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13 July 2026
Former Corrections Sergeant Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Dealing in Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
FRESNO, Calif. — Former corrections sergeant at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, Ralph Contreras Jr., 40, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kirk E. Sherriff to 15 years in prison for receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, between Sept. 29, 2024, and Jan. 2, 2025, Contreras received and distributed CSAM through social media apps. He specifically sought out CSAM that depicted prepubescent minors. At the time of his arrest, Contreras was working as a corrections sergeant.
Contreras pleaded guilty on April 13, 2026.
Homeland Security Investigations, the Central California Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the DOJ to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue the victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Filing False Tax ReturnRead the Press Release
A Florida man pleaded guilty today to filing a false tax return filed on behalf of a trust he controlled.
According to court documents and statements made in court, McDonald Preval, of Miami, filed numerous false tax returns on behalf of himself and purported trusts he controlled. The trust tax returns reported that the trusts had earned significant income and made tax withholding payments to the IRS, purportedly entitling the trusts to large tax refunds. In fact, the trusts did not have the claimed income, and did not make payments in the amounts claimed on the returns, and therefore were not entitled to the refunds Preval claimed. He also filed tax returns for 2023 that did not include the income from his employment. The false tax returns Preval filed and caused to be filed on behalf of purported trusts and himself collectively sought tax refunds totaling more than $4.2 million.
Preval pleaded guilty to one count of filing a false tax return. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 6 and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division and U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Melissa Siskind and Kavitha Bondada of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Tax Section, 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.
Felon Who Possessed a Gun Sent Back to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
A man who illegally possessed a gun was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison.
Edinton Grugbay Wright, age 30, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 11, 2025, guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence during the case showed Wright was originally convicted in federal court of being a drug user in possession of a firearm. In 2022, after his release from federal prison, Wright began serving a term of supervised release. While on supervised release, Cedar Rapids Police Department officers attempted to stop a car where Wright was seated in the front passenger seat. The car refused to stop and instead drove onto the front lawn of a residential home. Both the driver and Wright ran from the car. As officers pursued Wright, he threw a loaded pistol onto the ground. Officers eventually located Wright and the pistol.
Wright was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Wright was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of 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.
Wright 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 Attorneys Lisa C. Williams and Timothy Vavricek and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-0048.
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Fairfield Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nicolas Vasquez II, 46, of Fairfield, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to five years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.
According to court documents, on Feb. 25, 2025, during a traffic stop, Vasquez was found with a loaded 9 mm pistol without a serial number and a loaded, spare high-capacity magazine. In total, Vasquez possessed 22 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. Vasquez has prior felony convictions — assault with a firearm and evading a police officer — and is prohibited from possessing ammunition and firearms. Vasquez pleaded guilty on April 6, 2026.
The Fairfield Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heiko P. Coppola prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Erie, Kansas Man Charged with Attempted Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity and Offense by a Registered Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Erie, Kan. man has been charged by criminal complaint for attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing that offense as a registered sex offender.
Richard V. Mitchell, 63, appeared in federal court today on a two-count criminal complaint.
According to court documents, Mitchell requested a minor child be transported from the Western District of Missouri to Erie, Kan. to engage in sexual activity with Mitchell. Mitchell is a registered sex offender in the State of Kansas.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett and Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Dominican Nationals Sentenced in Federal Benefits Fraud CasesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – Two Dominican nationals were sentenced on July 9, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island for fraud schemes involving the use of stolen identities of American citizens to fraudulently obtain Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and unemployment benefits.
Jesus Matos Perez, 52, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to illegal entry, false representation of a social security number, health care and wire fraud.
According to court documents, Matos Perez used the stolen identities of two American citizens for approximately ten years to fraudulently obtain approximately $75,000 of Medicaid, SNAP, and unemployment benefits.
William Jose Alejandro Arias Amador, 45, a citizen of the Dominican Republic was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to false representation of a social security number, health care and wire fraud.
According to court documents, upon his release from the Adult Correctional Institution, Arias Amador, who had amassed a significant criminal history in the identity of a United States citizen, fraudulently obtained Medicaid and SNAP benefits using the stolen identity and social security number of the same individual.
“The message from these sentences is straightforward,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “If you steal identities and exploit government programs for personal gain, we will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and seek meaningful consequences. Protecting the integrity of taxpayer-funded benefit programs from fraud remains a top priority of this office and the Department of Justice.”
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan and Special Assistant United States Attorney John Moreria.
The matters were investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations
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.
Dominican National Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Illegal Drugs in the New Hampshire SeacoastRead the Press Release
Dominican National Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison for Trafficking Illegal Drugs in the New Hampshire Seacoast
CONCORD – A citizen of the Dominican Republic, who previously lived in Massachusetts, was sentenced today in federal court for drug trafficking in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Juan De Los Santos Romero, 23, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to 30 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. De Los Santos Romero previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. De Los Santos Romero will be removed from the United States upon the completion of his prison sentence. Four co-conspirators, Jose Luis Guerrero Nunez, Carlos Alejandro Chevalier Santos, Eddy Mendez Carmona, and Luis Guerrero Cabral, have previously pleaded guilty.
“Fentanyl and methamphetamine are destructive drugs that devastate our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “We will continue to pursue and hold accountable those individuals who distribute these dangerous substances in our state.”
“The defendant chose to profit from the distribution of two of the most dangerous drugs threatening our communities today—fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, New England Field Division. “His actions contributed to the flow of deadly narcotics into New Hampshire, putting countless lives at risk. Today’s sentence demonstrates that those who traffic these poisons will be identified, investigated, and held accountable, regardless of their citizenship or where they attempt to operate. The DEA remains steadfast in our commitment to working alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and protect the people of New England.”
De Los Santos Romero was part of a Methuen-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Seacoast area. He was responsible for at least four controlled drug purchases with an undercover DEA agent.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The Seabrook Police Department, Hampton Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Methuen Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Detroit Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Multiple Felony Drug Crimes in Huntington-Area Drug Trafficking Conspiracy CaseRead the Press Release
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Lamarr Anthony Welch, also known as “Joe,” 35, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for 11 felony drug offenses. Welch admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Welch admitted that he participated in the conspiracy, distributed various quantities of methamphetamine totaling 651 grams on multiple occasions between March 3, 2025, and August 27, 2025, and distributed 4.4 grams fentanyl on August 27, 2025, as part of the DTO.
On September 10, 2025, law enforcement officers arrested Welch at a trailer in Huntington where the DTO stored drugs for distribution and seized approximately 3.95 kilograms of methamphetamine, 266 grams of fentanyl, and a loaded firearm.
Welch pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count each of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, distribution of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, and distribution of fentanyl.
Welch conducted transactions arranged by or at the direction of three co-defendants: Joshua Willie McCarver, also known as “TJ,” 28, of Detroit; McCarver’s nephew, Darnell Marice McCarver, also known as “WAP,” 19, of Detroit; and Geon Lavell Henderson, also known as “Money,” 53, of Huntington.
The three co-defendants and Welch are among six defendants who pleaded guilty following their indictment on charges alleging they participated in the DTO while it operated from in or about January 2025 to in or about August 2025. Darnell Marice McCarver was sentenced on April 13, 2026, to 12 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of a methamphetamine mixture. Henderson was sentenced on June 22, 2026, to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl. Joshua Willie McCarver is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13, 2026, after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The indictment remains pending against three other defendants. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Welch was sentenced as a career offender, with a criminal history that includes two prior convictions for armed robbery.
“This career criminal flooded Huntington with a staggering amount of dangerous drugs,” said United States Attorney Moore Capito. “Today’s sentence reflects the severity of the harm he inflicted and demonstrates our commitment to bring the full weight of the law down on those who target our communities with this poison.”
Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Cabell County Sheriff's Office, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, and the Huntington Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-154.
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D.C. Man Found Guilty of Armed Carjacking and Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Orlin Lemus-Cruz, 22, of the District, was found guilty today in D.C. Superior Court on charges related to the armed robbery of two victims on March 26, 2025, in Northwest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Lemus-Cruz was found guilty of one count of armed carjacking, two counts of armed robbery and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld scheduled sentencing for October 30, 2026. The armed robbery conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment. The armed carjacking conviction carries a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than 15 years and a maximum sentence of not more than 40 years of imprisonment.
According to the government’s evidence, on the afternoon of March 26, 2025, Lemus-Cruz and his two co-conspirators, Jason Benitez-Umanzor and Julio Villafranco, approached two victims watching a soccer game at the Bell Athletic Field in the 3100 block of Hiatt Place, NW. The victims were then pistol-whipped and robbed at gunpoint of a coat and a moped.
Lemus-Cruz was arrested on April 5, 2025, and has been in custody since. Co-conspirators Jason Benitez-Umanzor and Julio Villafranco previously pleaded guilty to armed robbery on November 19, 2025.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nickolas Reck and Michael Dal Lago. Assistant United States Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi indicted the case.
2025 CF3 003832
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Crowley Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking; Co-Defendant Also Pleads GuiltyRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE–On June 30, 2026, District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Marcus Redlich, 26, of Crowley, to 10 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(l).
A close associate of Redlich’s, Marley Guidry, 22, also of Crowley, pled guilty to the same offense on July 1, 2026.
According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identified Redlich in July 2024 as a suspected methamphetamine trafficker operating in and around the region. Over several months, agents conducted extensive surveillance and determined that Redlich worked closely with an associate, Guidry, who helped transport, supply, and facilitate Redlich’s distribution activities throughout the area.
On August 28, 2025, federal and state authorities coordinated search and enforcement actions. Louisiana State Police initiated a traffic stop on Redlich along Interstate 10 at mile marker 97 in Lafayette Parish. Redlich briefly slowed his vehicle but suddenly accelerated in an attempt to flee, directing a passenger to throw two white grocery bags out of the vehicle before crashing and being apprehended. Troopers recovered two clear, vacuum sealed bags containing approximately three pounds of pure methamphetamine from the roadside where the bags were discarded.
Simultaneously, Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at Redlich’s residence in Crowley. Agents recovered additional quantities of pure methamphetamine, digital scales, and plastic baggies, along with other controlled substances. Redlich later admitted to possessing the narcotics found in his home.
