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17 July 2026
Red Lake Man Sentenced to over Five Years’ Imprisonment for Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Leland Whitefeather, Sr., 77, was sentenced to 66 months for the sexual abuse of a minor. Whitefeather was sentenced before U.S. District Judge Laura M. Provinzino on July 15, 2026.
Whitefeather, who was acting as a caretaker to the victims at the time, admitted to knowingly engaging in sexual acts with multiple minors, including at his home, within the boundaries of the Red Lake Indian Reservation between 2009 and 2019. After his release from custody, Whitefeather will be placed on sex offender supervision for a period of five years.
“There’s not a higher priority for our office than protecting children. We will continue working closely with the FBI, the Red Lake Police Department, and all of our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who prey on the innocent,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen.
“The FBI has no tolerance for child sexual abuse,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. “Leland Whitefeather, Sr. admitted to the sexual abuse of three children on multiple occasions during the span of over nine years. His sentence to federal prison is deserved. The FBI and our partners with the Red Lake Tribal Police work diligently every day to protect the community and the children of the Red Lake Nation. We hope this sentence can be part of the healing process for this defendant’s victims and their families.”
This case was the result of an investigation by the FBI and Red Lake Tribal Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorneys Evan Gilead and Mary Riverso prosecuted the case.
Pensacola Felon Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug & Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
Pensacola, Florida – Marcellous Likely-McWilliams III, 27, of Pensacola, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court on one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving marijuana; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I am proud of the many successful prosecutions that my office has delivered under Operation Take Back America, as the Department of Justice devotes its full might toward removing violent, drug trafficking offenders, like this defendant, from our communities. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve safe, drug-free streets, and that is exactly what my office will deliver with continued aggressive prosecutions to back up the excellent work of our state and federal law enforcement partners on the front lines in the fight against crime.”
Court documents reflect that on February 4, 2026, the defendant, a convicted felon legally prohibited from possessing firearms, was arrested wearing a backpack that contained a Glock 9-millimeter pistol, an additional 50-round drum magazine holding live ammunition, 69.7 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, and various identification documents. The defendant initially resisted arrest, requiring one deputy to seek medical treatment. After his initial arrest, the defendant was placed in a patrol vehicle where he covertly slipped his handcuffs to the front of his body. He later kicked a deputy, and attempted to push the deputy away from the patrol car door as he tried to flee from the patrol vehicle before being transported to jail.
The defendant faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession with intent to distribute count; a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brooke A. Lindsay.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 14, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl.
Pennsylvania Doctor Pleads Guilty to Multiple Child Sexual Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
A doctor of internal medicine, Habib Bhatti, 44, of Barto, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to an information charging one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, one count of use of an interstate commerce facility to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct, two counts of production of child pornography, and two counts of possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, in December 2018, Bhatti sexually exploited two minor victims, near Philadelphia, by producing child pornography of them while recording it without their knowledge. In December 2024, he also traveled in interstate commerce, from Pennsylvania to California, with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with two minor victims and to record it without their knowledge. Bhatti also pleaded guilty today to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Following his arrest in September 2025, investigators executing a search warrant found hundreds of images and videos of CSAM the defendant had produced or collected over the years.
Bhatti is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 29. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania made the announcement.
The FBI Philadelphia Field Office investigated the case with substantial assistance from the High Technology Investigative Unit of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).
Trial Attorney James E. Burke IV of CEOS and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Kulik for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case.
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 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
PCP Trafficker Sentenced to 60 Months for Role in Wide-Ranging Narcotics ConspiracyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON - Kenneth Watts, 59, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in prison in connection with his role in a conspiracy to distribute phencyclidine (PCP), announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Watts was convicted by a federal jury on May 20, 2025, in U.S. District Court on one count of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of PCP. In addition to the 60-month prison term, Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Watts to serve five years of supervised release.
According to court papers, a two-year investigation by federal and local law enforcement uncovered a narcotics trafficking network operating in the metropolitan area. The network distributed large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and PCP and relied on firearms to protect its operations and drug proceeds.
Watts’s role in the conspiracy centered on obtaining bulk shipments of liquid PCP from a supplier in California. On Sept. 23, 2020, Prince George’s County police intercepted a package containing six kilograms of PCP at a FedEx facility in Maryland. The package was addressed to a fictitious name at an address in Temple Hills, Maryland.
Officers conducted a controlled delivery to the address. After the package was dropped off, they observed Watts retrieve it and enter the residence. He emerged carrying a suitcase and drove away. He was pulled over a short distance from the house. Officers recovered the PCP from the suitcase in the truck bed. Laboratory testing confirmed the substance was approximately six kilograms of PCP.
A search of Watts’s cellphone revealed text messages with the California supplier, including the delivery address and a fictitious recipient name. His phone also showed he had messaged a co-conspirator asking him to call “asap” the day before the package arrived. Evidence showed the co-conspirator later contacted Watts when seeking to obtain PCP.
Co-defendant, James Kinard, 48, of Temple Hills, Md., also was found guilty by the jury on May 20, 2025, on the PCP conspiracy count, and additionally found guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Sentencing for Kinard is pending.
Three other co-defendants pleaded guilty before the case went to trial. Melvin Grayson, 52, of District Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, more than 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and more than one kilogram of PCP and was sentenced to 120 months. Tyrone Ragland, 57, aka “Tech,” of the District, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram of PCP and was sentenced to 180 months. Charles Cunningham, 59, of the District, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and was sentenced to 180 months in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Washington Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division Office, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the Prince George’s County Police Department.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nihar R. Mohanty and Iris Y. McCranie.
Police recovered six kilograms of PCP from a suitcase Watts had stashed in the back of his vehicle.
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Omaha Woman Sentenced to 18 Months for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Tamara Ricceri-Wolf, 60, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 8, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for one count of wire fraud. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Ricceri-Wolf to 18 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Ricceri-Wolf’s release from prison, she will begin a three-year term of supervised release. Judge Buescher ordered Ricceri-Wolf to pay restitution in the amount of $635,935.05.
An investigation conducted by the FBI determined that between 2018 and December 2022, Ricceri-Wolf, as the Financial Manager for an Omaha company, had access to the company’s financial information and bank accounts. Beginning in 2019 and continuing through at least 2022, Ricceri-Wolf devised a scheme to defraud or to obtain money from the Omaha company, which involved opening American Express credit cards in the name of both the company and company’s owner without knowledge or authorization. After opening the American Express credit cards, Ricceri-Wolf made personal purchases using the credit cards for her own benefit and without authorization. Ricceri-Wolf would use her position as a Financial Manager to make payments from the company’s bank accounts on balances associated with the American Express credit cards. Ricceri-Wolf caused to be made approximately 106 unauthorized payments to American Express totaling at least $538,428.26.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Omaha Police Department Dismantles Methamphetamine Conspiracy Located at Airbnb RentalRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Ricardo Gutierrez-Castillo, Eric Luviano-Cabrera and Heleodoro Luviano-Castillo were sentenced in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to possess and possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of pure methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced all three to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After their release from prison, all will begin a five-year term of supervised release.
On January 2, 2025, investigators with the Omaha Police Department received a tip from the owner of a South Omaha Airbnb who observed suspicious behavior from the renters, including bringing in large pots and pans, large bags of what looked like salt, and fans. On January 3, investigators observed two individuals loading large totes from the Airbnb into a vehicle. Investigators stopped the vehicle and identified Gutierrez-Castillo, 25, of Elkin, North Carolina, as the driver. Inside the vehicle, 33 kilograms of pure methamphetamine were found in the totes.
After Gutierrez-Castillo was arrested, investigators took Eric Luviano-Cabrera, 41, and Heleodoro Luviano-Castillo, 41, both of Mexico and illegally present in the U.S., into custody. A search warrant on the Airbnb found a makeshift laboratory intended to separate methamphetamine concealed within other compounds. They also found an additional 15 kilograms of pure methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods said, “Methamphetamine is a toxic poison undermining the safety and strength of our communities, and the Omaha Police Department should be commended for tearing down this criminal organization and disrupting the flow of this hazard substance into Nebraska from Mexico.”
This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.
New York Woman Indicted for Bribing Federal Official at ICE Detention Center to Release Immigration DetaineesRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – On July 15, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Diana Kutateladze, 37, of Brooklyn, New York, with three counts of bribery of a Louisiana public official, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201(b)(1). Kutateladze faces up to 15 years in federal prison on each count.
According to court documents, on January 11, 2024, January 16, 2024, and May 28, 2024, Kutateladze allegedly offered money and other valuable items—including tequila, a $100 gift card, and $3,000 in online payments—to a public official in the Western District of Louisiana to influence his official acts. It is alleged that those offered bribes were made to influence the public official to disregard federal immigration laws and recommend the release of immigration detainees. The public official who received these bribes reported them to his supervisors, which resulted in this investigation.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
This case was investigated by Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig Bordelon and LaDonte Murphy, with assistance from Legal Assistants Tanya Broussard and Christy Angelle.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is 1:26-cr-00273-o1.
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Public Affairs
United States Attorney’s Office
Western District of Louisiana
USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
Twitter @USAO_WDLA
New Orleans Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking and Firearms ViolationsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TERRELL KELLEY (“KELLEY”), age 34, was sentenced to a ninety-seven (97) month term of imprisonment on July 14, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan. KELLEY was ordered to pay a $600 mandatory special assessment fee and serve a six (6) year term of supervised release upon release from imprisonment, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, KELLEY previously pleaded guilty to three (3) counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, two (2) counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The aforementioned narcotics and firearms charges relate to three separate incidents, as follows. On August 20, 2020, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers attempted to arrest KELLEY on an outstanding warrant. After a standoff, KELLEY surrendered, and a search warrant was obtained for the residence where he was located. The search revealed $10,000 in cash, a Glock pistol, an extended magazine, assorted ammunition, 21 grams of crack, 8.51 grams of heroin, and 25 Tramadol pills. Due to previous felony convictions, KELLEY is prohibited from possessing a firearm. On December 16, 2021, NOPD officers observed KELLEY conducting multiple hand-to-hand narcotics transactions. KELLEY was apprehended and evidence of the narcotics transactions, including 1.1 grams of crack, plastic baggies, and cash were recovered. These items are consistent with street-level narcotics distribution. Finally, on February 3, 2023, NOPD officers again encountered KELLEY and found him to be in possession of a Glock nine-millimeter handgun, a total of 25 Tapentadol tablets, and $280 cash, all consistent with street-level narcotics distribution.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Greg Kennedy of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
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New Jersey Man Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Role in Multi-State Prescription Fraud RingRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – On July 8, 2026, Bryan Otero, age 38, of Wood Ridge, New Jersey, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for conspiring to commit health care fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Otero’s sentencing followed the creation of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. The announcement was made by First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
Otero previously admitted that from April 2023 through October 2024, he worked with Cierra Washington and others to steal the personally identifiable information of Medicaid beneficiaries and use that information to fraudulently obtain prescription medications from pharmacies throughout the Northeastern United States. He further admitted that the conspiracy caused a loss of nearly $4 million to the New York Medicaid program and tens of thousands of dollars to pharmacies.
