country, while another 150 face charges of felony reentry after removal. Most of those foreign nationals have prior felonies involving narcotics, violent crime, immigration offenses and more. Other relevant cases charged this week relate to other immigration crimes.
One of those charged this week in Laredo includes Kenneth Gamboa. On Aug. 15, Gamboa allegedly drove a box truck hiding 40 illegal aliens to a Border Patrol checkpoint in Jim Hogg County. The investigation revealed a false wall in the storage area of the vehicle that had created a hidden compartment, according to the complaint. The charges allege it had multiple boards screwed shut to prevent the individuals from being able to get out on their own. A total of 26 of the illegal aliens are now also charged with illegal reentry after removal. Gamboa faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of human smuggling.
A McAllen criminal complaint charges four more people, two of whom are illegal aliens themselves, for their alleged involvement in an alien smuggling ring in Hidalgo County. Rio Grande Valley residents Enrique Gonzalez and Rigoberto Esteban Perez-Cruz and Mexican nationals Erick Vallejo-Zapata and Mirza Garcia-Zapata allegedly harbored illegal aliens at residences. Gonzalez, Vallejo-Zapata and Garcia-Zapata are also alleged to have transported the aliens, who were from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador and India, and who face their own immigration charges as a result of the investigation.
Another illegal alien facing charges this week is Mexican national Carlos Alberto Garza-Garcia, who authorities allegedly discovered unlawfully in the United States near Hidalgo. According to court documents, he was previously removed just this year - May 29 - and has a prior conviction for illegal reentry.
Criminal complaints also allege Mexican nationals Magdaleno Valadez-Ortiz, Luis Gustavo Ramos-Ibarra and Esvan Gonzalez-Manzano had been previously removed from the country on various dates between 2018-2023. However, all were allegedly found in the Rio Grande Valley this week. Gonzalez-Manzano has a prior conviction for illegal reentry, while Valadez-Ortiz and Ramos-Ibarra both have prior convictions of drug-related crimes, according to their charges.
If convicted of felony illegal reentry after removal as charged, all four face up to 20 years in prison.
In addition to the new cases, Honduran national Elmer Leonel Ramos-Agurcia was sentenced to federal prison after assaulting law enforcement agents as he attempted to unlawfully enter the country. On April 15, he arrived at the Brownsville & Matamoros port of entry. He did not have any documentation and was denied entry. He tackled an agent and ran towards the bridge where he jumped over the fence towards the Rio Grande. Authorities conducted a foot pursuit. As they attempted to arrest him, Ramos-Agurcia bit one agent and reached for the other’s holster. The court ordered he serve 18 months in prison and warned him his sentence would increase if he reentered illegally and committed further crimes.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.
The 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 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.
Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes.
An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Romanian National Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Romanian woman pleaded guilty on Tuesday, August 19th to a wire fraud scheme defrauding grocery stores in Central Mississippi.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 7, 2025, a popular supermarket chained observed Loredana Sava, 36, and an accomplice execute a “quick change” scheme involving a wire transaction to steal money from five local stores and impacting five others in the district.
Loredana Sava could be seen on surveillance video at various stores on May 7 in Flowood, Brandon, Ridgeland, and Jackson requesting $2500 wire transfers from kiosks inside the stores, using sleight- of-hand techniques to trick cashiers into giving over money to which she was not entitled. The scheme’s design exploited the supermarket terminals and interstate wires for servers located in Denver, Colorado. At all times, Loredana Sava did not have authorization to be lawfully present in the United States.
Loredana Sava is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys C. Brett Grantham and Kimberly T. Purdie are prosecuting 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).
Rochester man pleads guilty to drug and gun chargesRead the Press Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Brandon Washington a/k/a B Mack, 40, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $8,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas E. Gregory, who is handling the case, stated that between May 2021 and July 21, 2022, Washington conspired with others to sell marijuana from various drug houses located in the city of Rochester. He oversaw the operation of marijuana distribution houses on St. Paul and Sixth Street in Rochester, and stored marijuana at two residences on Laser Street, also in Rochester. Washington oversaw the supply of drug houses, which were hardened with firearms, with quantities of pre-packaged marijuana for sale and paid individuals to deliver to and sell marijuana from these locations.
On July 14, 2022, Rochester Police officers executed a search warrant at the St. Paul Street residence, seizing quantities of marijuana, scales and drug ledgers, as well as $8,254 in cash. On July 16 and July 21, 2022, search warrants were executed at the Sixth Street residence, during which investigators seized quantities of marijuana, approximately $13,390 in cash, and four firearms. Also on July 21, 2022, a search warrant was executed at a Laser Street residence, which served as a stash location, revealing significant quantities of marijuana packaged for sale and five firearms. Gun traces on the firearms connected the conspirators to several other shootings in Rochester in the summer of 2022. A search warrant was also executed at another Laser Street residence, which was Washington’s residence, resulting in the seizure of quantities of marijuana and over 100 rounds of ammunition. Washington, as a previously convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing any ammunition.
The case against Washington and his co-conspirators stemmed from the investigation into the murder of Rochester Police Department Investigator Anthony Mazurkewicz and the assault of Investigator Sino Seng, who were shot in the line of duty on July 21, 2022. Mazurkewicz died because of his injuries. Co-conspirator Kelvin Vickers was convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison. The investigation also focused on a double homicide occurring the day before, on July 20, 2021, resulting in the deaths of Richard Collinge and Myjel Rand. Co-conspirators Kelvin Vickers, Deadrick Fulwiley and Raheim Robinson were convicted of those murders. Vickers and Robinson were sentenced to life in prison, and Fulwiley received 30-years in prison.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2025 before Judge Geraci.
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Pensacola Man Charged Federally for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon During Shooting IncidentRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Michael Stephen Johnson, 58, of Pensacola, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge.
Johnson is scheduled for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, on August 28, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.
If convicted, Johnson faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison up to life imprisonment.
The case is being jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan.
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 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.
Owner of local ‘Raining Cash’ tax company sentenced to 3 years in prison for causing $1.7M in tax lossesRead the Press Release
COLUMBUS, Ohio – A local tax preparer was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to the statutory maximum, 36 months, in prison for aiding in the preparation of false and fraudulent tax returns.
Ali Kasimu Alston, 48, of Columbus, aided in the filing of thousands of fraudulent tax returns. He is ordered to pay more than $1.7 million in restitution to the IRS.
According to court documents, from at least 2015 through at least 2022, Alston owned and operated a tax return preparation business in Columbus named Overtime Ventures, LLC that did business as Raining Cash Tax Service.
Alston systematically falsified client tax returns to maximize refunds from the IRS. He filed Schedule Cs with fake businesses to maximize tax credits. For example, one false tax return for calendar year 2021 reported false losses for a home healthcare company that did not exist. The false business losses reduced the client’s taxable income, thereby decreasing the tax due and increasing the client’s claimed tax refund.
