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21 August 2025
Asheville Dealer on Federal Supervised Release Is Sentenced to Prison on Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Asa Shaquille Holloway, 32, of Asheville, was sentenced today to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine base, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Holloway’s sentence will run at the expiration of the 18 months he is serving for violating his federal supervised release.
Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Chief Michael Lamb of the Asheville Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
According to court records, in December 2023, Holloway was under court supervision for a prior federal firearms conviction. On December 19, 2023, federal probation officers conducted a search of Holloway’s residence, seizing 21.37 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, clear plastic baggies, and a .45 caliber magazine. The Court issued an arrest warrant for Holloway for violating the terms of his federal supervised release. On January 30, 2024, officers with the Asheville Police Department located Holloway and arrested him on the outstanding warrant. The officers also searched Holloway and his vehicle and recovered over 14 grams of crack and 3.34 grams of methamphetamine.
Holloway is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the DEA and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville handled the prosecution.
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Arthur, Iowa, Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
A man who received child pornography pled guilty August 20, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City.
Wesley Ham, 32, from Arthur, Iowa, was convicted of receipt of child pornography. At the plea hearing, evidence showed that between March 2022, and September 2023, Ham received and possessed more than 94 images and 79 videos of child pornography. A forensic review of Ham’s computer and phone showed he possessed 370 images and 3 videos of child pornography, some of which included infants and toddlers as well as sadistic and masochistic conduct. Ham admitted to receiving and possessing child pornography but not distributing it, although Ham did admit to distributing child pornography in a state of Iowa case in 2022.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Ham remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Ham faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
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 was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (Cyber Crime Bureau) and the Ida County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-3017. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Arkansas Man Accused of Stealing from 20+ Missouri, Iowa Schools and BusinessesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Arkansas has been indicted in St. Louis and accused of burglarizing more than 20 rural schools and businesses in Missouri and Iowa.
Curtis Lee Barton, 40, was indicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce and three counts of interstate transportation of stolen property.
The indictment says Barton and a co-conspirator stole a total of at least $50,000 from May 2023 through April 2025. Some of the money stolen from schools had been set aside for impoverished children and for the Special Olympics, the indictment says.
The indictment lists several examples of Missouri schools that were burglarized, including the Feb. 25, 2025, theft of about $5,752 from a school in Lewistown, the April 22, 2025, theft of about $13,000 from a school in Brookfield, and the April 26, 2025, theft of $4,000 from a school in Shelbyville. On April 26, 2025, Barton also stole about $1,000 from a safe in an Adair County school, the indictment says.
The indictment says Barton researched both his targets and the sheriff’s offices or police departments in those areas in advance. He broke into the schools in the middle of the night to avoid detection, the indictment says.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI and the Wapello County (Iowa) Iowa Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
Arizona Man Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy in South CarolinaRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Antonie Elbert Eaddy, 49, of Goodyear, Arizona, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a quantity of crack cocaine, 5 kilograms of cocaine, 400 grams of fentanyl, and a quantity of marijuana.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Eaddy and others are responsible for selling 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, a quantity of crack cocaine, and a quantity of marijuana.
During their investigation, agents intercepted telephone calls between Eaddy and others talking about sending cocaine and fentanyl from Arizona to South Carolina, concealing them in a box that contained a clock and sending the proceeds back to Eaddy in Arizona. Eaddy also shipped packages of drugs through the mail to Columbia, Florence, Myrtle Beach as well as locations in North Carolina, Maryland, and Florida. Eaddy also used couriers to bring drugs to the east coast and return the drug proceeds to him in Arizona. Eaddy and four other members of his conspiracy were charged together in South Carolina. All have pleaded guilty to their involvement in the conspiracy.
United States District Court Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Eaddy to 135 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
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Allentown Man Sentenced to Fifteen Years for March 2023 Armed Robbery Spree in Lehigh CountyRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Rubiel Perez, 31, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release for carrying out an armed robbery spree in Lehigh County, Pa., in March of 2023.
Perez was charged by indictment in November 2023 and pleaded guilty in March of this year to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
As detailed in the indictment and admitted to by the defendant, on March 28, 2023, Perez entered a 7-Eleven convenience store on Union Boulevard in Allentown, pointed a handgun at a store employee, and stole $937 before fleeing.
The next night, the defendant targeted a 7-Eleven convenience store on South 4th Street in Allentown. He pointed a handgun at a store employee and threatened him, before stealing $150 from the store. Later that same night, the defendant entered a 7-Eleven on West Tilghman Street in South Whitehall Township and attempted to rob the store by pointing a firearm at the store employee and threatening him.
“Three times in two days, Rubiel Perez pointed his gun at store clerks and made them fear for their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Prosecuting violent offenders is a priority for my office. We will not permit criminals to prey on the people in our communities.”
“In 25 hours, Rubiel Perez robbed three 7-Eleven stores, threatening the employees’ lives at gunpoint,” said Shannon Hamm, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “Stopping violent criminals who terrorize our communities like Perez is a primary ATF mission. Thanks to our agents’, detectives’, and prosecutors’ combined efforts, he is now going to federal prison where he will no longer endanger this town. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to make Pennsylvania’s communities safer for all.”
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Allentown Police Department, and the South Whitehall Township Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Schopf.
23 in custody on immigration charges after bust of Hidalgo County alien smuggling ringRead the Press Release
McALLEN, Texas – Four people, two of whom are illegal aliens themselves, have been charged for their alleged involvement in an alien smuggling ring, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Enrique Gonzalez, 57, of Weslaco, and Mexican national Erick Vallejo-Zapata, 21, are set for their initial appearances Aug. 22 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis. Rigoberto Esteban Perez-Cruz, 37, of Edinburg, and Mexican national Mirza Garcia-Zapata, 37, have already made their appearances, remain in custody and are set for detention hearings Aug. 26 at 2 p.m.
The criminal complaint alleges all four harbored illegal aliens at residences throughout Hidalgo County. Gonzalez, Vallejo-Zapata and Garcia-Zapata are also alleged to have transported aliens.
On Aug. 20, Perez-Cruz left a residence in Edinburg and committed a traffic violation, according to the charges. During the subsequent traffic stop, authorities allegedly discovered an illegal alien in the passenger seat.
Shortly thereafter, law enforcement executed search warrants at that residence and another in Donna, and found an additional 24 illegal aliens, two of whom were unaccompanied minors, according to the charges. The complaint alleges Garcia-Zapata and Perez-Cruz were the caretakers of the stash houses.
According to the charges, the illegal aliens had been previously held at Gonzalez’s house, where Vallejo-Zapata had photographed them. Gonzalez also allegedly took their phones. Court documents indicate Gonzalez and Vallejo-Zapata then transported them to the various stash houses across Hidalgo County.
The illegal aliens discovered at the locations are from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador and India, according to the charges.
As part of the investigation, nine of these aliens are now also charged with felony illegal reentry after removal and face up to 10 years in federal prison. Criminal complaints also charge 10 others with illegal entry into the United States.
If convicted, Gonzalez, Vallejo-Zapata, Garcia-Zapata and Perez-Cruz face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
20 August 2025
Wyoming man sentenced to over 10 years in prison for sexual abuse on the Crow Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Basin, Wyoming man who sexually assaulted a woman on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to 125 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,988 in restitution, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Duane Allen Swank, Jr., 36, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to sexual abuse.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that on July 4, 2021, Swank was driving a stolen car with Jane Doe and two other passengers. At some point after Swank dropped off the two individuals, while in Billings, Swank sexually assaulted Jane Doe. They then drove toward the Crow Indian Reservation on back roads. During that drive, Swank stopped the car and raped Jane Doe. Following the rape, Swank fell asleep, and Doe was able to escape. DNA extracted from Jane Doe matched the DNA profile of Swank.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.
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Waterloo Man to Federal Prison for Gang-Related ShootingRead the Press Release
A man who was one of four shooters who collectively fired thirty-four rounds of ammunition at a residence occupied by eight people, including a child, was sentenced on August 19, 2025, to fifteen years in federal prison.
Anthony Kyle O’Donnell, age 37, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 18, 2024 guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Information from sentencing showed that on the afternoon of August 21, 2022, four individuals dressed in all black clothing opened fire at a residence in Waterloo. After the shooting, the individuals fled. Officers located two men dressed in all black outside a residence about five blocks away. Officers found three firearms in a shed near the men. An officer encountered O’Donnell about a block away from the firearms. He was wearing all black clothing and sweating.
Officers collected thirty-four shell casings at the scene of the shooting. Eight people, including a two-year-old child, were inside the house when they were fired upon. Bullets penetrated the living room and a bedroom. Four of the occupants suffered bleeding injuries from broken glass, and one had a graze from a bullet.
DNA testing showed that O’Donnell’s DNA was on one of the recovered firearms, a stolen Beretta pistol. Ten of the thirty-four rounds were fired from that firearm. Law enforcement identified the shooting as gang-related based on the gang associations of four of the victims and the associations of O’Donnell and the other two men they located.
O’Donnell was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. O’Donnell was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
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.
