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25 June 2025
Alleged Perpetrator of Terror Attack in Colorado Charged with Hate CrimesRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in Denver charging Mohamed Sabry Soliman with 12 hate crime counts, including nine counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 249 and three counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 844(h), for using Molotov cocktails to attack members of the group “Run for Their Lives” and others who had gathered in the park in front of the Boulder County Courthouse on June 1. Soliman had previously been charged by complaint with a federal hate crime offense on June 2.
According to the indictment, on June 1, Soliman entered the park carrying both a backpack weed sprayer that contained a flammable liquid and a black plastic container that held at least 18 glass bottles and jars, all of which contained a flammable liquid and several of which had red rags stuffed through the top to act as wicks (commonly referred to as Molotov cocktails).
At approximately 1:30 p.m., Soliman approached the Run for Their Lives group and threw two Molotov cocktails that he had ignited. When throwing one of the Molotov cocktails, he shouted, “Free Palestine!”
A handwritten document was later recovered from the vehicle driven by Soliman. The document included the following statements: “Zionism is our enemies untill [sic] Jerusalem is liberated and they are expelled from our land,” and further described Israel as a “cancer entity.”
The indictment further alleges that during an interview with law enforcement, Soliman stated, among other things, that he viewed “anyone supporting the exist [sic] of Israel on our land” to be “Zionist.” The defendant stated that he “decide[d] to take [his] revenge from these people” and “search[ed] the internet looking for any Zionist event.” Soliman stated that he learned of the Run for Their Lives group through internet searches for “Zionist” events and that he identified the “Zionist” group when he saw the flags and signs they carried at the courthouse.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Boulder Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Alleged Perpetrator of Terror Attack in Colorado Charged with Hate CrimesRead the Press Release
An indictment was unsealed today in Denver charging Mohamed Sabry Soliman with 12 hate crime counts, including nine counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 249 and three counts of violating 18 U.S.C. § 844(h), for using Molotov cocktails to attack members of the group “Run for Their Lives” and others who had gathered in the park in front of the Boulder County Courthouse on June 1. Soliman had previously been charged by complaint with a federal hate crime offense on June 2.
According to the indictment, on June 1, Soliman entered the park carrying both a backpack weed sprayer that contained a flammable liquid and a black plastic container that held at least 18 glass bottles and jars, all of which contained a flammable liquid and several of which had red rags stuffed through the top to act as wicks (commonly referred to as Molotov cocktails).
At approximately 1:30 p.m., Soliman approached the Run for Their Lives group and threw two Molotov cocktails that he had ignited. When throwing one of the Molotov cocktails, he shouted, “Free Palestine!”
A handwritten document was later recovered from the vehicle driven by Soliman. The document included the following statements: “Zionism is our enemies untill [sic] Jerusalem is liberated and they are expelled from our land,” and further described Israel as a “cancer entity.”
The indictment further alleges that during an interview with law enforcement, Soliman stated, among other things, that he viewed “anyone supporting the exist [sic] of Israel on our land” to be “Zionist.” The defendant stated that he “decide[d] to take [his] revenge from these people” and “search[ed] the internet looking for any Zionist event.” Soliman stated that he learned of the Run for Their Lives group through internet searches for “Zionist” events and that he identified the “Zionist” group when he saw the flags and signs they carried at the courthouse.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Boulder Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado and the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Airline Employee Sentenced to More Than 12 Years for Attempted Coercion, Enticement of A Minor and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Brian Walker (52, Bradenton) to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity and possession of child sexual abuse material. Walker pled guilty on March 25, 2025.
According to court documents, Walker contacted a 12-year-old female living in his community over a social media application. The FBI took over the minor’s social media account and engaged in chats with Walker in an undercover capacity. Walker engaged in sexual conversations with the undercover agent, whom he believed to be the 12-year-old female, and attempted to coerce and entice her to engage in sexual activity. Within the conversations, Walker shared his attraction to 12-year-old females and expressed his desire to meet in person.
On June 24, 2024, Walker travelled to meet the minor in person at the community pool and was arrested at the scene. Law enforcement seized a cell phone from Walker and located hundreds of images and videos of minors, including those under the age of 12 years, engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
24 June 2025
Wood County man sentenced to 55 years in federal prison for child exploitation violationsRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Mineola man has been sentenced to 55 years in federal prison for child exploitation violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Fransisco Gonzalez, also known as Kiko Gonzalez, 29, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and was sentenced to 660 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on June 23, 2025.
According to information presented in court, over the course of several months, Gonzalez sexually exploited a minor female victim. Under the guise of taking her to church, he isolated her from her family, then used her to produce sexually explicit images and videos. Later, he distributed several of the images to others.
“Fransisco Gonzalez is on his way to prison where he will serve a very long sentence,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “For his crimes, he deserves every day of that lengthy term. I commend the efforts of the team that brought this defendant to justice. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stands committed to seeking justice for victims and to defending the defenseless.”
This case was prosecuted 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel C. Kummerfeld and Lucas Machicek.
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Wolf Point man pleads guilty to assault on Fort Peck Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
GREAT FALLS - A Wolf Point man accused of assault another individual on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Roger Sylvan Bissonette, III, 23, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Bissonette faces 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and 3 years of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Court Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for October 30, 2025. Bissonette was released on conditions pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on January 27, 2024, the defendant, Roger Sylvan Bissonette III, and several friends, including co-defendants and the victim, John Doe, were in a yard in Wolf Point, Montana, playing a game of “slap-boxing.” The fighting escalated and the group broke up. Doe approached the house demanding to get his phone back. A confrontation between Doe, Bissonette, and his co-defendants ultimately ensued in the driveway.
Several people witnessed the assault. One witness described seeing Bissonette and co-defendants hitting John Doe. The witness described seeing one person hit Doe with a bat, then the other two started hitting Doe as well, with Bissonette using a hammer. Another witness saw Bissonette and his co-defendants approaching Doe while he backed away. The witness described the three then “jumping” Doe.
Bissonette told law enforcement that Doe was chasing others around the yard with a knife, so he went into the house to get a weapon, and one of the residents gave him a hammer. Bissonette said that after one co-defendant hit Doe with the bar, Doe went down, but as he was getting back up, a co-defendant stabbed him in the chest. It was then that Bissonette started hitting Doe in the head with the hammer. He continued to hit Doe even when Doe was down. None of the independent witnesses reported Doe having a knife.
Doe died at the scene before law enforcement could arrive. According to an autopsy, Doe died from blunt and sharp force injuries to the head and chest.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law & Justice, Wolf Point Police Department, and State of Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.
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Williamson County waterfowl hunting club shut down for illegal baitingRead the Press Release
BENTON, Ill. – A district judge ordered a duck hunting club in Williamson County to shutter its doors for two years after the owner admitted to a federal charge for illegal baiting.
Hugh Thomas Burns, Jr., 67, of Carbondale, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act by sale of wildlife in violation of federal law, as the sole owner of Burns Hunting Club, LLC.
“Hunting and fishing are cherished traditions in Southern Illinois, and our office stands firmly behind sportsmen and women who enjoy those activities,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “But let’s be real: baiting a duck hunting landscape is like other forms of illegal poaching, which disadvantages honest hunters and violates federal law. The district court’s order to close this club demonstrates a commitment to protecting ethical and legal hunting practices.”
According to court documents, the hunting club sold memberships and provided paid guiding services on its property to migratory bird hunters. Burns and co-defendant Michael D. McKinney, 52, of Benton, were among individuals who provided the guiding services over illegally baited hunting fields.