The defendant also attempted to bribe one of his former employees with $4,000 in cash to provide false information to law enforcement, which he knew at the time was investigating his tax preparation business. Even after entering his guilty plea, the defendant continued to assist in the filing of false tax filings.
Alston was charged by a bill of information in September 2024 and pleaded guilty in October 2024.
Aiding in the preparation of a false and fraudulent tax return is a federal crime punishable by up to three years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence.
Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Cincinnati Field Office, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham. Assistant United States Attorney David J. Twombly is representing the United States in this case.
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New Orleans Man Guilty of Violating Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KENNETH JACKSON (“JACKSON”), age 33, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on August 20, 2025, before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, to violating the Federal Gun Control Act, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
According to court records, in March 2024, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted aerial surveillance at an apartment complex in New Orleans East and observed a Toyota Camry with damage to the rear bumper parked behind the complex. The aerial surveillance was being conducted as part of an investigation into a murder that had occurred the previous day, and agents believed the Camry to be the same one used in the murder. FBI agents who were watching the apartment complex saw the Camry begin to circle around the side of the complex to leave. An agent blocked the Camry’s exit with his vehicle, which caused the occupants, JACKSON and another male, to abandon the Camry and flee on foot. Both were apprehended by law enforcement shortly after exiting the vehicle. JACKSON had a .45 caliber pistol on his person. JACKSON is a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms. JACKSON was charged, in a multi-defendant indictment, with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Judge Milazzo set sentencing for January 30, 2026. JACKSON faces a maximum term of fifteen years imprisonment, up to three years supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
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.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the New Orleans District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted out of the Violent Crime Unit by Assistant United States Attorneys Liz Privitera and Sarah Dawkins.
New Orleans Man Guilty of CarjackingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – RASHUAD FONTENBERRY (“FONTENBERRY”), age 33, formerly a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on August 19, 2025 before United States District Judge Brandon S. Long to Carjacking, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. Section 2119. FONTENBERRY faces a term of imprisonment of up to 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release following his release from imprisonment, and payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.
Judge Long ordered a pre-sentence report and scheduled sentencing for December 2, 2025.
Court documents showed that on September 5, 2022, the victim of the offense stopped at a local gas station to buy snacks. She parked her car next to the fuel pumps and exited the vehicle. FONTENBERRY quickly approached the victim who was then stopped by a second male perpetrator. As they ordered the victim to surrender her belongings, she noticed FONTENBERRY’s hand resting near, or on, a firearm. The victim then handed them her keys and cell phone, following which FONTENBERRY and his accomplice entered her car. FONTENBERRY sat in the driver’s seat. When the gas station store customers walked out to see what was happening, FONTENBERRY and his accomplice fled on foot but were later identified by police.
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.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Miller of the Narcotics Unit is handling the prosecution.
Mobile Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 137 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Jamar Lee Webb, 42, was arrested by Mobile County Sheriff’s Office deputies during a traffic stop in Mobile on February 24, 2023. That day, federal agents were monitoring a court-authorized closed-circuit television (“CCTV”) recording device installed in a pickup truck belonging to the leader of a major drug-trafficking organization (“DTO”) in Mobile. Agents saw Webb holding a firearm on his lap in plain view on the CCTV video. Agents confirmed that Webb was a convicted felon who also had an active warrant for felony domestic violence assault, so they mobilized to locate and arrest him.
During a subsequent traffic stop, agents arrested Webb on his active warrant and detained a passenger who was a drug dealer and member of the DTO. Webb told deputies he had a pistol in the truck. Underneath Webb’s seat, deputies recovered a loaded .40 caliber pistol. Underneath the passenger’s seat, deputies recovered a loaded .380 caliber pistol. On the back floorboard behind the center console, deputies found a bag containing distribution amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and marijuana, as well as a small amount of crack cocaine. The passenger claimed ownership of the drugs, but CCTV video showed Webb moving items around in the backseat area of the truck and hiding his pistol as deputies initiated the traffic stop. At the time Webb possessed the pistol, he knew he had multiple prior felony convictions, including for distribution of drugs and domestic violence. Webb’s prior felony convictions made his possession of a pistol illegal under federal law.
In addition to the 137-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Webb to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Webb to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited Webb’s pistol to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Roller and George May prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Mexican national, unlawfully living in Longview, indicted for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearmRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national, unlawfully living in Longview, has been charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Humberto Hernandez-Fornue, 43, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
The indictment alleges that on August 14, 2025, Hernandez-Fornue was found illegally in the Eastern District of Texas and in possession of a firearm.
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).
If convicted, Hernandez-Fornue faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; and the Tyler Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Farahnak.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican national, illegally living in Jacksonville, indicted for unlawfully returning to the United StatesRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Jacksonville, has been charged with unlawfully returning to the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Omar Galvan-Rodriguez, 41, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.
The indictment alleges that on May 9, 2025, Galvan-Rodriguez was found in the Eastern District of Texas after having been previously deported.
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).
If convicted, Galvan-Rodriguez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and deportation.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican national, illegally living in Hallsville, indicted for unlawfully returning to the United StatesRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Hallsville, has been charged with unlawfully returning to the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jorge Martinez-Abundis, 38, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.
The indictment alleges that on February 14, 2025, Martinez-Abundis was found in the Eastern District of Texas after having been deported on at least four previous occasions.
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).
If convicted, Martinez-Abundis faces up to 20 years in federal prison and deportation.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Richards.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After a Prior RemovalRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Mexican national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Miguel Gomez-Sanchez, 45, to 10 months in prison. Gomez-Sanchez pleaded guilty on June 26, 2025.
According to court records, on May 10, 2025, Gomez-Sanchez was arrested by the Maine State Police for operating under the influence on I-95. Agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) determined Gomez-Sanchez had previously been removed from the U.S. several times. He was most recently removed in 2022 after being convicted for illegally reentering the U.S. after a prior removal.
ICE ERO investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
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Man Pleads Guity to Murder in Drive-By ShootingRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Korriek Akinola, 24, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to murder for his role in a 2023 drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of Joshua White, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Akinola pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of second-degree murder while armed on August 18, 2025. Sentencing is scheduled for October 24, 2025, before the Honorable Neal Kravitz.
On June 6, 2023, the defendant and another individual were in a white Infiniti SUV near the Shell gas station located at 4700 South Capitol Street SE. While there, they spotted the victim, Joshua White, riding around in the parking lot on a Veo bike. Akinola and the other individual drove to a separate location and switched vehicles to a stolen black Honda Accord. The defendant left his cell phone in the white Infiniti SUV and switched out the hard tag on black Honda Accord for a temporary tag, in an effort to conceal his movement. Akinola and the other individual then drove back to the Shell gas station, where Mr. White was still located. The defendant drove into the parking lot of the Shell gas station and accelerated rapidly toward the victim. Akinola and the other individual shot at Mr. White, who was hit by gunfire multiple times. The defendant then sped away, leaving Mr. White to die in the parking lot.