O’Donnell is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by a Federal Task Force composed of the Waterloo Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms assisted by the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-2019.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Washington Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking FentanylRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— Jesus Paul Zazueta, 28, of Yakima, Washington, was sentenced today to 90 months in federal prison and four years’ supervised release for trafficking fentanyl.
According to court documents, on October 4, 2021, Zazueta was a passenger in a vehicle involved in an accident in Deschutes County, Oregon. Officers from the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and Oregon State Police responded to the accident and received consent to search the vehicle. The officers located two bags in the trunk containing approximately five pounds of fentanyl pills and a semi-automatic firearm.
When questioned by officers, Zazueta admitted to trafficking the fentanyl and owning the firearm. Zazueta also admitted to packing the bag containing fentanyl and the firearm and expected to be paid for trafficking the fentanyl to Washington.
On July 20, 2023, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count indictment charging Zazueta with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On May 21, 2025, Zazueta pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Oregon State Police, and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Adam Delph, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 80 to 100 times more powerful than morphine and 30 to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A 2-milligram dose of fentanyl—a few grains of the substance—is enough to kill an average adult male. The wide availability of illicit fentanyl in Oregon has caused a dramatic increase in overdose deaths throughout the state.
If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.
If you or someone you know suffers from addiction, please call the Lines for Life substance abuse helpline at 1-800-923-4357 or visit www.linesforlife.org. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also text “RecoveryNow” to 839863 between 2pm and 6pm Pacific Time daily.
Veteran Charged with Defrauding Navy Out of More Than $9 Million by Bid-Rigging and False Billing with Insider Who Was Paid KickbacksRead the Press Release
LOS ANGELES – A Navy veteran has been charged with defrauding the Navy out of more than $9 million through a bid-rigging and contract steering scheme that involved paying kickbacks and other benefits to a co-conspirator, who was a Navy insider at the time, the Justice Department announced today.
Cory Taylor Wright, 49, of Columbus, Georgia, is charged in a single-count information with wire fraud.
In a separate court filing, Wright agreed to plead guilty to the felony charge, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Wright has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in this matter.
Wright is expected to plead guilty in the coming weeks.
According to his plea agreement, Wright was enlisted in the Navy from February 1997 until his retirement in May 2017. At various points from 2005 to 2017, Wright worked for the Navy’s Mobile Utilities Support Equipment division (Muse), located at the naval base in Port Hueneme in Ventura County. Muse was responsible for providing management, technical, and logistics support for power systems, including large generators, for U.S. Department of Defense operations around the world, including active combat zones.
To accomplish its mission, Muse engaged with prime contractors to procure goods and services, typically by tasking orders to subcontractors.
When Wright neared retirement in late 2016, he and an individual listed in court documents as “Co-Conspirator 1” agreed to create a Georgia-based company, C&C Power Solutions LLC (CCP). Co-Conspirator 1 was a fellow Navy enlistee who ultimately retired from the Navy in 2021 and held various positions at Muse, including supervisory positions that allowed him to exercise considerable influence over naval contracts. The scheme lasted from December 2016 to August 2022.
Wright and Co-Conspirator 1 created the company with the understanding that Co-Conspirator 1 would be a 50% partner in the business once he retired from the Navy. Co-Conspirator 1 told Wright that he would ensure CCP received Navy contracts, including task orders from a prime contractor. In exchange for directing the Navy contracts to CCP, Wright paid Co-Conspirator 1 thousands of dollars in kickback payments and other benefits, including payments to a sporting club operated by Co-Conspirator 1.
To provide initial funding for CCP’s business operations, Co-Conspirator 1 caused a prime contractor and subcontractors to issue payments to CCP for products and services that CCP did not provide. Once CCP was operational, Wright and Co-Conspirator 1 engaged in a bid-rigging scheme to ensure CCP received subcontracts from a prime contractor. For example, in connection with a 2017 task order worth approximately $790,496, Wright and Co-Conspirator 1 caused the submission of multiple fake contract bids that contained estimated project costs that were significantly higher than the bid that CCP submitted.
Wright also generated false and fraudulent invoices that represented CCP had completed work and delivered products to Muse when, in fact, CCP had not completed its contractual obligations. In turn, this caused the prime contractor to submit invoices containing Wright’s false information, causing the Navy to issue payments on the invoices.
Starting in September 2017, Wright and Co-Conspirator 1 conspired to secure CCP as Muse’s next prime contractor, which they knew would be worth tens of millions of dollars to their company. Wright and Co-Conspirator 1 worked together to generate bogus documents – including a fraudulent past performance questionnaire – to obtain the contract. They also hid from the Navy Co-Conspirator 1’s role and financial interest in CCP, including his direct involvement in the company’s successful bid proposal for the prime contract with the Navy.
From the time the Navy awarded CCP this lucrative contact in July 2019 until it terminated three task orders awarded to the company in late 2022 and early 2023, Wright continued to submit false documents, including invoices, to the Navy for obtaining money that his company and he were not entitled to receive.
In total, Wright and his co-schemers defrauded the Navy out of approximately $9,128,515.
The Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are investigating this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Ian V. Yanniello of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Thomas F. Rybarczyk of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section are prosecuting this case.
Vallejo Man Arrested for Distributing and Possessing Depictions of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging Marcos Gonzalez-Reyes, 43, of Vallejo, with distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, in December 2024, Gonzalez-Reyes used a peer-to-peer software client known as eMule to distribute hundreds of depictions of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct to undercover law enforcement agents over the course of only three days. Law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Gonzalez-Reyes’s Vallejo residence in May 2025 and seized electronic devices containing thousands of additional depictions of children—including toddlers—engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stefanki is prosecuting the case.
If convicted of distributing child sexual abuse material, Gonzalez-Reyes faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material, Gonzalez-Reyes faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Two Gang Members of Bronx-Based 5zzly Crew Plead Guilty to Armed Carjacking on Long IslandRead the Press Release
Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Jaquell Blackwell pleaded guilty to carjacking. His co-defendant, Abdoul Azika, previously pleaded guilty to carjacking on July 9, 2025. Both proceedings were held before United States District Judge Allyne R. Ross. When sentenced, the defendants each face up to 15 years in prison.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI,) announced the guilty pleas.
“Blackwell and Azika, wielding weapons and threats of grievous harm, forced their victims to give up their vehicles and instilled terror in their communities,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “They will now be held accountable for their crimes, and our Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to eradicate gangs responsible for violent crime.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Nassau County Police Department for their assistance on the case.
“Jaquell Blackwell and Abdoul Azika committed a series of violent carjackings by brandishing weapons to forcibly steal cars from their victims,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “These gang members repeatedly terrorized our communities by threatening violence to ensure fearful compliance. The FBI continues to facilitate successful disruptions via Operation Summer Heat by protecting our citizens from violent offenders.”
According to court filings and statements by the defendants at the guilty plea proceedings, Azika and Blackwell were members of the violent “5zzly” crew of the Bronx-based Blood Hounds Brims gang that carried out armed carjackings and robberies across New York City and Long Island. Both defendants pleaded guilty to one such carjacking in the early morning hours of March 19, 2023, during which they snuck up on a vehicle parked in a residential neighborhood in Garden City, opened the doors of a vehicle, pointed a knife and a gun at the driver’s face, and told him to “get the f*** out of the car.” After the driver complied, Blackwell and Azika stole the car. Blackwell also admitted to committing another armed carjacking in Elmont on June 7, 2023, and Azika also admitted to perpetrating two armed carjackings in South Farmingdale and Massapequa on June 5, 2022.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Rebecca M. Schuman and Kamil R. Ammari are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendants:
ABDOUL AZIKA
Age: 21
Bronx, New YorkJAQUELL BLACKWELL
Age: 20
Bronx, New YorkE.D.N.Y. Docket Nos. 24-CR-483, 25-CR-194 (ARR)
Two Defendants Charged on Firearms Violations in Connection with Convenience Store ShootingRead the Press Release
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Two Trumbull County men have been arrested on a federal criminal complaint for allegedly committing firearms violations in connection with a convenience store shooting Aug. 3, in Warren, Ohio, that left one person dead.
The individuals facing federal charges are:
- Jumal Ellis Rowe, 32, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm; previous convictions for trafficking and possession of cocaine.
- Rayjon Ray Mcelroy, 25, charged with possession of ammunition by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Both men are from Warren.
According to the affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, on Aug. 3 the Warren Police Department and the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for service in reference to multiple gunshots and reports of an individual suffering from gunshot wounds at a Convenient Food Mart in Warren. Investigators reviewing footage from the store’s video surveillance found that around 5 a.m., several individuals were loitering and playing a dice game on the walkway just outside the main door. A fight broke out shortly thereafter and eventually escalated into a mass shooting incident in the parking lot between multiple individuals. One individual was later pronounced dead and another injured as a result.
Officials with the Warren Police Department were able to identify Rowe and Mcelroy from the store’s surveillance video. Investigators observed Mcelroy in possession of a Kel-Tec Sub 2000, 5.7 caliber folding firearm when the fight broke out. Rowe was also observed in the store’s surveillance video in possession of a firearm that investigators identified as a Glock, Model 23Gen4, .40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol. In the video, Rowe was seen between two parked vehicles, shooting at others.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio; Acting Special Agent in Charge John Smerglia of the ATF Cleveland Field Office; and Warren Police Chief Eric J. Merkel made the announcement.
