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23 July 2026
Extradited Canadian American Woman Pleads Guilty for Role as Organizer of Deadly Alien Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – A dual Canadian American citizen who was extradited from Canada pleaded guilty today for her role in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of a family, including two children under the age of three, in the St. Lawrence River.
“Alien smuggling preys on vulnerable migrants and undermines the integrity of our nation’s laws,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York. “Since taking office, my team and I have aggressively pursued dozens of defendants for immigration‑related offenses along the northern border. This defendant and their co-conspirators showed a blatant disregard for human life, our laws, and the safety of our communities. We remain unwavering in our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to protect and secure our northern border.”
“Aliens attempting to enter the United States illegally across the U.S.-Canada border are exposed to a range of dangers at the hands of human smugglers trying to capitalize on the misfortunes and misplaced hopes of others,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Here, in the face of known dangers, the defendant directed her co-conspirators to smuggle a family with young children across the St. Lawrence River on a cold, windy night with limited visibility. The dangers materialized into a preventable and tragic loss of life.”
“Human smuggling organizations show a reckless disregard for the safety and well-being of those they transport, often resulting in devastating consequences,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo. “After this smuggling attempt resulted in the death of a family, HSI Massena and our partners conducted a thorough investigation, tracking the conspirators, recovering evidence, and securing extraditions. Protecting vulnerable individuals and dismantling transnational criminal organizations are central to HSI’s mission, and we remain committed to preventing tragedies like this and bringing those responsible to justice.”
According to court documents, Stephanie Square, 53, from the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Territory in Canada, was the U.S.-based leader of an alien smuggling organization (ASO), that regularly smuggled aliens across the U.S.-Canada border via the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation. During the week of March 27, 2023, a prolific Canadian smuggler contacted Square to smuggle a Romanian family of four across the St. Lawrence River into the United States. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Square recruited multiple co-conspirators to assist with the smuggling of the family, though one refused to assist due to the high winds on the St. Lawrence River that night. Undeterred by the dangerous weather conditions, Square enlisted one of her regular drivers, Dakota Montour, to transport the family via automobile to Timothy Oakes’ residence on Cornwall Island, a notorious staging area for cross-border smuggling operations. Despite Square’s knowledge of the weather conditions on the St. Lawrence River at that time — including high winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility — the defendant insisted the aliens be transported so that she would be paid.
The family of four arrived at the Oakes’ residence on March 29, 2023, at approximately 3:35AM, and stayed there until evening. On March 29, 2023, at approximately 9:29PM, Timothy Oakes’ vehicle with a light blue boat in tow, is recorded traveling eastbound away from the Oakes’ residence towards a public boat launch on the tip of Cornwall Island where a different boat pilot, Casey Oakes, picked them up and attempted to take the family across the St. Lawrence River. While in transit, the boat capsized due to severe weather. As a result, the Romanian family and Casy Oakes died.
Between March 30 and 31, 2023, AMPS conducted a riverine search and recovered the bodies of the Romanian family of four, including two small children. AMPS also recovered Oakes’ light blue boat. The body of the boat captain, Casey Oakes, was found eight months later.
Square pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain and four counts of alien smuggling resulting in death. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 25. She faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Co-conspirators Dakota Montour, 32, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, 45, both of the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian reserve, New York, Janet Terrance, 46, of Hogansburg, New York, and Timothy Oakes, 35, from the Akwesasne Mohwak Indian reserve, entered guilty pleas on Jan. 23, 2025, Oct. 8, 2024, March 6, 2025, and May 11, 2026, respectively. Square and co-conspirator Rahsontanohstha Delormier, also known as Storm, 31, of the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Territory in Canada, were extradited to the United States from Canada in 2025 at the request of the United States. Delormier pleaded guilty on June 26.
HSI Massena engaged in an extensive years-long investigation of the case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, New York State Police, Canada Border Services Agency, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Cornwall Police Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Delormier and Square.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and CBP USBP and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 465 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 424 U.S. convictions; and more than 368 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Trial Attorneys Lindsey Roberson and Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
Extradited Canadian American Woman Pleads Guilty for Role as Organizer of Deadly Alien Smuggling ConspiracyRead the Press Release
A dual Canadian American citizen who was extradited from Canada pleaded guilty today for her role in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in the deaths of a family, including two children under the age of three, in the St. Lawrence River.
“Aliens attempting to enter the United States illegally across the U.S.-Canada border are exposed to a range of dangers at the hands of human smugglers trying to capitalize on the misfortunes and misplaced hopes of others,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Here, in the face of known dangers, the defendant directed her co-conspirators to smuggle a family with young children across the St. Lawrence River on a cold, windy night with limited visibility. The dangers materialized into a preventable and tragic loss of life.”
“Alien smuggling preys on vulnerable migrants and undermines the integrity of our nation’s laws,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York. “Since taking office, my team and I have aggressively pursued dozens of defendants for immigration‑related offenses along the northern border. This defendant and their co-conspirators showed a blatant disregard for human life, our laws, and the safety of our communities. We remain unwavering in our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to protect and secure our northern border.”
“Human smuggling organizations show a reckless disregard for the safety and well-being of those they transport, often resulting in devastating consequences,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Anthony Patrone of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Buffalo. “After this smuggling attempt resulted in the death of a family, HSI Massena and our partners conducted a thorough investigation, tracking the conspirators, recovering evidence, and securing extraditions. Protecting vulnerable individuals and dismantling transnational criminal organizations are central to HSI’s mission, and we remain committed to preventing tragedies like this and bringing those responsible to justice.”
According to court documents, Stephanie Square, 53, from the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Territory in Canada, was the U.S.-based leader of an alien smuggling organization (ASO), that regularly smuggled aliens across the U.S.-Canada border via the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation. During the week of March 27, 2023, a prolific Canadian smuggler contacted Square to smuggle a Romanian family of four across the St. Lawrence River into the United States. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Square recruited multiple co-conspirators to assist with the smuggling of the family, though one refused to assist due to the high winds on the St. Lawrence River that night. Undeterred by the dangerous weather conditions, Square enlisted one of her regular drivers, Dakota Montour, to transport the family via automobile to Timothy Oakes’ residence on Cornwall Island, a notorious staging area for cross-border smuggling operations. Despite Square’s knowledge of the weather conditions on the St. Lawrence River at that time — including high winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility — the defendant insisted the aliens be transported so that she would be paid.
The family of four arrived at the Oakes’ residence on March 29, 2023, at approximately 3:35AM, and stayed there until evening. On March 29, 2023, at approximately 9:29PM, Timothy Oakes’ vehicle with a light blue boat in tow, is recorded traveling eastbound away from the Oakes’ residence towards a public boat launch on the tip of Cornwall Island where a different boat pilot, Casey Oakes, picked them up and attempted to take the family across the St. Lawrence River. While in transit, the boat capsized due to severe weather. As a result, the Romanian family and Casy Oakes died.
Between March 30 and 31, 2023, AMPS conducted a riverine search and recovered the bodies of the Romanian family of four, including two small children. AMPS also recovered Oakes’ light blue boat. The body of the boat captain, Casey Oakes, was found eight months later.
Square pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain and four counts of alien smuggling resulting in death. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 25. She faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Co-conspirators Dakota Montour, 32, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, 45, both of the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian reserve, New York, Janet Terrance, 46, of Hogansburg, New York, and Timothy Oakes, 35, from the Akwesasne Mohwak Indian reserve, entered guilty pleas on Jan. 23, 2025, Oct. 8, 2024, March 6, 2025, and May 11, 2026, respectively. Square and co-conspirator Rahsontanohstha Delormier, also known as Storm, 31, of the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Territory in Canada, were extradited to the United States from Canada in 2025 at the request of the United States. Delormier pleaded guilty on June 26.
HSI Massena engaged in an extensive years-long investigation of the case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., CBP’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, New York State Police, Canada Border Services Agency, Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Cornwall Police Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Delormier and Square.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including HSI and CBP USBP and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 465 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 424 U.S. convictions; and more than 368 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Trial Attorneys Lindsey Roberson and Alexandra Skinnion of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case.
Ex-Marine Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Child PornRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Alexander Douglas Kuhn, age 35, to 40 years in federal prison for Production and Possession of Child Pornography. On November 21, 2025, Kuhn pleaded guilty.
“This disgusting pervert will no longer target the young and vulnerable. There is a special place for him in this world, it’s called prison,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue to hunt down and stomp out all these spiders.”
In June 2023, Department of Homeland Security Investigators identified Kuhn on the social media apps of Gridr and Discord. Through online conversations with undercover agents, Kuhn claimed to abuse a 3-year-old child and offered the child up for future abuse. In addition, he asked to sexually abuse a fictional 12-year-old child that an undercover agent pretended to offer.
On July 13, 2023, law enforcement officials obtained a federal search warrant for Kuhn’s residence and electronic devices. Six days later, HSI agents and Craven Couty Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Kuhn at his home in New Bern. Kuhn admitted to sexually abusing a 3-year-old child for over a year, taking photos and videos of the child, and sending those to others online. Investigators corroborated Kuhn’s admission, when they located numerous photos and videos of Kuhn sexually abusing the child, and criminal images of other children, on his electronic devices.
“This case represents the dedication and resolve of Homeland Security Investigations and our partners to protect children and hold offenders fully accountable,” said Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Carolinas. “The actions uncovered were deeply disturbing, and our agents worked tirelessly to ensure the victims received justice and support. We thank NCIS, SBI, and the Craven County Sheriff’s Office for their collaboration throughout this investigation. HSI remains committed to pursuing those who exploit children and bringing them before the law.”
This prosecution is a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Craven County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00023-D.
Estonian National Pleads Guilty to Exporting Electronics for the Benefit of Russian MilitaryRead the Press Release
BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Andrey Shevlyakov pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit export violations for his role in a procurement network which obtained sensitive electronics for the benefit of Russian military and government contractors. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Rachel P. Kovner. When sentenced, Shevlyakov faces a maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment. The defendant has agreed to forfeit approximately $1.5 million to the government. Shevlyakov was arrested by Estonian authorities in 2023 and was extradited to the United States in August 2025.
Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division; Jason M. Hudson, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Houston; and Ramon Alvarado, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security – Office of Export Enforcement’s Dallas Field Office, announced the guilty plea.
“For nearly a decade the defendant operated a foreign procurement network and supplied sophisticated U.S. technology to hostile Russian military actors, undermining U.S. national security and the security of our allies,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that our Office will vigorously prosecute and hold to account those who aid Russian attempts to illegally procure U.S. technology, no matter who they are or where they reside.”
Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Estonian Internal Security Service (KAPO) for their assistance in investigating the defendant’s conduct and securing his arrest and extradition.