Akinola evaded arrest from the police on multiple dates, but he was ultimately arrested by the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force on July 24, 2023.
Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Hall and Natalie Hynum.
Mississippi Medicaid Recipients Agree to Pay over $170,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations of Health Care Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS - Patrick A. Lemon, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced that former Medicaid recipients, Rajwinder Kaur and Kawaldeep Singh; Narinder Kaur and Prabhdeep Momi; Bobby and Priyalpreet Babber; Gurinder and Mehaknoor Babber; and Navdeep Basra, have agreed to pay a collective total of $173,627.00 to resolve allegations that they knowingly falsified income to unlawfully create eligibility for Mississippi Medicaid health care benefits for their dependents.
The Medicaid Program is a state and federally funded health benefit program intended to assist low-income individuals and families. The Mississippi Division of Medicaid (MDOM) is the single state agency responsible for administering health care benefits for eligible, low-income individuals in Mississippi.
According to the United States, despite Medicaid’s low-income requirement, these recipients, who were either officers, registered agents, members or owners of convenience stores, gas stations, liquor stores, restaurants or other businesses, falsely represented on various Mississippi Medicaid health care benefit applications and renewals that their respective household derived a nominal amount of income from employment. As such, the United States alleges that they misrepresented their earned income, causing the MDOM to pay health care coverage benefits to which they were not entitled.
Individuals who fraudulently obtain Medicaid benefits that they are not entitled to divert funds meant to pay for services for legitimate enrollees, including the elderly and disabled,” stated Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Working with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to investigate Medicaid enrollment fraud schemes to protect the integrity of this vital, taxpayer-funded program.
These cases were investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deidre Colson and Keesha Middleton for the Southern District of Mississippi handled the cases.
Claims resolved by settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Lewiston Man Pleads Guilty to CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man pleaded guilty on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Portland to stalking his victim using facilities of interstate or foreign commerce.
According to court records, for a period lasting until approximately August 2021, Brent Ouellette, 33, engaged in a course of conduct against his victim that included posting sexually explicit videos or pictures of his victim online without consent, contacting his victim posing as other people, and obtaining his victim’s social media login information.
Ouellette faces a maximum prison term of five years and a fine up to $250,000. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
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Law Enforcement Officers Honored for Investigations of Conspiracy to Murder Border Patrol Agents and Violent Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, recognized six local and federal law enforcement officers for their work on significant investigations as recipients of the 2025 Guardian of Justice Award.
The award recipients were honored on Aug. 21, 2025, during the 23rd Annual Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee Training Seminar in Springfield, Mo. The prestigious law enforcement award is presented annually by the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent Isaac McPheeters was recognized for his investigation of two members of the self-styled 2nd American Militia who conspired to go “to war with border patrol.” The conspiracy to murder Border Patrol officers and immigrants was thwarted after one of the conspirators attempted to murder FBI agents by firing at them as they executed a search warrant on the eve of their planned trip to the United States – Mexico border.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent Jerry Wine, along with ATF Task Force Officers David Schroeder (Greene County Sheriff’s Office), Justin Gargus (Christian County Sheriff’s Office), Eric Pinegar (Springfield Police Department), and Evan Nicholson (Springfield Police Department) were recognized for their efforts in reducing violent gun crime and gang activity in the Springfield, Mo. area.
“I would like to congratulate and commend the agents and task force officers for their effort on these investigations. As a result of their hard work and dedication, these violent individuals are off the streets and citizens of the Western District are safer,” said U.S. Attorney Price.
Conspiracy to Murder Border Patrol
After a two-week jury trial in October and November 2024, Bryan C. Perry, of Clarksville, Tenn., and Jonathan S. O’Dell, of Warsaw, Mo., were found guilty of their 2022 conspiracy to murder officers and employees of the United States government. They also were found guilty of seven counts of the attempted murder of FBI special agents, seven counts of assaulting FBI special agents with a deadly weapon, three counts of assaulting FBI special agents, 14 counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of damaging federal property.
Perry was also found guilty of two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing body armor by a violent felon, and one count of threatening to injure another person. Additionally, O’Dell was found guilty of one count of threatening to injure another person and 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. O’Dell and Perry are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26, 2025.
Special Agent McPheeters coordinated with numerous local and federal agencies in Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas, at various stages of the complex investigation. When O’Dell escaped from custody in October 2023, Special Agent McPheeters and the FBI coordinated a wide-ranging search with numerous law enforcement agencies across the state of Missouri resulting in O’Dell’s apprehension within 48 hours.
“Violence against law enforcement will not be tolerated and recognition of the work to stop these individuals from carrying out their planned attack is greatly appreciated. The FBI will do everything it can to ensure the safety and security of all law enforcement from danger,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus.
Springfield Area Gun Violence
In November 2021, the ATF started investigating numerous shooting incidents including drive-by shootings and homicides in the Springfield, Mo., area involving juveniles and young adults. The shootings were in neighborhoods or crowded areas, endangering innocent citizens. Using crime gun data, social media profiles, and police reports, the ATF was able to identify multiple suspects responsible for the uptick in violent firearms offenses in the area. To date, approximately seven homicides and multiple drive-by shootings have been linked to these groups and their activities.
Many of the shooting suspects were identified as gang members and/or rappers. The primary gangs involved in these shootings were “F**k The Opps” (FTO) and “Only Da Brothers” (ODB). ATF’s investigations into the gangs have included street investigations, surveillance operations, search warrants, adoption of state firearm cases, examining federal firearm licensee paperwork, analyzing crime gun data, close coordination with local law enforcement and other federal law enforcement agencies, studying and understanding these gangs/groups, their associations and their social media, tracing firearms, submitting firearms to local crime laboratories and the ATF’s Firearms & Ammunition Technology Division, and directly assisting in local violent crime and homicide investigations. The ATF has provided vigorous trial support and have testified extensively at sentencing hearings.
As a result of the ATF’s investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicted numerous gang members or associates, including the two identified leaders of FTO, Ezekiel King and Jardell Williams, both of Springfield, Mo. King and Williams were each sentenced to 78 months in federal prison. Of the gang members indicted, nine have been sentenced to federal prison, two were sentenced to supervised release, and nine are pending sentencing after pleading guilty. The indictment of multiple members of FTO and ODB has coincided with a sharp drop in shooting calls in the Greene County, Mo., area.
“This case is the gold standard for what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local law enforcement work side by side to confront violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bernard Hansen. “By leveraging our collective resources through a task force, and utilizing crime gun intelligence tools such as NIBIN, we delivered prison sentences for those violent gang members who threatened the safety of our communities and a significant reduction in crime.”
