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19 August 2026
Former Prince George’s County Police Officer Sentenced in Connection with Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenbelt, Maryland – A former Prince George’s County police officer received a federal-prison sentence for his role in an auto-insurance fraud scheme.
Judge Lydia Griggsby sentenced Michael Anthony Owen, Jr., 37, of Accokeek, Maryland, to six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, with the first six months served on home detention, for the falsification of records in connection with the scam. Judge Griggsby also ordered Owen to pay $17,585 to the victim of one of his insurance fraud schemes.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office, and Chief George Nader, Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).According to court documents, between August 2018 and February 2020, Owen and Jaron Earl Taylor, 32, of Ft. Washington, Maryland, a former Anne Arundel County Police Department officer, conspired with fellow police officers to engage in mail and wire fraud. Taylor and Owen, along with officers Candace Tyler, 39, of Bowie, Maryland, Conrad D’Haiti, 56, of La Plata, Maryland, Davion Percy, 40, of Suitland, Maryland, and others, devised a scheme for insurance companies to pay out the remaining financing costs of unwanted vehicles.
Members of the conspiracy reported fictitious losses to insurers to obtain money or avoid paying off vehicles that were worth less than the amount owed on them. The co-conspirators used their statuses as police officers to assist each other’s claims by writing false police reports. Then co-conspirators submitted fictitious police reports to insurers to validate the claim. The false police reports were intended to impede, obstruct, or influence subsequent investigations of the false insurance claims.
In August 2018, Owen and Taylor staged the theft of Taylor’s Chevrolet Tahoe. After Taylor filed a fraudulent police report, he and Owen stripped the vehicle and drove it deep into the woods of a Maryland State Highway property near Largo. Taylor then made a false claim to the United Services Automobile Association (USAA) for the loss, for which USAA paid out a total of $38,670.
Then in January 2020, Owen assisted D’Haiti in avoiding payment on the loan balance of a Jaguar XKR. In cooperation with D’Haiti and Percy, Owen devised a scheme to fake the vehicle’s theft. On January 4, D’Haiti parked his Jaguar behind Marlow Heights Shopping Center where Percy worked as police chief.
D’Haiti then paid Percy $350 to arrange for another co-conspirator to tow the vehicle and extensively vandalize it for the purpose of creating a total insurance loss. Tyler subsequently filed the fictitious police report that D’Haiti used to substantiate his claim against Liberty Mutual Insurance. In February 2020, Liberty Mutual paid the Jaguar’s lienholder, Navy Federal Credit Union, $17,585, on the false claim.
Additionally, in January 2020, Owen and Taylor assisted with disposing of an Infiniti sedan to help a co-conspirator avoid making further payments on the vehicle while on extended overseas duty. The co-conspirator gave Taylor $1,000 via CashApp to stage the theft. Taylor then forwarded the money to Owen who filed a false police report with PGPD, stating the vehicle was stolen.
But Owen, Taylor, and others moved the car to the top floor of a Camp Springs, Maryland, apartment-complex parking garage. The co-conspirators attempted to conceal the car’s identity by removing the vehicle’s license plates and replacing them with different ones registered to another vehicle. The owner and co-conspirator filed a claim with GEICO that was eventually denied on grounds of fraud.
In connection with this scheme, in June 2026, a federal jury found Percy guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with the auto-insurance fraud scheme. Then in July 2026, Judge Griggsby sentenced Taylor, 32, to three years of probation, with the first five months served on home detention, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Judge Griggsby also ordered Taylor to pay $38,670 in restitution to the United States Automobile Association. Additionally, Tyler pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and D’Haiti, 56, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Percy’s sentencing is scheduled for Friday, October 16, at 10 a.m.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Baldwin who is prosecuting the case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Former National Park Service Employee Sentenced for Theft of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Masters, 38, of Victor, was sentenced today to one year of federal probation and ordered to pay $150 in restitution for theft of government property.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from in or around October 2025 to in or around February 2026, Masters was employed by the National Park Service when he stole approximately $150 from a donation box at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, part of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in Lansing, Fayette County. As part of his guilty plea, Masters admitted that he used his position to access and remove money from the donation box without permission or authority on several occasions, and covered surveillance cameras to avoid detection.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the National Park Service.
United States Magistrate Judge Dwane L. Tinsley imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Erik S. Goes and Amy L. McLaughlin 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. 2:26-cr-60.
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Former Leader of a Violent Transnational Criminal Organization Sentenced to 360 months in Prison for Engaging in a Continuing Criminal Enterprise as Part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF)Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Today, United States District Court Judge Pedro A. Delgado sentenced José Julio Rodríguez-Cumba, a.k.a. “Chambi/Chembi/Josué/Chambo/Patrón,” to 360 months (30 years) of imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release for running a continuing criminal enterprise. Rodríguez-Cumba was arrested in the District of Puerto Rico on October 4, 2021, and pleaded guilty on April 14, 2026.
According to court documents, Rodríguez-Cumba directed a large-scale drug trafficking organization (the Enterprise), that utilized land and sea transportation assets to import and distribute multi-hundred-kilogram shipments of cocaine from South America into Puerto Rico and the continental United States. The defendant admitted that he was responsible that more than 2,000 kilograms of cocaine that were going to be unlawfully imported into the United States and distributed as part of the Enterprise.
Rodríguez-Cumba made millions of dollars in profit from drug trafficking. This defendant directed members of the enterprise to use violence, possess firearms, including machine guns for protection and in furtherance of the Enterprise.
From on or about July 2023 and continuing up to and until May 22, 2024, while in the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Guaynabo, Rodríguez-Cumba caused other individuals to introduce buprenorphine into MDC.
Rodríguez-Cumba agreed to forfeiture of various properties, including a luxury yacht - “El Ancla”, a 2014 Pershing, 62-foot vessel, and other assets including cash, real property, and personal property, as well as firearms.
“The sentence imposed reflects the severe consequences for those who choose to dedicate their lives to crime and poison our streets and communities with harmful drugs. This case represents the comprehensive efforts being deployed to target and dismantle the most dangerous criminal organizations and hold their members accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Héctor Ramírez-Carbó for the District of Puerto Rico. “Prosecutors and law enforcement at every level are working together to dismantle and eliminate armed trafficking organizations that threaten our communities.”
“Today is an important day for HSI San Juan but more important for Puerto Rico. The sentencing of a dangerous gang leader like José J. Rodríguez-Cumba is the direct result of the seamless collaboration between HSI San Juan, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office," said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos. "By working together to build a comprehensive case against him, we have successfully removed a violent criminal from our streets for decades. This result sends an unequivocal message: HSI remains fully committed to investigating and holding accountable those who terrorize our communities.”
This investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Ricardo Imbert Fernández of the Transnational Organized Crime Section is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
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Former Kanawha County Sheriff’s Deputy Indicted for Alleged Deprivation of Rights of InmateRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A federal grand jury indicted a former deputy with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office on one count of deprivation of rights under color of law arising out of his alleged sexual assault of a female inmate in his custody.
According to the indictment, on July 29, 2025, Cass Aaron Close, 56, violated the civil rights of the victim when he sexually assaulted her. At the time of the assault, Close was on duty as a Kanawha County Sheriff’s deputy and the victim was in his custody at the Kanawha County Judicial Annex. If convicted, Close faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Moore Capito for the Southern District of West Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office with assistance from the West Virginia State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald for the Southern District of West Virginia and Trial Attorneys Cassandra Hughes and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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. 2:26-cr-102.
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Former Elementary School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography OffensesRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A former elementary school teacher and employee of two area school districts pleaded guilty to 13 child pornography offenses involving 12 minor victims.
Dennis Adlai Hernandez, 29, of Independence, Mo., pleaded guilty today in federal court to 11 counts of production and attempted production of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography for offenses alleged to have occurred between August 2022 and August 2025.
Under federal statutes, Hernandez is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole on each count of production and attempted production of child pornography and up to 20 years in federal prison without parole on each of the two remaining child pornography offenses. 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 Alison Dunning. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Five charged in $1 million U.S. Treasury check schemeRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 33-count indictment has now been unsealed charging five Houston-area residents for their alleged roles in a scheme to obtain proceeds from a counterfeit $1,052,615.97 U.S. Treasury tax refund check.
Torik M. Blade, 39, Missouri City; Kendra L. Folkes, 37, Katy; Rickelle D. Taylor, 38, Spring; Raven N. Morris, 34, Houston; and Stephen G. James, 42, Houston, have now made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho.
A federal grand jury returned the indictment July 22, charging all five with various counts of passing a counterfeit Treasury check, bank fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering.
According to the indictment, Blade allowed an unidentified individual to deposit the counterfeit Treasury tax refund into his business account. Blade and the others allegedly sought to obtain the proceeds by cashing cashier’s checks purchased with the fraudulently obtained funds, transferring money between financial institutions, and making cash withdrawals.
If convicted, Blade faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine for passing the counterfeit check and another 30 years and a $1 million fine on each bank fraud count. He could also be ordered to serve up to 20 years in federal prison and $500,000 in fines on the conspiracy and money laundering counts. Folkes, Taylor, Morris, and James face similar maximum penalties if convicted.
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation and Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John R. Lewis 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.
Fentanyl Free America Call to Action by Middle District of Georgia U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes is urging every citizen in the Middle District of Georgia to join the fight for a fentanyl-free America and Georgia ahead of National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day this Friday, August 21, through a newly launched public service announcement.
“I urge everyone in our community to stand together with compassion and resolve, by learning about the dangers of fentanyl, having honest conversations with your loved ones, looking out for friends and neighbors at risk, and joining us in ending this crisis,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes for the Middle District of Georgia. “In partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and our law enforcement allies at every level, we will continue to relentlessly pursue those distributing this deadly drug. By working together, we can save lives, honor those we’ve lost, and secure a safer, healthier future for every family.”
“National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day reminds us that protecting our communities starts with prevention,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “We must protect lives by raising awareness of the dangers of fentanyl, prevent tragedy through education and informed decision-making, and support families with the resources they need to have these important conversations. Together, we can save lives and work toward a Fentanyl Free America.”
As part of the national grassroots effort to raise awareness, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia has produced a public service announcement in coordination with the DEA and the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs, titled “Fentanyl Free America and Georgia.” People are invited to watch the PSA on YouTube or the Office’s social channels on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and help spread the message by sharing it with family, friends, and neighbors to unite our communities in this urgent fight. To learn more about the national “Fentanyl Free America” effort from the DEA, please visit https://www.dea.gov/fentanylfree.
Illicit fentanyl remains one of the most dangerous drug threats facing our communities. Fentanyl is extremely potent, and even a small amount can be potentially lethal. Fentanyl is often mixed into other illicit drugs and pressed into counterfeit pills made to resemble legitimate prescription medicines.
For those who are fighting addiction or supporting a loved one on that journey, help is available. Contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for confidential treatment referrals and information at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day is observed annually on August 21 and brings together families, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, educators, community organizations, and others to increase education about the dangers of illicit fentanyl. To learn more, please visit https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Ex-Teacher and Former State Legislator on Child Sexual Exploitation, Enticement and Witness Tampering ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito announced today that a federal grand jury indicted David Elliott Pritt, 36, of Oak Hill, on three felony counts alleging sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement of a child, and tampering with a witness, victim, or informant.
The indictment alleges that from in or about March 2024 through in or about January 2026, Pritt attempted to and did persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a minor female to engage in sexually explicit conduct, and from in or about June 2025 through in or about January 2026 did so for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such sexually explicit conduct using the internet and cellular networks. The indictment further alleges that on or about June 20, 2026, Pritt attempted to intimidate and corruptly persuade the minor female with the intent to hinder, delay, and prevent the communication of information relating to the commission and possible commission of a federal crime to a law enforcement officer.
Pritt was arrested on July 22, 2026, following an investigation. At the time of the alleged offenses, Pritt was employed as a teacher with Fayette County Schools and represented a Fayette County district in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Following his arrest, Pritt resigned from the West Virginia Legislature and the Fayette County Board of Education suspended and then terminated his employment. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
“With West Virginia’s children returning to school this month, now is another opportunity for parents and caregivers to have those important conversations with their kids,” Capito said. “Our children need to know that they can safely report and talk about any situation that potentially involves grooming, inappropriate behavior, or abuse.”
Capito also continued to encourage anyone with information relevant to this case to contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at (304) 574-4268.
Capito commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Irene C. Berger and United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn.Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
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. 2:26-cr-97.
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Federal Grand Jury Indicts 13 for Drug and Firearm Offenses Following a Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Led by the DEA and LMPDRead the Press Release
Louisville, KY – Following a lengthy investigation by the Louisville Homeland Security Task Force led by the DEA and LMPD, a federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on May 20, 2026, charging 13 individuals with conspiring to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and firearms offenses. Ten of the defendants have been arrested, one is deceased, and two are at large.
U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul L. Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement.