If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after a review of factors unique to this case, including each defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Youngstown Satellite Office, Warren Police Department, and the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yasmine Makridis for the Northern District of Ohio.
A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information should contact the Warren Police Department at 330-841-2658.
Troy Health, Inc. Enters Non-Prosecution Agreement and Admits to Fraudulently Enrolling Medicare Beneficiaries and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
Troy Health, Inc. (Troy), a North Carolina-based provider of Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans, has entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice to resolve a criminal investigation into a health care fraud and identity theft scheme involving the use of artificial intelligence and automation software to illegally obtain Medicare beneficiary information and fraudulently enroll beneficiaries into its Medicare Advantage plans.
“Troy told low-income Medicare beneficiaries that it would use new technologies, including its proprietary artificial intelligence platform, to improve patient health outcomes,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Instead, the company misused patient data to enroll beneficiaries in its Medicare Advantage plan without their consent. Today’s resolution reflects the Criminal Division’s emerging focus on corporate enforcement in the health care space and holding both individuals and companies accountable when they defraud our medical system to enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayer.”
"The subjects in this case defrauded not only their own patients, but also the taxpayers who help fund Medicare,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI remains committed to investigating those who would take advantage of American healthcare programs and bringing them to justice."
“The defendant’s use of stolen identities to fraudulently enroll individuals in Medicare Advantage plans was a deliberate scheme to boost profits at the expense of vulnerable patients and the integrity of the Medicare program,” stated Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, alongside our law enforcement partners, will continue to relentlessly pursue those who exploit Medicare and threaten the security of enrollees’ personal health information.”
As part of the non-prosecution agreement, Troy admitted that, from approximately October 2020 through the end of 2022, Troy defrauded the Medicare program by enrolling beneficiaries in Troy’s Medicare Advantage plans without their knowledge or consent. Under a Troy executive’s direction, some of Troy’s Territory Managers used proprietary software developed by one of Troy’s executives to unlawfully access pharmacy records and customer lists containing sensitive personal information, including beneficiaries’ names, addresses, dates of birth, Medicare ID numbers, and insurance information. Troy used that information to make unsolicited sales calls to potential beneficiaries. During those sales calls, Troy’s sales personnel provided false and misleading information to Medicare beneficiaries. For example, Troy’s sales personnel told prospective enrollees that they were calling on behalf of the beneficiaries’ pharmacies and representing to beneficiaries that Troy’s Medicare Advantage plan was being offered as a supplement to their existing health care plans rather than as a new plan.
Troy also used an artificial intelligence-based health care management platform it developed and made available to participating pharmacies, known as Troy.ai, as part of the scheme. As described by the company, Troy marketed Troy.ai as a product that would leverage data and machine learning to lower the cost of care and improve health outcomes. As part of its effort to obtain new enrollments, however, Troy misused the platform by offering pharmacies kickbacks for enrollment referrals submitted through Troy.ai.
Troy also admitted that it used information obtained from the customer lists to enroll beneficiaries in Troy’s Medicare Advantage plan without their consent. At the height of the scheme, during the Medicare Advantage open enrollment period between Jan. 1, 2022 and March 31, 2022, Troy enrolled over 2,700 new Medicare Advantage members, many through automatic or batch enrollments. For example, on March 2, 2022, Troy enrolled over 300 beneficiaries on one day, with the enrollments occurring approximately one minute apart. In addition, some Troy employees manually entered fraudulent enrollments through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website. This conduct followed a Troy executive’s announcement at a 2021 board meeting of an “aggressive but achievable” plan to triple Troy’s enrollment during the 2022 open enrollment period.
As part of the non-prosecution agreement, Troy admitted to and accepted responsibility for the acts of its officers, directors, employees, and agents in connection with the scheme. Troy has also agreed to continue cooperating with the Department in any ongoing or future criminal investigation relating to this conduct. As part of this agreement, Troy agreed to pay a criminal penalty of $1,430,008. This penalty has been adjusted based on Troy’s ability to pay.
The Department reached this resolution with Troy based on several factors, including Troy’s efforts to provide all relevant facts known to it, acceptance of responsibility for criminal conduct, extensive and timely remedial measures taken, commitment to continuing enhancement of compliance and internal control programs, absence of prior criminal history or regulatory actions, commitment to cooperation with federal agencies in any ongoing investigations, and the nature and seriousness of the offense. Troy did not receive voluntary self-disclosure credit, but did receive credit for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation and affirmative acceptance of responsibility, which included (i) self-reporting its 2022 batch member enrollment issue to CMS before it had come to the attention of the Department; (ii) providing timely updates on facts learned during its internal investigation; (iii) providing all relevant facts known to it, including information about individuals involved in the conduct. However, and particularly during the early phase of the Department’s investigation, Troy failed to preserve and produce certain documents and evidence in a timely manner and, at times, took actions that were inconsistent with full cooperation.
The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Clayton P. Solomon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Armstrong for the Western District of North Carolina are prosecuting the case.
The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting health care fraud (HCF) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s HCF enforcement efforts can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Tohatchi Man Pleads Guilty to Violently Strangulation that Left Victim with Serious InjuriesRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Tohatchi man pleaded guilty to federal charges for attacking a female victim (Jane Doe) during an argument, leaving her with serious injuries.
According to court records, on March 5 and 6, 2024, Victor Badonie, 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was with Jane Doe at her home in Zuni, New Mexico. An argument broke out, during which Badonie assaulted and strangled Doe, resulting in Jane Doe’s hospitalization for her serious bodily injuries.
Badonie pleaded guilty to the felony crimes of assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault by strangulation. At sentencing, Badonie faces up to 20 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Badonie will be subject to up to three years of supervised release. Badonie must also make restitution to Jane Doe for costs directly tied to his criminal conduct.
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Pueblo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Zach Jones is prosecuting the case.
Tierra Verde Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Andrew Newburg (41, Tierra Verde) to 10 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Newburg will also be required to register as a sex offender. He pleaded guilty on April 29, 2025.
According to court documents, Newburg distributed videos of CSAM over a social media application in February 2020 and October 2022. Newburg also possessed CSAM through a social media platform.
This case was investigated by Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
St. Lawrence County Sex Offender Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation and Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Jerod Schaffer, age 42, of Potsdam, New York, was sentenced today to 25 years (300 months) in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child and receipt 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.
Schaffer was previously convicted in Franklin County, New York, in 2014, of attempted sexual abuse in the first degree and, as a result, was required to register as a sex offender. As part of his guilty plea in this case, Schaffer admitted that in November of 2021 he met a 14-year-old girl on a social media site and began requesting and receiving sexually explicit images from her. In early 2022, Schaffer traveled from New York to Ohio where he engaged in sexual conduct with the child on multiple occasions and recorded it. When Schaffer’s home was searched by law enforcement in May 2022, he had dozens of sexually explicit files depicting the victim.
Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd also sentenced Schaffer to a 10-year term of supervised release, to begin following his term of imprisonment. Schaffer will also be required to continue registering as a sex offender upon his release from prison.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “This sentence ensures that a child rapist, who recorded the abuse he inflicted on his victim, will remain in federal prison for decades to come. Our community is safer with this pedophile behind bars. My Office will continue to work with our federal and state partners to ensure that child predators get what they deserve.”
HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “Jerod Schaffer willfully and repeatedly exploited a 14-year-old girl whom he traveled across state lines to meet. While no amount of justice can undo the trauma this victim incurred, today's sentence ensures this child predator will not soon roam free.”
The case was investigated by HSI and the Potsdam Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Adrian S. LaRochelle 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.
St. Bernard Parish Man Guilty of Violating Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control ActsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TERRY BAHAM, JR. (“BAHAM”), age 37, a resident of St. Bernard Parish, pled guilty on August 12, 2025 before United States District Judge Brandon S. Long to possession with intent to distribute forty grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and quantities of mixtures and substances containing detectable amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D), and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson.
According to court documents, in October 2021, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s deputies received information regarding the drug trafficking activities of BAHAM at his residence in Chalmette, Louisiana. Deputies obtained a search warrant for the residence. Inside the residence, deputies located and seized approximately 112 grams of fentanyl, 74 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of methamphetamine, 405 grams of marijuana and 112 THC cartridges. Also seized from the residence were four firearms: a Beretta Model BU9 Nano, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, a Glock Model 27, 40 caliber. semi-automatic pistol, a Zastava Arms Model PAP M85 NP, .223 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a Sharps Bros. Model Warthog, .223 caliber rifle.
For the drug count, BAHAM faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of forty years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. For the firearm count, BAHAM faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed, a fine of up to $250,000.00, five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney André Jones of the Narcotics Unit.
Springfield Man Convicted in Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man who was found with a half-pound of methamphetamine was convicted at trial today of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Jeremy Moran Chambers, 47, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and felon in possession of a firearm.
Following the presentation of evidence over three days, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated for just over two hours before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes, ending a trial that began on Aug. 18, 2025.