Guardian of Justice Award
The annual Guardian of Justice Award recognizes a state or local officer as well as a federal agent for investigative excellence, selfless collaboration, tireless trial support, commendable diligence and professionalism, and noteworthy assistance to prosecution. The prestigious law enforcement award is presented by the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee each year during the law enforcement training seminar.
Last of Multiple Individuals Sentenced for Federal Kidnapping ConvictionRead the Press Release
DETROIT – Semaj Ayers, 23, of Detroit was sentenced yesterday to 110 months in federal prison following a conviction for federal kidnapping, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced today.
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge James M. Deir of the ATF in Michigan.
Semaj Ayers entered a guilty plea to kidnapping on March 18, 2025. In total seven people were charged with conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping from this incident. Six people have been convicted. Cortez Blake, 23, and Nasir Lewis, 24, were convicted of kidnapping at trial, while Maijah Greene, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap; Shatonnia Kimbrough, 21, Armond Williams, 22, and Ayers pleaded guilty to kidnapping. The final defendant, Karamoh Turner, was acquitted at trial.
During the trial of Blake and Lewis, the jury heard evidence that the defendants worked with others to kidnap and beat their victim. The kidnappers wrongly believed the victim took part in a carjacking and the kidnapping was to retaliate and extract information from the victim. According to the testimony, a group of armed men took the victim from Sinai-Grace Hospital. The kidnappers first drove the victim to an empty lot in Detroit where the victim was beaten. The kidnappers then took the victim to a residence controlled by Blake, where the victim was held at gunpoint and beaten intermittently for hours. Finally, the victim was abandoned miles away on the roadside.
At trial, the government proved that the victim was held against her will at gunpoint in a house in Detroit where she was physically beaten. This was done in part to get information from her. Cellphones were used to recruit and direct others to join the kidnapping of the victim.
Two additional people were convicted of the carjacking that precipitated the kidnapping. Jamar Lee-Stinson pleaded guilty to carjacking and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to 141 months in prison in May 2024. Amiaya Bryant also pleaded guilty to carjacking and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence and was sentenced to 120 months in prison in June 2024.
“Gang violence destroys the ability of innocent people in our community to simply go about their business. These defendants tried to take vengeance against another group and committed horrible violent crimes. And they kidnapped the wrong person to boot,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “We will do everything in our power to end this violence. The sentences imposed here—and the prosecutions we are bringing—are just the beginning.”
“Pure and simple, Ayers and his accomplices are predators who failed. They represent the worst of the worst in our community. They wrongfully imprisoned and tortured a member of our community. ATF is the federal violent crime police, and we are relentless in holding violent offenders accountable for their poor choices,” said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir. “In the end, Ayers should pack his bags and prepare to be reunited with his buddies as they seek redemption in federal prison for a long time.”
The United States Attorney’s Office and the ATF are focused on prosecuting those individuals who are using firearms to commit violent acts against people in the Eastern District of Michigan. The strategy is a part of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. PSN continues to be the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders works together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. PSN is an evidence-based program that focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs to pursue lasting reductions in crime.
These charges are just some of the tangible results of this joint effort. The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to reduce violence in our communities. Along with ATF, this case has been investigated with the assistance of the Office of Inspector General – U.S. Department of Labor, the United States Marshals Service, the Detroit Police Department’s Gang Intelligence Unit, and the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Jacksonville felon charged with federal firearms violationRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Jacksonville convicted felon has been charged with a federal firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Cody Nerren, 34, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The indictment alleges that on April 24, 2025, Nerren was found in possession of a firearm in Cherokee County. Further investigation revealed Nerren had been previously convicted of several felonies and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms.
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).
If convicted, Nerren faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Jackson Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Domique Desha Mathews, 30, was found by the Ridgeland Police Department to be in possession of two firearms during a traffic stop. One of the firearms was a Glock pistol with an attached machinegun conversion device a/k/a a switch, which converts a pistol into a functioning machinegun and is a violation of federal and state law. Mathews has a previous felony conviction for attempted house burglary. As a convicted felon he is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Mathews was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 11, 2025. He pled guilty to the federal charge on May 21, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen 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).
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Hobbs Act Robbery with FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man pleaded guilty on Wednesday, August 20th in federal court to the attempted robbery of a dollar store in Jackson.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 2, 2022, Torrance Stewart, 31, entered a local business with the intent to rob the store with a firearm. Stewart brandished a pistol and threatened the store clerk into retrieving money from the cash register. When the register malfunctioned, Stewart fled on foot. Jackson Police Department (JPD) officers responded and apprehended Stewart in a nearby neighborhood.
Torrance Stewart is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham is prosecuting the case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson made the announcement.
The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive is investigating the case with assistance from the Jackson Police Department.
This case was investigated as part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Indictment Charges 3 Connecticut Residents Involved in Check Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging MICHELLE FREEMAN, also known as “Thunder,” 37, of Waterbury, LESHANDA LONG, 43, of Hamden, and OMAR EADDY, 40, of Bridgeport, with participating in a stolen check and bank fraud scheme.
As alleged in the indictment and court documents, Freeman, Long, and Eaddy engaged in a scheme that involved the theft of checks from mailboxes and the manipulation of the stolen checks to make them payable to individuals who served as “check runners.” The check runners would then cash the fraudulent checks and provide the cash to the conspirators. Freeman led the conspiracy and was responsible for counterfeiting the fraudulent checks, which were primarily drawn from small business accounts in Connecticut. Long and Eaddy recruited the check runners to cash the checks at banks and check cashing locations.
The indictment, which was returned on August 20, 2025, charges Freeman, Long, and Eaddy with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.
Freeman, Long, and Eaddy were arrested on criminal complaints on May 6, 2025. They are each released on a $100,000 bond and are scheduled to be arraigned on August 26.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Connecticut Organized Financial Fraud (CUT OFF) Task Force, which includes personnel from the Milford, Westport, Fairfield, West Haven, Stamford, West Hartford, and Bridgeport Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Boyles.
Indian citizen living in McKinney, charged with federal tax violation in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – An Indian citizen living in McKinney has been charged with a federal tax violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Anil Surabhi, 43, an Indian citizen with permanent resident status in the United States, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with attempting to evade taxes.
The indictment alleges that Surabhi, while controlling an IT services company headquartered in Georgia, used funds from the company to fund his private personal investments, pay personal expenses, and make investments in real estate. Surabhi did not report those funds as income on his individual income tax returns.
If convicted, Surabhi faces up to 5 years in federal prison.
This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Indian National Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on August 19, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Roshan Shah (age: 21), a citizen of India who was in Canada pursuant to a student visa before entering the United States pursuant to a visitor’s visa. Shah was charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h).