A separate search warrant executed on Guidry’s home also uncovered a significant quantity of illegal narcotics, including pure methamphetamine, Dimethyl Sulfone, cocaine, and other controlled substances.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office (LPSO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Louisiana State Police (LSP), and Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO).
It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaDonte Murphy with assistance from Legal Administrative Specialist Christy Angelle.
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, under Case Number 6:25 CR 00326 01.
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Crookston Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Joseph Robert Thompson, a Crookston man, has pleaded guilty to one count of attempted production of child pornography.
According to court documents, on October 13, 2024, Thompson took a series of photos of sexually explicit conduct of a then-six-year-old minor for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct.
Thompson had previously come to law enforcement’s attention after soliciting illicit images from an undercover officer posing as a 14‑year‑old on August 28, 2024. On October 15, 2024, Thompson was arrested, and during a search of his home, investigators seized multiple electronic devices which included additional evidence, including child sexual abuse material and communications between Thompson and an adult male in Missouri. Thompson and the Missouri male exchanged child sexual abuse material and discussed abusing minors. Thompson admitted to distributing and receiving illegal material between August and October 2024.
Thompson pleaded guilty to attempted production of child pornography before United States District Court Judge Nancy E. Brasel on June 29, 2026. This federal felony offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison, along with a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date.
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the unwavering commitment of federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who prey on children,” said United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “Our office will continue to use every available resource to protect vulnerable victims and bring those who harm them to justice.”
“I am extremely proud of the outstanding collaboration between the Crookston Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI's Minnesota Child Exploitation Task Force, which culminated in the successful arrest and charging of a dangerous child predator. Protecting our children is one of our highest priorities. We will continue to pursue these offenders relentlessly to hold these offenders responsible to ensure our community is a safer place for our most vulnerable residents,” said Crookston Police Chief Darin Selzler.
“Joseph Robert Thompson's conviction in this case is just one example of how strong law enforcement partnerships keep our communities safer,” said FBI Minneapolis Field Office Christopher D. Dotson. “FBI resources, paired with tenacious work from our Task Force Officers from Crookston Police and detectives from Polk County Sheriff's Office, have combined to take another child predator off of our streets. The Minnesota Child Exploitation Task Force continues to work throughout the state to keep our kids safe online and in our neighborhoods.”
This case was investigated by the Crookston Police Department and Polk County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the FBI's Minnesota Child Exploitation Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Kristian Weir is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
Convicted Felons Sentenced to Federal Prison on Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges Following Deadly CrashRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Daryl Hubbard and Carl Todd, who were previously convicted of felony drug distribution, were sentenced to federal prison after their drug dealing resulted in a high-speed chase ending in death and serious injury.
“This case is a prime example of the consequences that could result from trafficking illegal drugs – one man dead, another paralyzed, and a police officer injured,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Due to the hard work and sacrifices of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and the Homeland Security Task Force, Hubbard and Todd were held accountable for their crimes and will serve lengthy prison sentences without parole.”
“These sentences reflect the tragic consequences of illegal drug distribution,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The defendant’s actions resulted in devastating loss of life and serious injury, an outcome that serves as a stark reminder that drug trafficking destroys lives and families. Through the unwavering commitment of our Homeland Security Task Force and our local law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who profit from distributing deadly drugs. Together, we remain steadfast in our mission to protect our communities.”
“This sentencing sends a clear message that those who illegally traffic drugs and unlawfully possess or use firearms will be held accountable,” stated Ryan Todd, ATF Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge. “ATF will continue working with our law enforcement partners to enforce our nation’s firearms laws and protect our communities from the violence these crimes create.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From about 2022 until their arrests in 2024, Hubbard and Todd maintained commercial and residential properties throughout DeKalb County, Georgia, for the purpose of distributing large quantities of cocaine and marijuana.
On March 20, 2023, Hubbard provided two drug dealers with duffle bags of narcotics from a warehouse he leased in Lithonia, Georgia. When law enforcement attempted to stop the drug dealers’ SUV in Lamar County, the duo led police on a high-speed chase while tossing drugs out of the vehicle’s window. The SUV reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour, forced a state patrol cruiser off the road, and caused the cruiser to flip multiple times, injuring a trooper. The chase ended after the drug dealers crashed into a tree, killing the passenger and paralyzing the driver.
After this incident, Hubbard emptied the warehouse and set up another stash house in Stonecrest, Georgia. On July 23, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants on the Stonecrest stash house and Hubbard’s home in Conyers, Georgia. During the searches, law enforcement recovered cocaine, marijuana, and five guns, including a stolen handgun. Two of the firearms—a high-powered rifle with a 30-round magazine and a pistol loaded with ammunition capable of piercing body armor—were recovered within arm’s reach of Todd when law enforcement searched the Stonecrest stash house. Hubbard’s and Todd’s criminal association spanned over a decade as they were arrested together in 2013 and later convicted in a DeKalb County felony drug distribution case.
On July 10, 2026, Daryl Hubbard, a/k/a “Dirt,” 46, of Conyers, Georgia, was sentenced to 12 years and 4 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release and ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $5,000. Hubbard was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after he pleaded guilty on February 25, 2026.
On December 1, 2025, Carl Todd, 49, of Snellville, Georgia, was sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Todd was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after he pleaded guilty on August 15, 2025.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office. The Georgia State Patrol provided substantial assistance to the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney John T. DeGenova and Special Assistant United States Attorney Steve A. Hsieh prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force 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. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Convicted Drug Trafficker Sentenced for Violating Federal Controlled Substances ActRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Louisiana announced today that LIKE CHEN, age 36, was sentenced on July 8, 2026 by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to 24 months’ imprisonment, 4 years of supervised release, and a $100.00 mandatory special assessment fee, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, a mixture and substance containing one hundred (100) kilograms or more of a detectable amount of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 846.
According to court documents, on April 14, 2025, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agents observed an individual identified as Yilei Zhou pick up Hanjie Wu, a known marijuana distributor, from an airport in Houston, Texas and drive him to a residence in Katy, Texas. While at that residence they picked up Zihang Zeng, and then drove to Denham Springs, Louisiana. The following day, two other individuals, Wei Bin Chen and LIKE CHEN, left Denham Springs, traveled to a nearby storage facility and retrieved multiple large trash bags from a storage unit. They then drove to another storage facility in Slidell, Louisiana. Zhou and Wu then drove to same facility in Slidell where they all met with an individual identified as Aaron Steele. Wei Bin and LIKE CHEN then loaded the large trash bags into Steele’s vehicle and all parties left the storage facility.
Forrest County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop of CHEN’S vehicle on Interstate 59 headed towards Hattiesburg, Mississippi. A consensual search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 43.5 kilograms of marijuana.
Mississippi Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop of Steele’s vehicle on Interstate 59 in Picayune, Mississippi. A consensual search of his vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 22.7 kilograms of marijuana.
Based on the seizures that occurred in Slidell and Mississippi, Livingston Parish officers obtained search warrants for the residence and storage facility in Denham Springs. When the officers arrived at the residence, Zeng ran from the residence and was arrested. Inside the residence, officers located $1,552.00 in currency, hundreds of rubber bands, a vacuum sealer and a money counter. From the storage unit, officers seized 38.5 kilograms of marijuana.
On the drug conspiracy count, LIKE CHEN faced a minimum term of imprisonment of five (5) years, a maximum term of imprisonment of forty (40) years, a fine of up to $5,000,000.00, at least four (4) years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, Forrest County Mississippi Sheriff’s Office, and the Picayune, Mississippi Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys André Jones and Nolan D. Paige of the Narcotics Unit.
This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Re-issued 7/13/2026
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Citizen from the Congo who Committed Visa Fraud Sentenced and FinedRead the Press Release
A man who came to the United States in 2023 was sentenced today to three years’ probation, 90 days of home confinement, and fined for committing visa fraud. Bienvenu Saido Binyangi, age 37, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, received the prison term after a December 11, 2025, guilty plea to one count of visa fraud.
Three other individuals who were charged in the same indictment with conspiracy have already been sentenced. Joseph Longanga Okoko was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Medard Lotahe Elonge was sentenced to twelve months and one day imprisonment. Joseph Onolenga Okamba was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.
In a plea agreement, Binyangi admitted that he entered the United States on a B1/B2 visa that he obtained by fraud because he did not intend to stay in the United States for temporary business or pleasure, but rather to reunite with his family in the Northern District of Iowa.
At sentencing, the evidence showed that when Binyangi entered the United States, he reunited with his family, including Joseph Okoko’s daughter, and their minor children. Binyangi subsequently petitioned for asylum. The evidence at sentencing also showed that Binyangi had unsuccessfully entered the diversity visa lottery while in the Congo and provided false information about his marital status. The evidence also showed that Binyangi had gotten married in Congo; however, he hid that information from immigration officials.
Binyangi was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Binyangi was sentenced to three years’ probation, 90 days of home confinement, and fined $500.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. Cole and Nicole L. Nagin and was investigated by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Waterloo Police Department, the Sioux City Police Department, and the Iowa Department of Transportation.
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.
On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support 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.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 24-CR-2052.
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Chicago-Area Gun and Drug Trafficker Resentenced to Forty Years in Prison for Firearms and Drug Offenses in East Central IllinoisRead the Press Release
URBANA, Ill. – A Markham, Illinois, man, Deon Evans, 42, was sentenced on July 13, 2026, to forty years and eight months’ imprisonment in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for trafficking heroin and methamphetamine, carrying and possessing a firearm during his drug trafficking crimes, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
At the resentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce found that Evans faced a mandatory consecutive twenty-five-year sentence for his offense of carrying a firearm while distributing heroin and possessing a firearm in furtherance of his possession of methamphetamine (“ecstasy”) with the intent to distribute it. Judge Bruce further determined that Evans was involved in the trafficking of at least eight to twenty-four firearms and found that Evans had obstructed justice by providing false testimony during his case. Evans faced an enhanced sentence because he was on federal supervised release at the time of his offenses from a 2007 conviction for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in the Southern District of Iowa.