“Healthcare fraud drains critical taxpayer resources and undermines care for the patients who need it most,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sarcone. “Under the leadership of President Trump and the Department of Justice’s Fraud Division, my office, alongside our partners, remains committed to holding accountable individuals like Mr. Otero, who attempt to defraud American taxpayers and prey on patients within our healthcare system.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli said, “Healthcare fraud is not a victimless crime. It targets a vulnerable population demographic that relies on the assistance it provides. It also drives the cost of healthcare up for every American. This sentence proves the FBI will not stand by while fraudsters like Mr. Otero take advantage of invaluable government programs designed to help Americans who need it most.”
"This conspiracy was built on the theft and misuse of vulnerable beneficiaries’ personal information, and it inflicted significant losses on a program designed to deliver essential care," said Naomi D. Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "Identity theft-based prescription fraud not only undermines public trust in Medicaid but also puts patients at risk when their information is exploited for criminal gain. HHS OIG remains committed to working with our partners to protect program funds, safeguard beneficiary information, and ensure that those who engage in schemes like this are held fully accountable."
To date, the government has successfully recovered over $1.1 million in assets from Otero, which will be applied to restitution to the victims of Otero’s crimes. Otero was also ordered to pay an additional $3 million in restitution and serve a term of supervised release of 3 years after he is released from prison.
Cierra Washington and another co-defendant, Raven White, have pled guilty for their roles in the conspiracy. White is scheduled to be sentenced on August 4, 2026, and Washington is scheduled to be sentenced on October 14, 2026.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, and the New York State Comptroller’s Office are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikayla Espinosa and Nicholas Walter are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Nevada Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling and Selling Misbranded Erectile Dysfunction and Prescription DrugsRead the Press Release
LAS VEGAS – A Henderson, Nevada, man pleaded guilty today to smuggling misbranded prescription drugs containing sildenafil and tadalafil into the United States from India and selling them to stores in Nevada and elsewhere.
According to court documents and statements made in court, David Ralph Webber owned and operated Passion Plus Enterprises Inc. and Whole Science Health. He was not a registered pharmaceutical manufacturer with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nor was he licensed to administer prescription drugs or to be a wholesaler of prescription drugs.
Webber admitted that from at least 2018 to present he used his companies to import hundreds of thousands of misbranded prescription drug capsules and tablets containing sildenafil, sildenafil citrate, and tadalafil — the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis — into the United States. The prescription drugs were manufactured in India at facilities that were not registered with the FDA. To evade customs detection and enforcement, Webber falsely declared that the wire transfers to the manufacturers were for business management consultancy services. He paid a packaging company to falsely label the capsules “Ride,” “Kinky Kong,” “Stif,” “TBone,” and “Kinky Pink”; to list false ingredients; and to falsely claim that the drugs were “100% Natural” and did not require a prescription.
Webber then sold the misbranded prescription drugs to smoke shops, convenience stores, and adult novelty stores in Nevada and elsewhere throughout the southwestern United States. He also sold them online to consumers through a website he operated. In total, he made more than $1.9 million in revenue from his sales of misbranded prescription drugs.
Webber pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with one count of introduction of a misbranded drug into interstate commerce and one count of mail fraud. Sentencing has been scheduled for October 19, 2026, before United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. He faces the maximum statutory penalty of 23 years in custody. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Robert M. Iwanicki of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office, and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Phoenix Division made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the FDA and USPIS. Assistant United States Attorneys Jessica Oliva and Kimberly Frayn are prosecuting the case.
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Nebraska Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Methamphetamine ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Leonel DeLeon, 64, of Wahoo, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 10, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced DeLeon to 188 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After DeLeon’s release from prison, he will serve a 10-year term of supervised release.
DeLeon was charged as a result of his involvement with a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa, areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Between February 8, 2024, and June 21, 2024, law enforcement utilized cooperating witnesses who contacted the Mexican source and ordered quantities of methamphetamine. On May 29, 2024, after an order was placed with the source, Deleon delivered more than 50 grams of methamphetamine to a cooperating witness at an Omaha location. The investigation revealed that on four other occasions Deleon delivered additional quantities of methamphetamine to cooperators at Omaha locations.
On July 2, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Deleon’s Omaha apartment and seized 60 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm.
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 Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.
Morris County Man Sentenced to 288 Months in Prison for Attempted Murder of a Federal Officer, as well as Narcotics and Firearm Offenses, Including the Possession of Multiple Assault RiflesRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County man was sentenced to 288 months in prison for the attempted murder of a federal officer, as well as narcotics offenses and possession of 18 firearms, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Maloy Amador, 44, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court following his guilty plea to a four-count information charging him with attempted murder of a federal officer, discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
“Attempting to murder a federal law enforcement officer is among the most serious crimes our office prosecutes. The men and women of federal law enforcement put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect our communities, and this case—where the defendant fired a gun at a federal officer—is a stark reminder of just how dangerous and life-threatening that mission can be. Anyone who chooses to meet law enforcement with violence will face the full weight of the federal justice system.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
“Mr. Amador pled guilty today to a number of charges, to include the most serious charge of attempted murder of a federal officer. In August 2025, while federal agents were executing a court authorized search warrant, Amador discharged his assault rifle at the officers with a projectile striking at least one of the officers in the vest. The FBI takes any degree of assault on a federal officer with the utmost seriousness and will see that justice is served,” said Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy.
“This guilty plea underscores the grave danger our officers face when they put on the uniform,” said New York Director of Field Operations Frank Russo of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “During this operation, one of our CBP officers later discovered bullet fragments embedded in his protective vest—an alarming reminder of how close we came to a very different outcome. We are grateful he was not physically injured, and I commend his skill, composure, and bravery in going through that door in an extremely dangerous situation. CBP will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our federal, state, and local partners to ensure that those who target law enforcement are held fully accountable.”
“This is a reminder of the dangers that the men and women of law enforcement put themselves in on a daily basis to keep our communities safe,” stated DEA New Jersey Field Division Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James. “We are very fortunate that no members of law enforcement were injured or killed during this operation. In light of these dangers, we will continue to pursue those seeking to break the law.”
“ATF remains steadfast in its commitment to identifying and holding accountable anyone who commits violence against law enforcement officers or engages in criminal activity. This plea demonstrates our shared resolve and unified approach to protecting our communities. We will continue to work alongside our partners at all levels to combat threats to public safety.”
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On August 13, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Amador’s residence in Parsippany, New Jersey, in connection with a narcotics and firearms investigation. After law enforcement entered Amador’s residence, Amador fired a gun toward law enforcement. Following an extended exchange of gunfire between Amador and law enforcement, Amador eventually surrendered, and law enforcement placed him under arrest. At some point during the exchange of gunfire, Amador was struck in the arm. After Amador’s arrest, one of the officers who entered Amador’s residence discovered that a bullet had struck his agency‑issued electronic control device, leaving a hole in the device, and bullet fragments embedded in his ballistic vest. During a search of Amador’s residence, law enforcement recovered over two kilograms of narcotics and 18 firearms, including multiple assault rifles.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Kirsch sentenced Amador to four years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited officers and special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka; U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, New York Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Israel Colon; the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Acting Superintendent Jeanne Hengemuhle; the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll; and the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department, under the direction of Chief Richard Pantina.
This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin, Chief of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
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Defense Counsel: Laura Sayler, Esq.
Mississippi Man Sentenced for Conspiracy and Interstate Transport of Stolen VehiclesRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TERRENCE ROBINSON a/k/a Brian Jacobs (“ROBINSON”), age 41, a resident of Carriere, Mississippi was sentenced on July 16, 2026, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit the interstate transportation of stolen vehicles, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan sentenced ROBINSON to six months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
According to the indictment, ROBINSON, and others, devised a scheme to create fake credit profiles to secure funding for auto loans. The credit profiles used both stolen and fake social security numbers, drivers’ license numbers, and dates of birth. Once they secured the loans, they would purchase vehicles at local car dealerships with no intention of paying back the loans, only to sell the vehicles for their personal enrichment, or use the vehicles for their personal enjoyment.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations, Louisiana State Police, and Pearl River County Sherriff’s Office in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Miami CPA Charged with Preparing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
A Miami-based CPA was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday on charges of preparing a false tax return for the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of a group of related companies that collectively operated a shipping business.
According to the criminal information, Luis E. Gonzalez, Jr. became an employee of the shipping business in 2019 and prepared tax returns for several of the shipping business’s companies and several members of the family that owned it. Gonzalez allegedly prepared false tax returns for one of the companies for the years 2021 and 2022, and for an employee of that business for the years 2021 through 2023. These false returns collectively underreported millions of dollars in income.
Gonzalez was charged with one count of aiding or assisting the filing of a false tax return. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Jason A. Redding Quinones of the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Senior Litigation Counsel Sean Beaty and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nalina Sombuntham of the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
Mexican National Sentenced for 28-Year Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Marco Antonio Lopez Gutierrez, an illegal alien residing in Lancaster, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for a decades-long aggravated identity fraud scheme.
The defendant’s crimes involved an elaborate and extensive identity theft scheme that spanned approximately 28 years while living in three separate states. Gutierrez used the victim’s Puerto Rican birth certificate and social security number to obtain a U.S. Passport, multiple state drivers licenses, credit cards and even an FHA loan all under the victim’s information. In the mid-1990s the defendant was convicted of fraud, larceny, and assault and served time in a North Carolina state prison under the victim’s identity.
Gutierrez’s victim estimated that he spent thousands of hours contacting banks, law enforcement, and creditors before Gutierrez’s arrest trying to clear his name and establish that he was a victim and not a debtor.