“Andrey Shevlyakov’s arrest was the result of a spinoff case from a much larger FBI investigation that goes back some 14 years,” stated FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Hudson, “Given the length, complexities and transnational borders involved, this case was extremely difficult, but at the end of the day our team endured and justice prevailed. Shevlyakov’s plea is the result of the FBI’s commitment to national security and relentlessness in preventing our foreign adversaries from illegally acquiring U.S. technologies for their weapons systems – technologies that can one day be used against our own service members.”
According to court documents, Shevlyakov engaged in a years-long effort to evade U.S. export controls. The defendant was added to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security’s Entity list (Entity List), meaning he was prohibited from acquiring any items from the United States without the Department of Commerce’s permission. Using multiple shell companies, Shevlyakov deceived U.S. manufacturers and suppliers and acquired sensitive technology and electronics. He then shipped the items to end-users in Russia, including defense contractors and Russian government agencies.
Shevlyakov was aware of his prohibited status but flouted U.S. export controls. In one instance, Shevlyakov placed an order with a U.S. company for sensitive electronic components, but the company refused to sell to the defendant and informed him he was on the Entity List. Shevlyakov then canceled his order, only to place it again days later using a different email address and under a false name.
Shevlyakov’s scheme caused the illegal export of over $1 million worth of sensitive electronics from the United States. The items he obtained for his Russian customers included low-noise pre-scalers and synthesizers used to conduct high-frequency communications. He also obtained analogy-to-digital converters which are used in defense systems, including avionics, missiles, and electronic warfare systems. He communicated extensively with Russian defense contractors and telecommunications companies about the sensitive items he procured.
Shevlyakov traveled extensively between Estonia and Russia to deliver the items he obtained. International border crossing records for the period 2010-2016 show that during that period, Shevlyakov crossed the Estonian border and into Russia over 100 times, many times on same-day trips. Records provided by the Finnish government show that the defendant was stopped by Finnish authorities while trying to smuggle electronics into Russia. Shevlyakov failed to provide a customs declaration, and Finnish border guards searched the defendant’s car and discovered approximately €70,000 worth of electronics hidden throughout the vehicle.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Mindlin and Gilbert Rein are in charge of the prosecution, along with Trial Attorney Maria Fedor of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, and with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Matthew Jennings, Rebecca Roth, and Emma Tavangari.
The Defendant:
ANDREY SHEVLYAKOV
Age: Tallinn, EstoniaE.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-490 (RPK)
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily InjuryRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Eagle Butte, South Dakota, convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on July 13, 2026.
Trevin Antonio, age 29, was sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Antonio was indicted in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026.
The conviction stems from Antonio assaulting a woman with a weapon in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation, on July 31, 2025. The victim suffered severe lacerations to her face that required hospitalization.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Antonio was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Eagle Butte Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child. The sentencing took place on July 14, 2026.
Shane Bruguier, age 47, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Bruguier was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2025. He was found guilty following a three-day jury trial in April of 2026.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred sometime between January 2015 and November 2015 in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. The evidence presented at trial established that the 8-year-old victim was asleep in her bed and awoke to find that Bruguier had pulled her underwear down and was rubbing her vagina with his hand. The victim pushed Bruguier away and told him to get out of her room. The abuse was disclosed during a forensic interview in 2021.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to state court.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Bruguier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Dupree Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Voluntary ManslaughterRead the Press Release
PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a man from Dupree, South Dakota, convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on July 13, 2026.
Gradyn Blue Arm, age 27, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Blue Arm was indicted in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on April 9, 2026.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on June 3, 2025, within the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation. After being asked to leave a residence in Dupree, South Dakota, Blue Arm returned to the location armed with knives. Blue Arm argued with the victim and others in the front yard before walking away from the residence. The victim and two other individuals followed Blue Arm. Soon thereafter, Blue Arm stabbed the victim in the abdomen with a knife, which resulted in the victim’s death.
This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to state court.
This case was investigated by the FBI and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.
Blue Arm was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Dunmore man sentenced to 5 years in prison for sexually abusing childRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – A Dunmore man who sexually abused a child on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to five years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Following a three-day trial in February 2026, a jury found Jared Cordell Stewart, 55, guilty of one count of abusive sexual contact of a child.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that in July 2020 a child spoke out about Stewart sexually abusing her. However, during a follow-up visit from law enforcement, the victim denied the abuse.
About a year later, in October 2021, the police again spoke with the victim. This time she said Stewart had sexually abused her many times, beginning when she was 7 or 8 years old, and that she had lied to them previously at the direction of Stewart. Law enforcement interviewed everyone who lived in the home, and many reported seeing Stewart go into the victim’s room at night and after she showered.
Others who lived in the home reported seeing Stewart treat the victim differently and saw inappropriate photos of her on his cell phone. One child reported that while he was visiting the home he witnessed Stewart touch the victim’s legs while she was in bed. Another child reported Stewart made inappropriate comments about her and approached her while she was alone and asleep in her room. She said she refused Stewart’s advances, and she believes Stewart thereafter targeted the victim.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey M. Hendricks and Tom Godfrey prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI.
Dominican National Sentenced to 7 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy Coordinated from AbroadRead the Press Release
Dominican National Sentenced to 7 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy Coordinated from Abroad
CONCORD – A Dominican man was sentenced today in federal court to 7 years in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl to New Hampshire residents while operating from abroad, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Starlin Alexander Valdez De Los Santos, 35, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 84 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Valdez De Los Santos pleaded guilty on January 5, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl.
“This defendant believed that operating from abroad and communicating through encrypted platforms would place him beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement, but this sentence demonstrates otherwise,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This outcome reflects sustained coordination between the DEA, our partners in the Dominican Republic, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, whose work led to this defendant’s extradition and prosecution.”
“This case demonstrates that drug traffickers operating beyond our borders are not beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “Those who choose to supply fentanyl into the United States, regardless of where they hide, should know that the DEA and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue them and hold them accountable. The fentanyl distributed by this defendant made its way into communities in New Hampshire, putting countless lives at risk. Every kilogram of fentanyl trafficked into our country has the potential to cause devastating loss, and we remain committed to dismantling the international criminal networks responsible for fueling this public safety crisis.”
“Fentanyl trafficking is a serious threat to the safety and well-being of our community,” said Chief David Cayot of the Hudson, New Hampshire Police Department. “This case reflects the effective partnership between the Hudson Police Department and our federal partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration. We remain committed to identifying and holding accountable those who distribute dangerous narcotics in Hudson.”
According to the charging documents, relevant pleadings, and statements made in court, during an August 2021 fentanyl overdose death investigation conducted by the Hudson Police Department, detectives collected evidence of the overdose victim’s phone communications with a source of narcotics supply that used a Facebook account and an encrypted messaging mobile app with a Dominican Republic-based phone number to advertise drugs for sale and coordinate drug transactions locally. As a result, in July 2022, the DEA initiated an investigation into the user of these accounts. The investigation ultimately showed that the defendant operated a significant drug distribution network that involved coordination of suppliers and local distributors over an extended period and utilized sophisticated communication methods to avoid detection, all while residing outside the United States. The years-long investigation into the defendant’s activities resulted in the total seizure of more than 750 grams of fentanyl during eight undercover purchase operations in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and approximately 220 grams during additional undercover purchase operations in 2025.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Hudson, New Hampshire Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking fentanyl and cocaine, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Michael Appleton, 44, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy to possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine on May 19, 2023.
Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for December 1, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mercer County Drug Task Force, and Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Appleton.
Defendants Sentenced for Interstate Auto Theft ConspiracyRead the Press Release
SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nigel Criss, age 27, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Rafael Otero Nieves, age 41, of Baltimore, Maryland, were sentenced on July 21, 2026, to 54 months’ imprisonment and 84 months’ imprisonment, respectively, by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann for interstate transportation of stolen motor vehicles.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Criss, Otero, and eight additional co-conspirators conspired with each other and others to transport stolen motor vehicles interstate and to receive, possess, conceal, store, sell, and dispose of stolen motor vehicles that had been transported interstate.
Criss, Otero, and their co-conspirators took the stolen vehicles—typically high-end, “muscle” type cars—across state lines to “car meetups” and “street takeovers,” at which the co-conspirators would take over a parking lot, intersection, road, or portion of a highway. The vehicles were then shown off in person at the meetups and on social media and driven in a reckless and dangerous manner, such as drifting and “burning out” the vehicles.
The co-conspirators stole numerous vehicles across multiple states. For example, on October 3, 2023, Criss, Otero, and other co-conspirators traveled to a car dealership in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, to steal two 2017 Cadillac CTS-V’s, a 2016 Cadillac CTS-V, two 2019 Cadillac CTS-V’s, a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro, a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro, and a 2019 Chevrolet Corvette.
Ten co-conspirators were charged in this case. Several have been sentenced as follows, while the remaining defendants are pending sentence following guilty pleas:
- Nigel Criss, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—54 months’ imprisonment;
- Ian Quintana Torres, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—pending sentence;
- Shamar Morris, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—12 months’ imprisonment;
- Jumaane Wright, of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania—deceased;
- Raymond Steward, of Camden County, New Jersey—6 months’ imprisonment;
- Rafael Otero Nieves, of Baltimore County, Maryland—84 months’ imprisonment;
- Jose Otero Nieves, of Baltimore County, Maryland—pending sentence;
- Jesus Terrero, of Baltimore County, Maryland—pending sentence;
- Tyler Hoagland, of Howard County, Maryland—18 months’ imprisonment, and;
- Robert Jones, of Prince George’s County, Maryland—pending sentence.
In imposing the sentences, Chief Judge Brann noted the sheer volume of vehicles stolen by Criss and Otero—more than two dozen each—and the supervisory roles each defendant played in the wide-ranging, multi-state conspiracy.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police, Central and Eastern Auto Theft Task Forces investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Kyle A. Moreno prosecuted the case.
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Dallas Laboratory, Owners, and Investors Pay $24M to Resolve COVID-19 Testing Fraud AllegationsRead the Press Release
Magnolia Diagnostics, a clinical laboratory based in Dallas, Texas, and its owners, John Bains and Kelly Bains, have agreed to pay the United States $19.2 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare for medically unnecessary respiratory pathogen panel testing performed on seniors receiving COVID-19 tests. Magnolia investors will pay an additional $4.8 million to resolve common law claims for unjust enrichment and payment by mistake and claims under the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act, arising from distributions they received from Magnolia.
“My office is committed to tackling healthcare fraud through the use of all available tools, both through criminal prosecutions and, as here, civil investigations. Too many of our healthcare dollars are lost to fraud, waste, and abuse, but civil settlements like this one help recover valuable healthcare dollars for the American taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas. “Thank you to my attorneys in partnership with Main Justice in focusing our efforts to recover healthcare dollars. We will continue to use all available tools in this important fight.”