Evans was originally convicted following a jury trial in January 2020. During the three-day trial, the government presented evidence that, in July 2016, Evans traveled from his residence in Markham to a gas station in Gilman, Illinois, where he sold 48.4 grams of heroin in exchange for $4,500. In August 2016, Evans again traveled to the gas station to meet the same buyer, this time bringing an associate and two loaded firearms. During this meeting, Evans sold 124.3 grams of heroin for $11,250.
After the August 2016 heroin sale, Evans was stopped by troopers with the Illinois State Police on Interstate 57. Troopers searched Evans’ vehicle and found the cash hidden under the back seat, two fully loaded firearms, an extra magazine, and 173 ecstasy pills that contained methamphetamine. The trial evidence established that Evans obtained one of those firearms, a Glock, Model 30, .45 caliber, semi-automatic pistol, by trading two grams of heroin and $100 in exchange for the gun. It was also established that the firearm had been stolen from Indiana. Additional evidence showed that Evans used two individuals, known as “straw purchasers”, to purchase fourteen guns for him in Birmingham, Alabama, which he then sold illegally in Chicago. Some of the firearms were later recovered after they were used in violent crimes.
Judge Bruce originally sentenced Evans in January of 2022. Following an appeal, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the case for an evidentiary hearing to determine if Evans’s trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective, and for resentencing. Judge Bruce determined that Evans’s trial counsel did not provide ineffective assistance before proceeding to resentencing. Judge Bruce ordered the new sentence to be served consecutively to Evans’s 27-month sentence of imprisonment imposed in the Southern District of Iowa for violating his conditions of federal supervised release.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Chicago Division, Springfield Resident Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Springfield, Illinois, and Birmingham Field Offices; and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government throughout the case.
Career Offender on Federal Supervision Sentenced to More Than 25 Years in Prison for the Murder of a Yakama Nation ManRead the Press Release
Yakima, WASHINGTON — First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on July 13, Antonio Montellano, 44, was sentenced by Chief District Court Judge Stanley Bastain to 328 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release stemming from his murder conviction of a Yakama Nation man in January 2025.
Based upon information presented at the time of sentencing, Montellano was under federal supervision for his conviction of Importation of Cocaine and Methamphetamine in 2012 in the Southern District of California after serving an over 10-year prison sentence. Montellano’s supervision was transferred to the Eastern District of Washington and specifically Yakima in 2023. In January 2025 while at the home of the victim, Montellano and the victim got into an argument. The defendant had been ingesting methamphetamine and had not slept for several days. Likely due to his drug usage and lack of sleep, Montellano acted impulsively in response to what he considered to be an inappropriate act. Montellano picked up a shovel and struck the victim in the head and continued to strike him after he had fallen to the ground. After the murder, Montellano covered the victim’s body with a blanket, searched his home for surveillance cameras, took additional items and fled. During the late hours of January 28, 2025, the victim’s family discovered his body.
Due to the quick investigative efforts of the Yakama Nation tribal police and FBI, they determined that the victim’s new cellular phone was missing. The FBI called the victim’s phone and Montellano answered the call. Montellano provided a fake name and lied about how he came into possession of the phone. Utilizing phone data and Flock camera footage, the FBI was able to identify Montellano as the primary suspect. Due to the egregious facts of the case, multiple citizens cooperated with law enforcement which greatly assisted the investigation. As the investigation progressed, the FBI learned that Montellano fled to California and then crossed the border into Mexico. Based upon the cooperative efforts between the Department of Justice and Mexican authorities, specifically Fuerza Estatal de Seguridad Ciudadana (FESC) in Baja California and the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM), Montellano, a U.S. citizen, was deported from Mexico to the United States. On June 10, 2025, the Grand Jury returned an indictment charging the defendant with Second Degree Murder. After Montellano was returned to the United States from Mexico, he admitted to killing the victim. On November 4, 2025, Montellano pled guilty to Second Degree Murder.
The victim’s family noted that he had a large family including several grandchildren that dearly missed his presence. Multiple family members and friends attended the sentencing hearing and addressed the court. The family’s loss can never be made whole commenting on the tragic impact his senseless murder had on their family especially on those who found him that tragic morning. In imposing sentence, Chief District Court Judge Bastian noted Montellano’s criminal history and the need for the court to impose a sentence to protect the public. The Court had concerns of the defendant’s impulsive behavior which, in this case, led to the death of the victim.
First Assistant Pete Serrrano stated, “Behind every senseless act of violence is a family member forever changed whose loss echoes far beyond the crime scene. Justice cannot restore a life lost to senseless violence, but it can confirm that every victim matters and that repeated criminal behavior has devastating consequences. I am thankful for the efforts of all involved to bring this repeat violent offender back to face his crimes.”
“Not only did Mr. Montellano violently and repeatedly attack this victim, but he also took steps to cover up the murder before fleeing the state and country,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Nevertheless, he could not escape the consequences of his crime. No matter how far a subject may run, and how many borders he may cross, the FBI will work diligently with our partners to bring them back to face justice.”
The case was investigated by the Yakama Nation Tribal Police and the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tom Hanlon.
1:25-CR-2065-SAB
California Man to Serve 30 Years in Federal Prison for Transporting More Than 60 Pounds of Methamphetamine to OklahomaRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – GUSTAVO DE ALBA, 48, of Los Angeles, California, has been sentenced to serve 360 months in federal prison for drug conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, on June 13, 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop involving a vehicle being driven by De Alba on Interstate 40 near Sayre, Oklahoma. A K-9 unit alerted to the presence of narcotics, prompting a search of the vehicle. During the search, officers discovered approximately 30 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside a sophisticated, aftermarket compartment concealed behind the back seat.
A federal grand jury indicted De Alba on charges of drug conspiracy and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on July 1, 2025. Following a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted De Alba on both counts on February 18, 2026.
At a sentencing hearing on July 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Patrick R. Wyrick sentenced De Alba to serve 360 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Wyrick noted the seriousness of the offense, the need to promote respect for the law, and the need for deterrence.
This case is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Hoch and Drew E. Davis prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Bergen County Woman Charged with Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County woman was charged on with distributing methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.
Brittany Malsch, 38, of Garfield, New Jersey, was charged by Complaint with possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Malsch had her initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court, and was remanded.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
From at least as early as December 2025, law enforcement began investigating Malsch for her role in distributing methamphetamine from a room at a hotel located in Fairfield, New Jersey. After confirming that Malsch was residing in the hotel, law enforcement executed a judicially- authorized search warrant for her hotel room, in which law enforcement discovered multiple bags containing suspected crystal methamphetamine, as well as drug paraphernalia including packaging materials. Officers also recovered approximately $1,720.00 in U.S. currency.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine carries a minimum statutory term of 10 years, a maximum statutory term of life, and a maximum fine of $10 million.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited task force officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James, and the Fairfield Police Department, under the direction of Chief Anthony G. Manna, with the investigation.
The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Isen Kang of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel: Laura C. Sayler, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender.
malsch.complaint.pdfBangladeshi national extradited from Brazil to face charges for role in transnational criminal human smuggling organizationRead the Press Release
LAREDO, Texas – A 39-year-old Bangladeshi national has made his initial appearance in Laredo federal court after being extradited from Brazil on July 8. A second superseding indictment charges Saifullah Al-Mamun for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled aliens from Bangladesh into the United States.
According to court documents, Al-Mamun and his co-defendants, Mohamad Milon Hossain, 46 and Moktar Hossain, 38, both of Bangladesh, participated in a wide-ranging human smuggling operation and assisted other smugglers by facilitating the travel of scores of aliens from São Paulo, Brazil, and other locations in South America, Central America, and Mexico so that the aliens could illegally enter the United States. Al-Mamun housed aliens in São Paulo and arranged their travel, while Mohamad Milon Hossain housed aliens in Tapachula, Mexico, and facilitated their transportation to Monterrey, Mexico, according to the charges. Moktar Hossain allegedly housed aliens in Monterrey and instructed them how to cross the Rio Grande River into the United States, but many had difficulty safely doing so. The charges allege aliens paid as much as tens of thousands of dollars to individuals in Bangladesh to help them travel illegally to the United States.
Al-Mamun was arrested in Brazil in October 2019.
Al-Mamun is charged with conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States and conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to enter the United States and faces up to 10 years in federal prison. He could also receive up to 15 years for multiple counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain.
Mohamad Milon Hossain and Moktar Hossain pleaded guilty to their roles ole in the operation and were each sentenced to 46 months in prison.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Phoenix is investigating this case with assistance from the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border and Protection’s (CBP) International Interdiction Task Force, CBP – Counter Network Division, HSI Laredo, HSI Brasilia, HSI Bogota, U.S. Embassy in Brazil including the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Brazil Federal Police, Colombian National Police, and U.S. Marshals Service.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Brazil. The Justice Department thanks its Brazilian law enforcement counterparts for their assistance in this matter.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated prosecutors 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices 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 Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 464 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 414 U.S. convictions; and more than 360 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.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Bangladeshi National Extradited from Brazil to Face Charges for Role in Transnational Criminal Human Smuggling OrganizationRead the Press Release
Bangladeshi national Saifullah Al-Mamun, 39, made his initial appearance in Laredo, Texas, today after being extradited from Brazil on July 8. A second superseding indictment charges Al-Mamun for his role in a conspiracy that smuggled aliens from Bangladesh into the United States.
According to court documents, Al-Mamun and his co-defendants — Mohamad Milon Hossain, 46 and Moktar Hossain, 38, both of Bangladesh — participated in a wide-ranging human smuggling operation and assisted other smugglers by facilitating the travel of scores of aliens from São Paulo, Brazil, and other locations in South America, Central America, and Mexico so that the aliens could illegally enter the United States. Al-Mamun housed aliens in São Paulo and arranged their travel, Mohamad Milon Hossain housed aliens in Tapachula, Mexico, and facilitated their transportation to Monterrey, Mexico. Moktar Hossain housed aliens in Monterrey and instructed them how to cross the Rio Grande River into the United States. Many of the aliens had difficulty safely crossing the Rio Grande River. The aliens paid as much as tens of thousands of dollars to individuals in Bangladesh to help them travel illegally to the United States. Al-Mamun was arrested in Brazil on Oct. 31, 2019.