According to the indictment, Shane Andres, 48, of Louisville, Kentucky; Michael Andres, 52, of Louisville, Kentucky; Luther Roland, 49, of Louisville, Kentucky; Clarence Caldwell, 62, of Louisville, Kentucky; John Finley, 32, of Louisville, Kentucky; Marcus Andrews, 50, of Detroit, Michigan; Stacey McRae, 36, of Louisville, Kentucky; Jorge Torres Valdez, 27, an illegal alien from Mexico unlawfully residing in New York, New York; Ronnall Clark, 44, of Louisville, Kentucky; Keshawn Hatcher, 34, of Louisville, Kentucky; Cornelius Pendleton, 44, of Louisville, Kentucky; and Fineiss Vaughn, 21, of Phoenix, Arizona, were all charged with one count of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing heroin from January 24, 2023, through May 20, 2026, in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
Additionally, Shane Andres was charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl; Michael Andres was charged with six counts of distribution of fentanyl; Luther Roland was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and three counts of distribution of fentanyl; Clarence Caldwell was charged with two counts of distribution of fentanyl; John Finley was charged with three counts of distribution of fentanyl; Marcus Andrews was charged with three counts of distribution of heroin; Stacy McRae was charged with three counts of distribution of fentanyl; Keshawn Hatcher was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and Cornelius Pendleton was charged with one count of possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm with the knowledge he had previously been convicted of a felony, specifically:
On or about November 15, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 19-CR-2810, Cornelius Pendleton, was convicted of the offense of convicted felon in possession of a firearm;
On or about March 1, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 18-CR-0638, Cornelius Pendleton, was convicted of the offenses of convicted felon in possession of a handgun, tampering with physical evidence and receiving stolen property (firearm);
On or about May 8, 2018, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 15-CR-3350, Cornelius Pendleton, was convicted of the offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, convicted felon in possession of a handgun and receiving stolen property (firearm);
On or about July 20, 2005, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 04-CR-2842, Cornelius Pendleton, was convicted of the offense of burglary third degree;
On or about July 20, 2005, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Jefferson County, Kentucky, in Case Number 04-CR-0590, Cornelius Pendleton, was convicted of the offenses of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree, promoting contraband and tampering with physical evidence.
On August 12, 2026, six of the thirteen defendants made an initial court appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Michael Andres, Jorge Torres Valdez, Cornelius Pendleton and Marcus Andrews will make their initial appearances at a later date. Donshaun Coleman is deceased. Stacey McRae and Fineiss Vaughn remain at large.
If convicted, Cornelius Pendleton faces a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. If convicted, Shane Andres, Michael Andres, Luther Roland, Clarence Caldwell, John Finley, Marcus Andrews, Stacey McRae, Jorge Torres Valdez, Ronnall Clark, Keshawn Hatcher, Cornelius Pendleton and Fineiss Vaughn face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “The Louisville Homeland Security Task Force is a national model for interagency cooperation and productivity. Agents from multiple federal agencies working seamlessly with the Louisville Metro Police Department are constantly working long-term investigations against significant drug trafficking organizations for the betterment of our community. It is truly an honor to announce this important indictment and commend the success of our law enforcement partners.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott stated, “The DEA, alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, remains committed to pursuing those who profit from trafficking dangerous drugs while fueling violence in our communities. By bringing the full resources of the federal government to bear against career criminals, we are sending a clear message to those who peddle poison on our streets: your days are numbered.”
LMPD Chief Paul Humphrey stated, "This investigation is another example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement work together with a shared commitment to protecting our community. I want to thank every investigator who spent countless hours on this case to make our neighborhoods safer."
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is being investigated by the DEA and LMPD with assistance by IRS Criminal Investigation, St. Matthews Police Department, Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office, Office of the Kentucky Attorney General, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Porter and Frank E. Dahl III are prosecuting the case with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Adela Alic.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Louisville comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, and IRS, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Fast Food Employee Admits Shooting at Customer During St. Louis DisputeRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon on Wednesday admitted exchanging gunfire with a customer of the St. Louis fast food restaurant where he worked.
Tony Robinson, 28, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that on Dec. 17, 2025, he got into an argument with a customer of the fast-food restaurant where he was working. After a manager intervened, Robinson walked away from the drive-thru window and put his headset on the counter. The customer was standing outside, looking through the window of the dining room. Robinson then walked outside with a hand in his pocket. The customer backed up and opened fire. Robinson pulled a gun from his pocket and returned fire. Both men continued shooting as they fled. The customer ran away and Robinson went back inside before firing through the window of the restaurant’s dining room.
Robinson ran from the restaurant into a nearby church and hid his gun in a stairwell. When St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers found Robinson, he initially lied and said he threw his gun into a sewer. Officers found his gun, a .45-caliber Glock pistol. Police interviewed the customer, who also said he was acting in self-defense. Officers found four .45-caliber cartridge casings and nine 9mm casings. There were bullet holes in the windshield and hood of the customer’s car and in the restaurant window.
Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Estacada Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distribution of over 250 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—An Estacada, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon.
Anthony Barrera, 31, was sentenced to 171 months in federal prison and 5 years’ supervised release.
“We are proud to work with our law enforcement partners at the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigations to hold drug dealers accountable and stop this huge influx of deadly drugs into our Oregon communities,” said Scott E. Bradford, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.
According to court documents, during an investigation of an alleged drug trafficker, later identified as Barrera, investigators learned Barrera rented a vehicle and traveled to California to pick up large quantities of drugs to distribute and sell in Oregon.
On May 24, 2025, officers located Barrera driving the rental vehicle northbound on Interstate 5 and followed him to a rest area near Roseburg, Oregon, where Barrera was arrested. Agents seized 270 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of cocaine, which were concealed in the backseat and cargo area of the vehicle.
This was one of the largest drug seizures in Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit’s (MCSO SIU) history.
In addition, Barrera had $2,860 in cash and three cellphones which were seized.
After his arrest, Barrera told law enforcement that he sold drugs to sustain a living. He further admitted to traveling to Southern California to pick up drugs an estimated three times in 2025. A search of the defendant’s residence revealed a revolver and a pistol under a removable piece of flooring in the defendant’s bedroom closet, as well as four gold bars which were later determined to be counterfeit. At the time of his arrest, the defendant was on supervision for a driving under the influence conviction in Multnomah County.
On May 24, 2025, Barrera was arrested in Roseburg after re-entering Oregon.
On June 18, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Barrera with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and felon in possession of a firearm.
On March 10, 2026, Barrera pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This case was investigated by MCSO SIU, and the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Keefer.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
Easton Man Sentenced to 39 Months in Federal Prison for Threatening Fairfield Police OfficersRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that RAYMOND NEUBERGER, 42, of Easton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 39 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for threatening Fairfield Police officers. Judge Williams also ordered Neuberger to pay a $15,000 fine.
According to court documents and statements made in Court, on April 24, 2025, Neuberger sent text messages to an individual in which he threatened to kill Fairfield Police officers. Later, Neuberger stopped his vehicle in the middle of Post Road in Fairfield and screamed profanities and made an obscene gesture at a Fairfield Police officer. He then drove to the Fairfield Police Department, encountered the same police officer, and again yelled profanities and made an obscene gesture. After these incidents, Neuberger continued to make threats in calls to the Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center and to the Fairfield Police.
Neuberger then sent several threatening text messages to another individual, including messages stating “I’m going to kill all the Fairfield cops,” “Tell Fairfield PD I’m close to snapping,” and “I’m armed.”
Neuberger also put a threatening letter in the mailbox of a neighbor who is an FBI special agent. The letter stated, “BACK THE BUREAU OFF BEFORE ITS TOO LATE – Ray Neuberger.”
“Threatening police officers and federal agents who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe is intolerable behavior, and this sentence is warranted,” said U.S. Attorney Sullivan. “Our office will continue to act swiftly to protect those who serve and uphold public safety.”
“Today’s sentencing holds Raymond Neuberger accountable for his criminal conduct and reflects the serious consequences of his actions,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge P.J. O’Brien. “This outcome is the result of the dedicated work of the investigators, prosecutors, and law enforcement partners who remained committed to pursuing justice. The FBI will continue to work alongside our partners who remain committed to investigating those who commit serious crimes, and ensure that victims and their families are not forgotten in the pursuit of justice.”
Neuberger was arrested on related state charges on April 29, 2025. On December 18, 2025, he pleaded guilty in federal court to transmitting interstate communications containing a threat to injure.
Neuberger, who had been released on bond, was remanded to custody at the conclusion of today’s court proceeding.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fairfield Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Konstantin Lantsman.
District Couple Arrested and Charged in Homeland Security Task Force Takedown for Trafficking Fentanyl and Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON -- Katie Shameka Williams, 33, and Kenneth Darnell Smith Jr., 32, both of the District of Columbia, were arrested yesterday after being charged in an indictment in connection with running an alleged fentanyl trafficking operation from their apartment in the District’s Congress Heights neighborhood, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“These charges reflect this office’s aggressive commitment to dismantling violent drug networks, removing dangerous traffickers from our streets, and keeping our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “We will no longer tolerate lawlessness in our nation’s capital, and this takedown builds on the more than 3,200 drug-related arrests made as part of President Trump’s federal surge to make Washington D.C., safe and beautiful.”
The indictment charges Williams and Smith with conspiracy to distribute forty grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base or crack cocaine.
Both defendants are being held at the D.C. Correctional Facility and have made their first appearance before a magistrate judge.
According to filed documents, the FBI Washington Field Office Safe Streets Task Force launched an investigation in March 2026 into an alleged narcotics distribution operation based on the 1600 block of Savannah Street SE.
It is alleged that over several months in 2026, law enforcement documented at least nine instances of crack cocaine and fentanyl being distributed from that location. In total, those instances involved more than 40 grams of fentanyl and distribution amounts of crack cocaine.
On Aug. 18, 2026, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at the apartment building and arrested Williams and Smith. During the search, three children were present in the apartment.
Inside the residence, agents recovered substantial quantities of suspected controlled substances, including numerous separately packaged quantities of suspected fentanyl (in pill and powdered form) with an approximate gross weight of 322 grams; a rifle and three loaded handguns; a drum magazine and multiple additional firearm magazines; ammunition; and $1,931 in cash.
Photo of evidence seized from the Savannah Street SE apartment.
Photo of the bag of seized suspected fentanyl pills.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. Additional assistance was provided by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia’s Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Washington D.C. comprises agents and officers from numerous federal agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia
The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Del Rio Fugitive Self-Surrenders, Makes Initial Court Appearance in Alien Smuggling CaseRead the Press Release
DEL RIO, Texas – One of the two fugitives indicted for her alleged involvement in an attempted fatal alien smuggling operation that resulted in multiple illegal aliens being found dead inside a shipping container in May is now in custody, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Karina Garcia, 37, of Del Rio, made her initial appearance in federal court Tuesday afternoon in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Watters. Garcia self-surrendered Sunday at a port of entry in Del Rio, following an investigation led by the U.S. Border Patrol Intelligence Division, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Marshals.
Garcia is alleged to have played a key role in the smuggling operation that spanned approximately three years and illegally used cargo trains to smuggle aliens further into the United States after illegally crossing them from Mexico. Each smuggled alien, or their families and friends, paid smugglers in Honduras, Mexico, the United States, and elsewhere between $1,500 and $10,000.
Garcia was indicted in July and charged with one count of conspiracy to transport illegal aliens resulting in death and one count of aiding and abetting transport of illegal aliens resulting in death. If convicted, Garcia will face up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Eight other defendants were arrested over a multi-day Homeland Security Task Force operation across central and south Texas last month. Mayra Alejandra Huerta was arrested in Del Rio on May 12. Seferino Huerta-Casillas is now the only indicted co-defendant still at large.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Spears, Todd Keagle, and Ashley Ellis-Dotson are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers from FBI; ICE HSI; DEA; ATF; U.S. Border Patrol; USMS; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Texas Department of Public Safety; as well as local police departments and sheriff’s offices, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
The law enforcement efforts announced today were coordinated and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). JTFA also leads and supports U.S. Attorneys’ Offices (USAOs) in the prosecution of crimes related to unaccompanied alien children (UACs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and CBP/USBP and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 477 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 431 U.S. convictions; and more than 370 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Danville Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Multiple Drug Charges, Including Drug-Induced HomicideRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Danville, Illinois, man, Marcus “Slim” McKinney, 50, was sentenced on August 14, 2026, to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on three drug trafficking charges, including his involvement in a drug conspiracy that resulted in the overdose death of Maggie Avelar on August 19, 2023, and the overdose of another victim who suffered serious bodily harm on April 15, 2023. McKinney was also sentenced to forty years of imprisonment on another drug trafficking charge and twenty years of imprisonment on separate charges for maintaining drug-involved premises, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.