“The Justice Department is committed to protecting taxpayer-funded programs and holding accountable those who exploit them,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will pursue not only companies that submit false claims and the owners who direct the misconduct, but also investors who receive and retain its financial benefits — especially when vulnerable Americans are exploited for profit.”
“Protecting seniors and safeguarding Medicare are core to our mission,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “As alleged, Magnolia Diagnostics showed reckless disregard for medical necessity, beneficiary well-being, and the law — all to boost its profits during a national public health emergency. Today’s resolution reflects our determination to uncover this kind of misconduct and hold accountable those who put greed above patient care.”
The United States alleges that, beginning in April 2020, John Bains and Kelly Bains, acting through Magnolia, devised a strategy to generate significant revenue by requiring senior living communities seeking COVID-19 testing to also obtain expensive respiratory pathogen panels (RPPs). To implement this protocol, Magnolia used prepopulated requisition forms that selected RPP testing and associated diagnosis codes before any individualized clinical assessment occurred. Magnolia allegedly treated provider signatures on those forms as blanket or standing orders authorizing RPPs for all seniors across entire communities or chains of communities, and then used those purported authorizations to perform RPPs on specimens collected during community-wide COVID-19 testing.
The United States further alleges that Magnolia performed RPPs for some communities without a purported standing order and continued performing RPPs after providers and communities demanded COVID-19-only testing, questioned the panel’s medical necessity or clinical value, or stated that they had not authorized RPPs. At times, John Bains allegedly threatened to withhold COVID-19 testing from communities that asked not to receive RPPs. In at least two instances, John Bains allegedly altered a provider-signed requisition form to expand the apparent scope of the provider’s authorization beyond the facility identified on the original form and then used those altered forms as standing orders to support RPP testing for residents across multiple facilities not covered by the original form.
Magnolia also allegedly froze and stored thousands of respiratory specimens, sometimes for weeks or months, before thawing and testing them. Magnolia thereby generated RPP results after they could no longer inform timely treatment, isolation, or infection-control decisions. The United States alleges that, between April 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021, Magnolia, John Bains, and Kelly Bains knowingly submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare for thousands of RPPs that lacked medical necessity.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at www.oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/ or 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year, the Trump Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s False Claims Act enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. False Claims Act matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s False Claims work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The matter was handled by Associate Deputy Attorney General Paul Perkins, Fraud Section Trial Attorney Asha Natarajan, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Stoltz for the Northern District of Texas.
The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
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Dallas Laboratory, Owners, and Investors Pay $24M to Resolve COVID-19 Testing Fraud AllegationsRead the Press Release
Magnolia Diagnostics, a clinical laboratory based in Dallas, Texas, and its owners, John Bains and Kelly Bains, have agreed to pay the United States $19.2 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by billing Medicare for medically unnecessary respiratory pathogen panel testing performed on seniors receiving COVID-19 tests. Magnolia investors will pay an additional $4.8 million to resolve common law claims for unjust enrichment and payment by mistake and claims under the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act, arising from distributions they received from Magnolia.
“The Justice Department is committed to protecting taxpayer-funded programs and holding accountable those who exploit them,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will pursue not only companies that submit false claims and the owners who direct the misconduct, but also investors who receive and retain its financial benefits — especially when vulnerable Americans are exploited for profit.”
“My office is committed to tackling healthcare fraud through the use of all available tools, both through criminal prosecutions and, as here, civil investigations. Too many of our healthcare dollars are lost to fraud, waste, and abuse, but civil settlements like this one help recover valuable healthcare dollars for the American taxpayer,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas. “Thank you to my attorneys in partnership with Main Justice in focusing our efforts to recover healthcare dollars. We will continue to use all available tools in this important fight.”
“Protecting seniors and safeguarding Medicare are core to our mission,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “As alleged, Magnolia Diagnostics showed reckless disregard for medical necessity, beneficiary well-being, and the law — all to boost its profits during a national public health emergency. Today’s resolution reflects our determination to uncover this kind of misconduct and hold accountable those who put greed above patient care.”
The United States alleges that, beginning in April 2020, John Bains and Kelly Bains, acting through Magnolia, devised a strategy to generate significant revenue by requiring senior living communities seeking COVID-19 testing to also obtain expensive respiratory pathogen panels (RPPs). To implement this protocol, Magnolia used prepopulated requisition forms that selected RPP testing and associated diagnosis codes before any individualized clinical assessment occurred. Magnolia allegedly treated provider signatures on those forms as blanket or standing orders authorizing RPPs for all seniors across entire communities or chains of communities, and then used those purported authorizations to perform RPPs on specimens collected during community-wide COVID-19 testing.
The United States further alleges that Magnolia performed RPPs for some communities without a purported standing order, and continued performing RPPs after providers and communities demanded COVID-19-only testing, questioned the panel’s medical necessity or clinical value, or stated that they had not authorized RPPs. At times, John Bains allegedly threatened to withhold COVID-19 testing from communities that asked not to receive RPPs. In at least two instances, John Bains allegedly altered a provider-signed requisition form to expand the apparent scope of the provider’s authorization beyond the facility identified on the original form, and then used those altered forms as standing orders to support RPP testing for residents across multiple facilities not covered by the original form.
Magnolia also allegedly froze and stored thousands of respiratory specimens, sometimes for weeks or months, before thawing and testing them. Magnolia thereby generated RPP results after they could no longer inform timely treatment, isolation, or infection-control decisions. The United States alleges that, between April 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2021, Magnolia, John Bains, and Kelly Bains knowingly submitted, or caused the submission of, false claims to Medicare for thousands of RPPs that lacked medical necessity.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the FCA. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at www.oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/ or 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year, the Trump Administration launched the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division to enhance the Administration’s war on fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs. When unscrupulous actors exploit these programs for their own financial gain, they defraud the government, harm the people these programs are designed to aid and protect, and undermine American businesses that play by the rules. The Civil Division’s False Claims Act enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. False Claims Act matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s False Claims work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The matter was handled by Associate Deputy Attorney General Paul Perkins, Fraud Section Trial Attorney Asha Natarajan, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Stoltz for the Northern District of Texas.
The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Note: Read the Settlement with Magnolia Diagnostics, John Bains, and Kelly Bains here.
Read the Settlement with Magnolia Diagnostics Investors here.
Convicted felon headed to prison after violent conduct leads to federal firearms chargesRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 55-year-old Laredo man has been sentenced for illegally possessing firearms.
Raymond Gutierrez pleaded guilty July 29, 2025.
U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered Gutierrez to serve 84 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence that Gutierrez used meth and engaged in violent conduct while committing the crime, including holding two individuals at gunpoint and threatening to kill them. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of Gutierrez’s conduct and the extent of his drug use.
On March 29, 2024, law enforcement responded to a domestic disturbance at Gutierrez’s ranch. They learned Gutierrez accused someone of stealing a firearm, fired a round inside the residence, pointed a firearm at the individual, and threatened a shootout.
When authorities arrived, they observed Gutierrez in possession of firearms and seized a 9 mm pistol.
The investigation revealed law enforcement had responded to the ranch on multiple occasions. During the incidents, they documented Gutierrez illegally possessing firearms.
Following a report that Gutierrez was using meth, possessed multiple firearms, and had become increasingly violent, authorities executed a search warrant at his ranch Feb. 21, 2025, seizing six firearms, including five rifles, a shotgun, and an unregistered silencer.
As a convicted felon, Gutierrez is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law.
He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Drug Enforcement Administration and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew P. Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case.
Convicted Felon Sentenced After Driving Stolen Truck with Loaded FirearmRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — Christian Malik White, 26, a previously convicted felon residing in Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 40 months in prison, to be followed by 10 months home confinement, in connection with possessing a loaded firearm and ammunition discovered after he was found in possession of a stolen pickup truck in the District of Columbia, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
White pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2025, before Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to the 40-month prison term, Judge Sooknanan ordered White to serve three years of supervised release, with the first 10 of those months being in home detention. Federal prosecutors had requested a minimum sentence of 57 months in prison.
According to court papers, at about 3:15 a.m. on Aug. 29, 2025, Metropolitan Police Department officers on patrol saw a pickup truck with no front or rear license plate parked in the 1800 block of 9th Street NW. White was leaning against the passenger side of the pickup. When officers asked him about the vehicle, White lied about whether he had driven it and whether he had a key to it. Officers determined the truck had been reported stolen out of Maryland and arrested White, finding a key to the truck in his pocket.
Inside the pickup, officers found a loaded Glock 19 with a laser sight and a 15-round magazine, along with a second extended magazine loaded with 24 rounds of ammunition, for a total of 39 rounds. The firearm had been reported lost by a District resident in February 2025.
White was on probation for a Maryland cocaine distribution conviction at the time of this offense and faces additional probation revocation proceedings in Maryland. This conviction is his fourth felony conviction and third involving a firearm. His prior convictions include serving as a straw purchaser for firearms in 2019, distributing cocaine in 2018, eluding law enforcement and reckless driving in June 2020, and possessing a handgun with a laser attachment in September 2020.
The Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office investigated the case.
This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tejpal Chawla.
Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Inside the pickup truck was White's Glock 19 Gen4 9mm pistol with laser attachment and a magazine containing 15 rounds.
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Chinese Woman Charged with Assaulting Federal OfficersRead the Press Release
WILLIAMSPORT – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Hua Zhen Dong, a citizen of the Republic of China, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of assaulting federal officers.
According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that on July 9, 2026, Herrera was found by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Officers in State College, PA. An investigation showed that there was an immigration warrant for Dong’s arrest at that time. Dong refused to comply with the officers’ investigation and kicked, bit and scratched them as she resisted arrest.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 8 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.
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Chinese National Indicted for Role in Gift Card Fraud Conspiracy, in New Hampshire Homeland Security Task Force InvestigationRead the Press Release
Chinese National Indicted for Role in Gift Card Fraud Conspiracy, in New Hampshire Homeland Security Task Force Investigation
CONCORD – A Chinese national was indicted for his alleged role in an international conspiracy to defraud victims of millions of dollars’ worth of gift cards, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Jinbin Ren, 38, a Chinese national and resident of Lynnfield, Massachusetts, was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. He will appear in federal court at a later date.
According to the indictment and public record, the defendant is originally from China. He and several Chinese nationals working in the United States and abroad acquired gift cards stolen from victims through romance fraud, elder fraud, hacking, and other scams. The conspirators then used the gift cards to purchase Apple products and other high-value electronics and had them shipped to New Hampshire due to the state’s lack of a sales tax. The defendant operated a warehouse in Salem which was used to consolidate and ship the electronics to China and Hong Kong. Law enforcement searched the defendant’s warehouse in 2024 and found iPhones purchased with gift cards stolen from American victims. The conspirators used WeChat, a Chinese messaging app, to coordinate purchases, sales, shipments, and payments through cryptocurrency.