According to the indictment and related criminal complaint, Shah traveled to different states and picked up cash and gold from various fraud victims. He then transferred those fraud proceeds to other members of the conspiracy. Shah was arrested after he attempted to pick up gold from fraud victims in New Berlin, Wisconsin. Unknown co-conspirators posing as law enforcement had convinced the victims that they were victims of a massive scheme in the United States and that they needed to transfer their assets to gold, which a courier would pick up and put in a safety deposit box in Washington, D.C., purportedly for safe keeping. The victims had previously given over $500,000 worth of gold to couriers the victims believed to be working with the federal government.
This case was investigated by the New Berlin Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. The case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Zachary J. Corey.
An indictment and a criminal complaint are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Independence Man Charged with Child Pornography CrimesRead the Press Release
Jordan Michael Million, age 23, from Independence, Iowa, has been charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. The charges are contained in an Indictment, unsealed on August 20, 2025, in United States District Court in Cedar Rapids.
The Indictment alleges that between April 2024 and December 2024, Million received child pornography. It further alleges that, between April 2024 and December 2024, Million possessed child pornography on an Apple cellular telephone and that, between October 2024 and December 2024, Million possessed child pornography on a Motorola cellular telephone.
If convicted on all charges, Million faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $750,000 fine, $84,300 in special assessments, and a lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment.
Million appeared today in federal court in Cedar Rapids and was held without bond.
As with any criminal case, a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Marshalltown Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Independence Police Department, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cedar Bend Humane Society.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-2048.
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Honduran national, illegally living in Canton, indicted for unlawfully returning to the United StatesRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Canton, has been charged with unlawfully returning to the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Jefferson Funes-Mejia, 32, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien.
The indictment alleges that on April 16, 2025, Funes-Majia was found in the Eastern District of Texas after having been previously deported.
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).
If convicted, Funes-Mejia faces up to 10 years in federal prison and deportation.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Honduran National Guilty of Reentry of a Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that Walter Omar Casco-Lopez (“Casco-Lopez”), age 36, a native of Honduras, pleaded guilty on August 19, 2025, to illegal reentry of a removed alien, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).
According to court documents, Casco-Lopez, an illegal alien, was found in Orleans Parish on November 4, 2019. He had previously been removed to Honduras on or about October 12, 2011.
The defendant faces a maximum penalty of two (2) years of incarceration, followed by up to one (1) year of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee.
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).
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
Hammond Man Indicted on Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
HAMMOND - On August 22, 2025, a federal Grand Jury in Hammond, Indiana approved a three count Indictment charging David Michael Reyes with production, distribution, and possession of child pornography in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.
Reyes was employed as the Director of Buildings and Grounds within the Hammond City School System at the time of his arrest on August 15, 2025, and has been in custody since that date.
“Today’s charges stem from the quick and coordinated efforts of local and federal law enforcement, with the full cooperation of the Hammond City School System,” announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. “While an indictment is merely an allegation, it is imperative that we ensure we are addressing the full extent of criminal activity when allegations of crimes against children are involved. I am therefore calling upon members of our community who may have information concerning the charges in this Indictment, or similar allegations involving this Defendant, to provide that information to Homeland Security Investigations.”
“The Defendant’s role within the school system placed him in a position of authority, and the allegations against him, if proven, would represent a profound abuse of that trust,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “HSI is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who prey upon children are held accountable and brought to justice.”
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The exploitation count is punishable by a minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum of 30 years. The distribution count is punishable by a minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years, while the possession count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Hammond Police Department, the Indiana State Police Internet Crimes against Children Unit (ICAC) and the Hammond City School District. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nadia Wardrip.
If you believe that you or someone you know may have been victimized by David Reyes or otherwise have information about the charges against him, please contact Homeland Security Investigations by phone at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP.
Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Harboring an Illegal Alien Who Crossed from Canada into the United StatesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Guatemalan national was sentenced for bringing in and harboring an illegal alien, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Esdras Aaron Calel-Cumes, 30, a Guatemalan man unlawfully residing in Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante to time served. Calel-Cumes is in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for deportation to Guatemala. Calel-Cumes’ co-defendant Xiloj-Ambrocio was charged with one count of illegal entry and deported back to Guatemala.
“Individuals who cross our borders illegally will be held accountable. This case demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supporting our law enforcement partners along New Hampshire’s northern border,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “We will continue to bring federal prosecutions when appropriate to protect the integrity of our borders and the safety of our communities.”
“We will continue to vigorously patrol the New Hampshire/Canada border to interdict and investigate smuggling cases like this one,” said Acting Patrol Agent in Charge William Laymon of the Beecher Falls, VT Border Patrol Station. “Illegal entry and alien smuggling are federal crimes, and we will seek criminal prosecution on those who commit them.”
On September 9, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection detected Calel-Cumes’ co-defendant, Luis Felipe Xiloj-Ambrocio, crossing illegally from Canada to the United States in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. Calel-Cumes traveled from Massachusetts to pick up Xiloj-Ambrocio. At the time of their apprehension by law enforcement, Calel-Cumes and Xiloj-Ambrocio were driving south on U.S. Route 3.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.
This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Greene County Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of a ChildRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Stephen Wendell Lutes, age 32, of Greene County, New York, pled guilty today to sexual exploitation of children, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.
In pleading guilty today, Lutes admitted that he sexually abused a girl from the time she was approximately 5 years old until she was approximately 8 years old (“V1”). He acknowledged further that he created recordings of some of that abuse. Lutes also admitted to creating a video depicting both V1 and a different child of approximately the same age (“V2”) naked in a bathtub.
In addition to the sexual exploitation of V1 and V2, Lutes also admitted that during the same approximate period of his sexual abuse of V1 that he knowingly viewed and downloaded child pornography depicting other children unknown to him via social media applications and possessed such material on his cellphone.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Lutes admitted to heinous sexual exploitation and child pornography crimes. My Office is committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting child sex predators in coordination with our federal and state partners. The community is safer because Lutes will be behind bars for years to come.”
HIS Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “With today's guilty plea, the defendant admitted to his abhorrent exploitation of two children. While no amount of justice can undo the trauma of his crimes, I thank HSI Albany and our partners with the New York State Police and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York for utilizing every tool at our disposal to confront threats against children and vulnerable communities.”
At sentencing scheduled for December 22, 2025, Lutes faces a mandatory minimum imprisonment term of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years for each of three counts of sexual exploitation of a child, a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years for the receipt of child pornography count, and a maximum of 20 years on the possession of child pornography count. In addition to an imprisonment term, the district judge will be required to impose a term of post imprisonment supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Lutes also will be required to pay restitution to his victims, may be fined up to $250,000, and will have to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statutes the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
HSI and the New York State Police investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Mikayla Espinosa and Michael D. Gadarian are prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood.
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.
Grandview Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Grandview, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.