At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce, the judge considered evidence from McKinney’s November 2025 jury trial showing that McKinney was released by the federal Bureau of Prisons to an address on South State Street in Danville, Illinois, on April 6, 2023, on conditions of home confinement, including location monitoring with an ankle monitor. From that date until his arrest in Springfield, Illinois, on June 26, 2024, McKinney conspired with others to distribute crystal methamphetamine (“ice”), cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, including exchanging the drugs with women for sex. The jury found that over the weekend of April 15, 2023, McKinney distributed an opioid to a woman who overdosed and would have died if not treated with Narcan, an opioid reversal agent, by the Danville Fire Department and paramedics with Arrow Ambulance. McKinney had falsely told the woman the substance only contained cocaine. The trial evidence showed that same weekend three other people overdosed on drugs provided by McKinney, including another fatal overdose. McKinney continued using the South State Street residence for the use and distribution of illegal drugs until he moved to Kentucky Avenue in Danville later that summer.
The trial evidence further established that McKinney used the premises on Kentucky Avenue to continue his ongoing drug conspiracy, including using and distributing drugs from the residence. The trial jury found that on August 19, 2023, McKinney distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl – a mixture McKinney referred to as a “Hot Shot” – to Avelar, resulting in her death at the Kentucky Avenue home. The next morning, McKinney and his brother, James “Brownski” Young, engaged in obstruction of justice by lying to the Danville Police Department about the circumstances surrounding Avelar’s death to attempt to avoid law enforcement learning about McKinney’s true involvement in the overdose. A DVR surveillance system seized from the residence and played at trial showed McKinney and Young discussing their plan to mislead the police and then their subsequent lies. Young was previously sentenced to 68 months of imprisonment for obstruction of justice, as well as his own drug trafficking activities.
In September of 2023, the Bureau of Prisons required McKinney to go to a halfway house located in Springfield, Illinois, due to violations of his conditions of home confinement in Danville. McKinney continued his drug distribution conspiracy in Springfield, including distributing over one pound of methamphetamine to a Drug Enforcement Administration confidential source on June 20, 2024. Six days later, DEA agents seized over two pounds of methamphetamine and over five kilograms of cocaine from storage lockers in Springfield that McKinney had opened under the confidential source’s name. The jury further found that McKinney engaged in witness tampering in January of 2025 while his federal charges were pending, when he wrote a letter to a potential witness urging her to contact McKinney’s attorney and falsely say that other witnesses were lying about McKinney’s drug activities and were trying to get her to lie as well.
At Friday’s sentencing hearing, Maggie Avelar’s sister addressed McKinney, telling him “You robbed [Maggie’s’s] parents of their daughter, her siblings of their sister, her nieces and nephews of their aunt, and most importantly, you robbed her son of his mother. . . . She was the person I looked up to as a little girl – the one who brushed my hair, cooked me dinner, and comforted me when I needed it most. She was a loving mother to the luckiest boy, a boy who has been robbed of the honor of having his mother here today.”
In requesting a life sentence, the United States stressed that McKinney had five prior felony drug trafficking convictions, including two prior federal convictions, and that McKinney was still completing a previously imposed eight-year federal drug trafficking sentence and wearing an ankle location monitor when he committed these numerous crimes, which resulted in multiple overdoses, including the death of Avelar. The United States also argued that McKinney had never apologized to or expressed remorse for all the people his crimes had hurt.
At sentencing, Judge Bruce overruled McKinney’s objection to the mandatory life sentence, finding that he was required to impose a life sentence based on McKinney’s drug conspiracy conviction, his prior felony drug offenses, and the jury findings that McKinney distributed drugs that resulted in serious bodily injury and death. In imposing three life sentences for three of McKinney’s drug trafficking convictions, Judge Bruce noted that McKinney’s conduct showed that he “doesn’t care” about his crimes or the people he hurt.
“Opioids, such as heroin and fentanyl, pose an extreme peril to human life. The defendant’s distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine secretly mixed with fentanyl resulted in multiple overdose deaths and shows a chilling disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “Our office is dedicated to pursing justice for victims of drug trafficking and to protecting our communities from those, like the defendant, who seek to sow harm. We are grateful to our federal and local law enforcement partners for their invaluable work on this case.”
“Marcus McKinney turned addiction into a business model and human life into collateral damage,” said Homeland Security Investigations Chicago Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino. “Even while under federal supervision, he pushed poison into our communities, left victims and families devastated, and then tried to obstruct justice. HSI and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue those who profit from addiction, violence, and death, and we will not stop until they are held accountable.”
The case investigation was conducted by the Danville Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; the Illinois State Police; the Springfield Police Department; and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the United States at trial and sentencing.
Dallas, Texas, Man Sentenced to over 10 Years in Federal Prison Following Conviction for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Dallas, Texas, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on August 14, 2026.
Gerardo Escobar Balderas, 38, was sentenced to concurrent federal prison sentences of 10 years and one month on the conspiracy and money laundering charges, followed by four years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Escobar Balderas was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in April 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 1, 2026.
Escobar Balderas was involved in a cocaine conspiracy that spanned from Texas to Rapid City. He was based in Texas and sent cocaine through the mail to an individual in Rapid City. The cocaine was then distributed by multiple people in Rapid City and money was sent to Escobar through electronic cash transfers. Investigators believe Escobar distributed approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine to individuals in Rapid City while he was involved in the conspiracy.
Escobar Balderas was the last of eight defendants sentenced in the conspiracy. Omar Ornelas received 15 years; Larissa Ross received 20 months; Tyler Eagle Elk received 30 months; Jeffrey Cooley received 30 months; Kiana Pilcher received 35 months; A’Aliyah Leclaire received 12 months and one day; and Sesalie Red Owl received 24 months.
This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case.
Escobar Balderas was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas and Sentencings in Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) Prosecutions (August 10 through August 14, 2026)Read the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico, Héctor Ramírez-Carbó, Acting United States Attorney, in conjunction with our partner agencies in the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) announce the following prosecutorial results for the week of August 10 through August 14, 2026. The HSTF is a permanent, interagency law enforcement task force created by executive order to combat transnational criminal organizations—including cartels, trafficking networks, and foreign terrorist organizations.
Convictions through Guilty Pleas:
- On August 11, 2026, Rayner Corredera-Luis pleaded guilty to violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h) in Criminal Case 25-397. According to the indictment, the defendant was charged with conspiring to launder money. Defendant was arrested on October 9, 2025. The court set defendant’s sentencing date for November 13, 2026. SAUSA Cody A. McKinney is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 12, 2026, Jorge Siberón-Flusa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute four hundred (400) grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, a Schedule II Narcotic Drug Controlled Substance all in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) & (b)(1)(A)(vi), and 846. Defendant was arrested on August 1, 2024. The court set the defendant’s sentencing date for November 10, 2026. SAUSA Edwin Cabán Jr. is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
Sentencings:
- On August 10, 2026, Reinaldo Kidany Carrasquillo-Rodríguez was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón to the time already served and supervised release of 3 years for a drug-trafficking violation. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 7, 2023, in Criminal Case 23-332 (ADC), and pleaded guilty on May 29, 2024. AUSA Antonio Pérez is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 12, 2026, Ramón Antonio Vega-Ortiz was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón to a term of 120 months (10 years) imprisonment and a supervised release term of five years for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine in excess of 450 kilograms of cocaine and conspiracy to launder in monetary instruments. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on September 23, 2021, in Criminal case 21-350 (ADC), and pleaded guilty to the charge(s) on July 14, 2023. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 13, 2026, Juan L. Tereforte-Bello, a.k.a. “Tostin” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to seven (7) years and three (3) months in prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 13, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 13, 2026, Eduardo A. Tolentino-Meléndez was sentenced by United States District Court Judge María Antongiorgi-Jordán to five (5) years in prison for his participation in a drug trafficking organization that worked out of various Public Housing Projects in the Carolina and San Juan areas, principally the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project. According to court documents, defendant was indicted on December 5, 2024, in Criminal Case 24-453 (MAJ), and pleaded guilty on May 13, 2026. AUSAs Laura Díaz González and Joseph Russell are in charge of the prosecution of the case.
- On August 13, 2026, José Francisco De La Cruz-Díaz was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach to a term of 120 months imprisonment and a supervised release term of five years concurrent to each count of conviction in Criminal case 22-234 (RAM). According to court documents, defendant was indicted on February 19, 2025, and pleaded guilty to all charges on April 22, 2026. AUSA Luis A. Valentín is in charge of the prosecution of the case.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.
HSTF San Juan comprises agents and officers from the following federal partners: FBI, ICE-HSI, CBP (OFO, AMO and Border Patrol), the U.S. Marshals Service for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State, and the U.S. Secret Service, the Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands HIDTA, TSA, FAA, and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The HSTF also has the following state and local law enforcement partners as participating agencies: the Puerto Rico Police Department; the San Juan, Carolina, Guaynabo, Barceloneta, and Ponce Municipal Police Departments, the Puerto Rico National Guard – Counter Drug Program; the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Service (Hacienda); the Puerto Rico Port Authority; and the Virgin Islands Police Department.
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Convicted Felon Charged with Threatening Judge and DA's Office Handling Apalachee High Mass Shooting CaseRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Brandon Dontrail Scroggins, a convicted felon, faces federal charges in the Northern District of Georgia after allegedly threatening Barrow County Superior Court Judge Nicholas Primm and the Barrow County District Attorney’s Office on the sentencing day for Colin Gray, the father of Apalachee High School mass shooter Colt Gray.
“Scroggins allegedly threatened violence against the prosecutors and judge who were tasked with meting out justice for individuals responsible for the horrific mass shooting that claimed four innocent lives at Apalachee High School,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Public servants deserve to work free of intimidation, and anyone who threatens to harm them will be prosecuted.”
“Our justice system depends on the ability of prosecutors and judges to make their decisions based on the law, and not on fear,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI has zero tolerance for those trying to intimidate public servants from doing their jobs.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented to the court: On the morning of July 30, 2026, in the Superior Court of Barrow County, Judge Nicholas Primm presided over the sentencing hearing for Colin Gray, the father of the perpetrator of the September 4, 2024 Apalachee High School shooting. Gray’s son, Colin Cray, killed four people and injured nine in the deadliest act of school violence in Georgia’s history. Scroggins allegedly called the Barrow County District Attorney’s Office and informed the receptionist that he was coming to “take out” Barrow County because of purported injustice. Shortly thereafter, Scroggins called the district attorney’s office again and left a voicemail threatening to travel to Georgia and harm the office’s employees and their children.
A minute later, Scroggins allegedly called Judge Primm’s chambers and left a voicemail stating that “a death date just came up for Nicholas Primm.” In the voicemail, Scroggins allegedly warned Judge Primm’s assistant to separate herself from Judge Primm because Judge Primm and “everything he love[s]” is “dead.”
On August 7, 2026, Brandon Dontrail Scroggins, 39, of Abilene, Texas, was charged in a criminal complaint with transmitting interstate communications containing threats to injure another person. Scroggins also faces federal charges in the Middle District of Alabama for allegedly threatening a federal judge, and he faces state charges in Texas related to harassing phone calls.
Scroggins is being held in the custody of the United States Marshals Service in Texas awaiting transport for further proceedings in the Middle District of Alabama and Northern District of Georgia.
Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Smith is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods and Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
City Man Pleads Guilty to Gunpoint Carjacking, Assaulting Correctional Officers and Possessing Contraband at Federal Detention Center PhiladelphiaRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Basir Blow, 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty before United States District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro on Tuesday to charges in two cases: a violent 2025 carjacking and a physical assault on correctional officers earlier this year.
As detailed in court filings, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence, arising from an April 3, 2025, carjacking in West Philadelphia in which he pistol-whipped the victim with a loaded handgun and stole their 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Shortly after the victim called 911 to report the crime, a marked Philadelphia Police Department (“PPD”) unit observed a Jeep in the area consistent with the description of the carjacked vehicle. As police followed the Jeep and attempted to pull the vehicle over, Blow drove the Jeep at a high rate of speed, disregarding the PPD car’s lights and sirens. At the intersection of Girard and Lancaster Avenues, approximately two and a half miles away from the carjacking scene, the defendant crashed the Jeep into a pole and was taken into custody.
In the second case, Blow admitted to assaulting two correctional officers with a dangerous weapon, inflicting bodily injury, while the officers were performing their official duties at the Federal Detention Center Philadelphia (“FDC Philadelphia”), where Blow was detained pending resolution of the carjacking matter.
In addition to the two assault counts, Blow pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited object intended to be used as a dangerous weapon while a federal inmate, possessing a prohibited cell phone while a federal inmate, and knowingly destroying a cellular phone with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation and proper administration of a matter within the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
As detailed in court filings and statements, on March 24 of this year, at approximately 8:24 p.m., a correctional officer at FDC Philadelphia was conducting routine cell checks when he observed the defendant and his cellmate using a contraband cell phone. After the correctional officer ordered the inmates to surrender the phone, both inmates refused and Blow’s cellmate approached the officer and told him that the officer was not going to get the phone.