“Keeping quality hunting opportunities on the landscape is an essential part of America's heritage that we are proud to uphold. This case is an important win for waterfowl hunters everywhere and puts poachers on notice," said Assistant Director Douglas Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. "Many thanks to our law enforcement counterparts with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge."
McKinney admitted to distributing corn kernels to attract migratory birds to the club’s property. The pair conspired together to bring guided hunts to blinds near the baited areas in January 2021.
The federal judge ordered Burns and Burns Hunting Club, LLC, to pay at total of $11,000 in fines to the Lacey Act Reward Account through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as well as a total of $50,000 in restitution to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The federal judge also sentenced Burns to two years of probation and barred him from hunting or providing guiding services for the duration of his probation.
“Baiting is a serious violation that undermines the principles of fair chase and can negatively impact wildlife populations. Conservation laws are in place to protect natural resources and ensure that the pursuit of wildlife is conducted ethically and sustainably for future generations to enjoy,” said Jed Whitchurch, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Law Enforcement. “I encourage anyone aware of baiting violations in Illinois to come forward with tips. It’s every individual’s responsibility to understand these laws and abide by them.”
The judge sentenced McKinney to two years’ probation and ordered him to pay $5,500 in fines and $5,000 in restitution after he pleaded guilty in April to one count of conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act by sale of wildlife in violation of federal law. He is also prohibited from hunting and guiding for two years.
The Government seized a Chevrolet 2500 HD truck and a UTV that was used in the conspiracy.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Sanders prosecuted the case.
William R. Keyes Takes Oath as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of GeorgiaRead the Press Release
ALBANY, Ga. – William R. “Will” Keyes took the oath of office at noon today, administered by Chief U.S. District Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner, to become the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia. Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Mr. Keyes as the interim U.S. Attorney on June 20. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the C.B. King United States Courthouse in Albany.
“It is a tremendous honor to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, and I am incredibly grateful that President Trump and Attorney General Bondi have placed their trust in me,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “I care deeply for this District and look forward to working closely with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners on behalf of all Middle Georgians. Together, we will protect our communities and uphold the rule of law.”
As the U.S. Attorney, Mr. Keyes is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the Middle District of Georgia, which covers 70 of Georgia’s 159 counties and includes Albany, Athens, Columbus, Macon and Valdosta with a population of approximately 2,045,000 people. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, fraud, firearms, illegal gangs and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.
U.S. Attorney Keyes joined the Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Middle District of Georgia in 2018. He has prosecuted a broad range of federal criminal cases, including drug trafficking organizations, violent crime, child exploitation, and offenses related to terrorism. He has held numerous leadership roles in the office, including the Project Safe Neighborhood Coordinator, Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council, National Security Cyber Specialist and District Election Officer. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Criminal Chief.
Before joining the office, U.S. Attorney Keyes was on active duty in the U.S. Army. He served with the Office of Military Commissions in Washington, D.C., prosecuting alleged members of Al-Qaeda in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Before that assignment, he deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, where he served as a legal advisor to soldiers operating throughout Kuwait and Iraq. He began his career at a law firm in Atlanta.
In addition to his duties with the office, U.S. Attorney Keyes serves in the U.S. Army Reserve as a Judge Advocate. In this capacity, he has provided instruction on humanitarian law to forces from partner nations in East Africa and Central America. His military awards include the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and he is a graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne School.
U.S. Attorney Keyes holds four degrees from the University of Georgia, which include his law degree, a master’s degree in economics and undergraduate degrees in economics and statistics. He remains involved with the University of Georgia and currently serves on the alumni board for the business school. A lifelong Georgian, Mr. Keyes and his wife, Margaret Sullivan Keyes, who was born and raised in Albany, live in Macon, where they are raising their two sons.
U.S. Attorney Keyes succeeds C. Shanelle Booker, who has served as the Acting U.S. Attorney since January and will continue to serve as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney (FAUSA) for the Middle District of Georgia. U.S. Attorney Keyes recognized FAUSA Booker for her exemplary service to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and said, “Mrs. Booker is a gifted leader and has done an incredible job serving our District.”
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. For more information about the office, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga.
Wellpinit Man Sentenced to Prison for Violent AssaultRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that James Ray Hill Jr., age 46, of Wellpinit, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 48 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on December 3, 2023, Hill punched his girlfriend in the face while they were sitting in her car on the Spokane Indian Reservation. The assault caused the victim’s face to swell up and her injuries were painful. The victim went to hospital for treatment. Doctors found multiple broken bones, including around her eye and nose. The injuries were so severe, the victim underwent surgery to repair the damage to her face.
“My office’s partnership with Tribal nations and communities is integral to the work we do within the U.S. Attorney’s Office. While the federal government has not always lived up to its treaty and trust obligations, we can and must do better moving forward. Ensuring public safety is a top priority for my office, and I am so grateful for the work we have been able to do over the past several years to rebuild trust with the Tribal nations within the Eastern District of Washington.”
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Spokane Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Ellis.
2:24-cr-00005-TOR
Virgin Islands Resident Sentenced for Possessing a Machine GunRead the Press Release
St. Croix, VI – Acting United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that Shabukah Bannis, 29, of St. Croix, was sentenced on Friday, June 20, 2025, for unlawfully possessing a machine gun. U.S. District Court Judge Wilma A. Lewis sentenced Bannis to 30 months’ imprisonment.
According to court documents, on November 30, 2023, officers with the Virgin Islands Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Bannis. During the stop, officers detected the odor of marijuana. Bannis admitted to having marijuana in the vehicle, prompting a search. Inside the car, officers recovered marijuana and found a loaded machine gun with an obliterated serial number concealed under the driver’s seat.
In pronouncing sentence, Judge Lewis emphasized that the message must be “loud, clear, and unmistakable—the possession of these types of weapons of war cannot and will not be tolerated in this community.”
This case was investigated by the Virgin Islands Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cherrisse R. Woods.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.Violent Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
EVANSVILLE— James Charleston Jr., 36, of Evansville, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court documents, on August 3, 2024, Evansville Police Department officers were dispatched to Garvin Street in Evansville, on reports of a distressed man waiving a silver gun in the air and pointing it at people. The man was also shouting and cussing.
Upon arrival, officers found the man, James Charleston, and ordered him to get on the ground. Charleston refused to comply and told the officers to shoot him multiple times, adding, “I’m willing to die right now!” He also said, “You better get me before I get you.”
Charleston was eventually detained and placed in handcuffs. During a search of his person, officers located a silver 9mm pistol in his waistband, loaded with nine rounds.
At the time of this arrest, Charleston had been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, including two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, carrying a handgun without a license, domestic battery, strangulation, aggravated robbery, two counts of identity theft, two counts of theft, and failure to return to lawful detention. These prior felony convictions prohibit him from ever legally possessing a firearm again.
“Illegally armed, repeat violent criminals are responsible for a disproportionate share of the gun violence suffered in Evansville and all our communities. These offenses will not be tolerated,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Let it be clear that if you choose to illegally carry a firearm, you risk serving a serious sentence in federal prison.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Evansville Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller who prosecuted this case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI Recommit Efforts to Protect Elder Americans from Fraud and Other AbuseRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – The month of June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Month, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada and the FBI Las Vegas Division are reinvigorating its efforts to protect older citizens from fraudulent and other criminal schemes that cost the United States billions of dollars and threaten to victimize over 100,000 elder Americans each year.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protect our seniors from fraudulent schemes targeting their hearts and bank accounts,” said United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We will continue to work with our partners at the FBI and other partner agencies to investigate and prosecute financial exploitation crimes and bring criminals to justice.”