The charge of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Concord Police Department are leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire and Trial Attorneys Emily Cohen and Madison Albrecht of the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics, and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Hampshire comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, IRS, DEA, ATF, USMS, and DSS with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
Californian Pleads in D.C. to Multi-State PCP Trafficking Conspiracy, Firearm Charge Tied to Interstate ShipmentsRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Michael Anderson Thomas, 50, of Chino, California, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia in connection with his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that reached across the United States and sold PCP, cocaine, and fentanyl in the 2900 block of Knox Place in Southeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Thomas pleaded guilty on July 22, 2026, before Judge Timothy J. Kelly to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of phencyclidine (PCP) and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking conspiracy. Thomas is a convicted felon, with prior federal felony convictions in the Northern District of Alabama and the District of Oregon for controlled substance offenses.
Thomas faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison for the drug conspiracy charge and a consecutive mandatory minimum of five years for the firearm charge, for a combined mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. Judge Kelly scheduled sentencing for Nov. 19, 2026.
According to court documents, in the summer of 2024, FBI agents initiated a long-term investigation of a drug trafficking conspiracy centered around the 2900 block of Knox Place, SE. Law enforcement had identified an alleged fentanyl and PCP trafficker in the 2900 block of Knox Place. As the investigation progressed, law enforcement was able to identify sources of supply for both narcotics, including California-based co-conspirators like Thomas.
During the conspiracy, five homicides, seventeen assaults with dangerous weapons, five robberies and eight burglaries occurred within 1,000 feet of the conspiracy's primary stash location on Knox Place SE, court papers state.
According to court documents, from at least July 2024 through his arrest in August 2025, Thomas conspired with others to distribute PCP in and around the District of Columbia from his operating base in Los Angeles.
Thomas's role was to arrange bulk PCP shipments to co-defendant Thomas Wilton Hancock, Jr., for redistribution within the greater Washington, D.C.-Baltimore Metro Area. Beginning in late 2024, Hancock brokered the purchase of 17 gallons of PCP from Thomas, to be delivered to Hancock in March 2025. Payments, transmitted through peer-to-peer platforms, cashier’s check, and cash, were routed to “Never To Late Transportation, LLC,” a shell company Thomas had incorporated with co-defendant Darrell Lamont Smith in Los Angeles, California. From August 2024 to March 2025, Thomas was paid about $170,000 through the company, reflecting a price of $10,000 per gallon.
In late-March 2025, Darrell Smith drove a pickup truck carrying 17 gallons of PCP from Los Angeles to Baltimore while Thomas flew to the region to meet the purchaser. On March 26, 2025, Kansas state police stopped the pickup truck, arrested Darrell Smith, and seized the PCP from a lockbox in the truck bed.
On Aug. 26, 2025, FBI agents, in coordination with partner law enforcement agencies, conducted a coordinated search and arrest operation at locations in the District of Columbia, Baltimore, and Los Angeles. A search of Thomas's residence in Chino, California, turned up chemical production materials, including chemical precursors for PCP production, in a backyard shed. From Thomas’s home, law enforcement also recovered two firearms, ammunition, about $26,000 in cash, a money counter, and a can sealer.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office, with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington Division Office, and the Metropolitan Police Department.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey and John Crabb of the Violent Crime and Narcotics Trafficking Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
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California Man Indicted in Maine for Sex Trafficking and Related OffensesRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the District of Maine returned a six-count indictment today charging Shawn Bonneau, 40, of Fullerton, California, with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and wire fraud.
According to court documents, from January 2016 through December 2023, Bonneau compelled three adult women to perform commercial sex acts in Maine, and elsewhere, for his financial benefit. He also used the electronic mail systems to fraudulently obtain funds from another individual at the same time he was engaging in his sex trafficking scheme.
If convicted, Bonneau faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison, with a maximum penalty of life in prison, as well as a maximum penalty of lifetime supervised release.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Benson for the District of Maine made the announcement.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England Field Office is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Elizabeth Hutson of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Yereniuk for the District of Maine are prosecuting the case.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
CEO of Bay Area Home Health Agency Convicted of Health Care Fraud Conspiracy Targeting MedicareRead the Press Release
SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury yesterday convicted Simon Katz of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with a scheme to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and falsify medical records. The jury’s verdict follows a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge James Donato.
According to evidence presented at the trial, Katz conspired with his wife, the former CEO of HealthNow Home Healthcare, a home health agency based in Hayward, California, and two former agency employees to commit health care fraud. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Katz, 43, currently of Boca Raton, Florida, and his wife, Veronica Katz, agreed to defraud Medicare by having unqualified medical professionals provide care for home health patients outside their authorized scope of practice, billing Medicare for services never provided, submitting false documents to California Department of Public Health (CDPH) inspectors to maintain the ability to bill Medicare, and instructing former employees to lie to the FBI and federal law enforcement to conceal their fraudulent activity.
As part of the conspiracy, from October 1, 2018, when HealthNow began submitting fraudulent documents to deceive CDPH inspectors, through November 2020, HealthNow received more than $3 million in payments based on HealthNow’s claims. Simon Katz in turn received $300,000 from HealthNow during that same time period.
In addition, trial evidence showed Simon Katz took steps to thwart the law enforcement investigation into HealthNow. In October 2019, Simon and Veronica Katz met with one of HealthNow’s former employees, who informed them that FBI agents had questioned her regarding HealthNow’s billing practices and patient medical assessments. Simon Katz instructed the employee to lie to the FBI and falsely state that the employee had been trained and supervised by a registered nurse in the course of conducting patient assessments.
Simon Katz is the fourth defendant convicted in connection with this investigation. Co-defendant Veronica Katz pleaded guilty to health care fraud on April 18, 2024, and was sentenced on December 9, 2024, to two years in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $543,634.34 to Medicare and pay a $50,000 fine. Vennesa Herrera pleaded guilty on Aug. 30, 2021, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and health care fraud. She is scheduled for a status hearing on August 3, 2026. Pharadja Andrews pleaded guilty on August 30, 2021 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. She is scheduled for a status hearing on August 3, 2026.
“Simon Katz and his wife defrauded Medicare by altering medical records and forging doctor signatures, and in the process stole millions from the hardworking American taxpayer,” said United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian. “As part of the Administration’s War on Fraud, we will continue our unrelenting efforts to investigate and prosecute anyone who steals from the public and we hope this verdict sends a strong message that this conduct will not be tolerated.”
“This verdict underscores the FBI’s commitment to protecting the integrity of federal health care programs and the patients who rely on them,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Schelble of the FBI San Francisco Field Office. “Katz and his co conspirators orchestrated a deliberate scheme that put vulnerable patients at risk and stole from Medicare. We will continue working with our partners to ensure those who defraud our health care system are held accountable.”
“Successfully uncovering and prosecuting complex health care fraud schemes like this one requires years of determined investigative work and close coordination among federal and state partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) San Francisco Regional Office. “This verdict reflects the steadfast efforts of HHS OIG and our law enforcement partners. HHS OIG will continue collaborating with our partners to protect Medicare and uphold the integrity of the programs and patients we are entrusted to serve.”
Katz is currently in federal custody. His sentencing hearing has not been scheduled. Katz faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Highsmith and Kevin Yeh are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kevin Costello and Lynette Dixon. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, HHS-OIG, and the California Department of Public Health.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl CrimeRead the Press Release
BECKLEY, W.Va. – Boyd Clark, 42, of Beckley, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, to distribution of fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 31, 2025, Clark sold approximately 1 gram of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Beckley hotel where Clark was staying. As part of his guilty plea, Clark admitted to conducting the transaction and further admitted to selling 1-gram quantities of fentanyl on November 5, 2025, and February 24, 2026, also in Beckley to the same confidential informant. The investigation also revealed that Clark was on federal supervised release at the time the controlled drug buys were made, as result of a previous conviction in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Clark is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2026 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department.
United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess 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. 5:26-cr-37.
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Baltimore County Man Sentenced for Bribing Former Baltimore City Finance OfficialRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A federal judge sentenced a Baltimore County man for bribing a Baltimore City official.
U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced James Carroll Erny, Jr., 55, of Glen Arm, Maryland, to 13 months in prison, followed by eight months of home confinement, for bribery. Erny admitted to paying at least $25,000 in bribes to Joseph Gillespie, a former Baltimore City Department of Finance employee. In exchange, Gillespie extinguished various financial obligations Erny owed to the City of Baltimore. As a result of the criminal conduct, the City of Baltimore suffered financial losses of more than $145,000.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Lee Bacon, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Eastern Region; and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD).
According to court documents, beginning in December 2019, and continuing until August 2023, Erny engaged in a bribery scheme in which Gillespie abused his position of trust as a public official for his own personal gain. During this period, Erny — who owned at least eight properties in Baltimore City — routinely paid bribes in exchange for Gillespie delaying, removing, or extinguishing financial obligations owed to the City. This included unpaid citations, tax obligations, and water obligations, thereby causing losses to the City.
Erny primarily paid these bribes by cash, providing Gillespie with envelopes containing as much as $1,000 each, while the former City employee worked at the Abel Wolman Municipal Building. Sometimes, Erny met Gillespie in a men's bathroom in the City-owned building to give him envelopes containing cash bribes. Erny also routinely provided Gillespie bribe payments via Cash App and Zelle.
Additionally, Erny admitted to engaging in a separate scheme to obtain fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans under both the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Ultimately, Erny fraudulently obtained $996,240 in fraudulent PPP funds as part of the scheme, and he attempted to obtain more than a $100,000 worth of EIDL funds.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, SBA-OIG, and BCPD for their work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean R. Delaney and Joseph Wenner who prosecuted the case.
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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Asheville Man Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Log Cabin Kit SchemeRead the Press Release
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Jason Nathaniel Speier, 43, of Arden, N.C., was sentenced today to 135 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for a scheme to defraud customers who purchased log cabin kits, announced U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Speier was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,426,072.25.
Speier pleaded guilty to wire fraud on October 25, 2025. During the scheme Speier defrauded at least 24 customers and received more than $2.5 million in customer payments.
According to court documents, from 2022 through 2023, Speier was the owner and president of K.I. Enterprises, Inc., doing business as “Kabens,” an unlicensed company that claimed to build log cabin homes in Western North Carolina. Court filings show that Speier executed a scheme to defraud customers by falsely representing that his business was capable of building European-sourced log cabin kits into turnkey residences. Contrary to those claims, Speier did not have a legitimate source of supply for the purported log cabin kits.
Court records show that Speier falsely assured customers that he had built many cabins for satisfied customers and that he could provide references and favorable reviews. To solicit new clients, Speier developed an extensive online marketing and social media presence, advertising “complete log cabin home packages” at “affordable prices.” His advertisements also falsely promised “fast construction” and “unlimited customization.” To boost sales, Speier built a sales team and directed them to make numerous sales to customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. He also falsely claimed that customers’ down payments would be used to purchase log cabin kits and complete construction in a timely manner.