Beginning as early as Dec. 1, 2020, and continuing through Oct. 12, 2022, Chambers, and others, knowingly conspired and agreed to sell and distribute methamphetamine. On July 22, 2021, members of the Springfield, Mo., Police Department served a search warrant at a trailer occupied by Chambers and located a half-pound of methamphetamine and firearms. When interviewed, Chambers told officers that he was exchanging methamphetamine for firearms.
Five other individuals have pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Dusty Lescard, Anne Currie, and Tameka Farmer await sentencing. Tilton Tate and Erik Foster have been sentenced and received 146 months and 215 months imprisonment, respectively.
Under federal statutes, Chambers is subject to a minimum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and up to life imprisonment 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 Tony Brown and Special Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Lucas. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force
This case 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.
Snohomish County, Washington man sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison for production of child sex abuse material and attempted enticement of a minorRead the Press Release
Seattle –A 43-year-old Snohomish County man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 262 months in prison (21.8 years) for production of images of child sexual abuse and attempted enticement of minors, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Bennett S. Park was arrested in August 2023, when he was attempting to pick up a 13-year-old in a residential area of Everett, Washington. Park had told an undercover law enforcement officer that he planned to pick up and molest the 13-year-old. U. S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez ordered Park to be on supervised release for twenty years after his prison term. “By the time you get out you will be in your early 60’s – What will life look like for you,” Judge Martinez said.
“This defendant damaged untold lives – those of his victims and those of their family members, friends and adults who tried but could not keep them safe from a predator lurking on the internet,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “I commend the quick work by law enforcement to intervene before he could molest another child.”
According to the plea agreement, in July 2023, Park responded to an online add placed by an undercover Homeland Security Investigation agent, falsely claiming that the agent had two young children that could be molested. In his response, Park indicated that he was actively molesting children between the ages of 11 and 17. Park indicated he wanted to molest the agent’s fictional children but was already meeting a 13-year-old. Law enforcement quickly put Park under surveillance to identify and protect the 13-year-old. Just after 1:45 am on August 8, 2023, law enforcement arrested Park just after the 13-year-old got in his vehicle.
After Park’s arrest a review of his electronic devices revealed he had communicated with dozens of minors. Twenty-three of the minor victims were identified. Park had convinced them to provide images of sexual abuse via Instagram, Discord, Snapchat, Facebook, Gmail and Zoom platforms. In the plea agreement Park details his crimes with eight different minor victims.
In all, fourteen Cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children were subsequently issued by Discord resulting in the confirmation of twenty-three minor victims between the ages of ten to seventeen years old whom Park enticed and exploited between April 2018 until his arrest.
In asking for the 25-year sentence Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson wrote to the court, “Park profoundly harmed countless minors, only several of whom are reflected in the charges brought in this case. He dedicated years of his life to cultivating, grooming, and enticing young girls in an effort to manipulate them to engaging in sexual chatting, sexual acts, and producing sexual imagery for the sole purpose of feeding his pedophilia. The fact that twenty-three victims were identified, and the imagery of countless others remain saved to his devices and accounts underscores the lengths Park was willing to go to in order to victimize innocent children.”
Judge Martinez ordered that Park be required to register as a sex offender. A hearing is scheduled for November 14, 2025, to determine the amount of restitution he owes. Park was fined $3,000 to pay into a fund for victims of child sexual abuse imagery.
This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.
Sioux Falls Woman Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a woman from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer. The sentencing took place on August 18, 2025.
Michaela Big Eagle, age 27, was sentenced to time served in custody through August 25, 2025, equal to approximately six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Big Eagle was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025. She pleaded guilty on June 23, 2025.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on February 14, 2025, in Rosebud, South Dakota, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Big Eagle was involved in a traffic stop and was questioned by a Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Officer regarding methamphetamine use while Big Eagle was pregnant. While Big Eagle was in the officer’s patrol vehicle, she was informed that she was under arrest for Child Endangerment. Big Eagle got out of the patrol vehicle and ran to her own vehicle. She attempted to lock the vehicle doors, but the officer was able to get into the backseat of Big Eagle’s vehicle. Big Eagle ignored commands from the officer and fought with him over the keys to the vehicle. Big Eagle then started her vehicle and drove away at a high rate of speed. The officer fell out of Big Eagle’s vehicle as she drove away.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case.
Big Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to over 4 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a FelonRead the Press Release
SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 18, 2025.
Quincy Lamar Johnson, 35, was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Johnson was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in February 2025. He pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025.
Johnson was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Sioux Falls in July 2024 and was seriously injured. When he was removed from the vehicle, officers found a bag containing two 9mm pistols, which Johnson had placed on the floorboard of the car. At that time, Johnson was prohibited from possessing firearms because of felony convictions in Georgia for aggravated assault, assault with a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon/addict.
“This case and others like it demonstrate the effective partnership between the Sioux Falls Police Department and federal law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “Working together, we are interrupting violence in the community by removing illegally possessed firearms from our neighborhoods and holding violent offenders to account in federal court.”
Federal firearm prosecutions are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Johnson was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
San Antonio Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening President TrumpRead the Press Release
SAN ANTONIO– The San Antonio man who was charged with making threats against the President last month pleaded guilty in federal court today.
According to court documents, Robert Herrera, 52, commented on a San Antonio news outlet’s July 10 Facebook post pertaining to President Donald Trump’s planned visit to the Texas Hill Country in the aftermath of deadly floods. Using the handle, “Robert Herrer,” Herrera commented, “I won’t miss,” along with a photo depicting President Trump surrounded by U.S. Secret Service agents immediately after the July 13, 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. A separate Facebook user replied to “Robert Herrer” stating, “you won’t get the chance, I promise,” to which Herrera responded, “I’ll just come for you.” Accompanying that statement, Herrera posted a photo of an assault rifle and loaded magazines. He was arrested that same day.
Herrera pleaded guilty to one count of threat against the President of the United States and faces up to five years in prison along with a maximum $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement.
The U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and San Antonio Police Department are investigating the case with assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and Kelly Stephenson are prosecuting the case.
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Salvadoran National Sentenced for Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Salvadoran national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally reentering the United States after deportation.
Arsenio Valladares, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to time served (approximately five months in prison) and one year of supervised release. Valladares is now subject to deportation proceedings. In July 2025, Valladares pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Valladares was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2025.
Valladares was deported from the United States on or about April 23, 2008. Sometime after his removal, Valladares illegally reentered the United States without permission.
Prior to his removal, Valladares was convicted of offenses including assault and battery with a deadly weapon, assault and battery on a police officer, assault and battery, operating under the influence, larceny and malicious destruction of property. In November 2024, federal immigration authorities became aware of Valadares’ presence in the United States after being notified that his fingerprints were taken in connection with criminal charges in Massachusetts. Valladares was detained by immigration authorities on March 18, 2025.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Benjamin prosecuted the case.
Salvadoran Felon Admits Illegally Re-entering United StatesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Hector Gabriel Magana Jeronimo, age 44, and a citizen of El Salvador, pled guilty on Monday to illegal re-entry as an aggravated felon. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Steve Kurzdorfer, Buffalo Field Office Director for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), made the announcement.
Magana Jeronimo admitted that he was removed from the United States in 2010 after multiple convictions in California for possession of a firearm by a felon. But Magana Jeronimo was found to have illegally re-entered the United States when, on December 15, 2024, Lloyd Town Police in Ulster County, New York, arrested him for driving while intoxicated.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “Magana Jeronimo is an illegal alien and felon, with a history of illegal gun possession, who has again been apprehended thanks to the work of the Lloyd Police and ICE. We cannot do this job alone and need the help of local law enforcement to remove these dangerous criminals who illegally entered our country and are being coddled by some elected officials who care more about their political agenda than the public they took an oath to defend.”
ICE-ERO Field Office Director Steve Kurzdorfer stated, “Jeronimo’s plea serves as a reminder that it is a federal crime to illegally reenter the United States after being ordered removed and deported. This flagrant disregard for our nation’s immigration law cannot go unpunished. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Buffalo commends our law enforcement partners in New York who do the right thing by turning illegal criminal aliens over to ICE for removal processing.”
At his sentencing on December 16, 2025, Magana Jeronimo faces a term of imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000. 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.
ICE-ERO investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer is prosecuting this case.
Richmond-area felons convicted, sentenced for federal firearms crimesRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – Two Richmond-area men were sentenced to prison and a third was convicted this week for being felons in possession of firearms.
According to court documents, Devon Sherman Mickins, 26, came to the attention of Richmond Police (RPD) on August 30, 2024, when he posted a photograph of himself on Instagram holding a rifle. On Sept. 4, 2024, an RPD detective observed Mickins carrying the same rifle that he was holding on Instagram. Mickins sat in a chair outside his apartment with the rifle. RPD detectives and officers approached Mickins, who had the rifle in his lap. Mickins complied with an order to put his hands up and a detective safely retrieved the rifle, and Mickins was taken into custody. Police recovered another firearm from the apartment.
Mickins has prior felony convictions for malicious wounding, robbery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, all of which he committed in Richmond in 2019 and 2021.
Mickins pled guilty on March 6. He was sentenced yesterday to three years and eight months in prison by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Groover, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, prosecuted the case.