“It is essential that we educate the public, specifically our seniors, about the devastating effects of elder fraud schemes,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rafik Mattar for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “These schemes are critical to protecting them and their hard-earned money. The far-reaching consequences of these elaborate schemes can decimate the life savings of elderly individuals. The FBI works with our local and federal partners to ensure that our seniors, their caregivers, families, and friends know the signs to look for to keep Americans safe from falling victim to these deceitful criminals.”
Romance Fraud
United States v. Aurora Phelps. A 21-count superseding indictment charged Aurora Phelps, who has residences in Las Vegas and Guadalajara, Mexico, for allegedly luring older men she met through online dating services and stealing their monies for her personal benefit. In September 2023, a grand jury indicted Phelps with seven counts of wire fraud; three counts of mail fraud; six counts of bank fraud; three counts of identity theft; one count of kidnapping; and one count of kidnapping resulting in death. Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
National Elder Fraud Hotline
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.
More information about the department’s efforts to help older Americans is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage, which can be found at elderjustice.gov. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints can be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, at www.ovc.gov.
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Two Uzbek Men Charged with Smuggling Illegal Aliens into the United States for Financial GainRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Bekhzod Rakhmatov, 30, of Maineville, Ohio, and Munis Khojiev, 31, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were arrested and charged by indictment with attempting to bring an alien to the United States for private financial gain and conspiring to bring aliens to the United States for private financial gain, arising from a human smuggling scheme. Both defendants are Uzbek nationals who entered the United States on the same day without legal authorization.
The indictment alleges that, as part of their conspiracy, the defendants assisted in smuggling Co-Conspirator #1 into the United States, and then received referrals through Co-Conspirator #1 to smuggle additional illegal aliens into the U.S.
As further alleged, from about December 2022 to about May 2025, in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, Rakhmatov and Khojiev engaged with other individuals to obtain visas and passports to enable illegal aliens to travel throughout various countries with the goal of arriving at the United States-Mexico border. The defendants solicited and received funds from, and on behalf of, illegal aliens, as payment for smuggling the illegal aliens into the United States.
If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum possible sentence of 10 years' imprisonment on each count.
The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Danielle Bateman and Everett Witherell.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Tri-Cities Man Who Strangled and Assaulted His Girlfriend Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that Jordan Michael Gunlock, age 33, was sentenced after pleading guilty to strangling and assaulting his girlfriend. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 24 months in prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in November 2023, Gunlock got into an argument with his girlfriend at her home in Wapato, Washington, after she moved his jacket. During the argument, Gunlock grabbed his girlfriend by the back of the head and pulled her hair, injuring her. After Gunlock stopped pulling her hair, the girlfriend told Gunlock to leave her home. Gunlock initially refused, but fled the residence after his girlfriend called for law enforcement to respond.
In November 2024, Gunlock and his girlfriend were staying at the Legends Hotel Casino in Toppenish, Washington. While in their room, Gunlock put his hands on his girlfriend’s neck and strangled her. After Gunlock stopped strangling his girlfriend, she left the hotel room and went to the hotel lobby. While sitting in the hotel lobby, the girlfriend was crying and gasping for air. Legends employees approached the girlfriend and called for law enforcement to respond. Gunlock’s strangulation assault left red marks on her neck that were still visible to law enforcement later that evening.
In asking for the 2-year sentence, Assistant United States Attorney Bree Black Horse noted that Gunlock has repeatedly assaulted and threatened to harm his girlfriend and members of her family if she left Gunlock or did not act had he directed. AUSA Black Horse argued that the 2-year sentence of imprisonment in a federal facility followed by 3 years of supervised release as well as a federal no-contact order with his girlfriend would deter future acts of Intimate Partner Violence perpetrated by Gunlock against his girlfriend.
At the sentencing hearing Judge Dimke noted that at the time of his arrest, Gunlock was located at his girlfriend’s residence in violation of a state court domestic violence protection order and that he had pressured her not to cooperate with state and federal authorities pursuing domestic violence assault charges against him. The Court specifically noted text messages from Gunlock indicating that he believed if his girlfriend did not show up to court that domestic violence charges against him would be “dropped.” In sentencing Gunlock to 2 years imprisonment, the Court stated it wanted to send a message that it takes domestic violence crimes on the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation seriously, and that interfering with the criminal justice system and demonstrating a lack of respect for court orders would result in serious consequences.
“Protecting victims and ensuring their safety is a top priority for our office, particularly in cases involving intimate partner violence in Indian Country,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “This prosecution reflects our ongoing commitment to working with Tribal partners to hold offenders accountable and to disrupt cycles of abuse that threaten the safety and well-being of Native women. Prosecution of MMIP-adjacent cases like this one is critical to protecting our Tribal communities throughout Eastern Washington.”
“Mr. Gunlock’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s continued commitment to the safety of the state’s tribal communities,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Domestic violence cannot and will not be tolerated, and the FBI will continue to work diligently with our partners to bring justice for the victims of these deplorable crimes.”
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP and MMIP-related cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bree Black Horse.
1:25-cr-02005-MKD
Texas Man Sentenced to 48 Months for Stealing from ATMsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Houston, Tx., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in bank burglary and bank theft conspiracies involving the theft of United States currency from an automated teller machine (ATM) in Ozark, Mo.
Nigel Dwayne Luchin, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 48 months in federal prison without parole. He was also ordered to pay $175,700 in restitution to the bank in Ozark, Mo., a bank in Seekonk, Ma., and a bank in LaVale, Md.
Luchin was charged on Aug. 28, 2024, in a six-count superseding indictment, along with two other Texas men. The federal indictment alleges that Luchin, and his co-conspirators participated in a conspiracy to commit bank burglary and a conspiracy to commit bank theft from Oct. 3 to Nov. 8, 2023.
On Nov. 7, 2024, Luchin pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit bank burglary, bank burglary, conspiracy to commit bank theft, and bank theft.
Luchin admitted during his plea that early in the morning on Oct. 30, 2023, he and his co-conspirators used a stolen white Ford F-250 to destroy an ATM. The conspirators used a tow chain and two large hooks to dismantle the door to the ATM by pulling the chain and hooks with the stolen pickup truck. They stole $30,700 from the ATM, left the bank, and abandoned the pickup nearby.
Investigators reviewed surveillance videos from businesses in the area where the Ford F-250 was stolen. The videos allegedly showed conspirators arriving at the area in two vehicles – a Chrysler Voyager minivan and a Toyota Highlander – and leaving the area with the stolen pickup. Both the Voyager and the Highlander were identified on a license plate reader and traced to two car rental agencies in Houston. Later the same day, a license plate reader in Houston captured both of those vehicles traveling in the same direction.
Ozark police officers searched the stolen pickup truck and found Luchin’s Texas identification card on the driver’s seat.
Using Luchin’s phone data, the FBI was able to determine that Luchin was present when the truck was stolen, and at the ATM burglary. Using that same phone data, the FBI connected Luchin to an ATM burglary in Seekonk, Ma. that occurred on Oct. 28, 2023, and an attempted ATM burglary in LaVale, Md. that occurred on Oct. 29, 2023.
Luchin is the first of two defendants who have pleaded guilty in this case to be sentenced. One of his co-defendants, Christopher Merchant, pleaded guilty on March 11, 2025.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the FBI, the Ozark, Mo., Police Department, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.
Suburban Chicago Man Indicted for Allegedly Fraudulently Obtaining Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago man has been charged in federal court with fraudulently obtaining Social Security benefits in the name of his deceased father.