According to court filings, Speier continued his fraudulent conduct even after the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors launched an investigation following multiple customer complaints. Despite the investigation, Speier incorporated a new business called “Big Timber Log Homes” and continued soliciting new customers to build turnkey cabins, even though Speier had not successfully completed a single project.
At today’s sentencing hearing, one of Speier’s victims stated in court that their loss was just “a drop in the chum bucket of Jason Speier’s endless exploitation of others.”
Speier is in federal custody. He will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation to a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office and the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office for their work on this case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville was in charge of the prosecution.
Additional West Virginia Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Against Inmates’ RightsRead the Press Release
A former corrections officer at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, for his role in a conspiracy in which he and other correctional officers used unreasonable force against inmates, including pretrial detainees, as a form of punishment and retaliation. Nathaniel Pack, 29, of Jumping Branch, pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 241.
According to his plea agreement and during the plea hearing, Pack admitted that, beginning in about April 2020, and continuing through on or about March 1, 2022, he and other officers conspired to use unreasonable and unjustified force against inmates they believed or perceived to have engaged in misconduct. As part of this conspiracy, Pack and his co-conspirators would bring the inmates to “blind spots” in the jail – areas that were not captured on surveillance cameras – so that they could assault the inmates without being recorded and thus avoid being held accountable for their actions.
Pack admitted that, during the conspiracy, he and others used unreasonable and unjustified force against inmates in “blind spots” on at least seven different occasions. Among those occasions, in November 2020, he and other co-conspirators responded to an incident in which pretrial detainee J.D.H. had been kicking his cell door. After an initial use of force incident in the cell, the defendant and others handcuffed J.D.H. and brought him to an interview room that was a known “blind spot,” where the defendant and others struck and punched J.D.H. about his body while he was handcuffed and not a threat, causing him to suffer bodily injury. In a July 2021 incident, the defendant and co-conspirators handcuffed pretrial detainee D.W.M., who had not been following officers’ verbal commands. The defendant and others brought D.W.M. to a “blind spot” interview room, where they struck him about the face and body while D.W.M. was handcuffed and not a threat, to unlawfully punish him for not following officers’ commands.
As a result of these actions, D.W.M. suffered lacerations and bleeding about his head. In January 2022, the defendant brought pretrial detainee H.B. to the “blind spot” interview room, where the defendant struck H.B. in the face to punish H.B. for calling another officer a slur. The defendant and a co-conspirator then brought H.B. to a cell that he knew to be another “blind spot,” where the defendant punched H.B. repeatedly about the face and body while he was handcuffed and not a threat, causing H.B. to suffer injuries to his face. In addition, Pack admitted that on or about March 1, 2022, he responded to a call for officer assistance after pretrial detainee Q.B. attempted to push past an officer and leave his assigned pod. The defendant and co-conspirators restrained Q.B., handcuffed him, and escorted Q.B. to the “blind spot” interview room. While the co-conspirators brought Q.B. into the interview room, the defendant went into the medical unit, where he told staff to wait a few minutes before going to the interview room to evaluate Q.B. The defendant told the staff to wait because the defendant wanted to give the co-conspirators time to use unreasonable force against Q.B. inside the interview room.
In addition, Pack admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, he and his co-conspirators prepared false reports in which they denied using unreasonable force and failed to document injuries that inmates sustained during use of force incidents, so that the conspirators would not be investigated or held accountable for their actions.
Pack pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn. He will be sentenced on Dec. 4. According to his plea agreement, Pack faces a maximum Penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
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. 5:26-cr-79.
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Additional West Virginia Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy Against Inmates’ RightsRead the Press Release
A former corrections officer at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, pleaded guilty for his role in a conspiracy in which he and other correctional officers used unreasonable force against inmates, including pretrial detainees, as a form of punishment and retaliation. Nathaniel Pack, 29, pleaded guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 241.
According to his plea agreement and during the plea hearing, Pack admitted that, beginning in about April 2020, and continuing through on or about March 1, 2022, he and other officers conspired to use unreasonable and unjustified force against inmates they believed or perceived to have engaged in misconduct. As part of this conspiracy, Pack and his co-conspirators would bring the inmates to “blind spots” in the jail – areas that were not captured on surveillance cameras – so that they could assault the inmates without being recorded and thus avoid being held accountable for their actions.
Pack admitted that, during the conspiracy, he and others used unreasonable and unjustified force against inmates in “blind spots” on at least seven different occasions. Among those occasions, in November 2020, he and other co-conspirators responded to an incident in which pretrial detainee J.D.H. had been kicking his cell door. After an initial use of force incident in the cell, the defendant and others handcuffed J.D.H. and brought him to an interview room that was a known “blind spot,” where the defendant and others struck and punched J.D.H. about his body while he was handcuffed and not a threat, causing him to suffer bodily injury. In a July 2021 incident, the defendant and co-conspirators handcuffed pretrial detainee D.W.M., who had not been following officers’ verbal commands. The defendant and others brought D.W.M. to a “blind spot” interview room, where they struck him about the face and body while D.W.M. was handcuffed and not a threat, to unlawfully punish him for not following officers’ commands.
As a result of these actions, D.W.M. suffered lacerations and bleeding about his head. In January 2022, the defendant brought pretrial detainee H.B. to the “blind spot” interview room, where the defendant struck H.B. in the face to punish H.B. for calling another officer a slur. The defendant and a co-conspirator then brought H.B. to a cell that he knew to be another “blind spot,” where the defendant punched H.B. repeatedly about the face and body while he was handcuffed and not a threat, causing H.B. to suffer injuries to his face. In addition, Pack admitted that on or about March 1, 2022, he responded to a call for officer assistance after pretrial detainee Q.B. attempted to push past an officer and leave his assigned pod. The defendant and co-conspirators restrained Q.B., handcuffed him, and escorted Q.B. to the “blind spot” interview room. While the co-conspirators brought Q.B. into the interview room, the defendant went into the medical unit, where he told staff to wait a few minutes before going to the interview room to evaluate Q.B. The defendant told the staff to wait because the defendant wanted to give the co-conspirators time to use unreasonable force against Q.B. inside the interview room.
In addition, Pack admitted that, as part of the conspiracy, he and his co-conspirators prepared false reports in which they denied using unreasonable force and failed to document injuries that inmates sustained during use of force incidents, so that the conspirators would not be investigated or held accountable for their actions.
Pack pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn. He will be sentenced on Dec. 4. According to his plea agreement, Pack faces a maximum Penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Deputy Chief Christine M. Siscaretti of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Acting Attorney General Blanche Issues Updated Guidance to Strengthen Federal Religious Liberty ProtectionsRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice announced the release of updated guidance on federal protections for religious liberty, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to safeguarding the constitutional rights of religious individuals and organizations. The updated memorandum revises and expands upon the department’s 2017 Religious Liberty Guidelines in the light of significant U.S. Supreme Court decisions issued over the past nine years.
“Religious liberty is one of our Nation’s founding principles and a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “It is essential that federal agencies fully respect and protect the ability of all Americans to live out their faith in daily life, including in their interactions with the federal government.”
The updated guidance directs all executive departments and agencies to ensure that federal programs, employment practices, contracting, rulemaking, and enforcement actions comply with the Constitution, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal laws. It emphasizes that religious exercise includes not only belief and worship but also religious conduct in daily life, and that such conduct must be reasonably accommodated whenever practicable and permitted by law.
Key updates in the guidance include:
- Integration of recent Supreme Court precedent. The memo reflects recent judicial decisions clarifying the scope of the First Amendment, RFRA’s broad protection of religious liberty, and the requirement of equal treatment toward religious organizations in government programs.
- Protection of parental rights. The updated guidance emphasizes the Supreme Court’s recent precedents confirming that the Constitution protects parents’ ability to direct the religious upbringing of their children.
- Reaffirmation of church autonomy. he guidance highlights constitutional protections that bar government interference in internal religious governance, including employment.
- Expanded direction for federal agencies. Agencies are instructed to proactively consider religious‑liberty impacts when developing rules and policies, designate officers to review regulatory proposals for compliance, and ensure enforcement actions respect RFRA and other protections. Agencies must also consider religious‑liberty concerns raised by the public during notice‑and‑comment periods.
- Clarified protections in federal employment. The guidance reaffirms that agencies must follow recent Office of Legal Counsel opinions when accommodating religious expression and practice in the workplace, including scheduling accommodations and workplace religious expression.
- Safeguards for religious organizations in federal contracting and grant programs. Agencies may not condition an individual’s participation in federal programs on relinquishing their religious character or hiring rights. Religious organizations must be permitted to compete on equal footing with secular organizations.
The Office of Legal Policy will continue to assist agencies in reviewing proposed actions for compliance with federal religious‑liberty protections. "The new religious liberty guidance instructs agencies on how to protect one of our most fundamental constitutional guarantees: religious liberty, said Assistant Attorney General Dan Burrows for the Office of Legal Policy. “It helps ensure that federal actions do not discriminate on the basis of religion and furthers the protection of both individual practitioners and religious organizations."
The updated guidance is available HERE.
75-Year-Old Man Sentenced to 188 Months in Prison for Transportation of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On July 21, 2026, United States District Court Judge Gina Méndez-Miró sentenced Carlos Manuel Collazo-Pérez to 188 months (15 years and 8 months) in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, for child exploitation charges. Collazo-Pérez, a 75-year-old man from Toa Baja, PR, was indicted on September 18, 2025, arrested on September 19, 2025, and pleaded guilty to Count Two of the Indictment, transportation of child pornography, on April 21, 2026.
According to court documents, from on or about March 8, 2021, through on or about August 6, 2025, defendant Carlos Collazo Pérez, using electronic devices which had internet capabilities and were manufactured outside of Puerto Rico, knowingly transported images of child pornography, as defined by Title 18, United States Code, Section 2256(8)(A), that is, sexually explicit images of minors and minors engaging in sexual acts, including images of prepubescent minors or minors who had not attained 12 years of age. On August 14, 2025, an extraction was completed on Collazo Pérez’s work laptop. Within the extraction agents found over 25,500 photos and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Most of the media was downloaded from a browser that provides private web browsing to anonymize your online activity and hide your IP address while browsing.
“The exploitation of children is a serious crime that inflicts lasting harm on the most vulnerable members of our community. Each image collected and traded represents a child who was victimized, and the staggering volume of material recovered in this case reflects a level of suffering that is difficult to comprehend,” said Héctor Ramírez Carbó, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our commitment to protect children and to bring those who prey upon them to justice. We will continue to pursue these offenders aggressively and ensure they are held fully accountable for the damage they cause.”