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On Sept. 29, 2024, RPD officers observed Javion Stamper, 25, standing with a small group, and Stamper appeared to have a firearm in the waistband of his pants. The officers stopped their vehicle to investigate, and Stamper fled as the officers exited the vehicle. After a foot pursuit, one of the officers heard Stamper behind a cluster of bushes and ordered him to come out. Stamper complied and was detained. An officer recovered the firearm from where Stamper had attempted to hide. The firearm had been stolen and was loaded. Stamper had been convicted of robbery in 2019.
Stamper pled guilty on April 25. He was sentenced yesterday to a year and nine months in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Gilliland, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony prosecuted the case.
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On May 7, 2024, Henrico County Police (HCPD) officers conducted a traffic stop on Ross Allan Jefferson, 44, who was subject to outstanding warrants in Richmond and Petersburg. During the stop, an officer observed a loaded handgun with an extended magazine protruding from beneath the driver’s seat. The officer secured the firearm, the serial number of which had been obliterated. During a search of Jefferson, officers located a .40 caliber round of ammunition in Jefferson’s pocket.
At the time of his arrest, Jefferson had ten adult felony convictions, including: possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (2002); possession of a controlled substance (2002, 2010, 2015); and possession of ammunition by a felon (2015).
Jefferson pled guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 20 and faces up to 15 years in prison. Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gilliland and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony are prosecuting the case.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police; Eric D. English, Chief of Henrico County Police Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Colette Wallace McEachin, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond, made the announcement.
These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:25-cr-8 (Mickins), 3:25-cr-18 (Stamper), and 3:24-cr-130 (Jefferson).
Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for the Coercion and Enticement of a ChildRead the Press Release
DULUTH, Minn. – Dillon Alvan Reyna, age 33, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Judge Jeffrey M. Bryan to 264 months of imprisonment followed by 15 years supervised release for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
“No parent should have to wonder if their child is safe at a park,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Yet here, a repeat sex offender in his 30s targeted and picked up a vulnerable child from a Duluth park—a child who had already endured abuse. That is beyond appalling. We are seeing a disturbing rash of men in Minnesota attempting to buy or coerce sex from children. Let me be clear: it is predatory, it is criminal, and it will be met with the full force of federal prosecution. We will not allow offenders to turn our parks and neighborhoods into hunting grounds for children.”
In October 2022, Reyna, a man in his early 30s and a repeat sex offender, met a minor in a local park in Duluth. The minor victim was under the age of 16 and, as Reyna knew, she was uniquely vulnerable and receiving care for prior sexual abuse. For months, Reyna used all manner of coercive techniques to manipulate the minor victim into having sex with him. Reyna gave the victim gifts and rides that were conditioned on her sexual cooperation. He also used physical force during sex, and filmed the sex without the minor victim’s knowledge. Reyna used social media accounts to communicate with the minor victim.
Reyna’s conduct was halted by law enforcement, who tracked the minor victim to Reyna’s apartment building. When confronted by law enforcement, Reyna lied, falsely claiming he had never met the minor victim. Reyna instructed the minor victim to lie to the police. The minor victim bravely disclosed the abuse she suffered at Reyna’s hand to law enforcement. From jail, Reyna later told an associate to delete various social media accounts in an effort to cover up his crimes against the minor victim. Reyna’s attempts to obstruct justice were unsuccessful.
Reyna previously admitted guilt for a separate sex offense. In 2021, Reyna admitted guilt in St. Louis County, Minnesota, for Third Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct – Force or Coercion. He was given a stay of adjudication.
In handing down the sentencing, United Staets Judge Bryan noted the aggravating circumstances surrounding this case.
Hands-on sexual abuse inflicts upon its victim immense and long-lasting harm. That the abuse is inflicted on a child and then recorded and memorialized in child pornography adds devastating dimensions to the harm inflicted on minor victims. As the Supreme Court observed about the victim of a child sexual assault, “the nature of her injuries caused more prolonged physical and mental suffering than, say, a sudden killing by an unseen assassin. The attack was not just on her but on her childhood. . . .” Kennedy v. Louisiana, 554 U.S. 407, 435 (2008); see also United States v. Pugh, 515 F.3d 1179, 1197-98 & n.12 (11th Cir. 2008) (citing extensive congressional findings about the harm caused by child pornography and recognizing that “[i]n light of these detailed legislative findings and numerous legislative enactments, we cannot help but underscore the seriousness of this crime”).
“Reyna’s actions were a reprehensible attack on the safety and innocence of a vulnerable child,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Far from rehabilitation, as a repeat sex offender, Reyna chose to again violate and exploit a minor victim in unthinkably heinous ways through coercion, manipulation, and force. This victim, already the brave survivor of abuse, suffered at his hands and again though the filming of the assault. This victim deserves the full weight of justice to be leveraged against Reyna. The FBI hopes this sentence shows our unflinching commitment to pursuing justice for all victims of similar abuse and sends the message to all offenders—you will be pursued, prosecuted, and punished.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the bravery of the victim in this case. Without her courage, Reyna would still be on the streets, a threat to abusing more children. Now he is where he belongs—in federal prison.
This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Duluth Police Department, and the Hermantown Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David B. Green and Evan B. Gilead prosecuted the case.
Raceland Woman Indicted in $1.5 Million Dollar Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that CHERIKAH ROBERSON,(“ROBERSON”), age 40, of Raceland, LA, was indicted on August 14, 2025, for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud (Count 1), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343; Making False Statements (Count 2), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2); Wire Fraud (Counts 3-6), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343; and Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641 (Count 7).
A joint investigation by agents with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”), and the Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of Inspector General (“VA-OIG”), revealed that beginning in February 2021, ROBERSON defrauded the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) of approximately $1,446,593.00 through the submission of approximately 60 fraudulent PPP loan applications. It was part of the scheme that ROBERSON recruited associates, friends, and family members, primarily via Facebook, to prepare and file fraudulent PPP applications. ROBERSON prepared and submitted false and fraudulent PPP sole proprietor loan applications via various online portals including, but not limited, to Blueacorn and Liberty SBF. ROBERSON created false and fraudulent invoices, bank statements, and federal tax forms (“Schedule C”) in order to prepare the fraudulent PPP loan applications. ROBERSON falsely certified that the application and the information provided in the supporting documents were true and accurate when she electronically submitted the fraudulent PPP loan applications.
According to the indictment, ROBERSON also filed for her own fraudulent PPP application. On April 19, 2021, ROBERSON submitted a fictitious South Louisiana Bank Statement from February of 2020 as part of her PPP loan application. Additionally, ROBERSON claimed on her PPP application that she had income of $247,546.00 for the year 2019 and submitted a fraudulent Schedule C in support of her application for a PPP loan. ROBERSON knew that the representations in her PPP application were false, and the Schedule C was fraudulent because she did not have income of $247,546.00 for the year 2019, leading to her receipt of an SBA-backed PPP loan of approximately $20,833.00.
Additionally, ROBERSON is charged with defrauding, and attempting to defraud, various state offices of unemployment insurance (UI) through the submission of fraudulent UI applications. According to the indictment, ROBERSON recruited friends and family members via Facebook using the name “Rikah Marie” to file fraudulent UI applications. ROBERSON filed fraudulent UI applications for herself and others in various states, including Kentucky and Louisiana. ROBERSON charged individuals, for whom she filed fraudulent UI claims, approximately $1,200.00 to $1,500.00.
For example, beginning in July 2020, ROBERSON, defrauded the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s Office of Unemployment Insurance out of approximately $5,888.00 in UI benefits through the submission of a fraudulent UI applications
Lastly, the indictment alleges that ROBERSON fraudulently completed a FEMA Application for Disaster Assistance in September 2021. ROBERSON claimed that her mobile home, located in Bourg, LA, was damaged following Hurricane Ida’s landfall on August 29, 2021. An investigation by FEMA revealed that the trailer ROBERSON claimed as her primary residence, was demolished in April 2021. As a result of the fraudulent claims, FEMA deposited $47,492.77 in disaster assistance into ROBERSON’s bank account.
In total, the indictment alleges ROBERSON fraudulently attempted to obtain approximately $1,446,593.00 as a result of the submission of the fraudulent PPP applications and loans, as well as, $5,888.00 in fraudulent UI payments from the Commonwealth of Kentucky; and $47,492.77 in fraudulent payments from FEMA for Hurricane Ida.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General, is an active member of the PRAC Fraud Task Force.
“The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations.”
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The United States Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; the Department of Veteran Affairs, Office of Inspector General; The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee; and the United States Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General COVID Fraud Unit. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.
Pittsburgh Felon Indicted for Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Jamar Perminter, 26, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about July 31, 2025, Perminter possessed a firearm and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to over Two Years in Prison for Defrauding the Government of More Than $1 Million in SNAP, Medicaid BenefitsRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that James Sessoms, 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Chad F. Kenney to 28 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $398,708.58 in restitution, for his scheme to use stolen identities and Social Security numbers (SSNs) to file for government benefits, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid payments, with a total loss to the government of $1,063,633. As part of the scheme, the defendant would sell the fraudulently acquired SNAP cards for profit at a local supermarket.