A grand jury sitting in Chicago has indicted RICHARD YOUNG, JR., 61, of Maywood, Ill., on four counts of bank fraud and one count of embezzlement of government funds. Young pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim in Chicago. A status hearing before U.S. District Judge John F. Kness has been scheduled for July 23, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
According to the indictment, Young’s father died in 2006. Seven years later, Young filed an application with the Social Security Administration for benefits in the name of his deceased father. Unaware that the purported applicant was deceased, the Social Security Administration granted the application and began issuing benefits, eventually paying them via direct deposit into a bank account in the deceased father’s name, the indictment states. From 2015 to 2021, Young accessed approximately $178,683 from the account and used the money to make purchases at casinos, restaurants, gas stations, retail stores, and elsewhere, the indictment states.
The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit at the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Niranjan Emani.
“The indictment accuses Mr. Young of fraudulently obtaining benefits for years from a critically important retirement program,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Social Security fraud threatens the very foundation of a program that many millions of hard-working Americans depend upon in retirement—and which taxpayers fund through their hard-earned income. My Office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute anyone who seeks to fraudulently obtain Social Security or other program benefits.”
The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in federal prison, while the embezzlement count is punishable by up to ten years.
young_indictment.pdfStockton Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-ShamRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ammaad Akhtar, 33, of Stockton, was arrested today and charged by complaint with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced.
According to court documents, since February 2025, Akhtar has been communicating online with a law enforcement-controlled individual, whom Akhtar believed was a member of ISIS. In these conversations, Akhtar voiced his support for ISIS and jihad, expressed a desire to travel overseas to join and fight with ISIS, and stated a desire to send guns and money to ISIS.
In April 2025, during this investigation, Akhtar demonstrated a desire to provide support of ISIS and did so by providing financial funding on multiple occasions. After a few payments, the law enforcement-controlled individual indicated that ISIS had procured several guns with the money Akhtar had sent. In his response, Akhtar said, “may Allah destroy our enemies” and affirmed that he will send more money that same day.
Akhtar also talked about planning acts of violence, including conducting an attack against a specific individual and an attack utilizing homemade explosives. He said he “want[s] to die in the cause of Allah fighting the kuffar [infidels]” and asked for instructions on how to make a homemade explosive device in order “to make a boom” at a populated event.
Then, on June 23, 2025, Akhtar met with an individual he believed was an ISIS associate, but who was actually an undercover employee. Akhtar provided clothing, binoculars, $400 cash, two loaded guns, and six additional magazines. Akhtar then swore bayat (a pledge of loyalty) to ISIS.
This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Field Offices in New York and Sacramento and the New York City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wong and Trial Attorney Ryan D. White of the National Security Division are prosecuting the case.
If convicted, Akhtar faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
St. Louis County Man Admits Drug, Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County on Tuesday admitted recording his sexual activity with a 13-year-old and possessing fentanyl.
Tyler Jacob Staub, 24, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams of more of fentanyl.
As part of his plea agreement, Staub admitted engaging in sexual activity with the victim, and recording those acts on his phone.
On June 22, 2023, the St. Charles County Police Department was notified about a missing 13-year-old. The victim’s parents said she may be with someone driving a red or black Ford Mustang. Officers spotted a Mustang idling down the street from the victim’s home and found Staub and the victim inside. They also found a Glock pistol, an AR-style pistol and two bags containing fentanyl tablets.
The victim told investigators that she’d met Staub online about two months earlier via Snapchat. She began meeting him in person three or four weeks earlier.
Staub’s sentencing is set for September 24. The child pornography charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both prison and a fine. The fentanyl possession charge carries a penalty of at least five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years, as well as a fine of up to $5 million.
The St. Charles County Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Shelton Man Admits Defrauding Pandemic Relief ProgramRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, and Harry Chavis, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that TONY STERLIN CANTAVE, 45, of Shelton, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven for defrauding a COVID-19 pandemic relief program.
In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the distribution of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”), through the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), which provided working capital to eligible small businesses to meet operating expenses.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2020, Cantave applied for EIDL funding through the SBA. The application contained a number of materially false statements, including that the business for which Cantave sought the loan, Arbitrage 1 Media, was an ongoing, legitimate business involved in the limousine and transportation business, and that he was not more than 60 days delinquent in his child support obligations. After the SBA reviewed and approved the fraudulent EIDL application, Cantave received $96,200. He then used the proceeds from the loan to pay for personal and non-business expenses, including $16,607.26 to pay off an automobile loan.
Cantave pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money and one count of making an illegal monetary transaction. Each charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
Cantave has agreed to pay $104,176.21 in restitution.
Cantave is released pending sentencing, which is not scheduled.
Cantave has two prior federal convictions. In December 1999, he was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 18 months of imprisonment for a firearm offense, and in February 2015, he was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 13 months of imprisonment for his participation in a U.S. Postal Service money order fraud scheme.
This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.
Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Seven Dallas-area family members plead guilty to Paycheck Protection Program fraud schemeRead the Press Release
Seven family members from the Dallas area pled guilty to participating in a fraud scheme to obtain federal funds through the Paycheck Protection Program, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
The seven defendants were indicted in December 2023 for conspiracy and wire fraud related to forgivable federal loans they obtained through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”)—a program created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which provided emergency financial assistance to existing small businesses.
According to plea documents, the PPP loan applications that were submitted falsely claimed each family member was a sole proprietor with a monthly payroll of approximately $8,000. Purported tax documents filed in support of the applications provided additional false details about the sole proprietorships, including the type of businesses and annual net profits. PPP loans were approved and deposited into the family members’ personal bank accounts. In their plea papers, each family member admitted to receiving federal funds issued to non-existent businesses.
On Wednesday, June 18, six of the defendants pled guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud: • Lori Jackson, 63
• Saidrick Jackson, 61
• Saidrick Jackson II, 36
• Saundria Jackson, 36
• D’Andria Todd, 46
• Bianca Williams, 33Today, the seventh charged individual, Valencia Williams, 53, also pled guilty to the conspiracy. Each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison. Their sentencing dates have not been set.
The Environmental Protection Agency – Office of the Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Douglas and Marty Basu are prosecuting the case.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Garrow, age 39, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty on June 9 to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
Garrow admitted to trafficking drugs for several months in 2024. In May 2024, officers arrested Garrow on unrelated state arrest warrants and discovered cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and a revolver in his backpack.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Gun-toting drug dealers should be afraid – not just of dying in the streets as a result of their chosen profession, but of swift and decisive federal prosecution that will put them behind bars for many years. Schenectady County will be safer with this criminal off the streets.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller stated: “Protecting the public from violent crime remains one of our highest priorities. This case reflects how illegal firearms and drug trafficking often go hand in hand, creating serious threats to our communities. Strong partnerships with local law enforcement are essential to disrupting these dangerous networks and holding offenders accountable. ATF New York thanks our partners from the Schenectady PD, the Schenectady County DA’s Office & U.S. Attorney’s Office of Northern District of NY for their continued dedication to public safety and collaboration in pursuit of justice.”
Schenectady County District Attorney Robert M. Carney stated: “We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its successful prosecution of Mr. Garrow, who did present a real danger to our community. I know that Assistant District Attorney James Faucher from our Major Crimes Bureau worked closely with federal authorities to help shape this case for federal prosecution based on his knowledge of Mr. Garrow’s activities from other matters. We have over my tenure as DA often referred gun cases to federal prosecutors and I thank Mr. Sarcone for continuing that association.”
At sentencing, Garrow faces a prison term of at least 10 years and up to life, and a supervised release term of at least 4 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.