“A 188-month prison sentence reflects the gravity of this case and the devastating impact of these crimes. The evidence showed that Carlos Manuel Collazo-Pérez was not just a child predator, but an active collector—amassing more than 25,000 images of child sexual abuse material. This staggering volume underscores the seriousness of his offenses and the ongoing threat posed by individuals who exploit the most vulnerable among us. HSI remains resolute in our mission to identify, investigate, and bring to justice those who commit these heinous acts. Today’s sentence is a victory for the victims and a warning to anyone who would consider engaging in such reprehensible behavior,” said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez-Lora of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Immigration Unit prosecuted the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI was in charge of the investigation.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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.
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22 July 2026
Yatahey Man Pleads Guilty to AssaultRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Yatahey man pleaded guilty to federal firearms offenses after assaulting and disfiguring a victim.
According to court documents, on March 28, 2025, and March 29, 2025, Fernando Brown, 35, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted Jane Doe and the assault resulted in temporary but substantial disfigurement.
Brown pleaded guilty to assault resulting in substantial bodily injury and faces up to five years in prison at sentencing.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah-Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jordan is prosecuting the case.
Wilmington Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Child PornRead the Press Release
RALEIGH, N.C. - A federal judge sentenced Tony Michael Crisco, 35, to 50 years in federal prison for Production and Distribution of Child Pornography. On January 29, 2026, Crisco pleaded guilty to the charges.
“This sick individual will no longer be able to harm those who cannot protect themselves. He preyed on vulnerable children by abusing and manipulating them to produce explicit content for his own gratification,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyles. “This spider will now spin his web stuck behind cold steel bars.”
On May 23, 2023, Crisco’s mother contacted law enforcement in Citrus County, Florida after an individual alerted her of an online video showing him raping a 2-year-old child. After his mother alerted law enforcement, they quickly contacted authorities in Wilmington where Crisco lived.
“This lengthy federal prison sentence makes one thing clear: anyone who exploits children will be found, prosecuted, and removed from society for a very long time. The FBI will relentlessly pursue predators and ensure they face the maximum consequences for harming a child,” said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.
Law enforcement officials from the FBI, Wilmington Police Department, and New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department immediately jumped into the investigation, executing a warrant on Crisco’s residence and digital devices. The search revealed numerous images and videos of him sexually abusing a toddler. He also communicated with a 14-year-old female teenager online after meeting her through friends. Crisco began grooming the teenager to send him sexually explicit photos and videos, eventually meeting and engaging in sexual intercourse. Crisco then distributed the images and videos she produced of this crime to others online. During the investigation, over 1,000 images and 348 videos of child pornography and sexual abuse material, investigators discovered.
"Today's guilty plea is the result of a thorough investigation and the unwavering commitment of the men and women dedicated to protecting children in our community. Cases involving the production and possession of child sexual abuse material are among the most disturbing crimes we investigate, and we remain steadfast in our mission to identify offenders, hold them accountable, and seek justice for every victim. This case is a testament to the strength of our partnerships. The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office is grateful for the collaborative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Attorney's Office, the New Hanover County District Attorney's Office, the Wilmington Police Department, New Hanover County Child Protective Services, the Carousel Center, and Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Each of these agencies plays a vital role in ensuring child victims receive the protection, care, advocacy, and resources they deserve while helping bring offenders to justice. The New Hanover County Sheriff's Office remains unwavering in its commitment to aggressively investigating crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children. We will continue working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to pursue those who prey on the most vulnerable members of our community and ensure they are held fully accountable for their actions. Protecting children will continue to be one of our highest priorities."
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The FBI, Wilmington Police Department, and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
A copy of this press release is located on our website. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-00097-D.
Venezuelan Man Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of MinorsRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Eduardo Jose Perdomo, 38, of Venezuela, was sentenced on July 20, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for sex trafficking of two minors by force, fraud, or coercion. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon sentenced Perdomo to 240 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Perdomo’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Perdomo entered the United States illegally in 2021. Senior Judge Bataillon ordered Perdomo to pay a total of $5,400 in restitution to the minor victims.
On January 6, 2025, the Omaha Police Department received a report of a theft at an Omaha hotel. Responding officers identified indicia of sex trafficking. The Omaha Police Department-Homeland Security Investigations Human Trafficking Task Force immediately began investigating and recovered two minor females, aged 15 and 16, who had been brought to a hotel in Omaha by Perdomo from out of state to be sold for commercial sex.
Perdomo arranged for co-defendant Alfredo Manuel Zambrano-Hurtado to transport Perdomo and the minor victims to Nebraska. Perdomo agreed with co-defendant Michel Martinez-Gonzalez on a plan to both advertise the minor victims online for commercial sex and both correspond to potential sex buyers. Perdomo also arranged a deal with hotel staff allowing staff to have sex with the minor victims in exchange for allowing them to stay at the hotel and engage in commercial sex sales. The minor victims engaged in sex acts at Perdomo’s direction and after buyers paid the minor victims, they would give the money to Perdomo.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Omaha comprises agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, USPIS, the IRS-Criminal Investigation Division, and assistance of the Omaha Police Department with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.
Utah Felon Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation where Agents Seized a Large Amount of Alleged Bath Salts and FirearmRead the Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging a Utah man and previously convicted felon of drug and firearm crimes after agents seized approximately 351.8 grams of alpha-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (Alpha-PVP), the primary illicit substance found in “bath salts,” and a handgun, which the defendant is restricted from possessing.
Bronson Gary Dean, 51, of Duchesne, Utah, was charged by complaint on July 7, 2026.
According to court documents, on February 23, 2026, North Salt Lake Police stopped a pickup truck after the driver and sole occupant, identified as Dean, committed a traffic violation. Police ordered Dean to exit the vehicle after an officer observed items that appeared to be drug paraphernalia. Police conducted a vehicle search and officers located and seized additional drug paraphernalia, which included baggies, a digital scale with powder residue, and suspected marijuana. Officers also located a backpack that contained additional drug paraphernalia including several baggies containing a yellowish granular-type substance, and a black .45 caliber Kahr CW45 handgun, which was reported stolen. Officers also located large containers containing laboratory grade glassware, which included a three-bottle neck flask, miscellaneous flasks, condenser tubing, and other volume measuring type glassware. Officers also noted the presence of unknown liquids, contained in various pieces of glassware and baggies located among various labeled chemical containers.
As a result of the findings, the DEA Clandestine Lab Team was called to respond. Upon arrival DEA lab team agents determined the glassware and related chemicals were all used in the manufacturing of synthetic cathinones (“bath salts”). DEA collected representative samples of the unknown liquids and yellow-granular substances and sent them to the DEA Southwest Laboratory for analysis. Results from the laboratory confirmed the presence of 351.8 grams of Alpha-PVP, the primary illicit substance in “bath salts,” which is a schedule I controlled substance.
Dean is charged with felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for July 27, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case is being investigated jointly by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Salt Lake Metro Narcotics Task Force. Significant assistance was provided by the North Salt Lake Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Seth A. Nielsen for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Salt Lake comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Tyler meth dealer sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Tyler man has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Patrick Dewayne Foreman, 61, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 21, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on two separate occasions, Foreman was stopped in Smith County for traffic violations and during both stops was found in possession of drugs. In total, officers recovered over 323 grams of methamphetamine; 3.32 grams of cocaine, marijuana, $9,524 in cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia such as digital scales and unused syringes.
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.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Smith County Sheriff’s Office and Tyler Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Two Street Gang Members Found Guilty of Murdering Victim Outside His Home During Mexican Mafia-Ordered Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
Two members of a Southern California street gang operating under a branch of the Mexican Mafia prison gang were found guilty by a jury today of murdering a man outside his home while trying to rob him.
Ysrael Jacob Cordova, 41, also known as “Trips,” and “Tripper,” of Placentia, California, and Ricardo Valenzuela, 44, also known as “Solo,” of Buena Park, California, each were found guilty of one count of murder in aid of racketeering activity (VICAR murder).
“Gang members directing crimes from behind bars cannot be tolerated.” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case charged both the shooters and the perpetrator who ordered the robbery. Acts of violence like these have no place in our communities, and the Criminal Division will continue to work to keep our citizens safe.”
“We will never tolerate senseless acts of gang violence on the streets, especially those ordered by convicted felons behind bars,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California. “We will vigorously prosecute gang violence to keep our community safe and to provide justice for the victims.”
“These convictions help ensure that those engaging in harm as part of gang-related activity will be brought to justice,” said Acting Assistant Director John R. Dozier Jr. of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The FBI, showcased today through our efforts on the Homeland Security Task Force, remains committed to pursuing and disrupting individuals bringing violence to our communities.”
The Mexican Mafia, also known as “La Eme,” is a U.S.-based prison gang that has immense control over Hispanic street gangs in Southern California, directing illegal activities from prisons and collecting a portion of the proceeds from drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and other crimes committed on the streets.
According to evidence presented at a weeklong trial, the robbery was ordered by a Mexican Mafia member in charge of criminal activities in Orange County (O.C.), who was imprisoned at the Orange County jail at the time of the murder. He communicated the order to rob the victim to a Mexican Mafia member incarcerated in a different California prison, who in turn communicated the order to Cordova and Valenzuela.
That same day, Cordova and Valenzuela were driven to the victim’s neighborhood in Placentia to rob him. Both Cordova and Valenzuela brandished long guns. Cordova shot and killed the victim. The robbery and murder were captured on a surveillance video recording which was introduced by the government as evidence during the trial.
Below are screenshots from that video:
Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 22 at which time Cordova and Valenzuela will face mandatory penalties of life in prison. They have been in federal custody since the spring of 2022.
Federal prosecutors have secured 15 convictions in this criminal investigation targeting the O.C. Mexican Mafia. Of the eight remaining defendants, one is scheduled to go to trial in July 2027 on VICAR and firearms charges and seven are scheduled for trial in August 2027 on charges that include racketeering conspiracy, VICAR, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses.
The FBI, the Santa Ana Police Department, the Anaheim Police Department, the Fullerton Police Department, the Placentia Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation investigated this matter.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.
Trial Attorney Dennis Robinson of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) with significant assistance from VCRS Trial Attorney Grace Bowen, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg Scally and Caitlin J. Campbell for the Central District of California are prosecuting this case.
Two Gang Members Found Guilty of Murdering Victim Outside His O.C. Home During Mexican Mafia-Ordered Attempted Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
SANTA ANA, California – Two members of Southern California street gangs operating under the Orange County branch of the Mexican Mafia prison gang were found guilty by a jury today of murdering a man outside the victim’s Placentia home while trying to rob him at gunpoint.