FDC surveillance footage shows that the defendant’s cellmate then used his body to prevent the officer from reaching the defendant. This allowed Blow to evade the officer, break the cell phone, and walk into the common area next to his cell.
FDC surveillance footage then shows that, after the officer pursued the defendant into the common area and continued his attempts to take the cell phone, Blow punched the officer in the head and upper body numerous times before taking the officer’s pepper spray and spraying the officer in the face at close proximity. As a second correctional officer came to assist, Blow sprayed that officer in the face as well. Additional officers then arrived on the scene and were able to subdue the defendant.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on December 21.
He faces a maximum possible term of 66 years in prison and three years of supervised release in the FDC Philadelphia case, which was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Fischer.
Blow faces a maximum possible term of life imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison, and five years of supervised release in the carjacking case, which was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meghan A. Farley.
Chinese National Charged with Voter Fraud in MassachusettsRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Chinese national residing in Andover, Mass. was arrested today for submitting a fraudulent voter registration and ballot in the 2024 presidential election in the name of another Chinese national. The defendant also allegedly submitted two fraudulent immigration forms on behalf of the victim, a Chinese national, and his wife, resulting in the confiscation of their Green Cards and causing them to enter into removal proceedings.
Yupeng Sun, 33, was charged with one count of fraudulent voter registration and one count of fraudulent voting. Sun will appear in federal court in Boston for an initial appearance today at 2:00 p.m.
According to court filings, on Oct. 10, 2024, Sun allegedly submitted an online voter registration through the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website impersonating another Chinese national residing in Massachusetts with legal permanent resident (“LPR”) status. On Oct. 31, 2024, Sun allegedly continued to impersonate the other Chinese national and submitted an early voting ballot at Malden City Hall for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
After registering to vote and voting, Sun allegedly submitted several anonymous tips in April and May 2026 to Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) stating that the victim “illegally voted in the 2024 U.S. presidential election” and noting that “[h]e is not a U.S. citizen but a permanent resident.”
It is further alleged that Sun impersonated the same Chinese national and his Chinese national wife in fraudulent forms submitted to USCIS in April 2024 requesting to abandon their LPR status. When the couple returned from an international trip in June 2024, they were subjected to secondary inspection at Logan Airport in Boston, had their Green Cards confiscated, and were placed into removal proceedings allegedly as a result of Sun’s submission of fraudulent forms.
The charges of fraudulent registration and fraudulent voting each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Lexington Police Department and the Andover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
sun_-_complaint.pdf
Cherry Creek Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting His Intimate Partner and Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons, announced today that U.S. District Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Cherry Creek, South Dakota man convicted of Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury to an Intimate Partner and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 17, 2026.
Tiger Condon, age 31, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of his firearm and ammunition was also ordered.
Condon was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026.
The convictions stem from incidents that occurred in November 2024 in Dewey County, South Dakota, in the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. On November 1, 2024, Condon, who had been in a long-term relationship with the victim, arrived at her residence in Eagle Butte. Condon kicked in the door of the residence and began to assault the victim by hitting her in the face multiple times, causing one of her eyes to swell shut. Condon was arrested tribally but after bonding out of jail, he arrived back at the residence with a pistol. Condon had been previously convicted of a felony drug charge in the State of South Dakota and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.
This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case.
This matter is being 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.
Condon was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Cedar Rapids Felon with Gun Sent to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A felon who possessed a gun in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.
Cody Michael Adkins, age 25, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an April 1, 2026, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Information at sentencing showed that in March 2025 in Cedar Rapids, officers stopped a car that Adkins was driving. Adkins had a suspended driver’s license. Officers smelled the odor of marijuana and searched the car. They found a loaded gun under the front passenger seat. Adkins’s thumbprint was on the magazine that was inserted into the gun, and his DNA was on the slide of the gun. When law enforcement officers first attempted to arrest Adkins, he fled. Officers found and arrested him approximately one month later.
Adkins was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Adkins was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Adkins is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
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.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 26-CR-1. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Beeville man sentenced for meth trafficking following high-speed pursuitRead the Press Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 39-year-old man has been ordered to prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of meth.
William Wilson III pleaded guilty May 19.
U.S. District Judge David Morales ordered Wilson to serve 90 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release.
On Jan. 9, authorities observed Wilson traveling on a motorcycle at 96 mph in a 75 mph zone. They activated their emergency lights, prompting Wilson to move into the right lane. However, Wilson failed to stop and led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit.
The pursuit continued until Wilson lost control of the motorcycle and crashed near the San Patricio-Bee County line.
While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, authorities discovered a fully loaded pistol in Wilson’s jacket pocket.
Authorities subsequently searched Wilson’s backpack and discovered 48.6 grams of meth and two fully loaded .38-caliber magazines. Law enforcement also discovered approximately 3.43 grams of meth in his front pants pocket.
He remains in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from Texas DPS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yasmine K. Tucker prosecuted the case.
Baltimore Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Murder During a Violent Drug-Related Robbery in QueensRead the Press Release
Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Marcus Pittman, also known as “Nacho” and “Cheese,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 27 years in prison for causing death through use of a firearm, in connection with his participation in an armed robbery and kidnapping of two marijuana dealers in Queens, New York, during which Marcus Pittman murdered one of the dealers. Marcus Pittman pleaded guilty to the charge in December 2025.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.
“Today, the defendant was held accountable for an execution-style, drug-related killing that he carried out in our community,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Marcus Pittman was the trigger man of a robbery crew that traveled to our district for the purpose of kidnapping and robbing marijuana dealers. His sentence affirms that gun violence will be severely punished.”
“Marcus Pittman's drug-related violence took a life, and this kind of criminal conduct will never be tolerated,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. “The FBI is resolute in pursuing those responsible for this type of harm in our communities. We will continue to dismantle the networks that fuel this brutality and ensure individuals who commit these acts are brought to justice.”
“As the defendants’ pleas confirm, Marcus Pittman and his co-defendants traveled across state lines to carry out a violent robbery, kidnapped two marijuana dealers, and murdered one of them in cold blood,” stated NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Today’s sentencing is yet another reminder that the NYPD will continue to find, stop, and hold accountable those who drive violence in our city. I thank our investigators and law enforcement partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their diligent work on this case."
As set forth in the government’s sentencing memorandum, prior court filings, and statements during the sentencing, during the night of July 24, 2024 and into July 25, 2024, Marcus Pittman and his co-defendants carried out a violent armed robbery and kidnapping plot that resulted in the defendant shooting and killing John Doe #1 inside of a U-Haul van in Bayside, Queens. Marcus Pittman and his co-defendants drove from Maryland to New York City for the purpose of robbing John Doe #1 and John Doe #2, who were both drug dealers. Once in New York, co-defendants Jerome Waters and William Barnett met with John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 at a stash house in Queens under the guise of purchasing marijuana.
Moments later, Waters and Barnett pulled out their weapons and held up John Doe #1 and John Doe #2. They brought Marcus Pittman and his brother Delonta Pittman into the stash house to assist in the robbery and kidnapping. While in the stash house, Marcus Pittman and his co-defendants restrained John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 with zip ties and forced them outside and into the back of a Jeep and a U-Haul van. At the same time, Marcus Pittman and his co-defendants stole approximately 30 pounds of marijuana from the stash house.
Marcus Pittman’s co-defendants drove John Doe #1 and John Doe #2, who were still restrained, through Queens at gunpoint, demanding drugs and money. Co-defendant Jalon Garrett held a gun to John Doe #2 in one vehicle while Marcus Pittman held John Doe #1 at gunpoint in the back of a U-Haul van. Soon thereafter, while in the Bayside section of Queens, Marcus Pittman and John Doe #1 fought in the in the rear compartment of the U-Haul van. Marcus Pittman shot the victim multiple times, killing him. After the shooting, the defendants returned to Maryland. When John Doe #1’s body was later found by first responders, he still had a zip tie binding one of his hands and was surrounded by bags of marijuana.
For their roles in the crime, Delonta Pittman was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment; Waters to 240 months’ imprisonment; and Garrett to 156 months’ imprisonment. Barnett is awaiting sentencing.
This case was brought as 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Amir and Chand Edwards-Balfour are in charge of the prosecution.
Defendant:
MARCUS PITTMAN (also known as “Nacho” and “Cheese”)
Age: 31
Baltimore, MarylandAdditional Defendants:
DELONTA PITTMAN (also known as “D Lo”)
Age: 32
Baltimore, MarylandJEROME WATERS (also known as “the Engineer” and “Rome”)
Age: 24
Baltimore, MarylandWILLIAM BARNETT
Age: 28
Baltimore, MarylandJALON LENNY GARRETT
Age: 21
Baltimore, MarylandE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-413 (S-2) (KAM)
Baltimore Man Sentenced for Drug-Trafficking and Firearm Possession ChargesRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man received a federal-prison sentence, today, for drug-trafficking and firearm crimes, stemming from a local drug-trafficking investigation.
U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher sentenced Dwone Bryant, 29, to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
According to evidence presented at trial, on November 6, 2023, law-enforcement agents used a surveillance camera to monitor the 200 block of North Eutaw Street near the Lexington Market metro and bus stops. During the surveillance, agents observed Bryant sitting on a bench at the bus stop. While at the bus stop, Bryant engaged in a hand-to-hand drug transaction.
During the transaction, Bryant sold 10 buprenorphine strips (commonly referred to as Suboxone) in exchange for $50. Law enforcement arrested Bryant and recovered a handgun, loaded with nine rounds of live ammunition; 16 additional buprenorphine strips; a schedule III controlled substance; 11 pills containing methamphetamine; a schedule II controlled substance; a small baggie of suspected marijuana; and $166.75. Bryant is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to multiple prior drug-related felonies.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Levin who is prosecuting this federal case.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md.
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Atlanta man sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to child pornography chargesRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: An Atlanta man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty in district court to child pornography charges.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Octavius D’Angelo Sheffield, 26, of Atlanta, was sentenced to 480 months in prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Production of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. Sheffield will also be required to register as a sex offender and pay an assessment to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Fund in the amount of $200.
There is no parole in the federal system.
As described in court documents and testimony, Sheffield had sexual contact with a minor in November 2022 on more than one occasion. During these encounters, the defendant recorded the illegal sexual contact using a cell phone.
The defendant also faced state charges of statutory rape and aggravated assault which were related to the federal charges and pled guilty in December 2024.
“This sentence reflects the extraordinary seriousness of exploiting a minor through production and possession of explicit child sexual abuse material,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This office along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to protecting vulnerable children subject to victimization from offenders like this.”
If you are or have information about victims of child exploitation, contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline at report.cybertip.org or 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
This case was investigated by the FBI, Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherri A. Stephan and Makeia R. Jonese.
Albany Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempting to Receive Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
EUGENE, Ore.— An Albany, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for attempting to receive child sexual abuse material from an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a child online.
Paul Chapple, 62, was sentenced to 102 months in federal prison and a 10-year term of supervised release.
According to court documents, Chapple engaged in sexual chats online with multiple people he thought were girls under the age of 15. One of the “girls” was an undercover agent with the FBI who was posing as a 13-year-old girl. Chapple sent sexual images, discussed driving cross-country to meet, and asked for child sexual abuse images. Chapple used Meet24, with a user profile stating he was 50 years old and displaying his own photograph.
On October 8, 2025, Chapple was charged with using a minor to produce visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct, possession and receipt of child pornography, and enticement of a minor. That day, the FBI searched a shared housing complex where Chapple lived. Chapple possessed several images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material and numerous chats with self-identified minors in which he requested child sexual abuse material. Chapple was arrested and made his first appearance in federal court on October 9, 2025.
On June 17, 2026, Chapple pleaded guilty to attempted receipt of child pornography.
This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren.
Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
Federal law defines child pornography as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a minor. It is important to remember child sexual abuse material depicts actual crimes being committed against children. Not only do these images and videos document the victims’ exploitation and abuse, but when shared across the internet, re-victimize and re-traumatize the child victims each time their abuse is viewed. To learn more, please visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.
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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Alabama Man Charged with Preparing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Alabama returned an indictment today charging an Alabama man with preparing false and fraudulent tax returns for others and filing false and fraudulent tax returns for himself.
“As alleged, Mr. Shine orchestrated a sweeping tax fraud scheme that exploited federal energy‑credit programs and siphoned tens of millions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Tax preparers have a responsibility to help their clients comply with the law—not to misuse the tax system for personal gain. The Justice Department will continue to work closely with the IRS to pursue those who prepare or file knowingly false returns and to protect the integrity of our tax system.”
“The defendant engaged in an alleged scheme to defraud the United States by preparing false tax returns,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr, of the Northern District of Alabama. “With the establishment of the Department’s Fraud Enforcement Division focused on combating fraud, we are strengthening our efforts to investigate and prosecute those who seek to defraud our government. We will use every resource available to hold these individuals accountable and protect the citizens of the Northern District of Alabama.”