ATF investigated the case with assistance from the Schenectady Police Department and the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Romance scheme fraudsters sentenced for $3 million conspiracyRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A Houston couple have been sentenced for wire fraud and conspiracy for a romance scheme targeting citizens nationwide, many of whom were elderly, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Darlington Akporugo, 47, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud Feb 28. His wife, Jasmin Sood aka Jaslynn Washington, 37, entered her plea to the same charges Dec. 17, 2024.
U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge has imposed a 188-month-term of imprisonment for Akporugo, while Sood received 121 months. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following their sentences and pay full restitution of $3,123,073.
At the hearing, four victims testified about the couple’s persistent lies and false promises, which led them to send large sums of money. One victim told the court how the pair coerced her into buying a luxury vehicle and renting a mansion for them. Authorities arrested the couple while they were driving the victim’s vehicle and living in her rented home. In handing down the sentence, the court described the scheme as heartless and far-reaching, noting Akporugo and Sood deliberately targeted older women, including several widows. Judge Eskridge highlighted the financial devastation left in their wake and commended the victims for their courage in coming forward.
Akporugo admitted to being a central figure in a long-running romance scheme based in Houston that targeted victims from Chicago to Kentucky. He and others to lured victims through online romances and convinced them to send money to bank accounts he controlled. Sood created fake businesses and bank accounts under aliases and used disguises to deposit the funds.
To carry out the scheme, Akporugo and his co-conspirators used fake names on social media to gain victims’ trust and persuade them to invest in non-existent businesses or provide funds for invented personal circumstances. Akporugo admitted to directing victims-mostly older individuals-to send money through platforms like Facebook. The funds were spent extravagantly or passed to co-defendants.
He also admitted to having victims open lines of credit in his name and, in one case, purchase a luxury vehicle for his personal use. Authorities identified over 25 victims during the multi-year scheme.
Losses from the fraud ring’s operation total more than $3 million.
“Investigating and prosecuting those that perpetuate romance scams—particularly those who target the lonely elderly—will always be a priority for the Southern District of Texas,” said Ganjei. “We applaud those victims courageous enough to notify authorities, and we encourage others who have been victimized to similarly come forward. Together, we may stop the next fraudster.”
“Romance scams and other financial schemes like this exploit our nation’s elderly and vulnerable populations out of their hard-earned retirement savings and other critical funding that they need to survive,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI). “As a result, they are often left emotionally devastated and financially ruined with limited options for recovery once the money has been laundered out of the U.S. Thanks to the courage of the victims in this case who came forward quickly to report it to law enforcement, we were able to successfully track down the two criminals responsible and hold them accountable before they could take advantage of additional victims.”
Both will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
ICE-HSI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter prosecuted the case.
Rockford Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison on Drug Trafficking and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and possessing a loaded firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities.
JOVINO RAMIREZ, 35, pleaded guilty earlier this year to knowingly and intentionally possessing cocaine and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and possessing a loaded handgun in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Ramirez to 78 months in federal prison.
Ramirez admitted in a plea agreement that following a traffic stop in May 2024 he was in possession of a bag containing 19.1 grams of cocaine and 1.9 grams of methamphetamine, which he tried to conceal during his encounter with the police. He also possessed a loaded handgun beneath the driver’s seat of his vehicle. Ramirez admitted he intended to sell the cocaine that he possessed.
The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Christopher C. Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The Illinois State Police provided assistance in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew M. Rosati and Lisa R. Munch.
Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.
Republic Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearms and Threats Against Law EnforcementRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Republic, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 18, 2025, for illegally possessing firearms and threats against law enforcement. The indictment was unsealed and made public today following his arrest and initial court appearance.
Franklin E. Brownlee, 40, was charged with attempted destruction of an aircraft, being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of firearms, and transmitting a threat to injure law enforcement across state lines. The indictment specifically alleges that, on March 27, 2025, Brownlee attempted to destroy an unmanned aerial system operated by the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, illegally possessed a Glock pistol and a Remington shotgun knowing that he was an unlawful user of a controlled substance, and knowingly & willfully transmitted a threat to injure law enforcement in interstate and foreign commerce.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Repeat Domestic Abuser Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assaulting and Strangling His PartnerRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington announced today that Anthony John Maldonado, age 32, was sentenced after pleading guilty to assaulting his partner. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed a sentence of 15 months to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. The Court also issued a 3-year federal no-contact order for the protection of the victim following Maldonado’s term of imprisonment.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on April 6, 2024, Maldonado and his partner E.J., were at E.J.’s apartment in Wapato, Washington, when they began to argue in a bedroom. During the argument, Maldonado punched E.J in the head and she fell to the floor. Maldonado kicked and punched E.J. while she was on the floor. Maldonado then began to strangle E.J. once she was on the ground. E.J. then bit Maldonado on the arm and escaped to the kitchen where she called the police.
Maldonado consistently assaulted and harassed E.J. during their eight-year relationship resulting in domestic violence charges and convictions in Yakama Nation Tribal Court. Just two months before the assault that resulted in federal charges, Maldonado entered into a Deferred Sentence Agreement in Yakama Nation Tribal Court on domestic violence charges that included a requirement that he not “harm or harass E.J.” At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Bastian found that the Yakama Nation Tribal Court “no harm or harass order” in place at the time of the strangulation assault represented a “court protection order” under the Violence Against Women Act.
At sentencing, MMIP Assistant United States Attorney Bree Black Horse stated “an assault involving non-fatal strangulation is a very serious offense,” explaining that “research shows a history of non-fatal strangulation is one of the most accurate predictors for the subsequent homicide of victims of domestic violence.” ASUA Black Horse also highlighted that “Indigenous women like the victim in this case experience crime victimization and Intimate Partner Violence at higher rates than non-Indian people,” and that “Intimate Partner Violence is an important factor in the rates of homicide in Tribal communities, particularly for Indigenous women and girls.”
“The pattern of traumatic abuse and domestic violence Mr. Maldonado inflicted on his partner is unconscionable, and the FBI will remain steadfast in its dedication to rooting out this type of violence in our tribal communities,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “I am proud of the work of our investigators and Tribal partners to ensure Mr. Maldonado was held accountable for his actions.”
This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP and MMIP-related cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.
This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse.
1:24-cr-02057-SAB
Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A Boston man, who is a Level 3 sex offender, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Bryan Horgan, 59, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography before U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani who scheduled sentencing for Sept. 18, 2025. Horgan was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025 after being charged by complaint and arrested on April 26, 2024. He has remained in custody since that time.
Horgan was identified as the owner of a Microsoft account uploading CSAM. During a search of Horgan’s residence, law enforcement identified an electronic device that was found to contain several video files of CSAM depicting children as young as infants. Another device contained filenames with words and phrases indicative of CSAM.
Horgan was previously convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of rape of a child, assault to rape a child, indecent assault and battery on a child, disseminating obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography.
Due to Horgan’s prior convictions, the charge of possession of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime 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 Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Previously convicted felon sentenced to over five years in prison for illegally possessing a firearmRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Henrico County man was sentenced today to five years and three months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents, on Aug. 15, 2024, Henrico County Police responded to a report of gunshots at an apartment complex where Michael Anthony Nolan, 35, had been arguing with his ex-girlfriend. On arriving, officers observed Nolan, who was intoxicated, standing in the apartment complex's parking lot next to the driver-side door of a vehicle inside which officers observed a handgun on the floorboard.