Sessoms was charged by indictment in October of 2024 and pleaded guilty this April to one count of SNAP fraud, seven counts of false statements in connection with health care benefits, and seven counts of Social Security fraud.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, from approximately November 2019 through November 2023, Sessoms defrauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of SNAP benefits, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) of Medicaid benefits, by submitting false and fraudulent benefit applications, including false and fraudulent identification documents in connection with his applications.
As part of the scheme, Sessoms obtained or created the names, SSNs, and personally identifiable information for several fictitious persons, and obtained the names and personally identifiable information of other persons, including valid SSNs, which he placed on the applications for SNAP and Medical benefits, which were submitted to PA DHS under penalty of perjury. To obtain these benefits, Sessoms also submitted false and fraudulent driver’s licenses bearing his photograph under those fictitious and other persons’ names.
On some of the online applications, the defendant added purported family members, such as a spouse and children, which caused for more funds to be awarded for SNAP benefits, but also caused additional Medicaid costs, including additional costs for all of the added family members. To obtain these benefits with family members on the applications, Sessoms submitted fraudulent names and personally identifiable information for a spouse and children, to include fraudulent birth certificates for the children. The Social Security numbers utilized in connection with these identities were valid SSNs, assigned by the Commissioner of Social Security, but assigned to other individuals than the names alleged by the defendant.
From approximately November 2019 to November 2023, PA DHS, with joint federal funding from HHS, provided Medicaid coverage to Sessoms under his numerous aliases, as well as to his purported family members as he indicated on his fraudulent applications.
Over the same time period, PA DHS, with federal funding from the USDA, provided SNAP benefits to Sessoms under his numerous aliases, as well as to his purported family members as he indicated on his fraudulent applications.
“Stealing money from government programs is an awful crime,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “We will continue to prosecute fraud against the government and hold crooks like Sessoms accountable, on behalf of all the taxpayers funding these programs.”
“We appreciate the collaboration with our law enforcement partners for their hard work on this investigation. Those who are involved in fraud regarding USDA taxpayer-funded programs will be investigated by our office to protect the integrity of those programs,” said USDA Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker.
“Mr. Sessoms orchestrated an audacious scheme—creating fake Social Security numbers while exploiting real ones—to siphon off more than $1 million from programs meant to safeguard the most vulnerable,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Acting Inspector General, Social Security Administration. “Let this case serve as a warning; those who exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be met with aggressive investigation and prosecution.”
The case was investigated by the USDA-OIG, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, HHS Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pennsylvania Office of State Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 95 Months for Conspiring to Distribute Crack Cocaine and FentanylRead the Press Release
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on August 19, 2025, Talbert Hill, 44, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 95 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Hill previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and fentanyl.
According to court records, in the summer and fall of 2023, Hill conspired with others to distribute drugs in the Burlington, Vermont area. On five occasions in September and October, 2023, law enforcement conducted controlled buys of fentanyl from Hill and others working with Hill in the drug trafficking enterprise. On November 3, 2023, law enforcement located Hill in Burlington, Vermont. As they approached Hill to arrest him, he fled, dropping items as he ran. When law enforcement apprehended him, they found on his person and along the path he had traveled approximately 1,000 baggies of fentanyl and 8-12 packages of crack cocaine. The same day, law enforcement searched an apartment that was connected with Hill’s drug trafficking. In Hill’s bedroom at the apartment, law enforcement found approximately 16,000 baggies of fentanyl and a quantity of crack cocaine. According to testimony presented at Hill’s sentencing hearing, this was one of the Burlington Police Department’s largest drug seizures at that time. In total, Hill was held accountable for possessing with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of fentanyl, and a quantity of crack cocaine.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Burlington Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn. Hill was represented by Jordana Levine, Esq.
Parkersburg Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime and Violating Supervised ReleaseRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Ronald Robinson, 55, of Parkersburg, was sentenced today to eight years and six months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine and violating supervised release.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 15, 2024, Robinson sold a quantity of a substance containing methamphetamine to an individual in Parkersburg. As part of his plea agreement, Robinson admitted to the transaction and further admitted to selling a substance containing methamphetamine on two other occasions in October 2024, each time in Parkersburg.
On October 16, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a motel room where Robinson was staying and seized approximately 40.307 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine and approximately 7.368 grams of a substance containing a mixture of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Officers also seized $501 including recorded currency from the controlled buys.
At the time of this offense, Robinson was serving terms of supervised release as a result of his convictions on July 12, 2004, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, in the form known as crack, and on March 28, 2017, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin, both in United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Today’s sentence includes four years in prison for committing a crime while on supervised release.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Parkersburg Violent Crime and Narcotics Task Force, the Police Department, and the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.
Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer D. Gordon and Francesca C. Rollo prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-11.
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Oswego County Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Drug and Gun ConvictionsRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – James Hamilton, age 42, of Central Square, New York, was sentenced today to 72 months in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine, possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, and possessing multiple firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking offenses. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Hamilton admitted that from early 2021 until March 2022, he acquired more than four kilograms of powder cocaine that he either sold or possessed with the intent to sell. Hamilton further admitted unlawfully possessing nine firearms, including an AR-15-style rifle, for the purpose of protecting his drug supply and drug proceeds.
Senior United States District Judge David N. Hurd also imposed a 4-year term of supervised release to begin after Hamilton is released from prison.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “Cocaine is a dangerous and addictive drug, and James Hamilton distributed large quantities of it into his community for profit. He also possessed firearms in connection with his drug dealing that could have injured or killed other people. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to target and prosecute dangerous drug dealers like him.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III stated, “The trafficking of illicit drugs and guns often results in acts of violence that endangers entire cities. The DEA remains committed to working with our partners to eliminate these criminal networks and protect the public from all harm in their communities.”
This case was investigated by DEA, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Syracuse Police Department, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe prosecuted this case.
This case is also 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.
Ohio Resident Sentenced to 12.5 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking of Minor and Coercion and Enticement of Adult Female for Commercial SexRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Euclid, Ohio, has been sentenced in federal court to 150 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his conviction of sex trafficking of a minor and coercion and enticement of an adult for the purpose of commercial sex, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Donte Lashawn Cole on August 18, 2025. Cole also is required to comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and register as a convicted sex offender.
According to information presented to the Court, Cole transported a female minor from Ohio to a hotel in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, in May of 2023 to engage in commercial sex. Additionally, Cole enticed and coerced an adult female across state lines, also for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex. Cole used online advertisements to market the victims for commercial sex services in Western Pennsylvania and elsewhere from April 2023 to October 2023.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Stickman labeled Cole’s conduct as “evil” and noted that Cole “victimized minor girls, crossed state lines, and treated the girls like property for (his) own gain.”
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to stand against human trafficking and the exploitation of children and hold sex traffickers such as Donte Cole accountable,” said Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “We will remain vigilant in ensuring that anyone seeking to profit through the exploitation of any child or adult is identified, investigated, and brought to justice.”
“Human traffickers such as Donte Cole prey on the vulnerable, inflicting unimaginable suffering and robbing victims of their dignity and freedom,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “This case spotlights the depravity of those who exploit others for profit. Homeland Security Investigations will never stop working to ensure these predators are held accountable. We remain relentless in our mission to rescue victims, dismantle trafficking operations, and bring justice to those who have endured such horrific abuse.”
“This predatory trafficker was calculated in how he selected his victims, choosing vulnerable individuals who he then manipulated into situations where their livelihood depended on being at his beck and call,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “Human trafficking is dehumanizing—some of the most egregious conduct we encounter in society. I commend our federal partners for collaborating to reach a resolution that ensures Donte Cole will be far away, for many years, from anyone else he can exploit, manipulate, and abuse.”
Assistant United States Attorney Robert Schupansky and Special Assistant United States Attorney Summer Carroll (Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General) prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Cole.
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 (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
If you are the victim of human trafficking or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, please call the FBI, local law enforcement, or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year related to potential trafficking victims, suspicious behaviors, and/or locations where trafficking is suspected to occur. To submit a tip to the NHTRC online, please visit https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking.
Nicaraguan National Guilty of Misuse of a Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on August 13, 2025, LEONARDO PARAMO-BARBAS (“PARAMO-BARBAS”), age 29, a resident of Nicaragua, pled guilty to misuse of a social security number, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B). Sentencing is set for December 3, 2025, before the U.S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance.
PARAMO-BARBAS faces up to five (5) years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. PARAMO-BARBAS also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to the indictment, on July 20, 2022, PARAMO-BARBAS illegally used a social security number, that was not his, for the purpose of obtaining and maintaining employment.
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.
Acting United States Attorney Simpson praised the work of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement Removal Office, Homeland Security Investigations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit.
New York and Vermont Residents Charged with Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Devin LaValley, age 37, of Burlington, New York, Melissa McDougal, age 29, of Altmar, New York, Grace Balthazor, age 33, of Elmira, New York, and Roxanne Clark, age 43, of Bristol, Vermont, appeared in federal court last week related to three criminal complaints charging them with child exploitation offenses. The defendants were arraigned on the charges, and each was detained pending further proceedings.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and New York State Police (NYSP) Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement.