“The Michael Shine case is a clear example of how fraud harms honest taxpayers and erodes trust in the system,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman of the IRS Criminal Investigation Atlanta Field Office. “By partnering closely with the Department of Justice’s Fraud Enforcement Division, IRS Criminal Investigation can bring advanced investigative tools and nationwide expertise to bear against schemes that threaten the financial integrity of the United States. This collaboration ensures that individuals who exploit government programs for personal gain are swiftly identified, investigated, and brought to justice. Together, we are protecting American taxpayers, safeguarding public funds, and reinforcing confidence that our institutions will hold fraudsters accountable, no matter the size or complexity of their schemes.”
According to the indictment, between 2021 and 2026, Michael Shine, 55, of Birmingham, owned a tax preparation business named “Shine’s Professional Services.” Shine allegedly prepared or assisted in the preparation of false tax returns for clients. The tax returns allegedly contained false information about whether the clients had qualified geothermal heat pump property costs. As a result of this allegedly false information, the clients received tax refunds that they were not entitled to receive. Shine allegedly changed and continued with his scheme after the IRS executed a search warrant at his tax preparation business.
Shine also allegedly filed false and fraudulent personal income tax returns for himself. These returns allegedly underreported Shine’s income from his tax preparation business, among other falsities.
Shine and his business allegedly filed tax returns claiming tax refunds totaling more than $70 million, of which $65 million was paid out. Agents believe that the vast majority of these refunds were predicated on false returns.
Shine is charged with 30 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and three counts of filing a false tax return. If convicted, Shine faces up to three years in prison for each false return count.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. for the Northern District of Alabama made the announcement.
Trial Attorney Isaiah Boyd III of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Allison Garnett are prosecuting the case.
This indictment follows a federal complaint where Shine was arrested for the same conduct. A federal criminal complaint is a sworn, preliminary charge filed by a prosecutor and a law enforcement officer seeking an arrest warrant. After a complaint, the federal grand jury considers the evidence and, if it finds probable cause, indicts on the formal felony charge. A complaint and an indictment are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
764 Extremist Group Member Sentenced to 77 Years in Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Distribution of Animal Crushing VideosRead the Press Release
Kyle William Spitze, 27, of Friendsville, TN was sentenced today to 77 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), abetting the distribution of animal crushing videos, and possessing and accessing with the intent to view CSAM. Following his imprisonment, he was also sentenced to lifetime supervised release and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions.
“The Department has pledged to take out online predator networks and today’s sentence is one step toward justice for the families and children harmed by 764,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “These types of crimes are the worst of the worst: preying on vulnerable children in the name of a violent and twisted ideology. Federal law enforcement will not stop until nihilistic violent extremist groups and their depraved members are identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Today’s sentencing sends a strong message that this FBI and our Department of Justice partners will relentlessly hold accountable any individual who preys on children,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “As we’ve made clear from the beginning: this FBI is laser focused on identifying, locating, and arresting any participants in Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) networks – and we have dedicated personnel across all 50 states working on these high priority investigations. We arrested 500% more NVE offenders with our partners last year for a reason – because we have a renewed mission to bring these predators to justice, and that’s exactly what we’ll do. I want to thank our FBI Nashville Field Office and the Knoxville Resident Agency who pursued this case and succeeded in bringing justice to the victims and their families.”
“Spitze is one of the original members of the nihilistic violent extremist groups ‘Harm Nation’ and ‘764,’ and was committed to bringing about the downfall of society through terrorism, specifically by targeting children and other vulnerable people and extorting them to engage in criminal sexual conduct, self-harm, and mass casualty events,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Today’s sentence of 77 years, the longest federal sentence ever imposed on a nihilistic violent extremist, sends a strong message that civil society will not tolerate such depravity. The National Security Division will work tirelessly with our law-enforcement partners to identify and prosecute these predators and keep our children safe from this new form of terrorism.”
“This sentence reflects the abhorrent nature of the defendant’s crimes, which targeted impressionable children and caused unimaginable harm,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “NVE members and leaders are a threat to our communities, and our office is committed to prosecuting those individuals to the fullest extent.”
“Employing and pressuring children, among the most vulnerable members of our society, to produce sexually explicit and harmful material is unconscionable,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI, alongside our local, state, and federal partners, will relentlessly pursue those associated with Nihilistic Violent Extremism networks who target and exploit children. We will use every lawful tool available to disrupt and dismantle these networks, prevent the spread of their depraved ideology, and protect children from further harm.”
Spitze, also known as “Crimhn,” “Criminal,” and “Criminaloli,” was a member of the NVE group “764,” and an administrator of the 764 network “HarmNation.” NVE groups such as 764 and HarmNation use online social media platforms to produce and distribute extreme gore media and child sexual abuse material depicting vulnerable, juvenile populations; often conducting group, coordinated extortion of under-aged victims to comply with the groups’ depraved and perverse demands.
In December of 2023, the FBI started looking into tips that HarmNation members were distributing child sexual abuse material. Spitze was identified as one of those members and found to have hosted a social media channel where he uploaded images and videos of nude minor girls who had self-mutilated with cuts and gashes, with variations of Spitze’s “Crim” or “Criminal” monikers written in blood on themselves or carved into their bodies. The channel also hosted images of animal mutilation, with a variation of “Crim” written in the images.
In February of 2024, investigators obtained a search warrant for Spitze’s cellphone, which contained similar images and videos, particularly of two minor victims, one of which had written “crim” on her chest scrawled in her own blood. The minor victim later admitted to FBI that she was threatened by Spitze to produce the images for him to upload on a separate social media channel. Spitze admitted to investigators that he had a terrorist motive in committing his crimes.
Spitze pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child sexual exploitation material, one count of abetting the distribution of animal crushing videos, and one count of possessing and accessing with the intent to view child sexual exploitation material.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kolman for the Eastern District of Tennessee prosecuted the case. Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly for the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section provided assistance.
The Justice Department remains vigilant against the threat of NVE networks like 764 that operate within the United States and around the globe. NVEs often target vulnerable individuals, including minors, using social media platforms to share CSAM and gore material, and groom victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims are often extorted, coerced, compelled, and blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, including self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For more information on how to protect children and others, read about the online risks here: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/parents-and-caregivers-protecting-your-kids and the FBI’s March 2025 public service announcement.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click the tab "resources.”
18 August 2026
Wyoming U.S. Attorney’s Office and Department of Justice work to ensure election integrityRead the Press Release
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming, in coordination with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, is monitoring polling sites in Wyoming to ensure transparency, ballot security, and strict compliance with federal voting rights statutes.
“Voters deserve absolute confidence that their ballots are secure and their voices are heard without interference,” Wyoming’s U.S. Attorney Darin Smith said. “We are working alongside local officials to ensure every lawful vote is protected.”
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces various federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.
Justice Department personnel are available to assist the public. You can submit questions, complaints, or federal election monitoring requests directly to the Voting Section at VEM@usdoj.gov.
Wilmington Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty to Possession of Two Firearms as a FelonRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. (August 14, 2026) – A Wilmington man pleaded guilty on August 14, 2026 to illegally possessing two firearms as a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall accepted the plea.
According to court documents, Randy Wright, 44, was caught with distribution quantities of marijuana, cocaine, and fentanyl during a vehicle stop in October 2024. A subsequent search of his apartment revealed a tight crawlspace adjacent to Wright’s bedroom, inside of which investigators found additional fentanyl, a loaded Springfield XD9 9mm semi-automatic handgun, and a loaded Taurus PT945 .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun. Wright admitted to possessing both firearms in furtherance of his drug-trafficking activities. He committed this offense after previously sustaining multiple drug-related felony convictions in the State of Delaware.
“Randy Wright is an admitted drug dealer with a concerning criminal history who introduced deadly drugs to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “Drug traffickers who arm themselves present an even greater danger. Together with ATF and the Wilmington Police Department, my office will continue to do its part to stop armed drug traffickers from harming the people of Delaware.”
"On a daily basis, our police officers work to remove illegal guns and drugs from our city streets, and our strong partnerships with the ATF and the United States Attorney's Office help to ensure that dangerous offenders are held accountable," said Wilmington Police Chief Wilfredo Campos. "We hope that this case, and the federal prison sentence that will follow for this offender, will continue to send the message that gun and drug crimes will not be tolerated."
Wright pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm as a prohibited person. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for December 10, 2026.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Wilmington Police Department investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-4-JLH.
West Monroe Man Convicted on Multiple Federal Drug and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
MONROE – On August 11, 2026, a federal jury found Donald Kelly, 44, of West Monroe, guilty of Distribution of Methamphetamine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine; Possession of Firearms by a Prohibited Person; and Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime after a two-day trial. Kelly faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for November 10, 2026.
According to court records, Kelly had a prior federal Possession with Intent to Distribute crack cocaine conviction. Evidence presented at trial showed that Kelly was a Monroe-area drug trafficker who sold 112 grams of meth to a confidential source in an undercover buy. The day after the buy, agents executed a search warrant on Kelly’s residence, where they found two baggies of Methamphetamine floating in the toilet as well as two handguns and $23,700 in cash. Kelly claimed that he was a user, not a seller, despite the fact that he had no pipes or syringes in his residence.
Prosecutors anticipated that Kelly would attempt to make an entrapment defense; they asked the court before trial to require the defense to present evidence supporting that claim. The Court granted the motion, eliminating Kelly’s use of that defense due to his inability to provide any basis for it.U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Metro Narcotics Unit of Ouachita Parish, the Monroe Police Department (MPD), and Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) investigated this case.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Gaskins and Amy Miller with assistance from Legal Assistants Emily Favrot, Stephanie Stewart, and Amanda Morgan.
This prosecution was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is 3:25‑cr‑00082‑01.
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CONTACT:
Public Affairs: USALAW-News@usdoj.gov
United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
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(337) 262-6704Waterbury Man Charged with Fentanyl Distribution and Gun Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that TREVON SEYMORE, 32, of Waterbury, has been charged by indictment with fentanyl distribution and firearm possession offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in March and April 2026, members of the DEA New Haven District Office (NHDO) Task Force made controlled purchases of fentanyl from Seymore and an associate. On July 22, 2026, investigators executed search warrants at multiple locations, including a residence on Wolcott Street in Bristol where Seymore was staying, and his vehicle. A search of Seymore’s vehicle revealed approximately 2,090 wax paper folds containing fentanyl, and a loaded .40 caliber Glock 22 pistol with an obliterated serial number.
Seymore was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on July 22, 2026. On August 4, 2026, a grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging Seymore with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years.
Seymore appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He is released on a $150,000 bond pending trial.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The NHDO Task Force includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police, and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Lembo and Nathan Guevremont.
Vestal Company and Owner to Pay $130,000 to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – M Squared Staffing LLC, the former operator of the Vestal Coal House in Vestal, New York, and its owner, Mark Mushalla, will pay $130,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying that the restaurant was eligible to receive funding from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).
“The Restaurant Revitalization Fund was created to support certain small businesses facing the economic hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “By falsely certifying that a permanently closed restaurant was eligible for funding, Mark Mushalla caused his company to obtain funds for which it was not eligible and undermined the integrity of this critical relief program. Our office remains committed to enforcing the False Claims Act and holding accountable those who misrepresent their eligibility for federal funding.”
Congress enacted the American Rescue Plan Act in March 2021, as a continuation of the federal government’s efforts to provide relief to American individuals and businesses suffering the economic and public health effects of the pandemic. The Act allocated $28.6 billion to the RRF, which allowed the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) to award grants to qualifying restaurants and other eligible entities based on pandemic-related revenue losses. Businesses that were permanently closed were not eligible for RRF funding.
M Squared operated a café and events center at the Vestal Coal House, located at 204 Stage Road in Vestal, New York, pursuant to a license agreement with the Town of Vestal. The license agreement expired on December 31, 2020. After the license agreement expired, M Squared vacated the Coal House location and removed the restaurant equipment from the premises.
As part of the settlement agreement, M Squared and Mushalla admitted that the Vestal Coal House had permanently closed before M Squared applied for RRF funding. On May 4, 2021, M Squared applied to SBA for an RRF grant on behalf of the business identified in the application as “M Squared Staffing LLC, doing business as Vestal Coal House.” Mushalla completed and signed the application on behalf of M Squared.
The application specifically asked whether the applicant’s business was permanently closed and instructed applicants to answer “No” only if the business was temporarily closed or actively working on opening. M Squared, through Mushalla, falsely answered “No.” Although M Squared remained a legal entity, the Vestal Coal House had permanently ceased operations and was not eligible to receive an RRF grant.
Based on the admitted facts, the United States contends that M Squared and Mushalla knowingly caused false claims to be made to SBA and knowingly made false statements material to false claims paid by SBA by falsely certifying that the applicant business had not permanently closed and was eligible to receive an RRF grant.