In 2010, Nolan was convicted of robbing and attempting to rob pizza delivery drivers with a knife, and subsequently found guilty of two felony probation violations. As a previously convicted felon, Nolan cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Eric D. English, Chief of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. McGorman prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-179.
Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking ViolationsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 72 months of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Eric Gerome Clancy, 38.
According to information presented to the Court, on May 15, 2024, following a stop for traffic violations by Mt. Lebanon police and a subsequent search of Clancy’s vehicle, officers discovered nine “bricks” containing a mixture of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and xylazine. Officers also recovered from the vehicle several ounces of crack and powder cocaine, as well as a scale, in addition to finding a large amount of U.S. currency on Clancy. At the time of the offense, Clancy was on federal supervised release following a 90-month sentence in federal prison for a drug trafficking and firearms conviction.
Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Mt. Lebanon Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Clancy.
Pittsburgh Felon Indicted for Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The one-count Indictment named Raymont Tyrone Dillard, 36, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on December 30, 2024, Dillard possessed a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon.
The law provides for a sentence of not less than 15 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Mark V. Gurzo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Aaron Lee Mitter, 39, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a quantity of methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 11, 2024, Mitter sold approximately 24.52 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $280. As part of his guilty plea, Mitter admitted to the transaction. Mitter further admitted to selling an unregistered privately made firearm, commonly known as a “ghost gun,” and a magazine capable of holding 45 rounds of ammunition that day for $400.
On July 17, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Parkersburg apartment where Mitter was staying at the time. Officers seized approximately 45.67 grams of methamphetamine in the apartment during the search. Mitter admitted that he intended to use some of the seized methamphetamine and distribute the rest.
Mitter is scheduled to be sentenced on September 22, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Wood County Sheriff's Office, and the Parkersburg Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum is prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-182.
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Pensacola Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for MacHinegun Possession and Drug Trafficking OffensesRead the Press Release
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Antoine Booker, Jr., 21, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for trafficking in large amounts of marijuana and possessing a loaded machinegun in Escambia County. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
“The public should rest assured that law enforcement will not stand for armed drug traffickers endangering citizens in our streets. If you possess a machinegun to protect your drug trafficking operations, you should know that federal prison awaits you,” stated United States Attorney Heekin.
Court documents reflect that on December 6, 2023, Booker fled from the Florida Highway Patrol at a high rate of speed during an attempted traffic stop in Pensacola. After driving down the wrong side of the road and throwing drugs out of his window, Booker collided with a curb on Pensacola Boulevard, and his vehicle overturned. The vehicle chase involved Booker driving approximately 100 miles per hour on heavily trafficked streets. As law enforcement approached the overturned vehicle, Booker crawled out and was caught in possession of the firearm. The firearm was a Glock 9 millimeter pistol, which was modified with a “conversion device” that rendered it an automatic firing machinegun. The machinegun contained 32 rounds of ammunition in its chamber and extended high-capacity magazine. Law enforcement also located a large amount of marijuana, multiple digital scales for weighing and distributing the marijuana, and other illicit substances.
“Had it not been for law enforcement’s training and determination, this armed suspect would have undoubtedly wreaked havoc in Northwest Florida,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge Kirk Howard. “We are proud of the partnerships we’ve built with Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and our federal prosecutors.”
The case involved a joint investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Florida Highway Patrol; the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office; and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Omak Man Who Shot at a Person on the Colville Reservation Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that William Luquin Xhurape, 34, of Omak, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to a charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 57 months in prison to be followed 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on April 1, 2024, Xhurape, who is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess firearms, pulled out a .22 caliber handgun and fired six shots into the ground outside the front door of a trailer on the Colville Reservation. Xhurape then pointed the firearm at the head of a person inside the trailer and fired two shots. The person quickly moved to avoid the shots.
“I am grateful for the excellent partnership between the FBI, Tribal Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office on this case,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney, Rich Barker. When we share information and work together, we can achieve so much in our efforts toward public safety within Eastern Washington’s incredible Native American nations and communities.
“As a convicted felon, Mr. Xhurape was well aware of the consequences of possessing a firearm,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “His reckless use of a weapon nearly ended in tragedy, and I am thankful no one was injured. The FBI and our partners continue to strive together towards making our state’s tribal lands a safer place.”
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Colville Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Ellis.
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Ohio Man Sentenced to More Than 8.5 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm ConvictionsRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Youngstown, Ohio, has been sentenced in federal court to 106 months in prison on his conviction of armed drug trafficking, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon imposed the sentence on Antoine Tate, 44, who previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and oxycodone and possession of a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. Judge Bissoon also ordered that Tate serve six years of supervised release following his prison sentence.
According to information presented to the Court, on October 31, 2020, in New Castle, Pennsylvania, Tate recklessly attempted to flee police officers by vehicle, and was apprehended in possession of a loaded pistol and quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and oxycodone that he intended to distribute, as well as over $2,000 in cash.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Union Township Police Department, New Castle Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Tate.
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on June 18, 2025, JENARD WALTON aka Janard Walton (“WALTON”), age 41, of New Orleans, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to 37 months imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms. Following imprisonment, walton will be placed on supervised release for three (3) years.
According to court records, on March 19, 2024, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at WALTON’s residence. During the search, agents found a Springfield, nine-millimeter caliber semi-automatic pistol, in a kitchen cabinet wrapped in a towel. In the kitchen, they also found approximately one and a half pounds of marijuana. Additionally, the agents located a hidden compartment under a set of stairs leading to the second story. In this hidden compartment, they found a Smith and Wesson, .40 caliber pistol, and approximately $37,941 of U.S. currency. The Smith & Wesson firearm was confirmed to have been stolen. A records check showed that WALTON was a convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms. Court records confirmed that WALTON had at least five felony convictions, including a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Slidell Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit.
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New Orleans Man Indicted for Cares Act Fraud and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that IRVIN C. FRANCOIS, III (“FRANCOIS”), age 53, of New Orleans, was indicted on June 20, 2025 for making false statements, and money laundering, related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed into law the CARES Act, which provided emergency assistance, administered by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), to small business owners affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. One of the primary sources of funding for small businesses was the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
According to the charging documents, or about March 24, 2021, FRANCOIS, on behalf of a business that he owned, made false statements to an approved lender to obtain approximately $144,790 for a PPP loan. FRANCOIS then committed money laundering by using these ill-gotten funds to buy an automobile from a dealership in Kenner, Louisiana.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If found guilty, FRANCOIS faces up to five years in prison for the false statement count and up to ten years in prison for the money laundering count. All of the counts include up to $250,000 in fines, up to three years of supervised release and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
This case was investigated by an agent assigned to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to serve the American public by promoting transparency and facilitating coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 21 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending. The PRAC Fraud Task Force brings together agents from 15 Inspectors General to investigate fraud involving a variety of programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program. Task force agents who are detailed to the PRAC receive expanded authority to investigate pandemic fraud as well as tools and training to support their investigations.
Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General (a member of the PRAC) and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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New Britain Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that HENRY MENESES JR., 32, of New Britain, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to a fentanyl trafficking offense.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a Drug Enforcement Administration Hartford Task Force investigation revealed that Meneses was selling large quantities of fentanyl in the Hartford area. On January 6, 2025, Meneses distributed 6,000 dose bags of fentanyl to an individual who had driven from Vermont to pick up the drugs. On February 25, 2025, investigators made a controlled purchase of 3,000 dose bags of fentanyl from Meneses on Franklin Avenue in Hartford.
Meneses was arrested on March 25, 2025. On that date, searches of his residence and vehicle revealed two handguns, five gun magazines, ammunition, and more than $6,000 in cash.