Ysrael Jacob Cordova, 41, a.k.a. “Trips,” and “Tripper,” of Placentia, and Ricardo Valenzuela, 44, a.k.a. “Solo,” of Buena Park, each were found guilty of one count of murder in aid of racketeering activity (VICAR murder).
“We will never tolerate senseless acts of gang violence on the streets, especially those ordered by convicted felons behind bars,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “We will vigorously prosecute gang violence to keep our community safe and to provide justice for the victims.”
“Gang members directing crimes from behind bars cannot be tolerated.” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This case charged both the shooters and the perpetrator who ordered the robbery. Acts of violence like these have no place in our communities, and the Criminal Division will continue to work to keep our citizens safe.”
“These convictions help ensure that those engaging in harm as part of gang-related activity will be brought to justice,” said Acting Assistant Director John R. Dozier Jr. of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “The FBI, showcased today through our efforts on the Homeland Security Task Force, remains committed to pursuing and disrupting individuals bringing violence to our communities.”
The Mexican Mafia, a.k.a. “La Eme,” is a U.S.-based prison gang that has immense control over Hispanic street gangs in Southern California, directing illegal activities from prisons and collecting a portion of the proceeds from drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and other crimes committed on the streets.
According to evidence presented at a nine-day trial, on January 19, 2017, Gregory Muñoz, 38, a.k.a. “Lou,” “Louie,” “Snoopy,” and “Snoops,” of Placentia, an associate of the Orange County Mexican Mafia, ordered Cordova and Valenzuela to rob R.R.
Muñoz ordered the armed robbery on behalf of Johnny Martinez, 50, a.k.a. “Crow,” of Placentia, a Mexican Mafia brother in charge of criminal activities in Orange County and within Orange County jail and prison facilities at the time of the murder.
At the time, Martinez was incarcerated in Salinas Valley State Prison in Monterey County. Muñoz at the time was an inmate at Calipatria State Prison in Imperial County.
Later that day, Cordova and Valenzuela were driven to the victim’s neighborhood in Placentia to rob the victim at gunpoint. During the robbery, Cordova and Valenzuela brandished long guns, and Cordova shot and killed R.R. They then fled the murder scene.
United States District Judge Fred W. Slaughter scheduled an October 22 sentencing hearing, at which time Cordova and Valenzuela will face mandatory sentences of life in federal prison. They have been in federal custody since the spring of 2022.
So far, federal prosecutors have secured 15 convictions in this criminal case targeting the O.C. Mexican Mafia. Martinez and six other defendants are scheduled to go to trial in August 2027. They face charges including racketeering conspiracy, VICAR, drug trafficking, and firearms offenses.
Muñoz, who two months after R.R.’s murder fell afoul of Martinez, who ordered an assault that left Muñoz injured, is scheduled to go to trial in July 2027 on the same charges of which Cordova and Valenzuela were convicted.
The FBI; the Santa Ana Police Department; the Anaheim Police Department; the Fullerton Police Department; the Placentia Police Department; the Orange County District Attorney’s Office; and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation investigated this matter.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.
Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Scally and Caitlin J. Campbell of the Orange County Office and Trial Attorney Dennis Robinson of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) are prosecuting this case, with significant assistance from Trial Attorney Grace Bowen of VCRS.
Two Clearfield Men Sentenced to Life in Prison for Targeted Bombing That Killed Woman over Drug DebtRead the Press Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Two residents of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, have been sentenced in federal court to life imprisonment on their convictions of conspiracy to maliciously destroy property by explosive or fire and possession of an unregistered destructive device in relation to a targeted bombing that resulted in the death of a woman who owed one of the defendants a drug debt, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentences on Clint Addleman, 49, and Kris Nevling, 49. The defendants were found guilty of the crimes through separate jury trials in August 2025 (Nevling) and March 2026 (Addleman), with the jury also finding Addleman guilty of malicious destruction of property by explosive or fire resulting in death and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Both juries also determined the death of the victim—34-year-old Shanna Carlson, who was also known as Shawna—to be a result of the commission of the conspiring to maliciously destroy property by explosive or fire offense and, in Addleman’s case, the malicious destruction of property by explosive or fire offense.
“Clint Addleman and Kris Nevling callously took the life of Shanna Carlson—someone who Nevling later testified in court was among his best friends—in one of the most violent and brutal manners imaginable, all over a small drug debt,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “They were convicted of their crimes by two separate juries. Today’s sentencings ensure that Addleman and Nevling will both spend the rest of their lives in prison for their ruthless, violent conduct. Our office remains resolute in working closely with our law enforcement partners at the local, state, and federal levels to prosecute those who seek to commit such heinous crimes in our communities.”
“Kris Nevling and Clint Addleman are brutal murderers,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Philadelphia Field Division. “Together they staged a deadly explosion to try to hide their crime. Working methodically with our federal, state, and local partners, and applying ATF’s unique forensic tools, we exposed their conspiracy and they now face long sentences in federal prison for their crime.”
The evidence presented during the trials established that, in and around early October 2019, Addleman and Nevling aided and abetted one another in the construction and possession of a destructive device—a bomb—which was subsequently concealed inside a package addressed to Carlson using her nickname. At approximately 4:30 a.m. on October 4, 2019, the package containing the bomb was delivered and left outside of the door to Carlson’s first floor apartment in a multi-unit rental property on East Market Street in Clearfield. Later that morning, the bomb detonated inside Carlson’s apartment, killing her and causing a fire that destroyed the building. Trial evidence established that the victim owed Addleman an outstanding drug debt of approximately $1,000.
Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen Sheehan-Balchon and Samantha A. Stewart and Special Assistant United States Attorney Shaun E. Sweeney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Clearfield Regional Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecutions of Addleman and Nevling.
Tuba City Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder, Aggravated Assault, and RobberyRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, Derick Lee Myron, 46, of Tuba City, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi to life in prison, plus 40 years.
On April 29, 2024, Myron, an enrolled member of the Hopi Tribe, shot and killed an unarmed victim and shot and seriously injured two others on the Navajo Nation. Myron then stole a truck, ran over the victim he had killed, and fled the crime scene. Over the next two days, Myron hid the firearm he used, and evaded arrest by hiding in the Moenkopi Wash. On February 6, 2026, a federal jury found Myron guilty of eleven charges, including Second-Degree Murder, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Robbery, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
“Justice cannot restore a life lost to senseless violence, but it is always worth pursuing. My thoughts are with the victims of this terrible crime and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “I am thankful for the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, whose tireless work led to the conviction and sentence in this case.”
“A crime like this is heartbreaking for each victim and their families and there is no question that this sentence is just,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “The FBI takes its responsibility for investigating the most egregious crimes in Indian Country very seriously and we remain committed to aggressively pursuing justice for victims of these horrific crimes.”
The FBI Phoenix Division’s Flagstaff office and the Navajo Police Department jointly conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Flagstaff Police Department, and Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Genevieve A. Ozark (Phoenix) and Dimitra H. Sampson (Flagstaff), District of Arizona, handled the prosecution.
CASE NUMBER: CR-24-08050-PCT-MTL
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-124_Myron# # #
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.Trenton Man Indicted for Child Exploitation CrimesRead the Press Release
Gainesville, Florida – Bryan James Shuping, 58, of Trenton, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with thirteen counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today.
Shuping appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for September 2, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Gainesville, Florida.
If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to 30 years’ imprisonment, on each production of child pornography count. He faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession of child pornography count.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tyler A. Fleming is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Three Sentenced for Stealing Drugs from Missouri, Kansas PharmaciesRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – Three men from Texas have been sentenced for stealing tens of thousands of pain pills and other controlled substances from three pharmacies in Missouri and Kansas last year.
Anthony Ray Venwright, 33, and Jonathan Fore, 30, were sentenced Wednesday to 120 months and 87 months in prison, respectively. Erik Dewayne Lyons Jr., 21, was sentenced last week to 46 months in prison. All three were ordered to pay restitution of $62,708.
The three men traveled from the Houston, Texas area to Lee’s Summit, Missouri on July 29, 2025. The next day, Lyons waited in a Toyota RAV4 nearby while Venwright and Fore broke into a pharmacy and stole drugs. They then broke into a pharmacy in Overland Park, Kansas. The following day, they broke into a Maryland Heights pharmacy. Maryland Heights police identified the RAV4 and learned that it was in Arkansas. After the Arkansas State Police stopped the RAV4 and another vehicle, investigators found two trash bags containing the drugs that the men had stolen from the third pharmacy and evidence linking them to all the burglaries.
The men admitted stealing a total of 25,610 doses of pain pills and other controlled substances.
All three men pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substance and entering a pharmacy with the intent to steal controlled substances.
The case was investigated by the Maryland Heights Police Department, the Arkansas State Police, the Clark County (Arkansas) Sheriff’s Department, the Lee’s Summit Police Department and the Overland Park (Kansas) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul D’Agrosa prosecuted the case.
Three Plead Guilty to Illegal Reentry by a Previously Deported AlienRead the Press Release
Ocala, Florida – Today, Alexander Nolasco-Hernandez (41, Honduras), Ruben Marcos-Santiago (30, Mexico), and Celedonio Plancarte-Perez (38, Mexico) pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. Each faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not yet been set. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, Nolasco-Hernandez was previously removed from the United States to Honduras two times. Marcos-Santigo was previously removed from the United States to Mexico three times. Plancarte-Perez was previously removed from the United States to Mexico two times. All three were encountered voluntarily present in the Middle District of Florida in June 2026.
These cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). They are being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jerry M. Harre.
These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Tampa Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida – Johan Smith Pavon Mejia (43, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. He faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. Mejia’s sentencing hearing is set for October 15, 2026. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the plea agreement, in April 2025, Mejia communicated online with an undercover detective from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and arranged to meet a fictitious minor to engage in sexual activity. Mejia traveled to an agreed upon location to meet the “minor” and arrived with items requested by the undercover detective, including candy, iced tea, and money to pay for the arranged sexual acts.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
St. Louis County Man Admits Trying to Have Sexual Contact with Jefferson County TeenRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County on Wednesday admitted being caught trying to have sexual contact with a Jefferson County 14-year-old in 2025.
Tay’vion K. Like, 25, of Bellefontaine Neighbors, pleaded guilty to one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. He admitted communicating with the teen via Snapchat in July of 2025. Like requested sexual contact with the victim, even after she told him that she was 14. He claimed he was 17. Like then told her that he wanted to come to her house to engage in sexual activity. She told him not to come, and that she would call police. When she discovered that he was outside her house on July 15, 2025, she tried to get him to leave and then told her father. Her father called the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies caught Like near the victim’s home.
Like also admitted communicating with other underage girls on Snapchat.
Sentencing is set for October 22. The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson 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.
Springfield Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Sexual Exploitation of Two Child VictimsRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man who sexually exploited two child victims was sentenced in federal court today.