Mohamad Milon Hossain pleaded guilty to his role in the operation and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Moktar Hossain also pleaded guilty to his role in the operation and was also sentenced to 46 months in prison.
Al-Mamun is charged with conspiracy to bring an alien to the United States, multiple counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain, and conspiracy to encourage and induce an alien to enter the United States. If convicted on all counts of bringing an alien to the United States for financial gain, he faces a minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If convicted of conspiracy to bring and/or conspiracy to encourage and induce and alien to enter the United States, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz for the Southern District of Texas; and Special Agent in Charge Jason T. Stevens of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Phoenix made the announcement.
HSI Phoenix is investigating this case with assistance from the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border and Protection’s International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Counter Network Division, HSI Laredo, HSI Brasilia, HSI Bogota, , U.S. Embassy in Brazil including the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Brazil Federal Police, Colombian National Police, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Brazil. The Justice Department thanks its Brazilian law enforcement counterparts for their assistance in this matter.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated prosecutors 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices 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 Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 464 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 414 U.S. convictions; and more than 360 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
Trial Attorney Spencer M. Perry of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Cortez for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Antisemitic Threats Result in Four Federal Prosecutions by Atlanta-Based U.S. Attorney's OfficeRead the Press Release
ATLANTA - Today, as part of the Justice Department’s ongoing and concerted effort to crack down on rising antisemitism, United States Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg announced federal charges against a Texas man who threatened to kill Jews at a Georgia company. Jordan Nicholas Hadley is the fourth defendant in 12 months to face federal prosecution in the Northern District of Georgia for allegedly making antisemitic threats online or by phone. Each defendant faces up to five years in prison for transmitting threatening communications through means of interstate or foreign commerce.
“These men allegedly spewed vile hate and threatened violent attacks against Jews,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Threats against any person based on his or her religious beliefs will not be tolerated, and these charges reflect my office’s commitment to working with law enforcement partners to combat the pernicious evil of antisemitism and hold accountable anyone who threatens members of our community.”
“Antisemitic hate has no place in Georgia or anywhere,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI's work to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution includes the assurance to every single American that they are allowed to practice their religion without fear of threats or harm.”
According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On April 24, 2026, Jordan Nicholas Hadley, 31, of Houston, Texas, allegedly left a message in the voicemail inbox of Flock Safety, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia. The message stated, “You’re a bunch of Jewish fa--ots who are breaking the Constitution. Film me and see what f--king happens. I’ll find you and I’ll f--king kill you.” Hadley was arrested on a criminal complaint on July 9, 2026, and will make an initial appearance in Atlanta at a later date.
Since August 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged three additional individuals with communicating interstate antisemitic threats. One of those defendants has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced later this week.
Aaron John Sasser
On or around April 3, 2026, Aaron John Sasser, 36, of Finksburg, Maryland, allegedly sent numerous threatening messages to employees of PrizePicks, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia, via the company’s online customer service chat. Directing his messages to multiple specific PrizePicks employees, Sasser allegedly wrote, among other messages, “You better leave town because I’m driving down to Atlanta to blow up the PrizePicks headquarters and then I’ll head to your house, tie you up and rape your wife in front of you. Then, I’ll dismember the both of you before heading off to [Jewish PrizePicks employee’s] place. I’m gonna have fun tying up [his] Zionist wife. Before that though, I’m gonna cut [his] eyelids off. So he’s forced to watch. Then I’m gonna blow his f--king body up in the name of Palestine because he’s a Zionist piece of s--t and every last one of them are going to die.”
Sasser was arrested on a criminal complaint on April 6, 2026, and his charges are currently pending.
Christopher Robertson
On July 30, 2025, staff members at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta notified security staff that they observed a man, later identified as Christopher Robertson, 43, of Fairburn, Georgia, allegedly wandering around the parking lot inside the secure area of its Midtown Atlanta facility. Security staff met Robertson in the parking lot, who allegedly stated that he was “the official spokesperson for the white race” and that he wanted to speak with a high-ranking Jewish official.
After being asked to leave, Robertson allegedly drove to The Temple, a Jewish synagogue, also located in Midtown Atlanta. At The Temple, Robertson encountered two staff members and asked to speak to a rabbi. Robertson allegedly made derogatory remarks about Jewish people and ranted about the decline of the white race. An Atlanta Police Department officer was present inside The Temple, and Robertson left.
On July 31, 2025, Robertson allegedly entered a Jewish Chabad building in Peachtree City, Georgia. The Chabad rabbi called 911 while members of the staff barricaded themselves in an office. Robertson allegedly recorded the encounter and posted it on Facebook. In the post, Robertson identified himself as the “official delegate of the white race” and told the rabbi that Jewish people were on the “verge of extermination.” After police arrived at the Chabad, Robertson left.
Robertson allegedly used several social media accounts to post antisemitic and threatening video posts before and immediately after these incidents. On July 24, 2025, Robertson allegedly posted a video to Facebook in which he chanted, “This is not Israel. Jews don’t have no protection. F--k the Jews, and f--k you if you Jewish, b--ch. Hey, f--k the Jews, f--k you if you Jewish. Hey, one shot, two shot, three shot, leave you in the sewage.” On July 28, 2025, Robertson allegedly posted on Facebook a photo of himself holding a black pistol while speaking about the “cultural genocide” of the white race. A caption on the video read, “I will not tolerate cultural genocide get that understood -- I will fight for it, I will die for it, I will kill for it.”
Robertson was arrested on a criminal complaint on August 1, 2025, and a federal grand jury later indicted him on two counts of communicating interstate threats. Robertson has been detained since his initial arrest, and his charges are currently pending.
Matthew Alan Souza
On or about July 15, 2025, Matthew Alan Souza, 25, of Acworth, Georgia, posted on X: “I just want more Jews dead / The more Jew lives I take / The better a place the world can be / Death to the Jewish people.” One week later, Souza posted, “Death to every Jew breathing / I can’t wait for the war of America against Israel / The day I snipe a Jew will put a huge smile on my face.”
On June 11, 2026, Souza pled guilty to two counts of communicating interstate threats. He has been detained since May 8, 2026, and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14, 2026.
Each case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Grill is prosecuting the case against Hadley, Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wylly is prosecuting the case against Sasser, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Bret R. Hobson are prosecuting the case against Robertson, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chloe Smith and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor Woods are prosecuting the case against Souza.
Members of the public are reminded that the defendants who have not yet pled guilty are presumed innocent of the charges, and the government bears the burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
Alleged Drug Trafficker with Connections to 2022 Drug Tunnel Extradited to San Diego from MexicoRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Genaro Lopez was arraigned in federal court today following his extradition from Mexico Friday in connection with allegations that he moved cocaine and other drugs into the United States via a sophisticated tunnel discovered in 2022.
At the hearing, the defendant entered a not guilty plea to drug trafficking charges. U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel E. Butcher granted the government’s request to hold Lopez without bond on grounds that he posed a serious risk of flight from prosecution.
According to court records, Lopez, who is a United States citizen, was a powerful drug trafficker operating on both sides of the border. Prior to July 2021, Lopez operated from the United States out of a stash house in Chula Vista, until July 9, 2021, when investigators stopped three cars leaving the stash house with drugs and executed a search warrant. Authorities seized 241 kilograms of cocaine, eight guns (including two ghost guns), a bulletproof vest, ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and close to $40,000 in cash.
Lopez was not present at the search; he fled to Mexico after the search and remained a fugitive until his recent arrest in Mexico on March 10 at the request of the United States. Four of Lopez’s employees were arrested and charged with drug trafficking crimes and have since pleaded guilty and been sentenced.
The United States also alleges that Lopez used a cross-border tunnel discovered in 2022 to smuggle illegal drugs into the United States. Investigators discovered the tunnel on May 12, 2022, while surveilling a second stash house in National City. Authorities stopped four cars leaving the stash house and during subsequent searches of the house and cars, investigators seized close to 800 kilograms of cocaine, 74.8 kilograms (163 pounds) of methamphetamine, and 1.6 kilograms (3.5 pounds) of fentanyl. For more information, please see this link.
Beneath the warehouse, they discovered a tunnel from Tijuana to a warehouse in Otay Mesa that was estimated to be about 1,744 feet long, 61 feet deep and 4-feet in diameter, with reinforced walls, a rail system, electricity and a ventilation system. Six people were arrested in that case; five have since pleaded guilty and been sentenced while one other fled while awaiting sentencing and remains a fugitive.
Lopez’s next court appearance for motion hearing and trial setting is scheduled for August 14 before U.S. District Judge Linda Lopez.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Benjamin and Lawrence Casper. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Genaro Lopez.
*The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
DEFENDANT Case Number 24cr681-LL
Genaro Lopez Age: 54 Tijuana, Mexico
SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance- – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841 and 846
Maximum penalty: Life in prison
Conspiracy to Import a Controlled Substance- – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 952, 960, and 963
Maximum penalty: Life in prison
PREVIOUS DEFENDANTS AND SENTENCES
22-CR-01697-LL
Soukha Phimpasouk 48 months
Gabriel Ali Ruelas 70 months
Kevin Omar Carbajal 30 months
Josselyn Paige Smitko 345 days
22-CR-1169-LL
Juan Cruz 24 months
Mario Jaramillo 27 months
Manuel Perez-Herrera Fugitive
Vanessa Ramirez 120 months
Luz de Luna Olmos 92 days
Adrian Enriquez 120 months
INVESTIGATING AGENCIES
Homeland Security Investigations
San Diego Sheriff’s Department
This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Diego comprises agents and officers from FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and INTERPOL, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California.
Admitted Leader of La Nuestra Familia Prison Gang Sentenced to 10 Years for Trafficking Fentanyl from his Prison CellRead the Press Release
Yakima, Washington — First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on July 9, 2026, Felipe Feliciano Ramirez (a/k/a “Casper”), age 45, was sentenced by Chief District Court Judge Stanley Bastain to 120 months of incarceration to be followed by 8 years of supervised release stemming from his conviction for Distribution of Fentanyl while inside the Bureau of Prisons.