Gutierrez’s scheme negatively affected his victim’s ability to borrow from financial institutions, prevented his victim from obtaining a state driver’s license, because one was already issued in his name, and Gutierrez caused his victim, a United States citizen, to be questioned by law enforcement on at least two occasions after Gutierrez falsely reported to the police that Gutierrez was the identity theft victim and that the victim had stolen his identity.
After Gutierrez was arrested on federal charges, he lied to the presiding United States Magistrate, and the United States Probation Office, about his identity, so that he could obtain appointed counsel at the taxpayer’s expense under the victim’s identity.
U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Gutierrez to 48 months’ imprisonment. The Court also ordered Gutierrez to pay $79,010.44 in restitution to the victim of his crimes. Following his incarceration, he will be deported.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Diplomatic Security Services and the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry B. McTigue prosecuted the case.###
Metairie Man Charged with Making False Statements to IRS Special AgentsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – EARL SCHMIT (“SCHMIT), age 75, of Metairie, Louisiana was charged on July 13, 2026, by bill of information with making false statements to IRS Special Agents, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.
If convicted, SCHMIT faces a maximum sentence of five (5) years, a fine of up to $100,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following his release from prison, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division.
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Media AdvisoryRead the Press Release
There will be a press conference held on July 20, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at the offices of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa located at the Ho-Chunk Building in Sioux City, Iowa. United States Attorney Leif Olson will announce the results of the sentencings of Floyd Clifford Coates and Dennis Lawson that will occur earlier that afternoon. Coates and Lawson were linked to the death and disappearance of Sunny Sramek. Coates was convicted of various offenses related to drug trafficking, firearms, and obstruction of justice in federal court in November 2025 following an eleven-day trial. Lawson was convicted of threatening a witness.
Mr. Olson will be joined by representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hitchcock County, Nebraska, Sheriff’s Office, the Goodland, Kansas, Police Department, and other agencies who contributed to the investigation and prosecution.
Event Details
When: Monday, July20, 2026
Where: Ho-Chunk Building, Suite 670, 600 4th Street, Sioux City, Iowa
Time: 4:00 p.m. (Note: Start time could be delayed by court proceedings.)
A press release will be provided and interview opportunities will be available.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Lincoln Man Sentenced to More Than 20 Years for Drug Distribution Conspiracy and Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Peter Jacobsson, 39, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 9, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln for one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual and 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine with a prior conviction and one count of use or carry of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Jacobsson to a total of 244 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Jacobsson’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release.
Jacobsson was a member of a conspiracy to sell methamphetamine in the Lincoln and Omaha areas between February 2022 and March 2025. In September 2024, an undercover officer (UC) made three controlled purchases from Jacobsson. On September 9, 2024, the UC purchased 47 grams of methamphetamine actual. On September 12, 2024, the same UC purchased 52 grams of methamphetamine actual. Lastly, on September 19, 2024, the UC purchased another 51 grams of methamphetamine actual.
On October 16, 2024, Jacobsson was arrested for driving a stolen vehicle. He had 41.3 grams of suspected methamphetamine and a 9mm handgun in his possession. Jacobsson’s cell phone was seized and searched pursuant to a search warrant. The phone contained text messages, owe notes, and other communications with co-defendant Ramon Gaytan and others which were consistent with drug distribution.
Co-defendant Gaytan pleaded guilty to similar charges and is currently scheduled for sentencing on October 15, 2026, before United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis.
An additional co-defendant is currently scheduled for a status conference on July 24, 2026, before United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline M. DeLuca.
This case was investigated by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.
Lewes Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
WILMINGTON, Del. (July 16, 2026) – A Lewes man was sentenced July 16, 2026, to 70 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). U.S. District Judge Hall imposed the sentence.
According to court documents, Brandon Barnes, 38, fled from Lewes Police during a car stop in July 2024. Barnes lost control of his car and struck a utility box before fleeing on foot. Once police caught Barnes, they found numerous blue pills marked “M30” scattered across the floor and driver’s seat of the car, as well as blue pills between the car and where police arrested Barnes. Police ultimately recovered over 500 pressed fentanyl pills.“Fentanyl kills,” stated U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “But Brandon Barnes did not let that stop him from peddling the deadly substance to people in the throes of addiction. He will now be spending more than five years in federal prison. That is a just sentence, and we thank our dedicated law enforcement partners at the DEA for taking yet another dangerous drug dealer off the streets.”
Philadelphia Division Special Agent in Charge Timothy S. Flaherty said, “Today another fentanyl distributor was held accountable for threatening our local communities. Brandon Barnes sought to profit from causing harm to others. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of DEA, the Lewes Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Delaware, he will instead serve more than five years in federal prison.”
"Whether you live in large cities or small beach towns like Lewes, those that sell illegal drugs remain a leading cause of crime and will always be a focus of the Lewes Police Department,” said said Thomas Spell, Chief of Police of the Lewes Police Department. “We want to thank the Drug Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their continued partnership in assisting local law enforcement and holding drug dealers like Brandon Barnes accountable for his crimes against our community."
U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Agency, with assistance from Lewes Police Department, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill, Samuel S. Frey, and M. David Tambussi Jr. prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District
Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 24-cr-122.Leader of Violent Extremist Terror Network “Cultists” Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Kalana Limkin, 20, of Hilo, Hawaii, was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison (the statutory maximum) followed by 20 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. Limkin pled guilty without a plea agreement on February 13, 2025.
Limkin, the co-founder and ringleader of an online violent nihilistic extremist (“NVE”) group known as “Cultists,” pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on February 13, 2025. The charge was part of a broader course of depraved conduct in which Limkin and Cultists members engaged.
According to information presented to the Court at sentencing, Cultists became a well-known and highly recognizable brand within the larger NVE community in part due to the shock value of the content and activities within its servers and digital spaces. Cultists members collaborated to victimize children in a systematic attempt to trigger social collapse and topple the current world order. Limkin used Cultists to incite children to self-mutilate, broadcast sexual acts, and film their own suicides. By desensitizing them to gore and child sexual abuse material, Cultists groomed these minors for future violent behavior.
Limkin showed one minor victim an image of a 5-year-old girl getting raped to desensitize her. He sent naked pictures of her to her friends and attempted to groom her by making her take nude photos of her younger siblings. As Limkin explained to another of his minor victims, he “took advantage of the mentally unstable because they were easy to manipulate.” Limkin extorted a third victim with her own sexual abuse material to convince her to commit suicide. In the recorded video chat, Limkin proclaimed, “We want her to die. Yes, we do. That’s the whole point of this. I threatened to leak everything.”
“Limkin represents a growing and depraved group of violent extremists who target vulnerable juveniles online for the sick pleasure they derive from causing their young impressionable victims to commit acts of self-harm, at times even encouraging them to commit suicide,” said United States Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will tirelessly pursue and charge those who weaponize the internet to gain possession of child pornography and the reprehensible pleasure they seek to gain from urging children to commit acts of self-harm and mutilation.”
“Limkin—and the predatory, nihilistic extremist group Cultists—utilized heinous, sadistic online exploitation tactics to prey on children, forcing them into a cycle of self-harm, violence, and abuse,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “The FBI and our partners will exhaust every resource to protect the most vulnerable members of our community from online predators, and continue our efforts to dismantle these violent extremist networks, pull their members from the shadows of the internet, and bring justice to their doorstep.”
FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Mohammad Khatib prosecuted the case, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
Knoxville Man Arrested for Transmitting Threats to Kill Public OfficalsRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Garry Lee Williams, 44, of Knoxville, was arrested on July 16, 2026, in Knoxville by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on a complaint involving the interstate transmission of threats to kill public officials.
An initial appearance was held today, Friday, July 17, 2026, in United States District Court in Knoxville, before the Honorable Debra C. Poplin, United States Magistrate Judge. The next scheduled hearing is a preliminary hearing set for August 25, 2026, at 1:30pm, before Judge Poplin. A trial will be scheduled at a later date.
The details of the complaint, which include numerous threats to kill public officials, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), are outlined in the arrest warrant and supporting affidavit to the complaint, which are filed as public records in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. In summary, the affidavit alleges that Williams made repeated posts and videos on social media, including TikTok, in which Williams threatened to kill President Donald J. Trump, FBI Director Kash Patel, Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler, and Knoxville Police Chief Paul Noel.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge, Terence G. Reilly, of the Nashville Field Office of the FBI, made the announcement.
Assistant United States Attorney David P. Lewen, Jr. will represent the United States in this case.
Members of the public are reminded that these are only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Justice Department awards over $6.1M to Tribal governments, nonprofits, and law enforcement agencies in Alaska this monthRead the Press Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Justice Department recently announced that the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) awarded nine grants, totaling over $6.1 million, to Tribal governments, nonprofits, and law enforcement agencies located or operating in Alaska. With these recent awards, DOJ has awarded over $97 million in fiscal year (FY) 2025 funding to Alaska to directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, provide services to crime victims, and bolster their efforts to keep women safe in their state.
“Law enforcement, juvenile justice, and victim advocacy programs are essential services, particularly at the state and local community levels,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “The Trump Administration recognizes this commonsense truth and has provided strong support tailored to Alaska’s specific needs. These recent grants are part of a broader effort to make America, and Alaska, safe again.”
“Alaska faces public safety challenges unlike anywhere else in the country and meeting them requires solutions that are just as unique and focused,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “In Alaska, federal, state, local and Tribal partners stand shoulder to shoulder to protect our communities. We are pleased to know that these grants will go directly to communities and agencies to improve public safety and provide resources for Alaskans in all corners of our state.”
OVW Funding:
This month, OVW awarded over $3.9 million in grants to combat violence against women in Alaska. These grants will support services for victims of domestic and sexual violence in and beyond Alaska Native villages, better access to safety and justice for victims with disabilities, training on successful strategies for keeping victims safe and holding perpetrators accountable, cybercrimes enforcement, and programs that involve men and youth in preventing violence against women and girls.
These grants follow the Trump Administration’s unprecedented investment of OVW grant dollars in Alaska’s public safety efforts last year. OVW has awarded 45 grants totaling more than $30 million to Tribal and state governments and nonprofit organizations in Alaska to bolster their efforts to keep women safe.