The charges against each defendant are as follows:
- LaValley – conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, and distribution of child pornography
- McDougal – conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and distribution of child pornography
- Balthazor – conspiracy to sexually exploit a child, and sexual exploitation of a child
- Clark – receipt of child pornography
The three criminal complaints allege that LaValley conspired with McDougal and separately with Balthazor to video record the sexual abuse of two minor children. The defendants then exchanged the depictions of that abuse over the internet. The complaints further allege that LaValley later distributed some of the depictions he created with McDougal and Balthazor to Clark via an online social networking application as part of messaging between the two regarding their mutual interest in sexually abusing children. The charges in the complaints are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The conspiracy and sexual exploitation charges carry a term of between 15 and 30 years in federal prison, while the charges of receipt and distribution of child pornography each carry a term of imprisonment between 5 and 20 years. Each charge carries a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. The defendants will also be required to register as sex offenders upon their release from prison.
A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “The allegations in the criminal complaint are horrific. The child victims in this case are now safe thanks to the great work of HSI and the New York State Police. These depraved defendants will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and my office will seek the maximum sentence that can be imposed.”
HSI Special Agent Erin Keegan stated: “Through their alleged crimes, these defendants placed children in situations that caused unimaginable suffering that no minor should be face. While nothing can undo what these victims have already endured, HSI Buffalo, together with our law enforcement partners, is committed to ensuring that the perpetrators face justice for preying on the most vulnerable.”
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “There is zero tolerance for those who endanger children, and these charges reflect the severity of the crimes and our commitment to finding justice for the victims. Children must be protected, not preyed upon and anyone who does so will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. I thank our State Police members, Department of Justice, and Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations for their determination in holding these four individuals accountable for their reprehensible actions.”
HSI and New York State Police are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle is prosecuting the case as a 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.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NIROKO JOHNSON “Ro,” (“JOHNSON”), age 29, of New Orleans, was sentenced on August 14, 2025, by United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier, after previously pleading guilty to possessing over seven hundred grams of fentanyl, and two firearms. As to the charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, JOHNSON was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. As to the charge of felon in possession of firearms, JOHNSON was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. All sentences are to run concurrently with each other.
According to court records, on March 18, 2022, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at JOHNSON’s home and recovered 747 grams of fentanyl and two firearms. JOHNSON admitted he possessed the fentanyl with intent to distribute same. He also admitted that he possessed the firearms knowing he had prior felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the New Orleans Police Department, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Offenses and Possessing AR-15 Pistol Inside HospitalRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –ERIC FALKINS (“FALKINS”), age 19, was sentenced on August 14, 2025 by U.S. District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown to 66 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, along with a $300 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, marijuana, in violation of Tile 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D), and 846; possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D); and possession of a firearm, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i).
According to court documents, FALKINS had been selling marijuana in New Orleans since at least 2023, and conspiring with others to help him sell drugs. On January 24, 2024, FALKINS went to Touro Infirmary hospital in New Orleans to visit a patient. FALKINS brought a backpack inside the hospital that smelled like marijuana. Inside the backpack, there were two plastic bags containing distributable quantities of marijuana; 17 sealed, pre-packaged bags of marijuana; a sealed bag of marijuana edibles; two digital scales; and a Radical Firearms Model RF-15, multi-caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.
Morris County Man Charged with Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer, as well as Narcotics and Firearm Offenses, including Possession of Multiple Assault RiflesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County man has been charged with attempted murder of a federal officer, as well as narcotics offenses and possession of five firearms, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Maloy Amador, 43, is charged by complaint with attempted murder of a federal officer, discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Amador appeared on August 14, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge José R. Almonte in Newark federal court and was detained.
“Violence against federal law enforcement officers will not be tolerated in New Jersey. Those who use violence against law enforcement officers will be prosecuted using the toughest criminal statutes and penalties available.”
- Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On August 13, 2025, law enforcement responded to Amador’s residence in Parsippany, New Jersey for the purpose of executing a search warrant in connection with a federal narcotics and firearms investigation. After law enforcement entered Amador’s residence, Amador fired a gun toward law enforcement. Following an extended exchange of gunfire between Amador and law enforcement, Amador eventually surrendered, and law enforcement placed him under arrest. At some point during the exchange of gunfire, Amador was struck in the arm. After Amador’s arrest, one of the officers who entered Amador’s residence discovered pieces of a projectile in the officer’s bulletproof vest from a bullet that Amador had fired. During a subsequent search of Amador’s residence, law enforcement recovered narcotics and several firearms, including multiple assault rifles.
The charge of attempted murder of a federal officer carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, the charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison, the charge of possession of firearms by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, and the narcotics offense carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The attempted murder of a federal officer and firearms offenses each carry a maximum fine of $250,000 and the narcotics offense carries a maximum fine of $1 million.
Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited officers and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks, Jr. with the investigation leading to today’s charges. Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba also thanks U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations, Port of New York and New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Vance Kuhner; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll; the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard Pantina for their assistance in this investigation.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Chief of the Narcotics/OCDETF Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Javon Henry of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense Counsel: Laura Sayler, Esq.
amador.complaint.pdfMontgomery Man Receives Federal Prison Sentence for Illegal Machinegun PossessionRead the Press Release
MONTGOMERY, AL – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that a Montgomery, Alabama man has been sentenced for unlawfully possessing a machinegun. On August 19, 2025, a federal judge sentenced 23-year-old Alazavia Devontae Berry to 30 months in prison. Following his prison term, Berry will serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court records, on September 8, 2024, members of the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit attempted to stop a vehicle in Montgomery after observing a traffic violation. The driver, later identified as Berry, refused to stop and led officers on a high-speed chase through a residential area. Berry eventually abandoned the still-moving vehicle, which struck the exterior of a nearby residence, and tried to flee on foot. MACS agents quickly apprehended him and discovered a firearm fitted with a machinegun conversion device concealed in Berry’s clothing.
On April 11, 2025, Berry pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a machinegun.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and the Montgomery Police Department investigated the case as part of the MACS Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Paul Markovits prosecuted this case.
Monongalia County Man Sentenced for Failing to Report to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – James Mansfield Davis, 68, of Morgantown, West Virginia, was sentenced to an additional 12 months in prison for failing to surrender for a federal sentence.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis failed to report to federal prison for an 82-month sentence for a child pornography charge in the Northern District of West Virginia. Davis didn’t report to prison as ordered on October 4, 2024, and was arrested on October 15 in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Davis will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.
Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Mobridge Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting a Man with a Pistol and a KnifeRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from Mobridge, South Dakota, who was convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on August 18, 2025.
Kendall Lee White Tail, age 34, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
White Tail was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 19, 2025.
On the evening of June 25, 2023, White Tail confronted and threatened a couple strolling in McLaughlin, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. White Tail placed a pistol to the woman’s head and racked it, saying “I’ll get you.” Later that night, White Tail approached the man, who was chatting with a friend on a stoop. White Tail had a pistol in one hand and a knife in the other. White Tail slashed the man’s face and leg with the knife, then pistol whipped him. The man permanently lost sight in his left eye and suffered fractured orbital and nasal bones in the assault.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
White Tail was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
McLaughlin Man Sentenced to over 31 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing a Three-Year-Old ChildRead the Press Release
ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a man from McLaughlin, South Dakota, convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child. The sentencing took place on August 18, 2025.
Kurtis Charles Cross, age 67, was sentenced to 31 years and eight months in federal prison and five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Cross was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. He pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025.
In late 2023, Cross was staying at a home in McLaughlin, South Dakota, within the Standing Rock Reservation. Several young children lived in the house. On August 4, 2024, Cross was left home alone with a three-year-old-girl for around 20 minutes. When an adult household member came home, she sensed something was wrong. She crept to Cross’ bedroom and saw the three-year-old sitting in a chair, terrified and clutching her teddy bear. With his hand, Cross had forced the child’s mouth open and forced her to perform oral sex on him. The household member yanked the girl away and promptly reported the incident to the police.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, authorizes certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country to be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, and the Corson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.
Cross was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Man Sentenced to Maximum Prison Time Following the Shooting of an Off-Duty Police OfficerRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A Robeson County felon has been sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by an additional two years for violating his federal supervised release, following a domestic violence assault that resulted in the shooting of an off-duty Dunn Police Officer. Daniel Wayne Locklear, 41, pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in April 2025.
“The United States will not permit violent felons to attack innocent women and citizens with guns. God bless this Dunn police officer who put his own life at risk to stop this Big Shark Bad Boy mid-crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Thankfully he has recovered from being shot in the leg. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his courage. The Dunn Police Department is righteously proud of this hero, as are we all.”
According to court documents and other information presented in court, on September 19, 2023, a woman rushed into the Exxon Gas Station in Linden and asked the clerk to call 911. Locklear entered shortly after the woman and began yelling at her. The clerk attempted to block the woman from Locklear, but Locklear flashed a gun and pushed the clerk out of the way. Locklear then grabbed the female victim by the legs and began dragging her out of the store. An off-duty Dunn Police Officer, who was also inside the gas station, attempted to de-escalate the situation and stop Locklear from leaving with the woman. Locklear drew his firearm and shot at the officer while he fled out of the store. The officer returned fired, striking Locklear in the forearm and abdomen. Once outside of the gas station, Locklear fired 15 rounds into the store and then fled in his car. The off-duty officer was hit by a bullet in his upper leg, but he successfully kept Locklear from taking the woman.