Ramirez was convicted in 2014 in the Eastern District of California for his role as a Regimental Commander for La Nuestra Familia (“NF”), a violent prison gang, where he was responsible for the trafficking of a significant amount of methamphetamine and cocaine into the community. He was sentenced to 336 months of imprisonment in the Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”). While serving this sentence, Ramirez was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in NF’s paramilitary organizational structure. He was ultimately housed at the United States Penitentiary in Florence, Colorado. From there, he continued his drug trafficking activities, which included the distribution of a significant amount of fentanyl via the mail, which he orchestrated from his prison cell.
The Bureau of Prisons’ National Gang Unit (“NGU”) learned Ramirez was utilizing the recorded BOP phone line and email system to broker drug deals, the proceeds of which he used to pay his mandatory ‘contribution’ to his NF superiors. Ramirez would source drugs, mostly fentanyl, from NF’s Mexican Regiment, and direct their distribution into various communities. Through the NGU’s diligence, they uncovered this scheme, broke the code being used, and determined there was a package of fentanyl pills heading to Spokane, Washington. They passed this information to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, who located and seized the package from the commercial carrier preventing their distribution into the community.
During the process of resolving his case, Ramirez admitted he was a leader in this criminal organization and affirmed he was an NF Lieutenant. In imposing sentence, the Court noted Ramirez’s 20 plus years of involvement in the criminal justice system and the commission of this serious offense while already serving a significant drug trafficking sentence. The Court declined Ramirez’s request to impose his sentence concurrent to his 336 months sentence, noting there is no free crime. Ultimately, the Court decided to impose the 120-month sentence with 80 months running consecutive to his current sentence with the rest to run concurrently. It was also noted Ramirez’s initial sentence would be extended by the loss of “good time” credits with this new criminal conduct.
“This prison-based gang is a threat to our communities. From within the prison walls, they are trying to assert their influence, power, and control through the recruitment of our youth forcing themselves into our communities, coordinating, directing and engaging in ongoing criminal conduct,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano. “This admitted Lieutenant is just one example. We are thankful for the hard work of our partners within the BOP and the ATF for targeting this threat and remaining vigilant to continue to hold them accountable for their conduct.”
ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais stated, “Mr. Ramirez is a textbook example of recidivism. Not only was he already serving a significant prison sentence for his prior offenses, but he continued to push poison into our neighborhoods from behind bars. Mr. Ramirez and La Nuestra Familia are a plague on our communities, and ATF will continue to bring the full might of the Department of Justice to their doorstep.”
"This case demonstrates how the BOP's intelligence capabilities extend far beyond our institution walls," said Federal Bureau of Prisons Director William K. Marshall III. "Our NGU worked with law enforcement partners to disrupt a fentanyl trafficking scheme and protect the community from these deadly drugs. This additional sentence sends a clear message that criminal activity will be pursued relentlessly, and those who continue to orchestrate crimes from behind bars will be held fully accountable."
For additional information, please contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
4-CR-02027-SAB-3
2 Montana women sentenced to prison for Billings carjacking homicideRead the Press Release
BILLINGS – Two women who helped carjack a pickup truck that ended with the driver’s death in a South Side Billings neighborhood were sentenced to prison last week, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Violet Jean Littlelight, 23, from Hardin, who pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count carjacking that resulted in death, was sentenced Wednesday to 24 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
Shyanna Jo Whitewolf, 21, from Billings, who pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count carjacking that resulted in death, was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.
The government alleged in court documents that Littlelight, along with Whitewolf and a third conspirator, Brian Contreraz, 31, lured an acquaintance of Littlelight’s to South Park in Billings to rob him and steal his pickup truck.
Littlelight was spending time with Whitewolf and Contreraz in Billings on May 16, 2025, and had been texting that evening with Keith Breckenridge, 51, asking if he would come pick her up. When Littlelight told Whitewolf and Contreraz she’d asked Breckenridge for a ride, the three made plans to steal his truck and take it to a drug dealer they knew in Hardin to exchange for drugs or money.
Littlelight told Breckenridge to meet her at South Park; Whitewolf and Contreraz came along under the pretense of needing a ride. When Breckinridge arrived and saw the two additional people, he grew suspicious and kept the doors on his pickup locked, asking to know who Whitewolf and Contreraz were. Littlelight vouched for them and told Breckenridge they just wanted a ride. With Littlelight’s assurances, Breckenridge opened the doors and the three climbed into his truck.
Contreraz told Breckenridge to drive to the alleyway behind Adams Street on Billings’s South Side while Whitewolf chatted with Breckenridge to keep him calm. Once there, Breckenridge stopped the truck and Contreraz leaned over and stabbed him approximately 20 times in the neck, chest, and stomach. Littlelight, Whitewolf, and Contreraz then pulled Breckenridge from the truck, placed him on the ground and drove away. Breckenridge died in the alley from his stab wounds.
The three drove the pickup to a house in Hardin where they changed their blood-stained clothes and placed them in the truck. From there they drove to a house on the Crow Reservation, where Littlelight and Contreraz decided they would clean the interior of the pickup and burn their bloody clothes along with other evidence from the truck. As they were cleaning the pickup, BIA officers pulled up. Littlelight and Contreraz ran off; Whitewolf stayed and told officers she had nothing to do with the truck. By the end of the month, law enforcement had all three in custody.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case. The Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. The FBI adopted the case to assist with expedition of laboratory testing and for federal prosecution purposes.
10 July 2026
Woodinville, Washington, man indicted for stealing $440,000 from the financial institutions where he workedRead the Press Release
Seattle – A 41-year-old Woodinville, Washington man has been indicted for 30 federal felonies related to his scheme to steal from financial institutions where he worked and then launder the money through other banks, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Joshua Shore will make his initial appearance on the indictment today at 2:00 PM.
“This defendant allegedly victimized two financial institutions, stealing huge piles of cash and casting suspicion on all the employees who worked there,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “His attempted cover-up – repeated deposits of thousands of dollars to other bank’s ATMs, provided a trail for law enforcement and will be part of our work to hold him accountable for the theft and money laundering.”
According to the indictment, between July 2019 and April 2022, Joshua Shore was an operations manager of the cash vault for a nationwide bank. The facility was located in Tukwila, Washington. On December 6, 2021, Shore allegedly stole approximately $40,000. On January 28, 2022, Shore allegedly stole an additional $100,000. The next ten counts of the indictment detail how Shore allegedly sought to launder the stolen funds by making repeated $3,000 cash deposits of hundred-dollar bills into ATM’s for the local bank where he had his personal accounts. Ultimately, Shore moved the funds from his bank to another financial institution – another count of money laundering.
From September 2023-December 2025, Shore was employed as a Market Manager at a financial institution in Renton. The indictment alleges that on the eve of the Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day (the start of a bank holiday), Shore stole $300,000 from the vault. The next 16 counts describe how he deposited cash up to $10,000 at a time via ATMs into his personal bank account at a different financial institution.
The indictment seeks to forfeit any money seized from Shore as part of this investigation.
Theft by an employee from a financial institution is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The types of money laundering alleged in this case are punishable by up to 20 years or 10 years in prison depending on the count.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the FBI.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Charlotte Storey. Ms. Storey is an attorney with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
shore_indictment.pdfWoodbridge felon pleads guilty to federal gun charge following domestic disputeRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man pled guilty today to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on Feb. 18, 2026, Fairfax County Police (FCPD) responding to a 911 call regarding a domestic dispute at an apartment in Herndon arrived to find Khari Wheeler, 27, who acknowledged that he had been knocking on the door of the apartment. When officers attempted to conduct a pat down, Wheeler attempted to flee, at which point a loaded handgun he had been carrying fell from his person. Wheeler was apprehended after a brief pursuit.
USAO EDVAAs a previously convicted felon, Wheeler cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition.
Wheeler is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 22 and faces up to 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case with assistance from FCPD.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amber N. Rieff and April N. Russo are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-101.
United States Files False Claims Act Complaint Against Founder of Cannabis Companies for Illegally Obtaining Pandemic LoansRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – The United States has filed a complaint under the False Claims Act (FCA) against Laurie Holcomb, founder of multiple cannabis companies, alleging that she illegally obtained five pandemic-related loans from the federal government.
The United States alleges that Holcomb secured $1.4 million in federally-guaranteed Paycheck Protection Program loans, and subsequent forgiveness of the loans, by falsely certifying under penalty of perjury on loan applications that the businesses were not involved in illegal activity.
In fact, Holcomb and her companies were engaged in the cultivation, distribution, and retail sale of recreational cannabis and cannabis products, which is illegal under federal law.
Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency financial support to eligible small businesses experiencing economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Small Business Administration (SBA) administers the PPP.
Due to its status as a Schedule I controlled substance under the United States Controlled Substances Act, the manufacture, distribution, dispensation, and possession of cannabis, with the exception of use in federal government-approved research, is illegal under federal law. SBA eligibility rules generally excluded a business from eligibility for PPP loans if the business engaged in activities involving federally illegal cannabis, even if state law permitted cultivation or sale.
The government’s complaint alleges that Ms. Holcomb, a resident of Huntington Beach, California, obtained loans for the following businesses she founded and controlled: Gold Flora LLC; GF Distribution LLC; Gold Flora Partners LLC; and Black Lion Farms LLC - collectively known as the “Gold Flora Companies”.
The Gold Flora Companies have since filed for receivership in California State Superior Court. As alleged in the United States’ complaint against Ms. Holcomb, the Gold Flora Companies’ petition in support of receivership stated that Gold Flora LLC and Black Lion Farms LLC, along with other affiliate entities, could not file for bankruptcy protection due to the illegality of cannabis under federal law.
The United States filed its complaint in a lawsuit originally brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The act permits the United States to intervene in such lawsuits, as it has done in this case. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Aidan Forsyth v. Gold Flora LLC, et al., No. 23cv1962-W (MMP) (S.D. Cal.).
This matter is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph P. Price Jr.
Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here.
The claims asserted in the complaint are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama Highlights Three Landmark CasesRead the Press Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to highlight three landmark cases that achieved historic outcomes and reflect the Office’s commitment to protecting the public, announced U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr.