OJP Funding:
This month, OJP awarded over $2.2 million in grants to the Alaska Department of Public Safety and Alaska Division of Juvenile Justice. The funds will be used to enhance statewide drug interdiction and enforcement through the Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit (SDEU); deliver specialized de-escalation and intervention training to law enforcement including local and tribal police departments, state troopers, Village Public Safety Officers, and the Alaska State Troopers’ Advanced Training Unit; and maintain compliance with the Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention Act, reduce juvenile recidivism rates (specifically targeting Alaska Native juveniles), and improve the juvenile justice system.
For more information on the OJP, visit: www.ojp.gov. For more information on the OVW, visit: www.justice.gov/ovw.
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Justice Department Complaint Leads to Revocation of Naturalized Citizenship of Bosnia War Crimes SuspectRead the Press Release
On July 17, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee entered an order revoking the citizenship of Sead Miljkovic a/k/a Sead Dukic, who hid his true identity to come to the United States in 1996 and, ultimately, to naturalize as a U.S. citizen in 2007. The court found that Miljkovic illegally procured his citizenship because he lacked the requisite good moral character to naturalize, based on false testimony he provided to Government officials. Miljkovic is a former member of the security forces of the short-lived Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (“APZB”), who was subject to an arrest warrant issued by a court in Bosnia for war crimes against civilians when the U.S. Government granted him naturalized citizenship.
The warrant, issued on January 23, 2007, led to an INTERPOL Red Notice alleging that, on June 18, 1994, and while acting as a member of the APZB security forces, Miljkovic physically mistreated civilians who were opposed to the APZB government. According to the Red Notice, Miljkovic and accomplices beat twelve civilians with wooden bats and locked them in a morgue for five days without access to light or water. Miljkovic, who consented to the judgment revoking his U.S. citizenship, has not yet appeared before a Bosnian court on these charges.
“This Administration has made it a priority to protect the sanctity of U.S. citizenship,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Civil Division. “If an alien commits heinous acts and comes here to try to hide from the consequences, we will not permit it.”
This case was civilly prosecuted by the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation, Denaturalization Unit, with assistance from the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and ICE’s Human Right Violator Law Division, after investigation by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations.
Jury Convicts Springfield Man of Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was convicted by a federal jury for possessing distributive amounts of methamphetamine on three separate occasions.
Jeremy Whitcher, 45, was found guilty of three incidents of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Whitcher represented himself throughout the trial.
On March 17, 2023, Whitcher was the subject of a traffic stop in Jasper County, Mo., where law enforcement located 106 grams of pure methamphetamine under his seat in the vehicle.
In October 2024, investigators with the Department of Homeland Security and the Louisville, Ky., Metropolitan Police Department intercepted a parcel containing approximately 15 pounds of methamphetamine that was sent from Los Angeles, Calif., to Springfield, Mo. Investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration identified Whitcher as the individual who shipped the parcel based on surveillance footage and conducted a controlled delivery of the parcel to the address included on the parcel, which was Whitcher’s mother. Whitcher’s mother told investigators that Whitcher informed her he was going to ship a parcel to her address.
On Dec. 23, 2024, Whitcher was again the subject of a traffic stop in Jasper County, Mo., where a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigator located 29 grams of pure methamphetamine in a bag belonging to Whitcher.
Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., returned three guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge Megan Blair Benton, ending a trial that began on July 14, 2026.
Under federal statutes, Whitcher is subject to a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Lucas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Jasper County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Office, Louisville, Kentucky, Metropolitan Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Operation Take Back America
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Second Time for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
LITTLE ROCK—Bob Pilletto Best will spend the next 240 months in federal prison for his second time being convicted of bank robbery. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down Thursday, July 16, 2026, by Chief United States District Judge Kristine G. Baker.
On April 1, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an Indictment charging Best, 60, Jacksonville, with one count of bank robbery. On January 8, 2026, Best pleaded guilty to the charge in the Indictment. In addition to the 20-year sentence, Chief Judge Baker also sentenced Best to three years’ supervised release and ordered him to pay restitution to First Arkansas Bank & Trust in the amount of the stolen money. There is no parole in the federal system.
On February 6, 2025, law enforcement officers from the Jacksonville Police Department were dispatched to First Arkansas Bank & Trust in reference to a robbery that had just occurred. Once officers arrived at the bank, tellers provided a description of the person who had robbed the bank and that person was later identified as Best. During the investigation, officers were advised that Best entered the bank and proceeded to the counter in the bank’s lobby and behaved in a manner that suggested he was looking for something to write on. Best was advised by the teller that they no longer use paper deposit slips and the teller offered to assist Best at the window. Best approached the teller with one hand tucked under his arm and advised the teller that he had a firearm and instructed her to give him all the $50 and $100 bills in the cash drawer. The teller gave Best $5,300 in denominations of $100 and $50 bills. Once he received the cash from the teller, Best ran out of the bank’s front door.
Following the robbery, officers canvassed the area searching for Best. On the following day, February 7, 2025, officers were provided with information that Best may be at an apartment in Little Rock. When officers arrived at the apartment, Best answered the door and stated, “I was the one who robbed the bank.” During a later interview, Best again repeated that he committed the robbery.
Best was previously convicted of bank robbery in 2005 in Michigan and was sentenced to a 170-month federal prison term. He also has felony convictions for armed robbery, assault on a prison employee, second-degree forgery, forgery, and theft by receiving.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jacksonville Police Department.
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Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to SNAP Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, MS – A Jackson man pleaded guilty on July 15th in federal court to stealing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits intended for low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford nutritious food.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Aljordan Cannon, 28, unlawfully acquired and used $16,968.72 in SNAP benefits from August 12, 2023, to November 19, 2023. Cannon obtained the benefits from his girlfriend, Jarane Bines, who was at the relevant time a Customer Service Representative for Conduent. Conduent plays a key role in EBT processing by partnering directly with state governments to manage the distribution of benefits such as SNAP. Bines used her position with Conduent to access and obtain SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits belonging to recipients throughout the United States without authorization.
SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is a federally funded, national benefit program to help qualifying low- and middle-income families buy food, thus reducing hunger. TANF benefits are intended for low-income families with children under the age of 18.
Cannon pleaded guilty to Food Stamp Fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 22, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Bines pleaded guilty to Food Stamp Fraud on January 23, 2026, and was sentenced on April 30, 2026, to four years’ probation with 120 days home detention with electronic monitoring. Bines was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $39,208.53.
United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and United States Department of Agriculture Inspector General John Walk made the announcement.
The United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
On April 7, 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.
Iowa Woman Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Vallene Marie Bell, 35, of Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced on July 9, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Bell to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bell is released from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release.
This case involves a Mexico source of supply of methamphetamine who supplies the Omaha and Council Bluffs, Iowa, areas with methamphetamine via a local network of drug couriers. Customers order the drugs from the source who then sends a courier to meet them and complete the transaction. The defendants named in the indictment are local couriers, organizers, and customers operating in Nebraska and Iowa who distribute and buy the source’s drugs.
On September 9, 2024, law enforcement, while conducting surveillance, observed the defendant and co-defendant Michelle Renee Horton meet with co-defendant Emerson Reyes-Andrade at an Omaha location and conduct what officers believed was a drug transaction. Following the transaction, Iowa State Troopers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle the defendant and Horton were riding in after they traveled into Iowa. A canine unit arrived during the stop and Horton consented to the canine’s deployment which resulted in a positive indication to the odor of narcotics coming from within the vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of one pound of methamphetamine.
Horton was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment on May 19, 2026. Reyes-Andrade was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment on July 2, 2026.
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 Douglas County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nebraska.
Individual who fired a machinegun at a residence in Amarillo pleads guiltyRead the Press Release
AMARILLO, Texas – United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raybould, today announced that Azaiah Nathaniel Zuniga-Valle pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a machinegun in connection with a March 22 shooting at a house party in Amarillo.
Zuniga-Valle, 20, was indicted in April.
“Zuniga-Valle showed a wanton disregard for public safety when he recklessly fired an illegally altered fully automatic weapon at a house he knew was filled with folks,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. “These types of Glock switches turn ordinary firearms into machine guns. I’m grateful for the swift action of the Amarillo police together with our federal partners in investigating and prosecuting this case. I will continue to increase our federal presence in the Amarillo Division to crush violent crime. More to come, but the criminals in and around Amarillo should be worried. I’m coming for you.”
“Illegally possessing a machinegun undermines the safety of our North Texas communities. This plea demonstrates the importance of partnerships in combatting violent crime,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work together to identify and apprehend violent criminals.”
According to plea papers, on March 22, Amarillo Police Department officers were dispatched to the 300 Block of South Mississippi Street in response to a reported shooting. After speaking with victims and witnesses, APD officers learned that an individual, KJ, who hosted a party had observed a male with a rifle and asked the subject to leave. The subject with the rifle left the party, and the house was immediately struck by multiple bullets. Shortly before this, JA, another subject attending the party, videoed the male with the rifle that was asked to leave. The video depicted the rifle with the receiver open and an attachment inside that appeared to be an auto sear device, which would allow the firearm to function as a machinegun. JA provided this video clip to investigators.
Surveillance video obtained from the vicinity of where the shooting occurred showed what appeared to be a subject standing behind an SUV. The camera recorded the sound of multiple shots fired in rapid succession. The speed at which the shots were fired was consistent with fully automatic gunfire.
Through further investigation, officers identified Azaiah Nathaniel Zuniga-Valle as the person that had the rifle at the party. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Zuniga-Valle.
Plea papers further revealed that on March 24, an unnamed male called APD dispatch and stated that the subject that was involved in the shooting on Mississippi Street pointed a gun at him and forced him to give him a ride to the Wal-Mart in Hereford, Texas. This information was passed on to Hereford Police Department, who dispatched officers to the scene and arrested Zuniga-Valle inside of a car that was in the parking lot. They also found a Glock pistol under the driver’s seat.
During a post-Miranda statement given to task force officers with the FBI, Zuniga-Valle made several admissions. When was asked about the rifle that was discharged at the party on March 22, he admitted that he bought the rifle approximately one year ago from Gebo’s in Hereford and the rifle should be in his name. He further admitted to trading a disposable vape device for the “drop-in” attachment that makes the firearm function as a machinegun and that he did not obtain a permit from ATF to own a machinegun.
Zuniga-Valle said he got into a verbal altercation with a subject at the party on Mississippi Street. After he departed the residence, Zuniga-Valle said he heard gunfire from the front porch area, so he pulled out his rifle and shot at the house. He estimated he fired 30 rounds and his rifle functioned as a machinegun.