John L. Arrocha, 50, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to 5 years in federal prison without parole. On Jan. 29, 2025, Arrocha pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On June 2, 2024, Kansas City, Missouri Police officers were called to a business in the 4300 block of Main Street, Kansas City, Mo., on a reported trespasser causing a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers encountered Arrocha, who refused to leave the business property. As officers attempted to arrest Arrocha for trespassing, Arrocha resisted while making threats to kill the officers that were arresting him. During a search of Arrocha following arrest, officers found a North American Arms, Guardian .380 caliber pistol which had been reported stolen out of Claycomo, Mo. A criminal history check revealed that Arrocha was a convicted felon.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo. Police Department.
Project Safe Neighborhoods
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Georgia Man Guilty of Conspiracy to Defraud Former Political Candidate and Four Other Louisiana ResidentsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that, on August 14, 2025, CHASE DUNCAN CAMPBELL (“CAMPBELL”), a resident of Cobb County, Georgia, pled guilty before United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
According to court documents, from as early as November 2020, and continuing through at least May 2024, CAMPBELL, and others, conspired to: defraud Candidate 1 with fake campaign services; defraud Victim 1 out of approximately $236,867 in fake real estate purchases and associated costs; defraud Victim 2 out of approximately $83,268.05 in fraudulent claims of real estate and title work; and defraud Victims 3 and 4 out of approximately $112,328.18 in connection with a fake legal defense scheme. Among other things, CAMPBELL, and others, utilized numerous fake aliases and occupations, “burner” numbers for text messages and calls, and fraudulent invoices to defraud their victims.
CAMPBELL faces up to five (5) years in prison, up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory $100 mandatory special assessment fee. CAMPBELL has agreed to pay restitution of approximately $446,302.23 to his victims.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of the case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney, Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit.
Gambian Man, First Non-U.S. National Convicted of Torture, Sentenced to over 67 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Michael Sang Correa, 46, was sentenced today to 67 years and six months in prison after being convicted in the District of Colorado of one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture. Correa’s actions included burning victims’ flesh with molten plastic and subjecting them to repeated, vicious beatings over the course of weeks using a variety of weapons.
“Today, Michael Correa has finally been held accountable for the brutal violence he inflicted on others,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. “The United States will not be a safe haven for individuals who seek to conceal their egregious human rights violations. We are proud to have worked with our law enforcement partners to secure this sentence, and we thank the brave victims whose testimony helped ensure that justice is done.”
“The victims of these crimes carried the weight of unimaginable suffering for years, not knowing whether they would ever see their torturer held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado. “Today’s sentence delivers a measure of justice for them and affirms that the United States stands firmly with those whose human rights have been violated. This prosecution and sentence should serve as a deterrent for criminals who think they might escape accountability by coming to Colorado.”
“Mr. Correa’s crimes were barbaric and uncivilized; they have no place in the modern world,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver. “I hope this sentence can bring some kind of closure for his victims and their families. A standard was set with this trial and sentencing, Homeland Security Investigations will hunt down and bring to justice those that commit these horrific crimes.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Correa served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which reported to The Gambia’s former President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture and personally tortured five victims, who were targeted based on suspicions that they had plotted against Jammeh. In today’s proceedings, several victims described the lasting physical and psychological harm that they have suffered as a result of Correa’s actions.
In March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to Mile 2 Prison, the main prison in The Gambia. Over the following weeks, the victims endured severe abuse, including beatings, stabbings, burnings, and electrocutions. One victim testified that his thigh was burned with molten plastic and that he was suspended in a bag and dropped to the ground. Another victim described being suffocated with a plastic bag over his head and having the barrel of a pistol placed in his mouth. Other victims testified to being electrocuted, beaten while hung upside down, struck in the head with a hammer or pistol, and burned with cigarettes. Testimony at trial established Correa played a central role in carrying out these acts of torture.
Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa and entered the United States in December 2016. He evaded apprehension until 2019, when ICE arrested him and placed him in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. national on federal torture charges.
The HSI Denver Field Office investigated the case, with support from HSI agents in Senegal, as well as personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia, and the FBI Legal Attaché in Senegal. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) significantly supported the case. Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman and Chief of the Cybercrime and National Security Section Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado and Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden.
Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov or complete its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
Gambian Man, First Non-U.S. National Convicted of Torture, Sentenced to More Than 67 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Michael Sang Correa, 46, was sentenced today to 810 months in prison by Senior Judge Christine M. Arguello for the District of Colorado after being convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit torture and five counts of torture. Correa’s actions included burning victims’ flesh with molten plastic and subjecting them to repeated, vicious beatings over the course of weeks using a variety of weapons.
“Today, Michael Correa has finally been held accountable for the brutal violence he inflicted on others,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division. “The United States will not be a safe haven for individuals who seek to conceal their egregious human rights violations. We are proud to have worked with our law enforcement partners to secure this sentence, and we thank the brave victims whose testimony helped ensure that justice is done.”
“The victims of these crimes carried the weight of unimaginable suffering for years, not knowing whether they would ever see their torturer held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Peter McNeilly for the District of Colorado. “Today’s sentence delivers a measure of justice for them and affirms that the United States stands firmly with those whose human rights have been violated. This prosecution and sentence should serve as a deterrent for criminals who think they might escape accountability by coming to Colorado.”
“Mr. Correa’s crimes were barbaric and uncivilized; they have no place in the modern world,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Denver. “I hope this sentence can bring some kind of closure for his victims and their families. A standard was set with this trial and sentencing, Homeland Security Investigations will hunt down and bring to justice those that commit these horrific crimes.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Correa served in an armed unit known as the “Junglers,” which reported to The Gambia’s former President, Yahya Jammeh. The jury found that, as a Jungler, Correa conspired with others to commit torture and personally tortured five victims, who were targeted based on suspicions that they had plotted against Jammeh. In today’s proceedings, several victims described the lasting physical and psychological harm that they have suffered as a result of Correa’s actions.
In March 2006, shortly after a failed coup attempt, Correa and his co-conspirators transported the victims to Mile 2 Prison, the main prison in The Gambia. Over the following weeks, the victims endured severe abuse, including beatings, stabbings, burnings, and electrocutions. One victim testified that his thigh was burned with molten plastic and that he was suspended in a bag and dropped to the ground. Another victim described being suffocated with a plastic bag over his head and having the barrel of a pistol placed in his mouth. Other victims testified to being electrocuted, beaten while hung upside down, struck in the head with a hammer or pistol, and burned with cigarettes. Testimony at trial established Correa played a central role in carrying out these acts of torture.
Ten years after these crimes, Correa obtained a visa and entered the United States in December 2016. He evaded apprehension until 2019, when ICE arrested him and placed him in removal proceedings. He was charged with torture in 2020. This is the first conviction of a non-U.S. national on federal torture charges.
The HSI Denver Field Office investigated the case, with support from HSI agents in Senegal, as well as personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Banjul, The Gambia, and the FBI Legal Attaché in Senegal. The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC) significantly supported the case. Established in 2009, the HRVWCC furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate, and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation, and the use or recruitment of child soldiers.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa Hindman and Chief of the Cybercrime and National Security Section Laura Cramer-Babycz for the District of Colorado and Acting Principal Deputy Chief Christina Giffin and Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) prosecuted the case, with assistance from HRSP Historian/Analyst Dr. Christopher Hayden.