“The good people of north Alabama should know that the federal prosecutors in the Northern District have been setting the bar high with cases that make waves on a national scale. These cases demonstrate the hard work and dedication of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. “Whether dismantling a sophisticated criminal enterprise, helping bring one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives to justice, or prosecuting those engaged in dog fighting, our mission remains the same: protecting the public and enforcing the rule of law.”
Largest Sports Betting Takedown in Department of Justice History
The U.S. Attorney’s Office successfully prosecuted a nationwide illegal sports betting scheme that resulted in the largest sports betting enforcement action in Department of Justice history.
In February 2025, Timothy J. Pughsley, Nathan Burdette, Christopher Burdette, Thomas Zito, Gary Rapp, Mark Giaquinto, Matthew Voorhees, David Richards, and Joshua Gentrup pleaded guilty to managing a multi-million-dollar sports betting operation. The organization eventually became known as “Red44,” and bookmaking and betting activities occurred online via an offshore server located in Costa Rica. It is estimated that the organization accepted over $2 billion in wagers during its existence. Within the plea agreements, the defendants—all senior agents within Red44—agreed to pay excise tax restitution totaling $19,777,382.61 to the IRS arising from their acceptance of wagers from sports betters across the U.S. and to satisfy any income tax obligations that remain outstanding.
Assistance in the Arrest of an FBI Most Wanted Child Pornographer
In this case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office worked alongside law enforcement partners to assist in the arrest of William Michael Spearman. The Office assisted the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida to secure the warrants that led to the FBI executing a no-knock warrant on Spearman’s house in Madison which resulted in the seizure of his servers and his arrest. Prosecutors handled the preliminary and detention hearings in Huntsville to ensure Spearman remained in federal custody. Spearman pleaded guilty in the Florida district to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise and received a life sentence. Notably, in June 2026, the Eleventh Circuit issued a published opinion dismissing Spearman’s claim of an illegal search of his home and affirming his conviction.
Spearman controlled one of the world’s largest darknet websites dedicated to the advertisement and distribution of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material. It was international in scope. It’s very likely that thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of innocent children were victimized. Spearman oversaw thousands of users, gave directions, and promoted and perpetrated child sexual exploitation in such a size and scope that he became the FBI’s most wanted child pornographer.
Second-Largest Animal Rescue in Department of Justice History
In another significant case, the Office prosecuted Carlton Lenard Adams for his role in a large-scale dog fighting operation that resulted in the rescue of 78 dogs. At the time of rescue, this was the second largest number of dogs ever recovered from a single defendant in a federal case.
Carlton Lenard Adams maintained a stock of 78 fighting dogs among three properties. When they were rescued, some of the dogs bore scars and other injuries, and some were living in conditions of extreme neglect. In addition to the dogs, law enforcement also recovered tools and supplies used in training and keeping dogs used for fighting. These items included modified treadmills to hold dogs in place for conditioning, injectable veterinary steroids, suture materials and syringes, skin staplers, intravenous bags and lines, a homemade breeding stand, and a break stick device used to break the bite hold of a dog. Adams was sentenced to 120 months in prison. In addition to the prison sentence, the court also imposed a restitution of $548,449 for the costs of care of 78 pit bull-type dogs rescued during this investigation.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 151 Border-Related Cases This WeekRead the Press Release
SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 151 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city).
In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here.
A sample of border-related arrests this week:
- On July 2, Julio Villa-Urzua, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 929 pounds – 28 buckets – of liquid methamphetamine dissolved into the fluid of the passenger-side fuel tank of a semi-truck driven by Villa-Urzua while applying for entry to the U.S. at the Otay Import Cargo Facility Port of Entry.
- On July 4, Edgar Clemente Gonzalez Huales, a Guatemalan national, was arrested and charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. According to a complaint, a Border Patrol agent made a traffic stop of Gonzales Huales’ vehicle in Boulevard. The defendant stopped briefly, ordered two undocumented aliens to exit his car and run, and then sped away in his white BMW sedan. The defendant was apprehended two days later, on July 6, after agents used a spike strip to disable his vehicle.
- On July 7, Geronimo Benitez Velazquez, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered the undocumented defendant hiding under a tree approximately 500 yards north of the U.S.-Mexico border, three miles east of the Tecate Port of Entry. He was previously deported in April 2026 from San Diego.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners.
Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Twice-Deported Mexican National Charged with Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – Ignatio Mateos-Herrera (33, Mexico) has been charged by federal indictment with illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Mateos-Herrera faces up to two years in federal prison and subsequent deportation and removal from the United States. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to the indictment, on March 18, 2016, and again on April 27, 2017, Mateos-Herrera was removed from the United States by immigration authorities. On June 20, 2026, Mateos-Herrera was found to be voluntarily back in the United States and was arrested in the Middle District of Florida. Records checks confirmed that he had not applied to U.S. immigration authorities for permission to lawfully reenter the United States after his prior removals.
An indictment is only an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
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.
Suspected Dominican National Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl Analog, Healthcare Benefit Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
BOSTON – A suspected Dominican national unlawfully residing in Boston has been indicted by a federal grand jury for possession with intent to distribute, as well as healthcare benefit fraud and aggravated identity theft.
John Doe, an individual whose identity is unknown but allegedly has been residing in the United States without lawful status since at least 2004, was charged with possession with intent to distribute meta-Fluorofentanyl, a Schedule I fentanyl analogue, healthcare benefit fraud and aggravated identity theft. John Doe was arrested on June 18, 2026, and has been held in pretrial custody since his arrest.
According to the charging documents, Doe allegedly used the stolen identity of a U.S. citizen, including the citizen’s social security number, to obtain government benefits. Specifically, the defendant allegedly represented that he was a U.S. citizen when applying for healthcare benefits in Massachusetts and submitted a sworn affidavit falsely alleging the same. According to the criminal complaint, Doe allegedly obtained over $30,000 in MassHealth benefits using the stolen identity. Doe also allegedly committed prior drug offenses in the name of the U.S. citizen, including federal convictions in April 2015 in the District of Massachusetts for possession with intent to distribute heroin and conspiracy, for which the defendant received two-year sentence, and January 2025 state convictions for drug possession and distribution, for which defendant received a six-month sentence.
The charge for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of making false statements relating to a health care program provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year sentence to run consecutively to any other sentence imposed, one year of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin T. Missett of the Health Care Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.
On March 26, 2026, United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts.
Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621).
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement 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.
The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.
St. Louis Gang Leader Sentenced to 200 months for Illegal Gun Sales, Robbery of ATF AgentRead the Press Release
ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Friday sentenced a gang leader and felon to 200 months consecutive in prison for illegally selling guns to an undercover agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives before setting up the agent’s robbery.
Joseph Burchett, 26, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in March to one count of aiding and abetting firearms trafficking, one count of robbery of an undercover federal agent and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to that plea agreement and a sentencing memo filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj, Burchett sold a Glock to the agent on April 30, 2024. The agent was accompanied by Burchett’s co-defendant, Cryland Robinson, who was armed with an AR-style rifle. Burchett obtained the gun from fellow gang member Terrence Robinson. The agent had already bought three guns and methamphetamine from Cryland Robinson. At that meeting, Burchett said he had a fully automatic Glock for sale. Burchett then set up sales and used teenagers to conduct the transactions.
On May 14, Burchett arranged for the sale of a fully automatic Glock 19 equipped with a drum magazine.
Burchett next arranged for the sale of another fully automatic pistol and fentanyl, while secretly planning to rob the agent. On August 1, co-defendant Todd Lumpkins got into the back seat of the agent’s car. The agent, reluctant to hand over money without seeing the firearm, gave about half of the promised $1,100 to Lumpkins. Burchett and the agent were on the phone during the transaction. Lumpkins left the agent’s car and retrieved the pistol, while Burchett told the agent, “If I was you, I would have just gave it to him.” Lumpkins returned, opened the car door while brandishing the gun and stole the rest of the cash from the agent. That agent, in a letter to Judge Ross, wrote, “When Burchett said that to me over the phone, I thought there was a significant chance I was about to lose my life.” Burchett and his co-conspirators then fled from police.
“Joseph Burchett illegally sold fully automatic weapons and put society at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Albus. “When he set up the robbery of an undercover ATF agent, he risked the life of someone who was doing nothing more than trying to protect the rest of us. This sentence should send a message that this kind of conduct will not be tolerated.”
"This job asks a lot of the people who do it," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bernard "Butch" Hansen of the Kansas City Field Division. "These defendants showed they were willing to use violence to advance their criminal enterprise, even against a federal undercover agent. I am grateful our undercover agent walked away safely from a situation that could have ended very differently. ATF agents accept extraordinary risks to take violent offenders and illegal firearms off our streets, and today's sentencing ensures everyone who played a role in this case has been held accountable."
Burchett was one of four men to plead guilty in the case. Cryland Robinson, 36, of St. Louis, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Todd Lumpkins, 20, of St. Louis, was sentenced to eight years in prison. Terrence Robinson, 35, of St. Louis, was sentenced to 46 months.
The case was investigated by the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
Shaler Township Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Member of CongressRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Shaler Township, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of interstate threats and influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official by threat, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The 12-count Indictment named Robert Hlovchiec, 32, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, between February and March 2026, Hlovchiec posted comments to YouTube videos in which he threatened acts of violence against a member of Congress (identified in the Indictment as “Victim 1”), Democrats and liberals, transgender people, and various minority groups. At times, Hlovchiec identified himself as a Nazi and a white supremacist, also detailing the acts of violence he desired to carry out, including mass shootings, assassinations, and running people over with his truck. The Indictment charged Hlovchiec with issuing the following threats: - “If i get the chance im going to do a mass shooting wherever [Victim 1] is standing. [Victim 1] needs to die. All trailers to America beware. America is not for sale. America is not a Muslim country.”