Zuniga-Valle stated that after the shooting he traded the rifle he had used for the Glock pistol that was found in the car. Zuniga-Valle admitted he placed the Glock pistol under the driver’s seat when he saw officers approaching the car.
Zuniga-Valle remains in federal custody pending sentencing before U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk. His sentencing date has not been set. Zuniga-Valle faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
The FBI, the Amarillo Police Department, and the Hereford Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey R. Haag is prosecuting the case.
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Indictment Charges Ansonia and New Haven Men with Narcotic Pill Distribution and Firearm Possession OffensesRead the Press Release
David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; J. Buck Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that HECTOR GONZALEZ, 42, of Ansonia, and DAREL EDWARDS, also known as “Woo,” 48, of New Haven, have been charged by indictment with narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses.
As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, a long-term investigation revealed that Gonzalez, Edwards, and others were involved in the manufacture and distribution of pills containing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other substances. Gonzalez used multiple tableting/pill pressing machines to manufacture counterfeit pills resembling pharmaceutical grade Oxycodone and Adderall pills and containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, and generic pills in various shapes, colors, and sizes, and bearing logos and designs, which contained various illicit substances, including fentanyl, carfentanil, xylazine, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Gonzalez distributed the pills through a network of associates, including Edwards, who sold them to customers in Connecticut and, using the U.S. Mail, to others out of state.
It is further alleged that on March 14, 2025, New Haven Police arrested Edwards after finding him in possession of more than 200 grams of narcotics pills that had been produced by Gonzalez. On May 8, 2025, while he was released on bond in his state case, investigators observed Edwards meeting with Gonzalez for the purpose of acquiring additional pills. Connecticut State Police attempted to stop Edwards’ vehicle after the meeting, but Edwards fled at a high rate of speed before abandoning his vehicle in New Haven.
It is also alleged that, in June 2025, Edwards and an associate sold narcotics pills and a short-barreled rifle to an undercover ATF agent.
Gonzalez and Edwards were arrested on federal criminal complaints on June 30, 2026. On that date, a search of Gonzalez’s residence revealed three mechanical pill pressing machines, more than two kilograms of fentanyl in both powder and counterfeit pill form, more than two kilograms of methamphetamine, two firearms, approximately $280,000 in cash, and diamond encrusted jewelry.
On July 14, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment charging Gonzalez and Edwards with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances. If convicted of this charge, based on the type and quantity of drug narcotics attributed to each defendant, Gonzalez faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and Edwards faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years.
The indictment also charges Gonzalez with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and Edwards with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, controlled substances.
The indictment also alleges that each defendant faces enhanced penalties based on a prior conviction in Connecticut state court for a serious violent felony. In 2007, Gonzalez was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and, in 2004, Edwards was convicted of assault in the first degree.
Gonzalez and Edwards have been detained since their arrests.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the assistance of Homeland Securities Investigation (HSI), the Connecticut State Police, and the New Haven, Hamden, and Ansonia Police Departments. The DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA, and the Bristol, West Haven, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Seymour, and Torrington Police Departments.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.
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.
Illinois Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation in NepalRead the Press Release
A Collinsville, Illinois, man pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to engaging in illicit sexual conduct with a minor in Nepal.
According to court documents, Kenneth Joseph Coombs, 58, traveled from the United States to Nepal in August 2016 and sexually abused eight different children while staying at a hotel in that country between August and September of that year. Coombs used a combination of force, involuntary intoxication, and payments to the children to commit the sex acts. Coombs also took photos of some of the children engaged in the sexually explicit conduct he directed. Those photos were recovered from his electronic devices by law enforcement. At the time Coombs committed these offenses, he was required to register as a sex offender based on having a qualifying prior sex offense conviction in the state of Missouri. Upon his return to the United States from Nepal, Coombs was arrested by U.S. law enforcement in September 2025. He has been held in custody since that time.
Sentencing is scheduled for October 28.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft of the Southern District of Illinois and Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley of the FBI Springfield Field Office made the announcement.
FBI Springfield is investigating the case and received substantial assistance from the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal, U.S. Embassy Nepal, FBI LEGAT Qatar, FBI LEGAT India, FBI Chicago, Collinsville (Illinois) Police Department, Customs and Border Protection O’Hare International Airport, Kathmandu District Attorney’s Office, and the Nepali NGO Naya Paila.
Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly S. Arshi for the Southern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.
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 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Illegal Alien from Honduras Indicted for Violations of the Federal Gun Control ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OSCAR FIGUEROA-VEGA (“FIGUEROA-VEGA”), age 19, a Honduran national, was indicted on July 16, 2026, for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to the charging documents, on July 4, 2026, St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office officers responded to a complaint concerning a suspicious person. At the scene, the officer encountered the defendant, FIGUEROA-VEGA, who matched the description provided. After FIGUEROA-VEGA reached into his pocket, the officer conducted a pat down search and found a .380 caliber handgun and a loaded magazine. After arresting him, immigration checks showed he was unlawfully present in the United States and prohibited from possessing a firearm.
FIGUEROA-VEGA faces up to fifteen years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, in investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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.
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Illegal Alien from England Sentenced for Entering the US Without Inspection and Lying to Federal InvestigatorsRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: A citizen of the United Kingdom was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for entering the United States without inspection and lying to federal investigators.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Nivison sentenced Hameed Mohammed Nagi, 21, to time served. Nagi pleaded guilty on June 8, 2026.
According to court records, Nagi and three other men walked through the heavily wooded border between Quebec and Somerset County during the pre-dawn hours of April 3, 2026. Their point of entry was within a few hundred yards of the Saint Zacharie, Maine port of entry that was manned by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (“OFO”). Upon exiting the woods, Nagi and his companions began walking down the Golden Road heading east.
Passersby in the area reported to an OFO agent seeing the four men walking east on the Golden Road. The OFO agent reported the sighting to the U.S. Border Patrol (“USBP”) station in Jackman. A USBP agent and an OFO agent responded to the area of the sighting, located the four men and took them into custody without incident. When questioned about their citizenship, Nagi and his three companions stated they were citizens of the United Kingdom. The four were then transported back to the Jackman Border Patrol station.
During subsequent questioning by FBI and USBP agents, Nagi maintained that he had not intentionally entered the United States. He falsely claimed that he and his friends were on a hike in Canada and had accidentally crossed into the U.S. Investigators later determined that Nagi had entered the country with the intention of working but was concerned he would not be granted a visa. Neither the FBI nor Homeland Security Investigations uncovered any evidence suggesting that Nagi and his companions intended to engage in any acts of violence.
USBP, OFO, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI investigated the case.
Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
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Illegal Alien from Honduras Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for 2023 Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Carlos Banegas-Contreras, age 47, an illegal alien from Honduras, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for one count of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Secret Service, the Indiana State Police, the Benton County, Indiana Sheriff’s Department, the Benton County, Indiana Prosecutor’s Office, the Poteau, Oklahoma Police Department, and the Houston, Texas Police Department.
On October 6, 2025, Banegas-Contreras pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court.
According to investigators, in June of 2023, Banegas-Contreras and others conspired to use fake identification cards to cash 178 fraudulent paychecks totaling $299,474.00 at three check-cashing businesses and at five branches of a local bank. The fraudulent paychecks were designed to look like they had been issued by a building materials supply company in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Banegas-Contreras will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.
Hugo Resident Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Calvin Ray Westfield, age 68, of Hugo, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The Indictment charged Westfield with knowingly possessing one .22 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, one 12-gauge pump action shotgun, 11 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, and 3 rounds of 12-gauge ammunition on August 28, 2025, after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hugo Police Department.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Westfield was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Honduran Illegal Alien Indicted for Illegal Reentry of a Previously Removed AlienRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MILTON EDILBERTO ESCOTO-GALINDO (“ESCOTO-GALINDO”), age 44, a native of Honduras, was indicted on July 16, 2026, for illegal reentry of a previously removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.
According to court documents, ESCOTO-GALINDO, an illegal alien, was found in the United States on June 26, 2026. He had previously been removed from the United States back to Honduras on January 27, 2012.
If convicted, ESCOTO-GALINDO faces a maximum penalty of two (2) years, followed by up to one (1) year of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Special Assistant United States Attorney Rick Veters of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.
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Hartshorne Resident Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of Firearms, Ammunition and ExplosivesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kelly Von Morck, age 36, of Hartshorne, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for one count of Unlawful User of Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm, 46 months for one count of Unlawful User of Controlled Substance in Possession of Ammunition, and 46 months for one count of User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of Explosives. The Court ordered the terms to be served concurrently.
The charges arose from an investigation by the Hartshorne Police Department, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Bomb Squad, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On August 19, 2025, Morck pleaded guilty to the charges in federal district court. According to investigators, on October 20, 2024, Hartshorne Police officers, Pittsburg County deputies, ATF task force officers and special agents, and the OHP bomb squad responded to an explosion in a Hartshorne neighborhood originating from Morck’s residence.
Upon arriving on the scene, law enforcement discovered property damage indicating a large explosion and Morck suffering from third degree burns. Morck was life-flighted to a Tulsa hospital for care, where he tested positive for amphetamines, cocaine, cannabinoids, and fentanyl. A lab for making homemade explosives was discovered within the residence, and outbuildings on the property were found to contain bulk quantities of ingredients and precursors for manufacturing explosives, as well as improvised explosive devices, destructive devices, multiple firearms, and ammunition. Investigators securing the crime scene also recovered quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana, LSD, MDMA, steroids, and psychedelic mushrooms.
In June of 2025, ATF returned to Morck’s residence with search warrants and discovered Morck, an unlawful user addicted to a controlled substance, in possession of narcotics, a firearm, ammunition, and additional suspected explosives and destructive devices.
“The defendant posed a significant and uniquely dangerous threat to himself and his community,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “I applaud law enforcement, especially ATF, for their actions to prevent other potential injuries and hold the defendant accountable for his crimes.”
ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Brian Garner had this to say about Morck’s sentencing: “Homemade explosives present an inherent and significant threat to public safety. The serious injuries sustained by Mr. Morck underscore the extreme dangers associated with manufacturing and handling these devices. Despite those injuries, he continued his efforts to manufacture homemade explosive materials and destructive devices, further increasing the risk to himself and the community.
The coordinated response of our task force officers, special agents, and certified explosives specialists was critical in safely processing and mitigating multiple hazardous scenes, preventing additional harm and protecting the public from further danger.
Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of these offenses and reinforces our commitment to protecting the community. It demonstrates that individuals who endanger public safety through the unlawful manufacture of destructive devices and homemade explosives will be held accountable and that justice will be served.”
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.
The Honorable John F. Heil, III, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Morck will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.
Guatemalan National Extradited to the United States Admits to Role in 2021 Alien Smuggling Mass Casualty Event in Chiapas, MexicoRead the Press Release
A Guatemalan national pleaded guilty to human smuggling charges related to the crash of a tractor-trailer in 2021 that was packed with at least 160 illegal aliens which resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people, including unaccompanied children, and injured over 100 more. The defendant is part of a group of six who were charged in this case. All six defendants have now admitted to their role in a conspiracy to bring illegal aliens from Guatemala into the United States.
Tomas Quino Canil, 38, a Guatemalan national extradited to the United States in 2025, acknowledged that he conspired with other smugglers to smuggle and transport illegal aliens, both adults and unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States.
“Sadly, this preventable tragedy occurred because of these criminals’ callous disregard for the safety of men, women, and children, and our immigration laws, which resulted in serious injury and death in Chiapas, Mexico,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These defendants exploited vulnerable people and created an atmosphere with deadly consequences, all for money. These events will be investigated and prosecuted with the full resources of the Criminal Division.”
“With Quino Canil's guilty plea, every member of this smuggling conspiracy has now been held accountable for one of the deadliest human smuggling tragedies in recent memory,” said U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz for the Southern District of Texas. “These criminals packed more than 150 illegal aliens into a trailer like they were cargo. Fifty people then died at the hands of these foreign criminals. My office will continue hunting down anyone who profits from this trade in human suffering, no matter where they hide or how long it takes to bring them to American justice.”
“This case stands as a stark reminder of the extreme dangers and devastating consequences caused by those who treat human lives as mere commodities,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “The callous actions of these smugglers resulted in unimaginable loss and suffering for dozens of families. HSI will relentlessly pursue those who orchestrate and profit from such horrific crimes. The successful outcome of this case would not have been possible without the outstanding collaboration of our domestic and international law enforcement partners, whose dedication and expertise were critical in bringing these criminals to justice and protecting the most vulnerable from exploitation.”
Aliens paid Quino Canil and his co-conspirators to be smuggled into the United States. During the previous Administration’s policy to parole illegal aliens into the United States, one of his co-conspirators also facilitated the release of Guatemalan aliens, who were smuggled illegally into the United States, from U.S. immigration authorities, to include unaccompanied minors. That co-conspirator provided co-defendants, including Quino Canil, with falsified scripts and instructions to provide to adults and unaccompanied minors on what to say to immigration officials if apprehended to secure their release.
On Dec. 9, 2021, Agapito Jorge Ventura, Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, Quino Canil and others arranged for the aliens they were smuggling to the United States to be loaded into a tractor trailer that was to transport them through Mexico. Over 150 illegal aliens, including adults and unaccompanied minors, were crammed into the trailer. The vehicle ultimately crashed north of the Guatemala/Mexico border near Tuxtla Guiterrez, Chiapas, Mexico, resulting in deaths and serious bodily injury.
Quino Canil, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring and attempt to bring an illegal alien to the United States, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injury, and resulting in death. He will be sentenced at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Co-defendants Daniel Zavala Ramos, Josefa Canil De Zavala, Alberto Macario Chitic, and Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, were extradited from Guatemala in 2025 to face charges. Authorities arrested Jorge Agapito Ventura, 33, at his residence in Cleveland, Texas, in December 2024.
Zavala Ramos, 42, pleaded guilty on April 7. Canil De Zavala, 44, and Macario Chitic, 33, pleaded guilty on June 11. Agapito Jorge Ventura, 34, and Manuel Zavala Quino, 26, pleaded guilty on July 8. The guilty plea of Quino Canil marks the last of the six defendants to plead guilty to the conspiracy.
HSI’s Washington, D.C. Field Office investigated the case in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; HSI Houston; HSI Laredo; U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s International Interdiction Task Force; U.S. Border Patrol (USBP); Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT). The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions of the defendants. Guatemalan prosecutors from the Office of Public Ministry and Mexican Federal and State authorities including prosecutors from the Republic of Mexico’s Federal Prosecutions Office and the State of Chiapas, with the support of law enforcement officials from both countries, were also instrumental in furthering the investigation.
Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Lou Castillo and Jennifer Day for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.
The investigation and charges are 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, U.S. Border Patrol and CBP’s 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 419 U.S. convictions; and more than 363 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is also part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime
Granite City Man Sentenced to 175 Months for Transporting a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual AssaultRead the Press Release
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Granite City man to 175 months of federal imprisonment after he admitted to driving a minor across state lines and committing criminal sexual assault.
Jeremy Wallace, 39, formerly of Granite City, pleaded guilty in June to one count of Transportation with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity. According to court documents, Wallace admitted that in April 2022 he drove to Missouri to pick up the minor victim. Wallace then drove the victim to his residence in Granite City and sexually assaulted the minor victim. At the time of the assault, the victim was 16 years old. Following imprisonment, Wallace will serve 5 years on supervised release.
“Thirty-nine-year-old men who sexually assault underage girls should expect to face the full weight of federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft.
Wallace is currently charged with two criminal cases in Madison County, Illinois for charges involving firearms and criminal sexual assault. The district court ordered Wallace’s 175-month federal sentence to run concurrently with any term of imprisonment imposed in Wallace’s pending criminal sexual assault case, and consecutively with any term of imprisonment imposed in Wallace’s pending firearms case. Indictments are merely formal charges against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury.
Granite City Police Department led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Reppert prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. 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.
Fugitive for 15 Years Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Twenty Counts Related to Tax Evasion and Structuring Financial TransactionsRead the Press Release
PEORIA, Ill. – Jalal Nimer Asad, 62, of Lindenhurst, Illinois, was sentenced to five years in the Bureau of Prisons and ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution and a forfeiture judgement of more than $4 million for his role in two different but related criminal conspiracies at multiple businesses within the Central District of Illinois involving tax evasion; mail fraud; and the structuring financial transactions to avoid reporting requirements.
In 2009, a federal grand jury returned indictments against Asad and multiple co-defendants in two separate cases. The other defendants were convicted or pleaded guilty years ago, but Asad remained at large overseas for 15 years until his return to the United States in 2023 to stand trial.
In September 2025, Asad was convicted on all charged counts following a jury trial. Over seven days of testimony, the government presented evidence establishing that Asad led a group of individuals that owned and operated several convenience and liquor stores in Decatur, Illinois, and Peoria, Illinois. During trial, the government established that Asad and his cohorts kept two sets of books, a true set and a false set, in order to underreport their earnings and pay less in federal, state, and local taxes. The government also presented evidence that Asad structured financial transactions to withdraw more than $4 million in cash without triggering the bank’s reporting requirements. The trial evidence showed that Asad caused much of that cash to be transported overseas.
At the sentencing hearing on July 9, 2026, the government presented evidence that Asad had been living in the West Bank as a fugitive from these charges for 15 years. The government also presented evidence that, while Asad had claimed to have significant financial resources prior to his conviction, he claimed at sentencing to have no resources, bank accounts, or assets. At the hearing, U.S. District Judge Jonathan E. Hawley found that there was no doubt that Asad was the manager or supervisor of these illegal schemes. Judge Hawley further noted that the more than $1 million that Asad failed to pay in federal taxes was money that ultimately belonged to every American and was designed to support everything from the military to school lunches for children.
Asad will remain on bond until his reporting date this fall. The statutory maximum penalties for the offenses of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate its tax laws, tax evasion, conspiracy to structure financial transactions to evade reporting requirements, and structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements are no more than five years in prison, three years supervised release, a fine of up to twice the pecuniary gain, and restitution. The statutory maximum penalties for mail fraud are no more than twenty years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of up to twice the pecuniary gain, and restitution.
“Asad’s successful prosecution after 15 years in self-imposed exile demonstrates that a defendant should not expect to avoid responsibility for his crimes by fleeing prosecution,” said United States Attorney Gregory M. Gilmore. “The dedicated law enforcement officers who work these cases are committed to ensuring that justice delayed is not justice denied.”
“Jalal Asad didn’t just flee the country. He fled accountability,” said Adam Jobes, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “While honest, hardworking individuals earn a living and play by the rules, criminals like Asad steal from the very system those taxpayers support. Running may delay justice, but it doesn’t erase it, and IRS Criminal Investigation and its fellow law enforcement partners will continue to pursue those who think a border is enough to escape the consequences of their crimes.”
“The FBI will not allow individuals to escape the consequences of their actions by fleeing the country,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Ryan Presley. “For years, Mr. Asad deliberately evaded his duty to report income and pay required taxes, and he attempted to sidestep federal reporting laws by structuring millions of dollars in cash withdrawals. His return to the United States and subsequent conviction demonstrate that avoiding lawful obligations is not a path to evading accountability. The FBI remains steadfast in working with our partners to ensure that those who choose to ignore their financial responsibilities do not escape the consequences of that choice.”
The case investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and was carried out with the support of local law enforcement partners, including the Decatur Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Eugene L. Miller and Douglas F. McMeyer represented the government at trial and sentencing.
Frankfort Man Sentenced for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
FRANKFORT, Ky. – A Frankfort man, Donald Demil Clay, 50, was sentenced on Thursday to 240 months by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.
According to testimony at trial, the investigation as to Clay began with numerous tips to law enforcement that Clay was renting a commercial property in Frankfort that he used to store and to distribute cocaine. After several months of surveillance, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant at the property used and maintained by Clay. Police seized approximately 4 ounces of cocaine that was concealed in a box affixed to a custom poker table.
Clay was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in July 2014.
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Dennis M. Fetting, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Derrick Napier, Frankfort Police Department, jointly announced the sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by HSI, DEA, and the Frankfort Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
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Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
A man who trafficked methamphetamine on multiple occasions in the Webster County, Iowa, area was sentenced July 16, 2026, to 13 years in federal prison.
Tyler Mattingly, age 31, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 18, 2026, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine.