Members of the public who have information about former human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov or complete its online tip form at www.ice.gov/exec/forms/hsi-tips/tips.asp.
Fulton County Man Charged with Distributing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ryan Michael Mowrey, age 38, of Caroga Lake, New York, was ordered detained today after being charged on Tuesday with distribution of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement.
The complaint alleges that in June 2025, Mowrey communicated with an adult seeking to engage in sexual activity with someone he believed was an 11-year-old girl. After planning to meet in late April 2025 to engage in sexual activity with the child, Mowrey asked to reschedule, and the other person discontinued contact. On May 6, 2025, Mowrey re-engaged in conversation and sent the adult a video of child pornography to prove that he could be trusted. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Acting United States Attorney Sarcone stated: “As alleged, Mowrey sent child pornography to someone he believed had access to an 11-year-old girl. At least several times per week we charge someone engaging in this kind of despicable crime. We will not stop until we have rid our communities of people who have a sexual interest in children.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated: “As alleged, Mr. Mowrey engaged in predatory behavior targeting children and is now facing serious federal charges. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate these disturbing individuals and ensure they are brought to justice for their heinous crimes.”
The charge filed against Mowrey carries a maximum term of 40 years in prison, a mandatory minimum term of 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping 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.
Former Tennessee Deputy Indicted for Enticement of a Minor and Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a three-count indictment charging Johnathan Nathaniel Allen, 26, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, for enticement of a minor and production of child sexual abuse material.
The indictment alleges that in September 2024 Allen used accounts on Reddit and TextMe to contact a 13-year-old girl in South Carolina. Allen, who was 25 at the time and a deputy with a county sheriff’s office since 2021, posed on the platform as a 14-year-old boy named Josh. Allen used an account on Reddit, and he used that social media account to target minors for sexual exploitation, one of whom was the minor victim. Allen also obtained a virtual phone number through the TextMe platform to facilitate the scheme. Allen targeted and communicated with the victim through both platforms, he told her that he loved her, and he caused the production of sexually explicit content depicting the minor. Allen told the victim that he was proud of her, and that she learned something new she could do. He also requested her to perform additional sex acts, and he told her to delete the messages so no one else would see them.
Allen faces a mandatory 15 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. He also faces supervision for a period of life following any prison sentence, and sex offender registry requirements. He is currently in custody on state charges. He will be arraigned in federal court on Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Paige J. Gossett.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the York County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Hamilton County, TN Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”
Former Social Security Employee Sentenced for Trying to Lure Beneficiary into ProstitutionRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A former Social Security Administration (SSA) employee was sentenced today for attempting to coerce a beneficiary into crossing state lines to engage in prostitution.
Dae Sung Kim, 36, of Auburn, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to six months in prison and five years of supervised release. In February 2025, Kim pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to induce a person to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution.“Public servants are entrusted to assist people, not exploit them. This was a brazen abuse of power by a federal employee who used his position and access to sensitive information to prey on a vulnerable woman who had just lost her job. This kind of predatory behavior has no place in public service, or anywhere else,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This case represents yet another example of my office’s commitment to reduce the demand for commercial exploitation. Mr. Kim attempted to purchase access to the victim’s body and used her vulnerability and his privilege to do so.”
“This was a shocking abuse of power by someone entrusted to serve the public. The defendant, while employed as an SSA claims specialist, attempted to exploit a vulnerable, disabled mother seeking to apply for reinstatement of disability benefits after losing her job. This predatory behavior is intolerable,” said Michelle Anderson, Acting Inspector General, Social Security Administration.
In March 2024, Kim handled an in-person visit at the Gardner SSA field office from a woman seeking Social Security benefits after losing her job. Approximately 20 minutes later, after redirecting the beneficiary to another SSA field office closer to her residence in another state, Kim utilized his access to her personally identifiable information in the SSA’s computer system to find the beneficiary’s phone number and call her from his personal cell phone. On the call, Kim said he understood the beneficiary was in a “difficult situation” and that “maybe they could work something out that would benefit them both.”
During the ensuing investigation, Kim clarified in text messages and a consensually monitored phone conversation that he was proposing to pay the beneficiary for sex and attempted to negotiate a price.
Kim continued his solicitation over a period of several months through text messages with undercover law enforcement impersonating the beneficiary, including several requests for nude photographs that were declined. Eventually, Kim proposed that the beneficiary travel from her home outside of Massachusetts to a hotel parking lot in Fitchburg, Mass., to have sex in a car in exchange for $100. When Kim traveled to the hotel parking lot to meet the individual in October 2024, he was confronted by law enforcement.U.S. Attorney Foley and Acting SSA Inspector General Anderson made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fitchburg and Gardner Police Departments. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan D. O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.
Former Noel Man Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Somali national pleaded guilty in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of kidnapping resulting in death.
Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, 43, who was a permanent resident alien in the United States, residing in Noel, Mo., at the time of the kidnapping, admitted to kidnapping J.M., which resulted in her death.
J.M.’s body was discovered on July 29, 2019, near Missouri Highway 59 between Lanagan, Mo., and Noel, after an individual reported observing a pink suitcase in a roadside ditch with feet sticking out. Law enforcement located J.M.’s severely decomposed body lying next to the pink suitcase. A salesclerk from the African Grocery Store in Noel later reported that Mahamed had purchased a pink suitcase sometime before J.M.’s body was discovered.
J.M. was last seen alive on July 16, 2019, when law enforcement officers responded to a call at her home. J.M. reported to 911 that Mahamed had held her at knife point and tried to force her to have sexual intercourse with him. J.M. repeatedly told the 911 operator that she was worried Mahamed would harm her three young children who were in the apartment with him. The children were identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1 (four years old), Jane Doe 2 (two years old), and Jane Doe 3 (six months old).
J.M. and her children were reported missing on July 17, 2019, after attempts to contact J.M. on the phone and in-person failed.
On approximately July 28, 2019, or July 29, 2019, Mahamed called his cousin and told her he was bringing J.M.’s children to her in Minnesota. When she asked why he was bringing the children, Mahamed noted that something bad had happened and he could be in trouble.
J.M.’s children were located at a residence in Des Moines, Iowa, and taken into state custody on Aug. 8, 2019. The reporting party told law enforcement officers that Mahamed arrived at her Des Moines residence with the children on Aug. 5, 2019. She discovered Mahamed had left in the early morning hours on Aug. 8, 2019, without the children.
After abandoning the children in Iowa, Mahamed left the United States and was a fugitive from justice until he was located and expelled from Guatemala on July 27, 2021. He has been detained in federal custody since his return to the United States.
DNA analysis confirmed that the body was J.M.’s and her blood was discovered on multiple items recovered from a vehicle utilized by Mahamed.