Meneses pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Judge Hall scheduled sentencing for September 16.
Meneses is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, Middletown, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has assisted the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reed Durham through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Nation’s Largest Property Management Company to Pay over $1.4M for Unlawful Charges on Military ServicemembersRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today that Greystar Management Services LLC will pay over $1.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) when it imposed illegal fees on military servicemembers who terminated their leases after receiving military relocation orders.
The Department alleged that Greystar, the nation’s largest property management company with over 800,000 housing units under management, relied on software that it knew would automatically impose early termination charges on SCRA-protected servicemembers.
Greystar will set aside $1.35 million to pay affected military members and their co-tenants and will pay a $77,370 civil penalty. Greystar will pay triple damages to the servicemembers who paid the early termination charges. The company will also make changes to its policies and training, including adopting SCRA-compliant software and forms at all its properties.
“We honor the service and sacrifices of our military by defending their rights under the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are aggressively enforcing all laws, including the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, to protect our military servicemembers and veterans.”
“America’s servicemembers devote their lives to defending our nation and must be able to do so without undue burdens,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protects our military families from unfair hardships such as penalties for terminating a housing lease to fulfill military orders. We will continue to defend and support those who keep our country safe.”
The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $483 million in monetary relief for over 148,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
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Nation’s Largest Property Management Company to Pay over $1.4M for Unlawful Charges on Military ServicemembersRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today that Greystar Management Services LLC will pay over $1.4 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) when it imposed illegal fees on military servicemembers who terminated their leases after receiving military relocation orders.
The Department alleged that Greystar, the nation’s largest property management company with over 800,000 housing units under management, relied on software that it knew would automatically impose early termination charges on SCRA-protected servicemembers.
Greystar will set aside $1.35 million to pay affected military members and their co-tenants and will pay a $77,370 civil penalty. Greystar will pay triple damages to the servicemembers who paid the early termination charges. The company will also make changes to its policies and training, including adopting SCRA-compliant software and forms at all its properties.
“We honor the service and sacrifices of our military by defending their rights under the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We are aggressively enforcing all laws, including the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, to protect our military servicemembers and veterans.”
“America’s servicemembers devote their lives to defending our nation and must be able to do so without undue burdens,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protects our military families from unfair hardships such as penalties for terminating a housing lease to fulfill military orders. We will continue to defend and support those who keep our country safe.”
The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $483 million in monetary relief for over 148,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.
Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA may have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil.
Monaca Resident Sentenced to Two Decades in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Obstructing JusticeRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Monaca, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 20 years of incarceration, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his convictions for sexual exploitation of a minor and obstructing justice, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV imposed the sentence on Nicholas Sittig, 28, on June 23, 2025.
According to information presented to the Court, from in and around August 2023 until in and around April 2024, Sittig induced a minor, who resided in California, to produce a visual depiction of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct for Sittig’s sexual gratification. In and around December 2023, when Sittig became aware that federal law enforcement officers were investigating him, Sittig induced the minor to aid him in destroying records and documents related to his sexual offenses against the minor—namely, his contact information in the minor’s cellular telephone and social media messages between himself and the minor—with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation. The Court was further advised that agents with Homeland Security Investigations had identified a second minor, residing in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, whom Sittig similarly exploited online from December 2023 through March 2024.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Stickman acknowledged the seriousness of Sittig’s offenses and the harm Sittig caused his minor victims.
Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended Homeland Security Investigations—Pittsburgh, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (San Francisco and Pittsburgh), the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and the Monaca Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Sittig.
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.justice.gov/psc.
Missouri Man Admits Trying to Meet Teen for SexRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from Jefferson County, Missouri on Tuesday admitted trying to meet a 16-year-old to engage in sexual activity.
Anthony Justin Snelson, 39, of Arnold, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted receipt of child pornography. He admitted engaging in an inappropriate conversation via TikTok with a teen. After the victim’s mother discovered the conversation, she took it over and began impersonating the victim. She later had her daughter call Snelson, who requested a nude photo and asked if the victim wanted to meet and “mess around,” Snelson’s plea says. The mother called the St. Louis County Police Department on Aug. 12, 2024, after a meeting had been arranged, and officers arrested Snelson when he arrived. He admitted in an interview with police that the reason he met with the teen was “to maybe mess around,” his plea says.
Snelson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 30. The charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of five years, and a maximum of 20 years.
The St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lang is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Michigan Man Sentenced to 204 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Justin Jack Miller, 30 years old, of Escanaba, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to production and attempted production of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Miller was sentenced to 204 months in prison and ordered to serve life on supervised release.According to documents in the case, between August 2022 and September 2022, Miller misrepresented himself as a 14-year-old male using a the social media application to knowingly persuade and entice, and attempt to persuade and entice a minor under the age of twelve to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Valparaiso Police Department, the Indiana State Police, the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Wisconsin Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Michigan State Police, and the Escanaba Department of Public Safety. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nadia D. Wardrip.
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Michigan City Man Sentenced to 84 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Davon Jaqurious Coleman, 21 years old, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Coleman was sentenced to 84 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.According to documents in the case, police conducted a traffic stop in Michigan City and found Coleman in possession of a stolen loaded firearm with an extended magazine. Coleman has prior felony convictions for robbery, and as such, he is prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Michigan City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Michigan City Man Sentenced to 100 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
HAMMOND – Last week, Sergio Gamez, 33 years old, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon on his plea of guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay.
Gamez was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release.According to documents in the case, Gamez was in possession of a firearm. At that time, Gamez knew he had multiple prior felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing the firearm.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, the Hammond Police Department and the Highland Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Caitlin M. Padula.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Miami Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for $2.3 Million COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced David Godin, 34, of Miami, Florida, aka “James St Patrick,” “David Wetty,” and “Vic Pro,” to 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Godin pled guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to defraud the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) and California Employment Development Department (CA-EDD). Judge Maddox also ordered Godin to pay a forfeiture money judgment of $1,087,345.66 and restitution of $1,137,894.56.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office.
According to the plea agreement, from June 2020 through November 2023, Godin engaged in a sophisticated scheme to defraud the MD-DOL and CA-EDD by using the personal identifiable information of identity theft victims, anonymous email addresses, virtual private networks, and proxy servers. This enabled Godin to file numerous fraudulent unemployment insurance (UI) claims with multiple states from a single location; aggregate UI information in discrete accounts; and avoid fraud safeguards put in place by state UI insurance programs.
Godin submitted and caused the submission of at least 140 fraudulent UI claims to MD-DOL, CA-EDD, and other state workforce agencies, resulting in more than $2.3 million in UI benefits. He obtained well over $1 million through the fraud scheme. As the United States set forth in its sentencing submission, Godin used the money to buy nice things and live a life of luxury. Godin then recorded himself with the spoils of his fraud, including stacks of cash, expensive watches, and sports cars.
The District of Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds.
For more information about the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG and IRS-CI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bijon A. Mostoufi and Jared Murphy, who prosecuted the case, and recognized Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for her assistance and legal support.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Mexico, Missouri Man Sentenced to 160 months for Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Mexico, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Jordan Shelton, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 160 months in federal prison without parole for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. The Court also sentenced Shelton to four years of supervised release following incarceration.
On Jan. 21, 2025, Shelton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
On Aug. 10, 2022, members of the Columbia Police Department and Mexico Police Department served a search warrant at Shelton’s residence in Mexico, Mo., after he was identified as a supplier of fentanyl capsules. During the search, 47 capsules containing fentanyl were recovered, as well as fentanyl powder.