At the hearings, Mattingly admitted that in late 2024, he sold methamphetamine in the Webster County, Iowa, area to individuals cooperating with law enforcement on three separate occasions. On December 24, 2024, law enforcement officers attempted to on car driven by Mattingly in Carroll County, Iowa. Mattingly failed to stop and led officers on a pursuit, reaching speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour on gravel roads. Mattingly also had a passenger in the car. Officers deployed stop sticks and Mattingly struck them, disabling his car. Law enforcement officers found drug distribution items in the car. Along the route of the pursuit, officers found approximately 145 grams of discarded methamphetamine. As part of their investigation, law enforcement officers obtained evidence of Mattingly receiving methamphetamine from his source of supply and providing it to others.
Mattingly was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Mattingly was sentenced to 156 months’ imprisonment for each count to run concurrently. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison terms. There is no parole in the federal system.
Mattingly is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, Sac County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. The case file number is 25-CR-03056. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Former Suburban Chicago Police Chief Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Bribery and Obstruction of JusticeRead the Press Release
CHICAGO — The former Chief of Police in the village of Summit, Ill., has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for corruptly accepting money from a local businessman to help facilitate the transfer of a liquor license.
A jury in U.S. District Court in Chicago in December 2025 convicted JOHN KOSMOWSKI, 58, of Lockport, Ill., of bribery conspiracy, bribery, and obstruction of justice. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger sentenced Kosmowski to three years in federal prison.
Evidence at trial revealed that Kosmowski conspired with a Summit building inspector—WILLIAM MUNDY—to accept $10,000 from businessman KRZYSTOF HODUREK in 2017. Kosmowski and Mundy accepted the money intending to be influenced and rewarded in connection with the transfer of a liquor license to another person. Kosmowski received a cash payment from Hodurek in 2017 and then gave Mundy a portion of it.
Mundy pleaded guilty prior to trial to bribery and tax offenses. He is awaiting sentencing. Hodurek pleaded guilty last year to a federal wire fraud charge in connection with an unrelated scheme to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits from the state of Illinois. As part of his guilty plea, Hodurek admitted to participating in the bribery scheme with Kosmowski and Mundy. Hodurek is awaiting sentencing.
The obstruction conviction against Kosmowski stemmed from a meeting he had with Mundy in which Kosmowski informed Mundy of the federal investigation into the bribe. During the meeting, Kosmowski sought to corruptly persuade Mundy to mischaracterize the purpose of the payment by falsely suggesting that it was a loan.
Kosmowski’s sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Marta Grijalva, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago.
“Defendant was a sworn law enforcement official who put personal profit over the public that he had a duty to protect,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Hasten argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Corruption by law enforcement officials strikes at the heart of government, eroding public confidence in those very officials that the public trusts to ensure their safety.”
Former Rhode Island resident sentenced to 15 years in prison for massive international drug smuggling attemptRead the Press Release
Seattle –A 69-year-old former resident of Rhode Island, Texas, and Chicago, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle for three federal felonies connected to his 2021 scheme to smuggle duffle bags full of drugs across the strait bordering Washington State and Canada via watercraft, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. John Michael Sherwood was convicted in April 2026 following a six-day trial of Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit international money laundering. At the sentencing hearing Judge Richard A. Jones said, “What you did came across as a mad man desperate for money, willing to do anything. At the end of the day what you were doing would cause tremendous harm to thousands of individuals.”
“The eight large duffel bags of methamphetamine found on the beach near Port Angeles are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this defendant’s drug smuggling,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “Evidence uncovered in the case show he made multiple drug runs to the Washington/British Columbia border to connect with his coconspirator in Canada. Over five decades he racked up five federal felonies. This 15-year sentence is the result of his persistent and entrenched criminal behavior.”
“A family’s shocking discovery of drugs at the beach exemplified the brazenness of Mr. Sherwood’s multiple plans to smuggle huge quantities of drugs into Canada, part of a career of criminality spanning state lines, international borders, and several decades,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “He was involved in money laundering, perjury, and plotting against cooperating defendants in a series of attempts to cover up his crimes. The FBI and our many federal, state, local, and international law enforcement partners are committed to holding subjects accountable and will continue to do so, especially those who are not deterred by the criminal justice system.”
At the trial, testimony and evidence revealed that Sherwood had brought approximately 300 pounds of methamphetamine and close to a kilogram of fentanyl powder up to the Olympic Peninsula from southern California. He was attempting to use a jet ski and inflatable raft to get the drugs across the Strait to his contact on the coast of Vancouver Island. But the smuggling attempts failed.
Describing the role Sherwood and his coconspirators played in the drug trade, Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi told the jurors, they were the transporters. “They are the FedEx or the UPS of the drug trafficking crew,” Lombardi said in closing arguments.
On April 7, 2021, a family on a beach near Port Angeles, Washington found a partially submerged duffel bag on the beach. The family alerted law enforcement who found more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine inside the bag, as well as two pounds of fentanyl powder. Close in time, a different beachcomber discovered a partially submerged and deflated Zodiac-style raft on the beach and noted a U-Haul van coming and going from the beach area. Just days later, on April 11, 2021, a different beach walker reported another find – seven more duffel bags stashed under a bridge just up from the beach. These bags contained 252 pounds of methamphetamine. The estimated wholesale value of the drugs in Canada was about $1.5 million.
The FBI was able to trace the duffel bags to Walmart and pinpointed the sale. Sherwood used his debit card to purchase the bags and was caught on surveillance making the purchases. Other evidence such as U-Haul rental records, motel registration, and storage locker records linked Sherwood to the smuggling attempt. Phone records revealed his communication with a coconspirator in Canada about the attempt to smuggle the drugs into Canada via the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
This is the second time a jury has convicted Sherwood for these crimes. Following the first trial and conviction, the case team learned of and disclosed alleged misconduct on the part of a government witness, and the matter was set for a new trial in front of a different judge.
The conviction is the result of an extensive investigation by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol and the Border Patrol Air and Marine Unit, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET) including the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and the Sequim Police Department. The Kootenai County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office, the Montana Highway Patrol and the Livingston Montana Police Department also assisted with the investigation.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. HSTF Seattle comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), The United States Marshals Service (USMS), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the United States Secret Service (USSS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vince Lombardi and Sean H. Waite.
Former Fall City, Washington, resident sentenced to nine years in prison for possession of images of child sexual abuseRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 27-year-old former resident of Fall City, Washington was sentenced July 16, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Seattle to nine years in prison for possession of images of child sexual abuse, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Paydan Georgy Bussey was charged federally in May 2025 following a CyberTip from the Kik platform that a had shared child sexual abuse images with another Kik user. By that time, Bussey had already been arrested in Utah for sexual assault of a child and also faces child sexual abuse charges in King County from 2024.
At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead placed Bussey on lifetime supervised release following his prison term. Judge Whitehead said, “A lengthy sentence is warranted to protect the public.”
According to records filed in the case, as a juvenile, Bussey was convicted of child molestation of a minor under the age of 12 and was required to register as a sex offender until 2017 when he became an adult and no longer was required to register. As part of his sentence, he underwent sex offender treatment.
In February 2024, Bussey was arrested by King County Sheriff Deputies for rape of a child. That charge remains pending. In October 2024, Bussey was booked into Utah County Jail for sodomy of a child. That charge also remains pending.
In September 2024, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received the CyberTip from Kik that 15 images that appeared to be child sex abuse material had been shared by a user. Law enforcement sought legal process to identify the user account and received the address information in December 2024. The Homeland Security Investigations Task Force Officer recognized the address from the King County investigation into child sexual abuse. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Bussey’s electronic devices and determined his laptop contained images of child sexual abuse.
In asking for a 9-year prison sentence Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Harmon wrote to the court, “Mr. Bussey’s conduct in this case is particularly troubling in light of his prior convictions and that he had successfully completed treatment. This is now his second sex offense, which demonstrates his inability to conform his conduct to the law. The recommendation is appropriate in light of all the facts of this case when taken in light of his personal characteristics.”
The case was investigated by the King County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce.
The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Harmon. Ms. Harmon is a Senior King County Deputy Prosecutor specially designated to prosecute child exploitation crimes in federal court.
Former Bank CFO Sentenced to 36 Months’ Imprisonment for Bank Fraud Scheme Involving a Car Wash and Undisclosed Debts in $4.3 Million Loan FraudRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Aaron T. Luneke, 44, of Columbus, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 13, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after being convicted by a federal jury of committing bank fraud and attempted bank fraud in connection with loans he sought to build and operate a Legacy Express Wash, a car wash in Columbus. United States District Brian C. Buescher sentenced Luneke to 36 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Luneke will begin a five-year term of supervised release. Judge Buescher ordered Luneke to pay a $10,000 fine.
The jury found that Luneke attempted to defraud Stearns Bank, located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, by using fraudulent and inflated contractor invoices to artificially inflate the valuation of the car wash property in pursuit of a $3.5 million refinancing loan. Further evidence at trial established that Luneke failed to disclose significant personal debts owed to family members in connection with the Stearns Bank loan application. The jury also found that Luneke defrauded Bank of the Valley by submitting fraudulent and inflated invoices from contractors as the basis for additional construction loan proceeds, obtaining two loans totaling approximately $4,320,000.
At the sentencing, Judge Buescher found that Luneke’s abuse of his position as Chief Financial Officer at Bank of the Valley significantly facilitated the commission and concealment of the fraud against the victim bank. The Court further determined that Luneke employed sophisticated means to carry out the scheme; served an aggravating role by organizing, leading, managing, or supervising others in executing aspects of the fraud; obstructed justice by providing false testimony during trial; and caused a victim to suffer substantial financial hardship.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Omaha Field Office; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General; the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General; and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Office of Inspector General.
The case was investigated and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sean Lynch and Sarah Hinrichs and tried with the assistance of Special Assistant United States Attorney Alejandro A. Abreu.
Final Guatemalan national extradited to U.S. admits to role in 2021 alien smuggling mass casualty event in Chiapas, MexicoRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – The last foreign national has pleaded guilty to smuggling charges related to the crash of a tractor-trailer packed with at least 160 illegal aliens which resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people, including unaccompanied children, and injured over 100 more. All six indicted have now admitted to their roles in a conspiracy to bring illegal aliens from Guatemala into the United States.
Tomas Quino Canil, 38, Guatemala, acknowledged he conspired with other smugglers to transport illegal aliens, both adults and unaccompanied minors, from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States.
Quino Canil and others recruited Guatemalan nationals, collected payments, and arranged transportation by foot, inside microbuses, cattle trucks, and tractor-trailers.