Under federal statutes, Mahamed is subject to a sentence of up to a life term in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the McDonald County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Rochester, Minn., Police Department, and the Des Moines, Iowa, Police Department.
Former Columbus, Ohio, Lawyer Sentenced for Making False Statements to FBIRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former Columbus, Ohio, lawyer has been sentenced in the Southern District of Ohio to two years of probation and a $15,000 fine on his conviction for making false statements to the FBI, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Sarah D. Morrison imposed the sentence on Dennis W. McNamara, 74, of Columbus, on August 21, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, McNamara—then a practicing lawyer in the Southern District of Ohio—represented a cooperating witness who provided information into a drug trafficking and sex trafficking organization operating in Columbus. At the time, McNamara was separately engaged in a sexual relationship with a female sex worker. McNamara informed the sex worker that he represented the cooperating witness and provided the woman with details of his client’s cooperation, placing his client at great risk of potential harm. When agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation questioned him regarding his disclosures, McNamara lied to agents about having revealed the information.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Morrison emphasized the seriousness of the offense.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio was recused from the investigation and prosecution of this matter; the matter then was assigned to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the FBI’s Southern Ohio Public Corruption Task Force, which includes special agents and officers from the FBI, Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and Columbus Division of Police, as well as the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of McNamara.
Former California Superior Court Judge Charged with Sexual Assault and Obstruction OffensesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that a federal grand jury in Fresno returned a five-count indictment yesterday charging former California Superior Court Judge Adolfo Corona, 66, with federal offenses for sexually assaulting a court employee (Victim 1), making false statements to cover up the assault, and with obstructing the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted another court employee (Victim 2) in his chambers.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant of the Eastern District of California, and Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office made the announcement.
The indictment alleges that on March 14, 2024, Corona, while serving as a California Superior Court Judge, led Victim 1 into a courthouse stairwell where he sexually assaulted her. The indictment further alleges that Corona, during separate interviews with the FBI and court administrators, made false statements about the circumstances of his assault on Victim 1. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Corona obstructed the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted Victim 2. Corona was alone with Victim 2 in his chambers for approximately two hours on Dec. 5, 2023, and she was later found alone in the judge’s chambers after being passed out. The indictment charges that Corona falsely told the FBI that he left Victim 2 alone in his chambers while he drove to pick up a motorcycle. Corona allegedly attempted to persuade a motorcycle dealership employee to change company records to falsely reflect that he had picked up his motorcycle in order to corroborate his alibi.
If convicted, Corona faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison on the sexual assault charge and 20 years on each of the obstruction charges. 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 the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar for the Eastern District of California and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about this investigation is encouraged to contact their local FBI office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or submit a tip to tips.fbi.gov.
Former California Superior Court Judge Charged with Sexual Assault and Obstruction OffensesRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced that a federal grand jury in Fresno, California, returned a five-count indictment yesterday charging former California Superior Court Judge Adolfo Corona, 66, with federal offenses for sexually assaulting a 33-year-old court employee (Victim 1), making false statements to cover up the assault, and with obstructing the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted a 43-year-old court employee (Victim 2) in his chambers.
The indictment alleges that on March 14, 2024, Corona, while serving as a California Superior Court Judge, led Victim 1 into a courthouse stairwell where he sexually assaulted her. The indictment further alleges that Corona, during separate interviews with the FBI and court administrators, made false statements about the circumstances of his assault on Victim 1. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Corona obstructed the investigation into allegations that he sexually assaulted Victim 2. Corona was alone with Victim 2 in his chambers for approximately two hours on Dec. 5, 2023, and she was later found alone in the judge’s chambers after being passed out. The indictment charges that Corona falsely told the FBI that he left Victim 2 alone in his chambers while he drove to pick up a motorcycle. It also charges that Corona attempted to persuade a motorcycle dealership employee to change company records to falsely reflect that he had picked up his motorcycle in order to corroborate his alibi.
If convicted, Corona faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on the sexual assault charge and 20 years on each of the obstruction charges. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California, and Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel of the FBI Sacramento Field Office made the announcement.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar for the Eastern District of California and Special Litigation Counsel Michael J. Songer of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Florida Man Sentenced to over Six Years for Witness Retaliation AssaultRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — A Florida man was sentenced today to six years and 10 months in prison for assaulting an individual in retaliation for testimony that the victim provided during the assailant’s trial for his involvement in a home invasion robbery scheme.
“Instead of accepting responsibility for his criminal conduct that resulted in a 47-year sentence, St Felix physically attacked and berated a trial witness,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Witness retaliation threatens the very foundation of our justice system, which relies on truthful witness testimony. We will aggressively prosecute any attempt to retaliate against federal witnesses.”
“Retaliation against witnesses, no matter when or where it occurs, will not be tolerated. And individuals who assault government witnesses should expect prosecution and punishment,” said U.S. Attorney Clifton T. Barrett for the Middle District of North Carolina. “I commend the agents, attorneys, and USAO staff for their commitment and excellent work on cases stemming from this series of internationally organized home invasions.”
“St Felix tried to silence the very process that held him accountable,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Retaliating against a witness strikes at the heart of the justice system. Those who think they can silence or intimidate witnesses will quickly learn the FBI will come after them.”
“St Felix led a ring of violent cryptocurrency thieves and when he was sentenced to 47 years, he physically attacked a trial witness, cowardly choosing to blame someone else for his crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “This additional prison time means he will likely be in his 70s before possibly walking free again. While we know his victims will never fully recover, we hope this sentence provides them some sense of justice.”
Remy Ra St Felix, 25, of West Palm Beach, pleaded guilty in the Middle District of North Carolina on May 6 to one count of retaliation against a witness for testimony in a criminal trial.
St Felix was charged in a nine-count superseding indictment for crimes stemming from a scheme to steal cryptocurrency during home invasion robberies. St Felix elected to go to trial and was found guilty on all counts. St Felix was subsequently sentenced to 47 years in prison. For this additional sentence, 36 months are to run concurrent to the current sentence and 46 months are to run consecutive to it. In addition to his sentence of incarceration, St Felix was sentenced to five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, the United States called a witness (“Witness-1”) at St Felix’s trial who testified about St Felix’s involvement in the home invasion robbery scheme.
On Oct. 8, 2024, after St Felix had been sentenced, Witness-1 was seated, restrained with leg shackles, a belly chain, and handcuffs, in the “booking area” of a Detention Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. St Felix was allowed out of a holding cell in the same area and assaulted Witness-1 with a series of punches, striking Witness-1 in the face, head, and body. While assaulting Witness-1, St Felix called Witness-1 a “rat” and told Witness-1 that he was responsible for St Felix’s 47-year sentence. That evening, St Felix called his mother and his girlfriend and gloated about assaulting Witness-1.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Iverson for the Middle District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
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