- “If i get the chance I’ll shoot everyone in [Victim 1]’s family. America is a white Christian nation. We are ready to kill and die before foreigner ll Muslims take over”
- “I would put a bullet in [Victim 1]’s head. [Victim 1] isn’t American”
- “I would shoot [Victim 1] if I get close enough to [Victim 1]”
- “I’ll shoot [Victim 1] if I get the chance”
- “I’ll put a bullet in any democrats head especially democrat politician or [Victim 1]”As to each of the six counts of interstate threats, the law provides for a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to each of the six counts of influencing, impeding, or retaliating against a federal official while they were engaged in, and on account of, their performance of their official duties by threat, the law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna and Alyssa R. Angotti are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.Prior Felon from Locust Grove Sentenced to More than Twenty Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – A Locust Grove man was sentenced today for possessing methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm while drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Jason Dewayne Glass, 42, for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Glass was ordered to serve 248 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
In September 2024, Cherokee Nation Marshals executed a search warrant at Glass’s home. During a search of his home, Marshals found 88 grams of methamphetamine and numerous firearms. In the plea agreement, Glass admitted to knowing he was not allowed to carry a firearm and that he carried a loaded pistol on him for protection while selling methamphetamine.
At sentencing, the Court found sufficient evidence to show that Glass had used one of the firearms during the commission of an aggravated sexual assault, and that the victim sustained serious bodily injury. Court documents show that Glass has a lengthy criminal history. He has a prior conviction for manufacturing a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of a firearm, assaulting a police officer, pointing a firearm at law enforcement, and being shot in return, as well as numerous assault and battery convictions.
Glass will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Cherokee National Marshal Service investigated the case with assistance from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd prosecuted the case.
Previously deported illegal alien convicted of multiple violent offenses in Houston areaRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 35-year-old illegal alien from Mexico who unlawfully resided in Houston has pleaded guilty to robbery, carjacking, brandishing a firearm, and illegal reentry.
On September 9, 2023, Jose Luis Reyes-Martinez entered the Fiesta Supermarket on Airline Drive in Houston. He brandished a handgun at two employees, forced one into a frozen meat locker, and demanded cash before fleeing on a bicycle.
Reyes-Martinez then broke into a nearby residence and held a family hostage at gunpoint for several hours. He tied one of them up, sexually assaulted a woman while again brandishing the firearm, and then stole their car.
Forensic analysis on a condom recovered from the assault matched Reyes-Martinez.
Authorities had first encountered Reyes-Martinez in Arizona in 2012. He had illegally entered the United States and was subsequently deported. However, law enforcement discovered him in Houston on October 21, 2023.
U.S. District Judge Sim Lake will impose sentencing September 24. At that time, Reyes-Martinez faces up to 20, 15, and two years for the robbery, carjacking, and illegal re-entry convictions, respectively. In addition, he will also receive a minimum of seven years and up to life for brandishing a firearm which must be served consecutively to any other prison term imposed. All convictions also carry as possible punishment up to a $250,000 fine.
The FBI and Houston Police Department conducted the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case.
North Carolina Man Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse ImagesRead the Press Release
A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 42 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for the possession of child sexual abuse material.
According to court documents, Blace Arthur Nalavany, 59, of Winterville, North Carolina, possessed images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Nalavany pleaded guilty to the charge on March 11.
According to evidence presented at the sentencing hearing, Nalavany was an associate professor of social work at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, and a licensed clinical social worker, at the time of his arrest. His research publications include research into children who had experienced child sexual abuse. According to evidence in the case, the crime Nalavany was convicted of was committed at his home and was not connected to his employment or to any work as a licensed clinical social worker.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis of the FBI's Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Charlotte Field Office, Greenville Resident Agency and the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit investigated the case in collaboration with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen K. Haughton for the Eastern District of North Carolina 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 www.justice.gov/psc.
Middleburg Man Convicted by Jury of Federal Firearms and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
Jacksonville, Florida – A federal jury has found James Malcolm Davis (47, Middleburg) guilty of possession of methamphetamine and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Davis faces a maximum of 16 years in federal prison. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to evidence presented at trial, on October 31, 2024, as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, Clay County Sheriff’s Office narcotics detectives conducted a traffic stop on Davis and located a baggie containing methamphetamine in Davis’s pants pocket, and approximately 40 grams of methamphetamine in his backpack. Following his arrest, the detectives applied for and executed a search warrant for Davis’s camper, which was located in Middleburg, Florida. Inside the camper were four firearms, over 1,500 rounds of ammunition, pipes used to smoke methamphetamine, and a bullet proof vest. The firearms included a .22 caliber rifle, two semi-automatic assault style rifles, and a revolver. Davis provided a detective with the combination to a safe, inside of which were two of those firearms.
Davis has prior felony convictions, including for aggravated assault, felony battery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.
This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro.
Mexican National Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Trafficking MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. – On July 10, 2026, Jonathan Mastache Juarez was sentenced to 156 months in prison for possessing with intent to distribute 1.7 kilograms of 98% pure methamphetamine in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). Mastache Juarez, age 39, of Sanford, North Carolina, appeared before Chief Judge William L. Osteen and was also sentenced to 4 years of supervised release following his prison term. Mastache Juarez was charged by federal indictment in August 2025 and pled guilty in February 2026.
Dan Bishop, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, made the announcement and thanked Homeland Security Investigations, the State Bureau of Investigation, Sanford Police Department, and Lee County Sheriff’s Office for their work investigating the case. “Today’s sentencing concludes a successful collaboration with our state and local partners that makes Sanford and Lee County safer and stronger communities,” said U.S. Attorney Bishop. “Stopping the flow of dangerous drugs trafficked by Mexican organizations is a top priority for federal prosecutors.”
“This operation highlights the power of our federal and state partnerships to dismantle trafficking networks flooding North Carolina with high-purity methamphetamine,” said Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Carolinas. “Working alongside the North Carolina SBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, HSI remains relentless in targeting those who endanger our neighborhoods with narcotics and firearms.”
In December 2024, law enforcement intercepted a package containing 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine mailed from California to Mastache Juarez’s residence in Sanford. Homeland Security Investigations conducted a controlled delivery followed by the execution of a search warrant. Agents found Mastache Juarez in possession of the package which he had partially opened. In Mastache Juarez’s bedroom, agents recovered 200 grams of cocaine, three rifles, and a handgun. Mastache Juarez’s cousin arranged the shipment of methamphetamine from Mexico. Mastache Juarez was initially arrested on state charges.
Mastache Juarez is a Mexican national who had lawful permanent status in the United States at the time of his arrest and conviction. Following conviction, his legal status was revoked and his application for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was denied. Upon completion of his sentence, he will be removed from the United States and returned to Mexico.
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Methamphetamine Trafficker Will Spend 12 Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – After selling methamphetamine from her New Martinsville, West Virginia apartment, Jamie Ann Tanner was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey.
Tanner, 44, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. She sold methamphetamine on several occasions to a confidential informant and was found with additional quantities of the drug during a traffic stop. The investigation led officers to her apartment, where they executed a search warrant. Officers seized approximately 31 small plastic baggies containing about 3.7 grams of methamphetamine each, a larger bag with more of the substance, and hundreds of unused baggies. A black safe in the room, with the keys still inserted, contained an additional two pounds of methamphetamine and $2,674 in cash.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Investigative agencies include Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office; and the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office.
This case is a part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Mason City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Luke Braniff, age 26, from Mason City, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City today to nine years for his felon in possession of ammunition conviction. Braniff was previously convicted of two counts of lascivious acts with a child in 2017, and sex offender registry violations, in 2018, 2023, and 2025. These felony convictions prohibit Braniff from possessing any guns or ammunition.
At the plea hearing on March 3, 2026, Braniff admitted to possessing ammunition knowing he was prohibited from doing so due to his previous convictions. Law enforcement officers became aware of Braniff’s illegal possession of ammunition during an investigation regarding reports of Braniff sending vulgar sexual messages on Snapchat to a minor female and requesting nude images of the child.
United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Braniff to 108 months’ imprisonment and he must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Braniff is being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until he can be transported to a federal prison.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”
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 (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Mason City Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-3039.
Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Maryland Woman Sentenced for Role in Multi-Million Dollar Money Laundering Conspiracy HSTF CaseRead the Press Release
Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland woman received a federal-prison term in connection with her role in a multi-million-dollar money laundering scheme.Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Fatoumata Boiro, 32, of Largo, to two years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for conspiring to engage in a large, multi-member, money laundering conspiracy. Additionally, Judge Maddox ordered Boiro to pay $6,838,558.31 in restitution. Boiro, who pled guilty to participating in the money laundering conspiracy, admitted that at least $3 million in money laundering occurred pursuant to her direct participation in the conspiracy.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) – Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday, Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG). This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud along with the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF).
According to court documents, beginning in 2021, and continuing until February 2024, Boiro conspired with multiple individuals to launder proceeds of a large-scale wire fraud. The co-conspirators engaged in various financial transactions to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the wire-fraud proceeds, while carrying out the conspiracy.
The victims included government agencies, organizations, and companies, including an environmental trust, urban redevelopment program, medical center, transportation and logistics company, school district, college, and county government, among others.
Boiro and her co-conspirators worked with each other to create limited liability companies to serve as shell entities; open bank accounts and/or cause bank accounts to be opened in the name of shell entities; and receive and launder fraud proceeds.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland previously charged 14 defendants in two different cases in connection with the money laundering conspiracy – 13 already pled guilty. Faizou Gnora, 28, previously of Alexandria, Virginia, remains a fugitive from justice. The Office also charged other co-conspirators in additional cases.
The District Court previously sentenced:
- Yahya Sowe, 42, of College Park, to 114 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $13,050,827.03, and forfeiture of $1 million;
- Bright Boateng, 45, of Bladensburg, Maryland, to 108 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $1,247,950, and a forfeiture of $431,750;
- Victor Killen, 33, of Hyattsville, Maryland, to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $7,070,656.46, and a $3-million forfeiture order;
- Gedeon Agbeyome, 31, of Montgomery County, Maryland, to 72 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, along with restitution of $2,938,424.65, and a $2.8 million preliminary order of forfeiture;
- Lawrence Ogunsanwo, 33, to 40 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $5,648,816.23;
- Lakeisha Parker, 33, of Baltimore, to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release, and restitution of $8,306,930.95;
- Martin Ogisi, 37, of Severn, Maryland, to 33 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, restitution of $11,077,044.17; and a $500,000 forfeiture order;
- Kevin Colon, 34, of Curtis Bay, Maryland, to 27 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, restitution of $2,515,159.63, and a $214,518.42 forfeiture order;
- Areal Harris, 27, of Hanover, Maryland, to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $3,159,482.83;
- Emily Gil Arias, 29, of Silver Spring, Maryland to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of 2,102,919.27;
- Lorena Perez Herrera, 29, of Washington, DC, to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and restitution of $1,473,125.58; and
- Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, restitution of $733,941.48, and a $757,562.63 forfeiture order.