Illegal aliens paid thousands of dollars to the conspirators to be smuggled into the United States. In some cases, the smugglers provided scripted language to unaccompanied minors for their use if U.S. immigration authorities apprehended them.
During the conspiracy, on Dec. 9, 2021, Quino Canil and others arranged for more than approximately 150 aliens to board a tractor-trailer traveling through Mexico. The vehicle crashed north of the Guatemala-Mexico border near Tuxtla Guiterrez, Chiapas, Mexico, killing multiple people and seriously injuring others.
“With Quino Canil's guilty plea, every member of this smuggling conspiracy has now been held accountable for one of the deadliest human smuggling tragedies in recent memory,” said U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz. “These criminals packed more than 150 illegal aliens into a trailer like they were cargo. Fifty people then died at the hands of these foreign criminals. My office will continue hunting down anyone who profits from this trade in human suffering, no matter where they hide or how long it takes to bring them to American justice.”
“Sadly, this preventable tragedy occurred because of these criminals’ callous disregard for the safety of men, women, and children, and our immigration laws, which resulted in serious injury and death in Chiapas, Mexico,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These defendants exploited vulnerable people and created an atmosphere with deadly consequences, all for money. These events will be investigated and prosecuted with the full resources of the Criminal Division.”
“This case stands as a stark reminder of the extreme dangers and devastating consequences caused by those who treat human lives as mere commodities,” said Acting Executive Associate Director John A. Condon of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations. “The callous actions of these smugglers resulted in unimaginable loss and suffering for dozens of families. HSI will relentlessly pursue those who orchestrate and profit from such horrific crimes. The successful outcome of this case would not have been possible without the outstanding collaboration of our domestic and international law enforcement partners, whose dedication and expertise were critical in bringing these criminals to justice and protecting the most vulnerable from exploitation.”
Quino Canil pleaded guilty to conspiracy to bring and attempt to bring an illegal alien into the United States, placing life in jeopardy, causing serious bodily injury, and resulting in death. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has set sentencing for Oct. 6. At that time, he faces up to life in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
Agapito Jorge Ventura, 34, Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, 26, Daniel Zavala Ramos, 42, Josefa Quino Canil de Zavala, 44, and Alberto Macario Chitic, 33, all of Guatemala, previously pleaded guilty to the same charges.
Canil De Zavala, Macario Chitic, Zavala Ramos, Zavala Quino and Quino Canil were extradited from Guatemala in 2025 to face charges. U.S. authorities arrested Ventura at his residence in Cleveland in December 2024.
HSI’s Washington, D.C., Field Office conducted the investigation in partnership with HSI Guatemala and HSI Mexico. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C.; HSI Houston; HSI Laredo; U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the arrests and extraditions. Guatemalan prosecutors from the Office of Public Ministry and Mexican prosecutors from the Republic of Mexico’s Federal Prosecutions Office, with the support of law enforcement officials from both countries, were also instrumental in furthering the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Lou Castillo and Jennifer Day are prosecuting the case along with Senior Trial Attorney Danielle Hickman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section with substantial assistance from HRSP Latin American Specialist/Historian Joanna Crandall.
The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha, the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking cartels and transnational criminal organizations commit. A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, 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 maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s HRSP Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section; Office of International Affairs and Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant United States Attorney-detailees 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 ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, 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 419 U.S. convictions; and more than 363 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This case is also 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 immigrants, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Federal Jury Convicts Duncan Credit Repair Operator for Wire Fraud and Credit Card FraudRead the Press Release
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Joseph F. Wallace, 51, of Duncan, has been convicted by a federal jury following four days of trial. Wallace was found guilty on nine counts of wire fraud and one count of credit card fraud.
Evidence introduced at trial showed that Wallace marketed himself as “a self-made serial entrepreneur leading multiple business entities and living the American Dream in Upstate, South Carolina.” He owned and operated YMA Financial through which he offered various services such as credit repair, business planning, and establishment of business credit. Beginning in late 2022, Wallace overextended himself in his pursuit of other business endeavors and he needed substantial infusions of cash to pay back previous clients. This precarious financial situation led Wallace to make misrepresentations to new clients and to withhold material information.
Wallace would direct clients to obtain various credit cards in aid of establishing the clients’ business credit. To ensure the clients qualified for the new cards, Wallace often directed them to provide false information to the credit card companies. The clients followed the instructions without questioning him because of his claimed expertise and involvement in community organizations.
Wallace would then obtain large cash advances on the new credit cards and the clients’ existing credit cards. (Some of the advances were made with the clients’ permission, others were not.) Wallace explained to clients that he would pay off the newly acquired balances within 30 days. By paying off the advances promptly, Wallace told clients that this would demonstrate to creditors the clients’ trustworthiness and thus boost their credit scores and borrowing potential. However, when the credit card bills came due, Wallace did not pay the balances in full as he had promised. Often Wallace would pay the minimum due or nothing at all. He provided the victims with multiple excuses. The victims later learned that Wallace had used the credit card advances to pay other debts or to make purchases for other businesses.
In total, Wallace stole more than $971,051.44 from the affected clients.“Fraud is not a victimless crime,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “It undermines trust, devastates families, and steals from hardworking people who have done nothing wrong. Our office is committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who exploit others for financial gain. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable and protect our communities from these serious crimes.”
Wallace faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. U.S. District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr. presided over the trial and will sentence Wallace after receiving and reviewed a pre-sentence report from the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case.
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EyePoint Pharmaceuticals to Pay $4.6 Million to Resolve False Claims Act AllegationsRead the Press Release
Eyepoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (EyePoint) headquartered in Massachusetts, has agreed to pay the United States $ 4,657,463.18 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to certain Ambulatory Service Centers (ASCs) to induce those ASCs to purchase and dispense DEXYCU, an injectable drug approved for the treatment of ocular inflammation following cataract surgery, between January 1, 2019 and March 1, 2023.
The United States alleges that following the commercial launch of DEXYCU in 2019, EyePoint induced ASCs to purchase and dispense DEXYCU by implementing an Assurance Program --- whereunder EyePoint would reimburse or compensate ASCs if health insurers denied a claim for DEXYCU or reimbursed DEXYCU below the ASCs’ purchase cost --- and by offering excessive free samples of DEXYCU to ASCs.
“Kickbacks by pharmaceutical companies increase the cost of drugs used by patients and paid for by federal health care programs,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Civil Division will hold accountable anyone who pays unlawful kickbacks.”
“As we have for years, our Office will continue to hold pharmaceutical manufacturers accountable for paying illegal kickbacks,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Through these efforts, we protect patients by removing providers’ financial incentives to prescribe or dispense products that may not be medically necessary for the patient and protect the public from fraud, waste and abuse.”
“Pharmaceutical companies that attempt to boost profits through unlawful kickbacks undermine the integrity of federal health care programs and betray the patients who rely on them,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG). We will aggressively pursue any entity that seeks to corrupt medical decision making and will not hesitate to hold them accountable.”
In connection with the settlement, EyePoint entered into a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Through separate agreements, Eyepoint will pay an additional $21,518.68 to certain participating states.
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by AFCE LLC. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. AFCE LLC, et al., v. EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc., No. 21-CV-12071 (D. Mass.) Under the resolution, the Relator will receive $791,768.74 from the settlement.
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, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. 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 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
This year the 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 FCA enforcement plays a critical role in combatting such fraudulent schemes, recovering billions of dollars for the American taxpayers, and holding wrongdoers accountable. FCA matters will continue to be on the forefront of the battle against fraud, and the Civil Division’s FCA work will support and advance the mission of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the National Fraud Enforcement Division.
The investigation and resolution of this matter was handled by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Margaret F. Thomas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven T. Sharobem.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Note: View the settlement here.
Essex County Man Convicted of Narcotics Trafficking Offenses Following TrialRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, N.J., man was convicted yesterday by a federal jury for his involvement in a significant drug trafficking organization operating in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Samuel Alectus, a/k/a “Capet,” 37, of Newark, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine following a jury trial that began on July 13, 2026 before United States District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court. Sentencing is scheduled for October 20, 2026.
According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:
Alectus was a member of a drug trafficking organization that had a significant presence in New Jersey. On January 27, 2022, Alectus met up with Heidy Valdez at his apartment in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where the drug trafficking organization was storing more than 100 kilograms of cocaine. Valdez put approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine from that stash into Alectus’ car, which Alectus drove to another apartment in Linden, New Jersey. Valdez then carried the cocaine into the Linden apartment, while Alectus left to purchase narcotics packaging materials. When Alectus returned to the Linden apartment, he and Valdez repackaged the cocaine to make it look similar to fake kilograms of cocaine they had created. When Alectus and Valdez left, they put bags containing approximately 21 kilograms of cocaine and approximately 9 fake kilograms into their vehicles. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement seized bags containing kilograms of cocaine from Alectus’ car and from Valdez. Law enforcement then searched the Linden apartment, where they found a large hydraulic kilogram press, narcotics packaging materials, a digital scale, and kilogram stamps.
For each offense of conviction, Alectus faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, and a fine of up to $10 million.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, with the investigation leading to the conviction.
The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Marko Pesce, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, and Jake Nussbaum, of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.
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Defense counsel: Robert J. DeGroot and Oleg Nekritin, Esqs.
alectus.supersedingindictment.pdfDistrict of Arizona Charges 279 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this WeekRead the Press Release
PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from July 11 through July 17, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 279 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 56 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 206 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed cases against 17 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona.
These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE- Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Recent matters of interest include:
United States v. Braulio Espinoza. On July 11, 2026, Braulio Espinoza was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On July 9, 2026, a Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper initiated at traffic stop on a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The driver, Braulio Espinoza, did not have his driver’s license. After speaking with Espinoza, the trooper suspected that he was engaged in alien smuggling. Border Patrol was called to the scene and determined that the two passengers in Espinoza’s vehicle were citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. One of the passengers was an unaccompanied minor. [Case Number: 26-MJ-6256]
United States v. Ionut Calciu. On July 11, 2026, Ionut Calciu was charged by criminal complaint with Reentry of a Removed Alien. Calciu had been previously removed from the United States on December 17, 2025 after being convicted of Unlawful use of Unauthorized Access Devices in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, Central District of California. In that case, he was sentenced to 9 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release. [Case Number: 26-MJ-6265]
The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-123_July 17, 2026 Immigration Enforcement
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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 Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.