This matter arose from a qui tam complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. The False Claims Act allows private individuals to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in any recovery. Under the settlement agreement, the relator will receive $13,000. The settlement is captioned United States ex rel. Howitt v. M Squared, et al., No. 5:24-cv-0262 (N.D.N.Y.).
The investigation and resolution of this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, SBA Office of Inspector General, and SBA Office of General Counsel. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam J. Katz and Christopher R. Moran.
Ute Mountain Ute “Medicine Man” Sentenced to Life in Prison After Multiple Sex Assault ConvictionsRead the Press Release
DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Lyndreth Hemp Wall, 60, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted on 15 counts of sexual abuse in Indian Country and abusive sexual contact in Indian Country. Wall’s crimes involved five victims, including a minor.
According to the facts established at trial, Wall held himself out as a traditional Native American healer, sometimes referred to as a “medicine man.” Wall was elected to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council in 2020 and is a former school board member in Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1. Over the course of at least the past dozen years, Wall sexually exploited multiple women on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation under the guise of spiritual treatment. Wall created an elaborate ruse by using traditional elements of Ute healing to trick his victims into believing his actions were part of a healing ceremony. During his “ceremonies,” Wall isolated victims alone and touched them sexually for his own gratification. Wall told multiple victims that, if they told anyone about his sexual touching, the healing would not work.
Over the course of trial, the jury heard from the five women who alleged that Wall had committed sexual abuse in Towaoc, Colorado. The jury returned guilty verdicts for abuse of all five women charged in the indictment. The jury also heard from a sixth woman who alleged Wall had sexually assaulted her in Alamosa and Lone Tree in 2020 and 2021 under a rule of evidence that permits evidence of other sexual assaults.
“Claiming you are a spiritual healer and then using that position of power to sexually abuse people who come to you for help is an abhorrent crime,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “The Department of Justice will work relentlessly to take predators out of our tribal communities and put them behind bars.”
“Female tribal members came to this defendant for spiritual healing. They trusted him to help them in the ways of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, of which he was a leader. Instead of helping them, he took advantage of them, a sickening betrayal that has lasting implications for the survivors of his sexual assaults,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski. “The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate sexual assaults on tribal lands to identify and remove perpetrators like this one, who now faces the consequence of his treachery.”
Wall also faces two separate allegations of sexual assault in Colorado state court. The charges in those pending cases are only allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing.
The FBI Office in Durango, Colorado, handled the investigation, with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Towaoc, Colorado.
Assistant United States Attorneys R. Josh Player and Jeffrey K. Graves handled the prosecution.
Case Number: 1:24-cr-00003-GPG-JMC
United States and State of Illinois File Complaint in Intervention in False Claims Act Lawsuit Against Chicago-Area Medical Practice and Billing Company for Allegedly Submitting Fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid ClaimsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The United States and the State of Illinois have filed a joint complaint in intervention alleging that a Chicago-area medical practice and billing company knowingly submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid and Medicare, resulting in the payment of more than $5.2 million in false claims.
The government’s complaint alleges that FOOT & ANKLE HEALTH CARE CENTER, LTD., EUROPEAN FOOT & ANKLE SURGICAL CARE, LTD., their owner, DR. VADIM GOSHKO, and the billing companies, ATLANTIC WAVE HOLDINGS, LLC and ATLANTIC WAVE II, LLC, knowingly submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for podiatry services performed by Dr. Goshko after he had already been terminated from the Medicaid program. Because Illinois Medicaid was no longer paying Dr. Goshko’s claims, the defendants allegedly worked together to submit claims that listed other physicians as having provided the podiatry services that were actually performed by Dr. Goshko. Although Dr. Goshko and other defendants had an affirmative obligation to inform Medicare of his exclusion from Medicaid, the complaint alleges that they failed to do so. Medicare eventually revoked Dr. Goshko’s privileges after learning of his Medicaid exclusion.
As a result of the fraud, the United States and the State of Illinois, through the Medicare and Medicaid programs, paid the defendants more than $5.2 million in federal and state monies to which the defendants were not entitled, the complaint states.
The government’s complaint was filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The government had previously notified the Court that it was intervening in a lawsuit filed by PayrHealth, LLC, which had acquired the billing company in December 2020, under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. After acquiring the billing company, PayrHealth discovered the Goshko entities’ fraudulent conduct, terminated them as clients, and notified the government of the alleged fraud. The government’s complaint seeks treble damages and civil penalties under the federal False Claims Act, the Illinois False Claims Act, and common law claims for payments by mistake and unjust enrichment.
The lawsuit was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Kwame Raoul, Illinois Attorney General; Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI; and Mario Pinto, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie R. Raedy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Deputy Chief Melissa Guske of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
The False Claims Act permits private individuals to sue for false claims on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The Act allows the government to intervene or take over the lawsuit, as it has done in this case, and to recover three times its damages plus civil penalties ranging from $5,500 to $11,000 for each false claim. Medicaid is a state-administered program, and each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services. For Illinois Medicaid recipients, funding is shared between the federal government and the State of Illinois.
The case is captioned as United States and State of Illinois, ex rel. PayrHealth v. Foot Ankle, et al., No. 21 C 2536 (N.D. Ill.). The public is reminded that civil allegations are only accusations, and there has been no determination of liability. In a civil case, the government has the burden of proving the allegations by a preponderance of the evidence.
dkt._54_-_joint_complaint_in_intervention_-_us_and_il_ex_rel_payrhealth_v._foot_and_ankle.pdfU.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Marshals Service Announce More than 600 Arrests in Northern Ohio Violent Crime CrackdownRead the Press Release
CLEVELAND – Hundreds of individuals were apprehended and taken into custody throughout northern Ohio as part of a multi-agency strategic initiative to combat violent crime. The multi-jurisdictional sweep across eight cities, known as Operation Northern Shield, was coordinated among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and task forces.
In May, June, and July, more than 600 people were arrested and nearly 200 firearms were seized along with varying amounts of fentanyl, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, cocaine, illicit drugs, and U.S. currency. Approximately 264 of these arrests came from surges into individual cities, and an additional 355 arrests were from other areas across the District.
“Operation Northern Shield was a different strategy than what was done before. We’ve never targeted multiple cities simultaneously. But we knew that, historically, rising temps in the summer months tend to correlate with rising crime and we needed to act swiftly across our region, not just in one area,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We were determined to shield our communities with the highest crime areas. We especially would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service for taking the lead in this effort to align state and local agencies and resources to take down some of the most wanted criminals in our District while continuing to perform their regular work to hunt down fugitives.”
“Operation Northern Shield succeeded because agencies did not work in silos, they worked as one team. This is what successful multi-agency operations look like. Different patches, uniforms, and chains of command, one mission making northern Ohio safer,” said U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott. “For 23 years our USMS (NOVFTF) was built on and sustained through our partnerships. My special thanks to all the federal, state and local officers, assistant U.S. attorneys, and crime analysts who put in the long hours to make this operation a complete success, ensuring the safety of our communities.”
Plans for Operation Northern Shield began in early 2026, with the goal to partner with local law enforcement agencies in a cohesive and integrated effort to target and apprehend violent fugitives in eight northern Ohio cities including Akron, Cleveland, Lorain, Youngstown, Elyria, Canton, Mansfield, and Toledo.
Fugitives were wanted for crimes of violence such as homicide, manslaughter, assault, robbery, and sex offenses. Other offenses involved human trafficking, firearms, and illegal drugs.
Overall, Operation Northern Shield yielded the following totals from May 17-July 18:
- 619 arrested
- 684 warrants cleared
- 29 (suspected) gang members arrested
- 1.317 kg of narcotics seized (methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, and fentanyl)
- 6 pounds of marijuana seized
- $120,200 in U.S. Currency seized
- 198 firearms, 2 suppressors, 2 machine gun conversion devices, 1 inert grenade, 2 sets of ballistic body armor seized
Many of those apprehended will face state charges, and several are expected to be referred for federal prosecution where appropriate.
Among those arrested who are facing federal charges are:
- Sidney Booty, 47, of Cleveland, a previously convicted felon who was allegedly found possessing an illegal firearm, a silencer, and methamphetamine which he intended to distribute and sell.
- Marcus Brown, 36, and Terence Montgomery, 32, both of Cleveland, were allegedly part of a drug conspiracy that trafficked fentanyl, crack, and cocaine. They are also charged with interstate transportation in aid of racketeering.
Operation Northern Shield was led by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) for the Northern District of Ohio.
U.S. Attorney Toepfer would like to gratefully acknowledge the following agencies for each of their roles in this successful operation to keep Northern Ohio communities safe:
- USMS Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force (NOVFT) teams from Akron, Canton, Lorain, Mansfield, Painesville, Toledo, and Cleveland
- USMS Special Operations Group, K-9 Team
- Ohio State Highway Patrol Special Response Team
- Ohio Adult Parole Authority
- USMS Southern District of Ohio Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team
- Akron Police Department, Gun Violence Reduction Team
- Cleveland Division of Police
- Canton Police Department
- Elyria Police Department
- Lorain Police Department
- Mansfield Police Department
- Toledo Police Department
- Youngstown Police Department
- Wyandot County Sheriff’s Office
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- FBI Cleveland Division
- U.S. Secret Service
Two Massachusetts Men Indicted for Armed Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
BOSTON – Two Massachusetts men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with two armed bank robberies that occurred on April 28, 2026.
Steven Harris, 34, and Angel Gonzalez, 26, have been indicted with two counts of armed bank robbery and one count of conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery. The defendants were previously charged by criminal complaint in May 2026. Harris remains in federal custody and Gonzalez is in state custody in connection with unrelated proceedings
According to the charging documents, Harris and Gonzalez participated in the armed robberies of a Santander Bank branch in Roxbury, Mass. and a TD Bank branch in Roslindale, Mass., on April 28, 2026. It is alleged that Gonzalez brandished a firearm during both robberies. During the first robbery, at the Santander Bank, Gonzalez allegedly dragged a bank employee from her office to the teller window, threatening to shoot her and held her at gunpoint:
At the TD Bank location, Gonzalez allegedly entered the bank wielding the same firearm, with his index finger on the trigger of the firearm. Once inside, Gonzalez’s partner, Harris, allegedly moved multiple employees from their offices to the main area of the bank. It is further alleged that Gonzalez, while brandishing the firearm, threatened to shoot the bank employees if they did not comply with his and Harris’s directives. Gonzalez then allegedly took approximately $3,000 from a teller drawer, and the suspects left in a getaway vehicle.
The charge of armed bank robbery provides for a sentence of up to 25 years 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 today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aidan Lang of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Two Arrested in Years-Long Scheme to Smuggle Protected Reptiles Across U.S.-Mexico BorderRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Georgina Bribiesca Chavez of Tijuana, Mexico, appeared in federal court today to face a wildlife trafficking charge after she allegedly participated in a years-long scheme to smuggle exotic reptiles into and out of the United States. Chavez’s alleged wildlife trafficking partner, Salvador Pelayo of Chula Vista, was arrested in July and faces a similar federal charge for trafficking exotic wildlife.
Chavez was arrested last week while attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border with a vehicle containing dozens of concealed reptiles, including four venomous, yellow-blotched palm pit vipers; three caimans; one baby crocodile; and more than 60 other reptiles protected under international treaties because of declining populations worldwide.
According to court documents, on the morning of August 10, 2026, Chavez applied for entry into the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. She told a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer that she had nothing to declare. While checking her identification, the officer discovered that Chavez had an outstanding arrest warrant related to a long-term wildlife trafficking investigation. She was taken into custody, and her vehicle was seized.
The following morning, CBP officers assigned to the seized-vehicle lot inspected Chavez’s red Volkswagen. Inside, they discovered a concealed factory compartment behind the rear bench seat. The compartment contained pillowcases that had been knotted closed and sealed with tape. One of the pillowcases was moving. The officer called for backup.
Later that day, the pillowcases were transported to the San Diego Zoo for examination and handling. Zoo staff carefully opened the packages and discovered the 60 abronia lizards, four venomous yellow-blotched palm pit vipers, three caimans, one baby crocodile, and one indigo snake. Several of these species are protected under international treaties because of their endangered or threatened status.
Even after her arrest, Chavez never told CBP officers about the live animals in her car, leaving them abandoned for nearly 24 hours in the August heat in San Ysidro. All three caimans died before the San Diego Zoo could provide care. As of last week, the remaining animals were stable and remained under the Zoo’s care.
“These animals were not cargo—they were living creatures subjected to dangerous conditions for profit,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon.
At today’s hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt ordered Chavez held without bond pending trial. Chavez and Pelayo have both pleaded not guilty.
According to court documents, Chavez and Pelayo began working together to traffic wildlife into the U.S. to sell to American buyers in 2023. Investigators with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began an undercover investigation about 18 months ago, targeting their trafficking activity. Over the course of the investigation, Pelayo and Chavez were involved in several undercover buys of protected turtles and were surveilled by investigators sending and receiving wildlife at shipping centers around San Diego.