Connor Wilson Zacha, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 30 years in federal prison without parole, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Zacha received 30-year sentences for two counts of child exploitation with both sentences running concurrently. Zacha will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.
According to court documents, Zacha, who pleaded guilty on Oct. 14, 2025, used a minor, identified as Jane Doe 1, to produce child pornography from Nov. 1, 2022, to Nov. 15, 2023. Zacha also used another minor, identified as Jane Doe 2, to produce child pornography from Oct. 1, 2023, to April 18, 2024. Zacha’s cellular device contained images of both Jane Doe 1 and 2, and sexually explicit images and videos of Jane Doe 2, including video of Zach and Jane Doe 2 engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Greene County, Missouri Sheriff’s Department.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
South Charleston Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Role in Kanawha County Drug Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Andre Marvin Marneal Jenkins, also known as “Meech,” 28, of South Charleston, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jenkins admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jenkins arranged to distribute fentanyl pills to a co-conspirator who intended to redistribute those pills to a customer. On April 10, 2025, law enforcement officers encountered Jenkins when they executed a search warrant at a Charleston apartment and seized a quantity of fentanyl and a loaded Glock 17 9mm pistol from Jenkins. He also possessed a key to a storage unit in Dunbar. Officers executed a search warrant on that storage unit and recovered over 5,300 pills containing fentanyl and other substances, along with three additional firearms.
Jenkins is among nine defendants who pleaded guilty following their indictment on charges alleging they participated in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Charleston area between June 2024 and May 2025. Four additional defendants pleaded guilty in separate cases that resulted from the same federal investigation.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-78.
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South Bend Woman Convicted by Jury of Theft for Theft from Four Winds CasinoRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Renee S. Toliver, 41 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was found guilty after a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
“On July 22, 2026, after a trial spanning two days, a jury returned a verdict of guilty against a Defendant charged her with one count of theft of money in excess of $1,000 belonging to the Four Winds Casino. The matter was investigated by the Pokagon Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Luke N. Reilander and Joseph M. Barrier. Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM before United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
"Strong businesses create opportunities, strengthen communities, and improve lives," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O'Malley. "When someone abuses a position of trust for personal gain, the damage extends far beyond the dollars stolen. The FBI is committed to investigating financial crimes, protecting the integrity of our institutions, and ensuring those responsible are held accountable."
Pokagon Police Chief Doug Callahan said, “This verdict reflects the dedication and professionalism of the Pokagon Tribal Police Department and the strong collaboration with our federal law enforcement partners. We remain committed to protecting our community and ensuring those who commit crimes are held accountable."
Sentencing is scheduled for October 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM. Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
This case was investigated by the Pokagon Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Luke N. Reilander and Joseph M. Barrier.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 90 Months in PrisonRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Donald Cauffman, 34 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to attempt to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Cauffman was sentenced to 90 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
“The Defendant will serve seven and a half years in prison and will be supervised for three years thereafter because he sought to poison our communities by distributing nearly ten pounds of methamphetamine. Investigators learned that the Defendant ordered approximately $4,700 worth of methamphetamine pills on the dark web with the intent to distribute them. The pills were delivered in two packages and had a combined weight of approximately 4.5 kilograms. Investigators with United States Postal Inspection service executed a controlled delivery of the packages and monitored the packages as the Defendant opened them. Thanks to the United States Postal Inspection Service, the South Bend Police Department, the Mishawaka Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office led by Ken Cotter, the Defendant was able to be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius. The Defendant sought to profit from peddling this poison in our communities and we are safer because the drugs were intercepted and he is behind bars,” said United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from the South Bend Police Department, the Mishawaka Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.
Smith County drug trafficker sentenced to federal prison in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
TYLER, Texas – A Tyler drug trafficker has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Delbert Dan Borens, Jr., 49, also known as Preacher, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on July 21, 2026.
According to information presented in court, from April to June of 2025, Borens and his co-conspirators sold a total of 564.3 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in Longview. On June 17, 2025, investigators executed a search warrant at Borens’ residence, during which they located and seized 1,115.51grams of methamphetamine, a firearm, drug distribution paraphernalia such as digital scales, a money counter, and plastic bags, and a total of $12,927 in cash.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Gregg County Sheriff’s Office; and Longview Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek.
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Richmond felon sentenced to prison for illegally possessing firearms and mail theftRead the Press Release
RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and mail theft.
According to court documents, from at least July through August 2025, Quavon William Smith, 40, used an arrow key to break into several blue collection boxes in Richmond and Henrico. Arrow keys are used by United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carriers to access authorized mail receptacles. Smith was not employed by USPS and was not authorized to possess or use an arrow key. During many of the break-ins, after taking mail out of the collection box, Smith would put a different packet of mail back into the box.
On Aug. 29, 2025, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) received an access alert and notified Henrico County Police (HCPD). USPIS and HCPD proceeded to the Lakeside Post Office where Smith had used the arrow key to access a collection box and moved mail from the box to his vehicle.
Smith was in possession of stolen mail, including several high-value checks, as well as two loaded handguns. In 2009, Smith was convicted in the Chesterfield County Circuit Court of distribution of cocaine. As a convicted felon, Smith cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
USPIS investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Podlesni prosecuted the case.
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. 3:25-cr-167.
Repeat offender sentenced to 12 years for drug trafficking, money laundering crimesRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage woman was sentenced today to 12 and a half years in prison for trafficking drugs and laundering tens of thousands of dollars in illegal drug proceeds.
According to court documents, Mao “Molly” Lee, 37, possessed methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute them into the community and laundered just under $100,000 in illegal drug proceeds, all as a repeat offender.
In 2014, Lee was convicted of federal drug trafficking crimes and sentenced to just over three years in prison. Upon her release from prison, Lee absconded from court mandated supervision, committed nearly a dozen supervision violations and committed additional federal drug trafficking crimes.
In February 2019, Lee was arrested at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on new federal drug trafficking charges after she attempted to smuggle over 300 grams of methamphetamine and 18 grams of heroin to Kodiak. Lee was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the second offense but was granted compassionate release in 2023 to serve the remainder of her sentence on supervised release. Within three months of her release, she absconded from supervision, resumed drug trafficking and began laundering money.
During September to November 2024, Lee distributed drugs within Anchorage on multiple occasions. In total, Lee was responsible for trafficking over 75 grams of methamphetamine, over 25 grams of heroin, roughly six grams of fentanyl and under a gram of cocaine.
Between July 2023 and November 2024, Lee conspired with others to launder over $90,400 in drug proceeds through Cash App and attempted to launder nearly an additional $32,000 in drug proceeds.
On Aug. 21, 2025, Lee was indicted by a federal grand jury for the most recent offenses. On March 30, 2026, Lee pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute and one count of money laundering conspiracy. She also admitted to multiple supervised release violations from her previous federal conviction.
Lee’s two previous federal drug trafficking convictions defined her as a career offender, which warranted a sentencing enhancement. During sentencing, the Court also ordered Lee to serve eight years on supervised release following her release from prison and pay a $25,000 fine.
“Ms. Lee made a career out of drug trafficking, choosing a life of crime and dishonesty at every turn,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “We’ve seen the devastating effects drug trafficking has had on our communities and addressing this threat has been a priority for my office over the past year and a half. One by one, we will take down every drug trafficker that threatens the safety of our state.”
“This sentence sends a clear message that repeat drug traffickers who continue to poison our communities will be held accountable,” said Robert A. Saccone, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Field Division. “Every seizure and every prosecution disrupt the supply chain that fuels addiction and overdose deaths. Through DEA’s Fentanyl Free America, we are working alongside our law enforcement partners to reduce the availability of illicit fentanyl, dismantle the criminal organizations responsible for its distribution, and save American lives.”
The DEA Seattle Field Division and Anchorage District Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Anchorage Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation Anchorage Field Office, U.S. Marshals Service and Anchorage Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ainsley McNerney and Chris Schroeder prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
UPDATE: This release has been updated to include additional law enforcement agencies.
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Repeat Fraudster Sentenced to 69 Months for Identity Theft and Bank Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Charles E. Poole III, 48, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 69 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and victim restitution of more than $1 million by United States District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl for orchestrating a sprawling identity theft and bank fraud scheme. Judge Schmehl imposed this term of imprisonment to run consecutive to the 32-to-64-year sentence the defendant is currently serving for an unrelated attempted murder conviction in Delaware County.
The defendant was charged by indictment in June of 2023 and pleaded guilty last September to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit identification document fraud, conspiracy to commit access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, two counts of bank fraud, and two counts of access device fraud.
As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, from about February 2018 through February 2020, Poole orchestrated a scheme by which he and his co-schemers acquired stolen personally identifiable information and other means of identification, including names, credit card information, dates of birth, social security numbers, addresses, and credit histories, of persons located in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, including elderly individuals, all without the victims’ knowledge and consent.
Poole then recruited a number of co-schemer “runners” who, at Poole’s direction, and posing as the victims, would enter banks, lenders, and local businesses to obtain loans, apply for credit, and purchase merchandise in the victims’ names, without their knowledge. Court records show that Poole began this scheme while on supervised release from a prior federal conviction for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
In total, Poole caused over $100,000 of actual losses to more than a dozen businesses and financial institutions.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew T. Newcomer and John Iannacone.
Putnam County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Steven Mark Hosey, 59, of Poca, was sentenced to three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for unlawfully engaging in the business of dealing in firearms.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from at least April 2024 through April 10, 2025, Hosey sold firearms without a Federal Firearms License (FFL) in Huntington. As part of his guilty plea, Hosey admitted that he knew he needed an FFL based on the quantity and regularity with which he was buying and selling firearms. Hosey further admitted that he purchased firearms from FFL licensees with the intent to sell the firearms to other individuals, received requests from individuals for specific firearms that he would purchase to sell to those individuals, purchased firearms without a specific buyer in mind, and advertised the sale of firearms on various social media platforms.
Hosey also admitted that he sold between 40 and 50 firearms for profit during the time period. These firearms included a Glock model 43X 9mm pistol and a Shadow Systems model MR920 9mm pistol on January 25, 2025, a Glock model 40 10mm pistol and a Colt model Anaconda .44 Magnum revolver on February 6, 2025, a Sig Sauer model P320 9mm pistol and a Smith & Wesson model 629 .44 Magnum revolver on February 28, 2025, a Glock model 45 9mm pistol and a FN model FNX-45 Tactical .45-caliber pistol on March 17, 2025, and a Kimber model Tactical Pro II 9mm pistol and a Springfield Armory model Hellcat 9mm pistol on April 8, 2025. Hosey admitted that he conducted the five transactions in the parking lot of an FFL business and sold the firearms to a confidential informant.
On April 10, 2025, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Hosey’s residence and seized 34 firearms. Hosey admitted that he intended to sell some of the seized firearms for profit.
United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:26-cr-36.
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