This case was prosecuted by AUSA, Jim Lynn. It was investigated by Columbia Police Department, Mexico Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Mexican national sentenced to federal prison for immigration violationRead the Press Release
A Mexican national has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
David Sanchez-Mares, 32, a Mexican national illegally living in Longview, pleaded guilty to illegally reentering the United States after having been previously deported and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on June 23, 2025.
According to information presented in court, on April 4, 2024, Sanchez-Mares was arrested in Longview for an unrelated state violation. Further investigation revealed Sanchez-Mares had been previously convicted in the Southern District of Texas for illegally reentering the United States after having been previously deported in 2018.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Longview Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble.
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Mexican Drug Trafficker Caught with 84 Pounds of Methamphetamine and Thousands of Fentanyl Pills Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker announced that Jose Bautista Andrade, age 46, of Mexico, was sentenced after pleading guilty to fentanyl trafficking charges. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed a sentence of 132 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) developed information that Andrade was working for drug dealer based in Mexico. Andrade would make regular trips to pick up dugs in California, store the drugs at his home and storage units in the Yakima area, then deliver the drugs to customers in Western Washington and accept payment from customers.
In October and November 2023, the FBI conducted two controlled purchases for total of four pounds of methamphetamine from Andrade. Both purchases took place at the Tacoma mall.
On February 6, 2024, law enforcement agents executed search warrants at Andrade’s home and a storage unit. In total, agents located nearly 5 pounds of fentanyl pills, approximately 84 pounds of methamphetamine, and four firearms.
At the sentencing hearing Chief Judge Bastian noted the large amount of drugs in this case and that Andrade was a major player in the drug trafficking operation.
“Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Seal did an outstanding job bringing this case to a successful resolution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “His meticulous preparation and tenacious advocacy ensured that a major fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficker was held accountable. Prosecuting cases like this—where the scale of drug trafficking threatens the health and safety of entire communities—is essential to our mission, and AUSA Seal’s work exemplifies the dedication and excellence we strive for in the Eastern District of Washington.”
“Even in small quantities, fentanyl and other dangerous drugs can kill, destroying lives and devastating communities. However, Mr. Bautista Andrade was found to possess not small quantities but several dozen pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “By removing this drug trafficker and his supplies from the streets, our investigators have undoubtedly made Yakima a safer place. I am grateful to them for their diligent work on this case and continued dedication to removing this toxin from our neighborhoods.”
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin D. Seal.
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Maryland Man Convicted of Two Convenience Store Robberies and Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
A man who was previously convicted of robbing the Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust on Council Street in Cedar Rapids on January 3, 2024, pled guilty to additional charges today in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Andrew Philip Derr, age 22, from Fredrick, Maryland, was convicted of Two Convenience Store Robberies and Money Laundering.
In a plea agreement, Derr admitted that after being discharged from the military for misconduct in 2023, he moved to Iowa City and conducted a series of robberies in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, area. Derr admitted that on December 27, 2023, he robbed the Casey’s General Store in Robins, Iowa, and obtained over $7,000 in cash. Derr admitted that on January 1, 2024, he robbed the Kum & Go store on Four Oaks Drive in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Derr was previously convicted and sentenced for robbing the Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust branch on Council Street in Cedar Rapids on January 3, 2024, in which he obtained over $16,000 in cash. Derr admitted that after each robbery he laundered the stolen funds by making multiple deposits into his Maryland Bank account to disguise the nature, source of ownership of the funds. Ultimately on January 3, 2024, Derr flew to Maryland, and subsequently made two deposits of robbery proceeds totaling more than $4,800. When the United States Marshals Service tried to arrest Derr at his Iowa City, Iowa, apartment, they found a note stating, “Catch me if you can.” On January 12, 2024, Derr turned himself into Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Derr remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Derr faces a possible maximum sentence of 60 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. Additionally, Derr must forfeit the stolen funds from the convenience store robberies and the money that he laundered and will be required to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick J. Reinert and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the United States Marshals Service’s Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, Robins Police Department, Linn County Attorney’s Office, the University of Iowa Police Department and the Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-00105
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Man Convicted of Carjacking Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On Friday, June 20, 2025, a federal jury convicted Joseph Payne-Pabón for carjacking resulting in death of an 82-year-old woman on January 7, 2020, in the municipality of San Juan.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on January 7, 2020, Joseph Payne-Pabón, a 34-year-old homeless man, entered the home of Eulalia Combas Sancho during the blackout resulting from the earthquakes, violently killed her and took her Hyundai Sonata. The evidence showed that Mr. Payne Pabón used a cement block to hit the victim in the back of the head causing a fracture to her skull and trauma to her brain that resulted in her death. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 10, 2025, at 10:30 am before United States District Court Judge Aida M. Delgado-Colón.
“This verdict is a direct result of the tireless efforts and outstanding work of agents and officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, and federal prosecutors and professional staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “I commend their exceptional efforts and dedication from the beginning of the investigation of the carjacking and murder of the victim to the guilty verdict at trial.”
“This verdict reflects our community’s intolerance for senseless acts of violence, and our commitment to bring violent offenders who endanger innocent persons to justice,” said Gordon Mallory, Acting Special Agent in Charge of ATF Miami Field Division. “In partnership with the US Attorney’s Office in San Juan, the Puerto Rico Police Department, and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, Mr. Payne-Pabón is being held accountable for his violent, and life-altering actions. It is our hope that this conviction can bring some closure to the victim’s family.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Police Bureau and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeanette M. Collazo-Ortiz and César Rivera-Díaz prosecuted the case.
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Mexican Woman Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Griselda Vazquez-Duran, 46, of the country of Mexico was sentenced yesterday to six months in prison after previously pleading guilty to illegal reentry of a removed alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
According to court records, Vazquez-Duran was discovered to be illegally in the United States after she was encountered in Leon County, Florida, and arrested by the Florida Highway Patrol for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license. Upon being booked into the Leon County Jail, Vazquez-Duran was fingerprinted. Based on her fingerprints, law enforcement determined that she was a Mexican national who had been previously deported or removed from the United States in June 2013. Vazquez-Duran had not applied for nor obtained permission from the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to reenter the United States.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi have made enforcing our nation’s immigration laws a top priority, and my office will continue to aggressively pursue these cases to deter future illegal reentries. I want to thank our federal, state, and local partners for their hard work as we fight to keep our communities safe.”
“This sentence underscores the critical importance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement important role in upholding the rule of law, maintaining the integrity of our legal system, and protecting the fabric of American society,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “When individuals blatantly ignore our laws, it erodes public trust and puts our community’s safety at risk.”
The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol and the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Harley Ferguson and Justin M. Keen.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
Meridian Man Sentenced to 188 Months in Prison for Possession of FentanylRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Meridian, Mississippi man was sentenced on June 17th to 188 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, Timothy Lavelle Cole, 47, was sentenced to 188 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. In April 2024, the East Mississippi Drug Task Force conducted two controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Cole at his residence in Meridian, Mississippi. After two controlled purchases, agents executed a search warrant at Cole’s residence where the transactions occurred. During the search, agents discovered several controlled substances, items related to the distribution of controlled substances, and a firearm. Of the controlled substances recovered in the residence was 101.4 grams of fentanyl. Cole had been previously convicted of two prior controlled substance offenses and was determined to be a career offender under the sentencing guidelines. Cole pleaded guilty to the charged conduct on February 11, 2025.
Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson made the announcement.
The ATF and the East Mississippi Drug Task Force investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff prosecuted the case.
This case was investigated by the Mississippi Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total liminateon of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).