On one occasion in March 2025, as alleged in Chavez’s complaint, undercover agents purchased four protected Mexican box turtles from Pelayo and their partner in Mexico; Chavez met the undercover agent in person to deliver the live animals just hours after she crossed the U.S.-Mexico border. The agent paid Chavez $2,600 cash in exchange for the turtles. After the undercover buy, the turtles were transferred to the Oakland Zoo for care and keeping, where they were identified as protected species native to Mexico. The turtles were in bad health, likely because they were caught in the wild and had contracted a respiratory disease. By May 2025, all four of the turtles had died.
On another occasion also in March 2025, as alleged in Pelayo’s complaint, another undercover agent purchased four protected Mexican and Yucatan box turtles from their partner in Mexico to be shipped to New York. The turtles, which are native to Mexico, were smuggled into the U.S. On March 11, 2025, Pelayo used a fake name, “Jose Lopez,” to ship a box containing the four turtles to the undercover agent in New York. The agent received the turtles the next day and transferred them to the Buffalo Zoo for care and keeping.
Pelayo and Chavez are believed to have trafficked exotic wildlife together for several years and court documents allege that they made tens of thousands of dollars in profits from the sale of those animals to buyers in the United States. According to court records, at times, they would buy protected wildlife that was sourced in the United States and export it to Mexico, where customers in Mexico would purchase the rare animals. Chavez was observed picking up Eastern box turtles native to New York at a shipping center in San Diego, which she smuggled into Mexico in the trunk of her red Volkswagen.
Chavez is due in court on August 27, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., for a preliminary hearing before Judge Burkhardt. Pelayo’s next hearing is on October 2, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Cathy A. Bencivengo.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are members of the Department of Justice’s Trade Fraud Task Force, a cross-agency law enforcement effort that also involves the National Fraud Enforcement Division, the Criminal and Civil Divisions, the Energy and Natural Resources Division, the Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide. The Task Force was created to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to prevent trade fraud that deprives the government of vital revenue, threatens critical domestic industries, undermines consumer confidence, and weakens national security. The Task Force is designed to pursue enforcement actions against parties who seek to evade tariffs and other duties, as well as smugglers who seek to import prohibited goods into the American economy. The Justice Department encourages whistleblowers to alert the government to credible allegations of fraud, including utilizing the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act or through the Criminal Division’s Corporate Whistleblower Program at CorporateWhistleblower@usdoj.gov using the form available here.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily W. Allen for the Southern District of California.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Office of Law Enforcement is investigating this case with assistance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
DEFENDANTS
Salvador Pelayo, Case No. 26-mj-4326-DDL Age: 28 Chula Vista, CA
Georgina Bribiesca Chavez, Case No. 26-mj-4598-JLB Age: 66 Tijuana, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Lacey Act Trafficking – Title 16, U.S.C., Sections 3372(a)(1) and 3373(d)(1)(B)
Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
INVESTIGATING AGENCY
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Tri-Cities Man Found Guilty of Large-Scale Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
Richland, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on August 13, 2026, a jury found David Mendoza Ayala, 30, guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute 400 Grams or More of Fentanyl. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke presided over the trial and set sentencing for November 12, 2026. Mendoza Ayala faces a sentence of at least 10 years, and up to life, in prison followed by no less than 5 years, and up to life of supervised release.
According to court documents Mendoza Ayala was a long-standing investigative target of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Tri-Cities Metro Drug Task Force. He had been suspected of being involved in large-scare drug trafficking for many years. Mendoza-Ayala learned that law enforcement was closing in and as a result, went into hiding. Although hiding, Mendoza Ayala continued his drug trafficking, utilizing other people’s names and addresses to avoid detection. Following months of tireless surveillance and evidence collection, investigators obtained search warrants for Mendoza Ayala’s apartment, two garage units, multiple luxury vehicles, and four storage units. During the searches, investigators located in excess of 50,000 fentanyl pills, substantial amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine, approximately $10,000 in drug cash proceeds, and over a dozen firearms to include AR style rifles. All told, investigators seized 13 vehicles associated with the Defendant and his illicit conduct.
During trial, evidence was also presented that inside Mendoza Ayala’s apartment, two small children were located – mere feet away from fentanyl laced pills scattered throughout the carpet and apartment.
“For years, David Mendoza Ayala, engaged in large scale drug trafficking, pushing poison into our community,” stated Serrano. “While Mendoza Ayala was able to escape consequences by hiding and fleeing from law enforcement, this case serves as proof that my office, along with our partners in federal and local law enforcement, never give up. Through their tireless efforts and investigation, Mendoza Ayala was arrested and a jury convicted him for his conduct. Those who, like this Defendant, make a profit off the lives our citizens, will be tirelessly pursued and brought to justice.”
“Mr. Mendoza Ayala showed a complete disregard for human life by having deadly fentanyl pills in the apartment, some of which were scattered on the carpet, within reach of two young children,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “Along with more than 50,000 fentanyl pills, investigators seized luxury vehicles, and more than a dozen firearms. Through Fentanyl Free America, DEA is relentlessly targeting those who put our communities at risk, disrupting the fentanyl supply chain, and holding traffickers accountable.”
“This case is a great example of why the partnership between the DEA, and the Tri-City Metro Drug Task Force is so important. Teamwork has been a pillar of success for Detectives working diligently to combat those attempting to traffic drugs to our region,” added Isaac Merkl, the Tri-City Metro Drug Task Force Commander.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Tri-Cities Resident Office and the Tri-Cities Metro Drug Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Pang.
4:24-CR-06011-MKD
Tallahassee Man Indicted for Possession of a Machine Gun & Postal CrimesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Yasir Jaimon Za’Quis Hawkins, 20, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegal possession of a machine gun, possession of Postal Service key, and possession of stolen mail. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges.
Hawkins appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 29, 2026, before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor.
Hawkins faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a machine gun count; up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the possession of Postal Service key count; and up to five years’ imprisonment on the possession of stolen mail count.
This case was jointly investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Emma Schwan is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Stevens County Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on August 19, 2026, Richard Timothy Kalesnick, age 41, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for Possession of Child Pornography. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice also imposed a life term of supervised release to follow the prison term, as well as imposing a $3,000 special assessment pursuant to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act (AVAA). Assessments under the AVAA are paid into a fund from which child pornography victims can obtain restitution at a later date.
According to court documents, Kalesnick pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography between April 1, 2024, and November 19, 2024. Kalesnick was previously convicted of two counts of First Degree Child Molestation in 2013, for his molestation of two minor females, both under the age of 10. Initially sentenced to 12 months in custody, Kalesnick was later released, ordered to attend sex offender treatment, and subject to supervision by the Washington State Department of Correction. Violations of that supervision led to a second prison term that ended in 2019. Over the next several years, even with court-ordered treatment, Kalesnick regularly fantasized about minor females, rape, and violence. He committed several violations of the conditions of his supervision, including viewing and possessing child pornography.
“Protecting the children, the most vulnerable, in our community is the most important work done by our office. We will continually protect our children from monsters, like Kalesnick, who offend and reoffend and perpetuate fear and harm within our community,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano. “This sentence is the result of a strong partnership between federal and local authorities, where everyone involved recognized that Kalesnick is a significant threat. This federal and state team worked together to remove Kalesnick from the streets.”
“The Stevens County Prosecutors Office is deeply grateful for the hard work that the U.S. Attorney’s Office put in to securing a conviction for this offender, said Stevens County Prosecuting Attorney Erika George. “Kalesnick’s arrest was the result of collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, and we are all greatly served by a sentence that removes a clear danger to children from our community for a substantial period of time.”
“Protecting children and holding those who prey upon them accountable remains one of the Stevens County Sheriff's Office's highest priorities,” said Stevens County Sheriff Brad Manke. “Despite the demands on our agency and limited resources, our deputies and detectives serving as cross-designated task force officers with Homeland Security Investigations demonstrated exceptional dedication and investigative work throughout this case. We will continue working to protect our children and communities.”
“Kalesnick chose to disregard every chance at reform, ultimately posing a persistent threat to public safety,” said Acting HSI Seattle Special Agent in Charge April Miller. “By securing this sentence, we have successfully removed a predatory threat from our streets. I am proud of the collaborative effort between HSI and the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office in this case, and we will continue our work to protect the most vulnerable in our society.”
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated jointly by Homeland Security Investigations and the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick.
2:25-cr-00192-TOR
South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Sex TraffickingRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A South Carolina man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court Boston to a sex trafficking conspiracy that victimized two minors and one adult. The adult victim was trafficked throughout Massachusetts, Rhode Island and South Carolina. The defendant kept all the profits for his own financial gain.
Alexander Smalls, 27, of Beaufort County, S.C. pleaded guilty to sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; sex trafficking of a minor; and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Dec. 9, 2026. In June 2024, Smalls was indicted along with five co-conspirators. Smalls had been in custody on state charges in South Carolina since March 2023. After being taken into custody and while incarcerated on state charges, Smalls continued to participate in the trafficking of one of the victims in this case.
“Alexander Smalls took extraordinary steps to target and exploit a vulnerable victim and continued to do so from jail, after he was taken into state custody on a separate offense. His ruthless predilection to exploit others for his own financial gain is simply heartless and reprehensible,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “My office stands strong in its determination to protect our community from sex traffickers.”
“This defendant used deplorable means to compel the victim to perform commercial sex acts for the financial benefit of himself and his codefendants,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “His conduct was cruel and predatory in multiple ways, which included physical beatings and threatening to separate her from her child. This partnership between the Criminal Division and the District of Massachusetts will ensure that those who victimize people through human trafficking in Massachusetts will be investigated and prosecuted.”
“Smalls and his associates brutally trafficked women, using every cruel and inhumane tool they could to coerce them into commercial sex for their financial benefit. This case shows the insidious tactics traffickers use, slowly gaining the trust of their victims before brutally betraying them,” said Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “With cases like this, we choose to focus not solely on the cruelty of the perpetrators, but also on the resilience of the survivors. We hope this plea brings a measure of justice and sense of closure to those Smalls victimized as they continue to heal.”
Between January and August 2023, Smalls conspired with Christy Parker and others in a scheme to coerce one adult victim to engage in commercial sex in Massachusetts and surrounding states for their exclusive financial gain.
In early 2023, Parker reached out to the victim, her childhood friend, and told her that she (Parker) needed a place to live. After moving in with the victim, Parker and her boyfriend, Smalls, coerced the victim to quit her job and begin engaging in commercial sex for their financial benefit. Smalls and Parker forced the victim to sign a “profit sharing contact,” which required the victim to “remain loyal and humble and stay focused.” Parker inflicted physical violence on the victim while Smalls threatened to shoot her or have family members, other co-defendants charged in the indictment, come and harm her. Smalls also threatened to have authorities take the victim’s minor child away.
Even after Smalls was taken into custody on unrelated charges in March 2023, he continued to traffic the victim from jail. Smalls encouraged Parker to sell the victim, telling her that he needed them to make at least one thousand dollars a night. Smalls told Parker to post the victim every two hours. Smalls would also speak directly to the victim, telling her that would send someone to “beat” her, put her “through the floor” “slap her” and have her child taken from her if she did not participate in the conspiracy. Smalls’ commissary records show that he received proceeds from the commercial sex enterprise while in prison.
If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov.
The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to life in prison, no less than five years of supervised release and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, no less than five years of supervised release and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $ 250,000. The charge of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, no less than five years of supervised release and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
U.S. Attorney Foley, AAG Duva and HSI Acting SAC Grimming made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Somerset Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley-Cunniffe, Chief of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit, and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
Senior Director of Operations Charged with Insider TradingRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Brett Skiles, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging DAVID PIDGEON with securities fraud stemming from insider trading based on misappropriated financial information belonging to his employer. PIDGEON was arrested today and will be presented in Boston, Massachusetts. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Reardon.
“As alleged in the Indictment, less than one year ago, a senior official at a public company engaged in insider trading,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “When corporate insiders misuse confidential information for personal gain, they undermine the integrity of our financial system. Today’s charges—and in particular the speed with which we were able to bring them—reflect our commitment to holding accountable anyone who chooses to engage in this kind of misconduct. We will continue to work closely with our partners at the FBI and the SEC to safeguard our markets and pursue those who violate the law.”
“Today’s charges underscore a fundamental principle: when individuals exploit confidential corporate information for personal gain, they undermine the integrity of our financial markets,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles. “The FBI is committed to protecting investors, maintaining a free and fair market, and holding accountable anyone who attempts to profit through deception and unlawful insider trading. We will continue to work closely with our partners to ensure that those who violate these principles are brought to justice.”