“An attack on an officer is an attack on the entire community. Violence against the brave men and women that work so hard to protect us cannot be tolerated, and ATF will continue to do everything possible to support our law enforcement colleagues,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones.
“Domestic violence has widespread consequences that affect not only the victim but also their family, friends, communities, and workplaces. We are firmly against any form of violence in Cumberland County and stand united with the Department of Justice in addressing this issue. I commend the remarkable heroism of the off-duty officer who took swift action,” said Cumberland County Sheriff Johnathan Morgan.
“On the evening of this incident, Officer Joshua Elliott’s actions saved the life of the female victim, the store clerk, and the customers inside the business. Officer Elliott’s dedication to his career, his years of training, and his calling to be a police officer — to ‘be alert and vigilant to enforce the criminal laws of this state’ — gave him the ability to act decisively in this crisis situation and save lives. By doing so, he became a hero. This heroic act demonstrates Officer Elliott’s steadfast commitment to the law enforcement oath of office, answering the call of duty without hesitation. We are thankful that justice has been served for the innocent victims, including Officer Elliott, who was directly involved in this incident,” said Dunn Police Chief Cary Jackson.
As a convicted felon who was on federal supervised release, Locklear was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Despite this, when officers located Locklear’s vehicle, they found a loaded 9mm firearm with a 30-round large capacity magazine nearby.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Dunn Police Department, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Foxx prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24CR00294D-1.
Livingston man indicted for impersonating FBI agent in nearly $100,000 schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old East Texas man has made his initial appearance in federal court on charges of attempting to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and impersonating an officer or employee of the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Previously in custody on related charges, Daniel Ricardo Field was transferred to federal authorities and made his initial appearance bef0re U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray. He is set for a detention hearing at 2 p.m.
The three-count indictment, returned Aug. 13, alleges Field impersonated an FBI special agent in an attempt to defraud Ally Bank of $93,462.56. On or about April 22, he also allegedly used another individual’s personal information such as name, birthdate and Social Security number in an attempt to execute the scheme.
If convicted of bank fraud, Field faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine, while impersonating a federal officer carries a maximum three-year sentence and up to $250,000 as a potential fine. He also faces another two years if convicted of the identity theft which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed.
FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of Harris County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Lawrence Man Arrested for Attempted Sex Trafficking of a ChildRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Lawrence man has been arrested and charged for allegedly attempting to traffic a child for sex.
Alex Bou, 22, was charged with one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child. The defendant was arrested last night and subsequently released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston this afternoon.
According to the charging documents, on Aug. 16, 2025, Bou responded to an advertisement posted by undercover law enforcement on a website commonly used to advertise commercial sex acts. The advertisement contained images of a young-looking female and language purported to be written by a female describing herself as a “flower ready to blossom.” It is alleged that, on August 16, 2025, Bou sent a text message to the number listed on the advertisement saying, “U available,” to which an undercover agent posing as the purported minor responded suggesting Aug. 19, 2025.
On Aug. 19, 2025, Bou continued his conversation with the undercover agent. In their conversation, the undercover agent stated that she was a 15-year-old girl available to perform sex acts in exchange for money. Upon being informed that the purported minor was 15 years old, Bou allegedly responded with, “Ok are you a virgin?” It is alleged that Bou agreed to pay $175 to have unprotected sex with the purported minor and acknowledged that he was agreeing to have sex with an “underage girl.” Shortly thereafter, Bou arrived at the agreed upon meeting location and was apprehended.
The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a child provides for a minimum mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, 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.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig E. Estes, of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit, is prosecuting the case.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
This case was brought in collaboration with 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.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.Last of Eight Individuals Sentenced for Scheme to Defraud over $17M in COVID-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
Frederick Smith, 56, of Cordova, Tennessee, was sentenced yesterday for his role in an eight-defendant scheme to defraud COVID-19 disaster relief programs (including the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of over $17 million. All eight defendants previously pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and have now been sentenced to a total of 96 months in prison and 45 months of home detention.
Details of the sentencings are below:
- Rodrick Flowers, 49, of Memphis, Tennessee, 58 months in prison;
- Frederick Smith, 56, of Cordova, Tennessee, 23 months in prison;
- Jarvys Jones, 40, of West Memphis, Arkansas, 12 months in prison;
- Mary Payne, 63, of Memphis, Tennessee, six months in prison, followed by five months of community confinement, followed by five months of home detention;
- Cleveland Wells, 67, of Memphis, Tennessee, one month in prison, followed by five months of home detention;
- LaTonya Herman, 46, of Memphis, Tennessee, one month in prison, followed by five months of home detention;
- Brian Mays, 41, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, 18 months of home detention; and
- Krystall Sherrod, 36, of Memphis, Tennessee, 12 months of home detention.
According to court documents, the defendants obtained funds under the EIDL program and PPP by submitting false and fraudulent loan applications prepared by Flowers and others on behalf of businesses and entities that the defendants owned, knowing that the applications contained false statements and misrepresentations about the entities’ number of employees, gross revenues, average monthly payroll, and more. The defendants then used the loan funds for purposes not authorized by the EIDL program or PPP, including for personal expenses.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Joel Weaver of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA); Special Agent in Charge Edwin S. Bonano of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Karston Gaardner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) Dallas Regional Office made the announcement.
TIGTA, FHFA-OIG, and FDIC-OIG investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Ariel Glasner, David Hamstra, and Matthew Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.
Jamestown sex offender pleads guilty to child pornography chargeRead the Press Release
BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Timothy Douglas, 65, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to possession of child pornography by person having prior conviction related to aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual conduct involving a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prsion, a maximum of 20 years, and a fine of $250,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who is handling the case, stated that in August 2023, Douglas knowingly possessed a cellular telephone that contained images of child pornography. The images depicted prepubescent minors or minors under 12-years-old. Between July 2022 and August 2023, Douglas produced images of three minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. One of the children was five years old and the other two children were approximately 10 years old. Some of the images sadistic in nature. In 2003, Douglas was convicted in New York State of Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child less than 16 years old, Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the 2nd Degree.
The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 25, 2025, before Judge Arcara.
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Jamaican Citizen Sentenced for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Leon Byrd, a/k/a “Paul Edwards,” age 61, a Jamaican citizen residing in Winthrop, New York, was sentenced today to time served (26 months in prison) in connection with his distribution and possession with intent to distribute approximately 1.8 kilograms of cocaine and 29 grams of methamphetamine.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Byrd admitted that from September 2022 through June 2023, he worked with a drug trafficking organization led by codefendants Troy Dean and Maijia Scott that trafficked cocaine from New York City and methamphetamine from California to the Winthrop area of St. Lawrence County, New York. When Scott and Dean were not available to distribute cocaine in Winthrop, Byrd distributed cocaine on their behalf and at their direction.
On June 22, 2023, police executed a search warrant at Dean and Scott’s residence in Winthrop, where Byrd also lived. Byrd was present in the home at the time the search warrant was executed. In the home, police seized approximately 1,500 grams of cocaine, approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine and $26,597 in U.S. currency.
At one time Byrd held permanent U.S. resident status, which lapsed in 2004.
Dean has also pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Scott’s case is scheduled for trial in December. The charges against Scott are merely accusations, and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said, “Leon Byrd was permitted to legally enter this country, overstayed his lawful status by about 20 years, and involved himself in cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking. After he’s released from prison, he will face deportation and will not be allowed to return to the United States. We will continue to rid this country of foreign nationals who seek to distribute poisonous drugs in our communities.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III stated, “This case underscores the threat posed by traffickers who distribute both cocaine and methamphetamine into our communities. These drugs fuel addiction and violence, and the DEA will remain focused on dismantling the networks that bring them into New York.”
The DEA is investigating this case with assistance from the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Douglas Collyer is prosecuting the case as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Jacksonville Convicted Child Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Materials over the InternetRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Alexander James Koby (40, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to receiving child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) over the internet. Koby faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison and a potential life term of supervised release. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 20, 2025. Koby has been in federal custody since September 2024, after he was transported from state custody, where he was serving a sentence for failing to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, in 2014, Koby was convicted in federal court for possessing CSAM. After serving his federal sentence and being released in August 2019, Koby began serving a 25-year term of supervised release.
On December 7, 2022, a search of Koby’s residence revealed that he possessed a computer, a cellphone, and an external hard disk drive. These items were seized. During an interview, Koby admitted that he used a particular internet browser to search for photos and videos depicting children being sexually abused and that he masturbated when viewing these materials. When asked why he would continue to do this, Koby stated that he gets a high from “living dangerously.”
Forensic examination of the three seized devices revealed a total of 103 videos and 2,311 photos depicting young children being sexually abused. Koby had downloaded and received these materials using the internet from March through December 2022.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify, rescue, and seek justice for child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.