As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in federal court:(1)
In or about October 2025, PIDGEON, then Senior Director of Operations at Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. (“TMCI”), obtained material nonpublic information about TMCI’s lower sales volume and difficulty meeting its financial projections. Days before TMCI’s third quarter earnings announcement, PIDGEON sold shares of other issuers and used the proceeds to purchase short-term put options in TMCI stock. PIDGEON’s trades occurred during a company-wide blackout period when TMCI employees were prohibited from trading in TMCI securities, and in violation of TMCI’s policies, which prohibited employees from trading in TMCI options at any time. On November 6, 2025, following market close, TMCI announced its third quarter financial results, which included a net loss of $16.3 million and downwardly adjusted 2025 revenue projections. The following day, TMCI’s stock price dropped approximately 28%. That same day, Pidgeon sold all of his TMCI options.
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PIDGEON, 40, of Jacksonville, Florida, is charged with one count of securities fraud under Title 15 of the United States Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of securities fraud under Title 18 of the United States Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
The maximum sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. McDonald thanked the FBI. Mr. McDonald further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney L. Heavey is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaints and the description of the Complaints set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.
Second Suspect in August 2025 Mount Vernon Gunpoint Robbery Located in Poconos, Arrested, and ChargedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jamie McDonald, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today that ERIC BOOTHE was arrested and charged as the second participant in an August 29, 2025, gunpoint robbery of a gas station in Mount Vernon. BOOTHE was presented today before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy and ordered detained pending trial.
“Last summer, Mount Vernon residents’ morning routines came to a halt when two individuals robbed a gas station at gunpoint and fled, kicking off a manhunt across the region,” said U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald. “One of the men, Jamaire Robertson, allegedly shot at NYPD officers while in flight. Robertson was quickly identified, arrested, and charged within hours, but Eric Boothe allegedly fled into the Bronx and tried to disappear, eventually relocating to rural Pennsylvania. Thanks to the FBI and our White Plains prosecutors, Boothe’s getaway has ended, and he will now answer to our federal Complaint in court.”
“Eric Boothe spent months attempting to evade accountability following an alleged gas station robbery in August 2025,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Thanks to the relentless efforts of FBI investigators, and our Summer Heat 2.0 initiative, he was located, apprehended, and will now face consequences for his actions. No matter how long someone runs, we remain committed to pursuing those who endanger our communities.”
According to the Complaint unsealed in White Plains federal court:(1)
After spending much of the prior evening traveling in tandem through the Bronx and Mount Vernon, BOOTHE and Jamaire Robertson parked Robertson’s car near Robertson’s apartment in the Bronx at around 5:10 a.m. on August 29, 2025, donned masks, hoods, and gloves, and set off on foot together toward a gas station in nearby Mount Vernon. At approximately 5:29 a.m., BOOTHE and Robertson, each brandishing a handgun, violently robbed the gas station attendant at gunpoint:
Following the robbery, the two suspects ran south on foot and eventually separated. Robertson fled down a residential street in Mount Vernon near its border with the Bronx, where he discharged his firearm at New York City Police Department officers attempting to approach him. Robertson was arrested that afternoon, but BOOTHE fled deeper into the Bronx, ceased use of his phone, and altered his patterns of financial and social media activity, eventually relocating to the Poconos in Pennsylvania. The FBI’s investigation led to a new phone used by BOOTHE, registered in the name of a third party, and to a pizzeria frequented by BOOTHE in the vicinity of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, near where BOOTHE was eventually arrested.
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BOOTHE, 40, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. BOOTHE is also charged with possessing and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Because BOOTHE was convicted in 2016 of the same firearms crime, he now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison, which must be served consecutive to any other prison term imposed. Federal robbery and firearms charges against Jamaire Robertson remain pending.
The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.
Mr. McDonald praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, as well as the NYPD and the Mount Vernon Police Department. Mr. McDonald also thanked the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania for their assistance in apprehending the defendant.
This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarlitto is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
^
As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.
Savannah man sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prisonRead the Press Release
SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Savannah man has been ordered to be confined in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker and announced by Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Jason Johnny Wilson, 29, of Savannah, was sentenced to 200 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Aggravated Identity Theft, Possession of a Stolen Mail Key and Possession of Stolen Mail.
Wilson was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $66,358.05
Wilsons’ codefendants, Terriona Grubbs, 27, of Savannah, Arthur Lee Bryant, 30, of Port Wentworth, and Tiana Lashaun Gill, 29, of Savannah, were previously sentenced after pleading guilty to various charges including Fraudulently Passing a Treasury Check, Bank Fraud, and Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud.
There is no parole in the federal system.
As described in court documents and testimony, from May 2023 to December 2024, the defendants took part in a mail theft scheme in which they would steal mail from U.S. postal receptacles using a stolen mail key. The stolen mail included personal identifying information and checks of multiple victims which were used by the defendants for fraudulent purposes.
After creating fraudulent checks using the stolen mail, the defendants would deposit the checks into their personal accounts and use the funds for personal gain. In all, an analysis of multiple electronic devices revealed countless images of bulk cash, checks, and other financial instruments resulting in losses totaling more than $12.1 million.
“Possessing stolen mail keys and engaging in the theft of personal and private correspondence is a crime against the public and this defendant will now answer for his misguided actions,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “The outstanding investigators, prosecutors and our law enforcement partners of the agencies involved should all be commended for their relentless effort to bring these defendants to justice.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service relentlessly pursues criminals who exploit the U.S. Mail system for unlawful purposes. The sentencing of these defendants who stole checks and other financial instruments and defrauded American citizens serves as a resounding message to anyone who wants to steal U.S. Mail,” stated Rodney M. Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division. “We will unwaveringly work with our partners in law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold criminals accountable for their actions,”
The United States Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, Chatham County Police Department, Savannah Police Department, Rock Hill (South Carolina) Police Department, and Savannah-Chatham Counter Narcotics Team assisted in the investigation of the case which was prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley R. Thompson.
San Antonio Man Sentenced to 256 Months’ Imprisonment for Role in the Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
ST. PAUL – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced that Michael Salas, 52, of San Antonio, was sentenced to 256 months in prison for his role in the production and attempted production of child pornography.
According to court documents, in March 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and law enforcement received anonymous information that an eleven-year-old girl was being blackmailed over social media into sending sexual photographs of herself. The internet account was traced back to Salas, a then-fifty-one-year-old man in San Antonio, Texas. On or about March 9, 2025, after Salas pressed the minor female victim, she sent a video to Salas. After receiving that video, Salas still requested more explicit material from the victim.
Salas was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud on August 18, 2026. Salas previously pleaded guilty on February 11, 2026.
During the hearing, Judge Tostrud described the offense conduct in this case as “depraved, cruel, and contemptable,” noting that the consequences to the victim may be “life long, life altering, and severe.”
“No sentence can fully heal the harm that this defendant has done to this young girl and her family, but it will hold this repeat and dangerous sex offender accountable for his actions,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“From the comfort of his home in San Antonio, Texas, Michael Salas engaged in a months-long campaign to sexually exploit an 11-year-old child in Minnesota. When caught, he attempted to take his own life. Thankfully, the FBI Special Agents who arrested him were successful in their lifesaving efforts,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “Today’s sentence shows that no matter the distance, the FBI will make every effort to seek justice for child victims. Child sexual exploitation creates long-lasting trauma for victims, so it rightly carries long-lasting criminal consequences for offenders.”
“Today’s sentencing reflects the strength of collaboration between our local officers and our federal partners. By combining resources, expertise, and a shared commitment to public safety, we were able to bring this case forward effectively and ensure accountability. We remain dedicated to working together to protect our community,” said Plymouth Police Chief and Public Safety Director Erik Fadden.
This case was the result of an investigation by the FBI, New Hope Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, with assistance from other law enforcement partners.
Assistant United States Attorney Albania Concepcion prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Robbery Spree Defendant Sentenced to 180 Months for Series of BB Gun Holdups Targeting Service WorkersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Mark Thomas Moore, 35, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 180 months in prison in connection with a string of armed robberies that targeted service workers at businesses and a U.S. Post Office in the District, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“Mark Moore targeted hardworking employees who were simply doing their jobs. He threatened them at gunpoint, leaving many with lasting trauma,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “Today’s sentence ensures that Moore will be held accountable for his actions and will not be able to harm anyone in our community for a long time.”
Moore was convicted Nov. 6, 2025, following a bench trial before Judge Amit P. Mehta, of two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), of one count of armed robbery while armed, of one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and of one count of armed postal robbery.
In addition to the 180-month prison sentence, Judge Mehta ordered Moore to serve five years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a prison term of 180 months.
According to court papers, in the fall of 2022, Moore armed himself with a BB gun to rob service workers at business in the District and Arlington, Virginia.
On Oct. 26, 2022, Moore entered a McDonald’s restaurant on the 1500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue SE, where he lurked for about 15 minutes before following a female employee into a restroom. There, he held the worker at gunpoint. The employee had recently immigrated into the U.S. and spoke no English. She attempted to use a translation app on her phone to communicate with Moore. Moore took her phone and forced her through the restaurant to the cash register where he ordered another employee to fill a bag with money before fleeing.
On Nov. 9, 2022, Moore entered a 7-Eleven on the 1500 block of Independence Ave. SE. He pointed his BB gun at an employee and demanded cash. When the employee attempted to conceal some of the money, Moore threatened him with the gun.
On Nov. 28, 2022, Moore was armed when he entered the U.S. Postal Service facility on the 600 block of Pennsylvania Ave., SE. As employees fled in fear, Moore stood over one who had fallen while trying to escape. He pointed the weapon at her threatened her as she pleaded for her life. He then forced a third employee to the register at gunpoint before fleeing the post office on a distinctive green bicycle.
On Nov. 28, 2022, Moore also robbed a CVS in Arlington, Virginia. During the robbery, Moore took a bank note containing a GPS tracker. He fled on the same distinctive green bicycle. Law enforcement later located Moore and recovered a BB gun consistent with the weapon seen in the surveillance footage from the three District robberies. Investigators also recovered clothes recovered from his girlfriend’s apartment, along with DNA and fingerprints, that further linked him to the offenses.
This investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Arlington County Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caelainn Carney and Jared English.
BB gun seized from Moore at the time of his arrest.
Surveillance photos show Moore holding his gun during the robberies of the four establishments.
23cr256
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Repeat offender sentenced to eleven years in prison for distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
Seattle – A repeat offender, who continued to deal methamphetamine and cocaine in Thurston County even as he was on supervised release from a prior conviction, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 132 months in prison, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. 40-year-old David Nathaniel Hoffman, aka “Fat Nate,” was arrested on August 8, 2025, following three incidents in March and July 2025 when law enforcement confirmed he sold methamphetamine. When he was taken into custody, Hoffman had cocaine and a firearm with the serial number removed. Hoffman is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2019 federal conviction for drug trafficking and assaulting a fellow federal inmate resulting in serious bodily injury.
According to records filed in the case, Hoffman was released from a 64-month sentence for drug trafficking in August 2024. While on federal supervision, he quickly returned to drug use and drug trafficking and absconded from supervision. When he appeared before his sentencing judge, he was jailed for two months for his supervision violations. On May 1, 2025, he started federal supervision a second time and continued to sell drugs resulting in the arrest on August 8, 2025.
At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright said that Hoffman had exhibited a “long-standing pattern of drug distribution and criminal conduct, including while on federal supervised release, which shows disregard for the law.”
It was during a July 15, 2025, drug deal in a motel parking lot that Hoffman told a confidential source that he was the most “well known drug dealer in the County.”
In September 2025 Hoffman was indicted for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. He pled guilty in April 2026 to one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. He also admitted to conspiring to distribute suboxone within the federal prison where he served his previous federal sentence.
In asking for a 144-month sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Crisham wrote, “Hoffman has been a pernicious presence in Thurston and Mason Counties. Simply put, whenever Hoffman is not in custody, he continues to distribute large amounts of dangerous drugs…. As evidenced by his comments to the confidential source, he has significant criminal contacts and larger-scale sources to supply him with controlled substances. Hoffman also exhibits complete disregard for the law and the Court by selling drugs and ignoring the terms of his supervision.”
Judge Cartwright sentenced Hoffman to a ten-year sentence on the drug trafficking and firearms convictions and an additional 12-months for his eight violations of supervised release on his prior drug trafficking conviction.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Olympia and Lacey Police Departments.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Crisham.
Repeat Felon Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Robert Anthony Yancy, Jr., 25, of Tampa, Florida, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and we will not yield control of our streets to serial felons, like this defendant, who have amply demonstrated their outright refusal to follow the law. My office will aggressively prosecute these cases to deliver the safe, crime-free streets our citizens deserve.”
Court documents reflect that on the evening of January 2, 2026, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on the defendant’s vehicle. During the stop, law enforcement detected the odor of marijuana and saw evidence of marijuana inside, which led to a search of the vehicle. In addition to locating marijuana and a scale with residue, law enforcement found a handgun in the vehicle. The defendant cannot possess a handgun because he is a six-time convicted felon.
Upon his release, Yancy will be subject to three years’ supervised release.
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner prosecuted the case.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.