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.
This prosecution is also part of the 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 Baltimore is comprised of agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA); the Maryland State Police (MSP); the Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI-led Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, and thanked IRS-CI and EPA-OIG for their work in the investigation, and praised the Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County Police Departments for their assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber and Bijon A. Mostoufi, who prosecuted the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber, for her assistance.
For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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- Yahya Sowe, 42, of College Park, to 114 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $13,050,827.03, and forfeiture of $1 million;
Marianna Felon Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida – Michael Dontavious James, 34, of Marianna, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
James appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for July 27, 2026, at 8:30 am, before Chief District Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida.
James faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a controlled substance count; a minimum mandatory 5 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment, consecutive to any other sentence on the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense count; and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon count.
The case was jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Florida Highway Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eric W. Welch and Jessica S. Etherton.
An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
This case 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.
Man Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl Within 1,000 Feet of Elementary SchoolRead the Press Release
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – The final defendant in a drug trafficking operation that stretched from Cleveland, Ohio, to the Ohio Valley was sentenced today, U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey announced.
Joshua Carney, 32, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, fentanyl, and heroin and the distribution of 5 grams or more of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a protected location. The investigation began in January 2024 after reports of drug activity at Carney’s residence on Wetzel Street in Wheeling. A traffic stop of two individuals leaving the home resulted in the seizure of more than $5,000 in cash and multiple cell phones. A search warrant executed at the residence led officers to Carney and a co-defendant hiding in a utility closet and resulted in the seizure of cocaine base and fentanyl. Throughout the investigation, the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force conducted controlled drug purchases, including more than 5 grams of methamphetamine Carney sold near Ritchie Elementary School.
The other three defendants in this case have been convicted and sentenced for their roles. Rahim Duncan, 32, of Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to 63 months in prison in October 2025. Terrell Sparks, 30, also from Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced in January 2026 to 41 months in federal prison. Tyshaun Johnson, 30, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was sentenced to 115 months in prison in March 2026.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
The Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated.
Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration.
U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.
Kansas City Woman Indicted for SNAP Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City woman was indicted by a federal grand jury for one count of theft of government money and four counts of wire fraud related to fraudulently obtaining government benefits. This charge is one of many federal fraud cases pursued under the leadership of President Donald Trump and through the establishment of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
Viridiana Luna-Mejia, 34, made fraudulent statements and representations to the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) to obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from 2021 through 2026. The SNAP program is intended to assist low-income individuals who might otherwise experience food insecurity by providing monthly benefits to purchase approved foods and beverages. SNAP recipients are subject to income restrictions and are required to truthfully report all income sources for the household to remain eligible. Recipients must re-certify their eligibility every six months while receiving benefits.
Luna-Mejia began receiving SNAP benefits in June of 2021 and continued to receive benefits through 2026. Every year she was required to re-certify the income her household was receiving both on a written form and verified through a phone interview. The re-certifications also ask for information about resources of the household including assets and bank accounts.
As part of a broader employment investigation, it was discovered that Luna-Mejia’s employer had removed her from the wage and hour tax reporting required by the State of Missouri. Further investigation determined Luna-Mejia had been receiving wages from that employer the entire time she received SNAP but she did not report it on her recertifications. She also did not report the existence of her bank account in which she deposited her paychecks to further conceal her income. Investigators determined that had she been truthful about her income, she would have been ineligible for nearly $40,000 in benefits she received during that time.
The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Under federal statutes, Luna-Mejia is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years 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 Amanda K. Hanson. It was investigated by Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations and Missouri Department of Social Services.
National Fraud Enforcement Division
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.
Justice Department Files Proposed Settlement with Owner and Operator of Keystone Pipeline to Resolve Clean Water Act Violations for 2022 Pipeline Rupture in KansasRead the Press Release
The Justice Department, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and State of Kansas, today filed a complaint and proposed consent decree to resolve allegations that South Bow (USA) LP and South Bow Infrastructure Operations Inc. — the owner and operator of the Keystone Pipeline — violated the Clean Water Act related to the 2022 rupture of the Keystone Pipeline in Washington County, Kansas.
On Dec. 7, 2022, nearly 13,000 barrels of oil (approximately 543,000 gallons) leaked from the ruptured pipeline over land and into Mill Creek, creating an imminent and substantial threat to human health and the environment. The event was one of the largest inland oil spills in recent history, and the largest discharge ever from the Keystone Pipeline system.
As part of the settlement, South Bow has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $26,867,789 and complete work designed to prevent future similar discharges, which South Bow estimates will cost approximately $40 million. South Bow has also agreed to contribute over $3 million to the state of Kansas towards natural resource restoration projects to resolve violations of Kansas state laws.
“Pipelines are the safest means of transporting large quantities of oil and other liquids and gases over long distances,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “However rare, when a pipeline leaks, it can quickly escalate. That’s why an important part of this proposed settlement is the work the company has committed to do to help prevent future leaks.”
“This case demonstrates why the oil pipelines crossing our heartland must be maintained properly. The oil spill blanketed land and water, rendering the waterway lifeless and useless and requiring extensive cleanup and remediation,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “The substantial penalty reflects the seriousness of the environmental harm, and the other requirements of the settlement reflect the need to prioritize pipeline integrity and maintenance for this critical infrastructure.”
“It is important that we are all good stewards of the environment,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser for the District of Kansas. “The incident had a massive impact on the State of Kansas, and we are happy that this settlement will mitigate that damage.”
“Dedicated EPA staff logged many thousands of hours cleaning up Mill Creek and were supported by multiple federal and state agencies,” said Administrator Jim Macy of EPA Region 7. “This fair and comprehensive settlement represents a federal-state partnership commitment to protect our nation’s waters and prevent future oil spills.”
According to the complaint, after the 2022 spill, crude oil an inch thick covered Mill Creek bank-to-bank for 3.5 miles downstream of the rupture site. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a stream advisory for Mill Creek to prohibit contact with the creek by people, livestock, or pets. The discharge covered vegetation and soil in the immediately surrounding area, and oil residue was found in the 35 acres surrounding the discharge. The spill killed or impacted more than 2,700 animals.
Following a 2023 EPA cleanup order, South Bow removed oil from the creek and surrounding areas and completed restoration of aquatic habitat, stream banks, and shorelines.
The Keystone Pipeline is a 2,687-mile liquid oil pipeline system between Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, and Port Arthur, Texas. The rupture occurred in a section of the pipeline that stretches from Steele City, Nebraska, to Cushing, Oklahoma.
The consent decree was filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas and is subject to a 30-day public comment period. The complaint and proposed consent decree are available at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.
The Environmental Protection Agency investigated this matter. More information on the settlement is available on EPA’s South Bow Clean Water Act settlement summary: www.epa.gov/enforcement/south-bow-lp-cwa-settlement-summary.
Attorneys with ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas are handling this matter.
Jury Convicts Delhi Man of Methamphetamine OffensesRead the Press Release
A man who agreed to distribute methamphetamine and was found in possession of over 1,800 grams of methamphetamine was convicted by a jury on July 8, 2026, after a three-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.
Jesse Jon Harbach, age 45, from Delhi, Iowa, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The verdict was returned on the afternoon of July 8, 2026, following two hours of jury deliberations.
The evidence at trial showed that Harbach obtained methamphetamine from his source of supply in Arizona for over two years. During that time, Harbach received multiple packages at a rural Delhi residence. On March 10, 2025, after Harbach and an associate picked up a package, law enforcement officers stopped the car Harbach was in. Officers found a package at Harbach’s feet that contained over 1,800 grams of methamphetamine.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Harbach remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Harbach faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $20,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson and Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham and was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Iowa State Patrol, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations Forensic Laboratory.
Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl.
The case file number is 25-CR-2059. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.
Iowa Man Charged with Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct and Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Iowa man has been charged by criminal complaint for travelling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct and receipt of child pornography over the internet.
Lyle M. Moser, 51, appeared in federal court this week on a two-count criminal complaint.
According to court documents, Moser drove from Iowa to Kansas City, Mo. to engage in sexual conduct with a minor child. Moser was intercepted by law enforcement. After a forensic examination of Moser’s electronic devices, law enforcement discovered images depicting Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) saved to Moser’s device.
The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett and Kelly Collins. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Project Safe Childhood
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Illegal reentry into US lands convicted felon in federal prisonRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 48-year-old illegal alien from Mexico has been sentenced for unlawfully reentering the country again.
Juan Francisco Juarez-Rodriguez illegally resided in Houston and pleaded guilty on March 10, 2026.
U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now ordered Juarez-Rodriguez to serve 57 months in federal prison. As an alien in the United States illegally, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about his criminal history while illegally present in the United States.
Juarez-Rodriguez has prior convictions for carrying a concealed weapon, burglary, criminal mischief, drug charges, resisting an officer, shoplifting, criminal trespass, battery, and illegal reentry.
Authorities first removed him from the United States in October 1999, and he repeatedly returned illegally. On January 25, 2023, law enforcement again discovered him in Houston with no authorization to be in the country.
Juarez-Rodriguez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Hostetter prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal alien gets federal prison time for unlawful reentry into US after seven previous removalsRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 49-year-old illegal alien from Mexico has been sentenced for unlawfully reentering the country again.
Israel Garcia-Garcia illegally resided in Houston and pleaded guilty March 20, 2026.
U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein has now ordered Garcia-Garciato serve 54 months in federal prison. As an illegal alien in the United States illegally, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about his criminal history while illegally present in the United States.
Garcia-Garcia has prior convictions for illegal reentry and transporting illegal aliens.
Authorities removed him from the United States seven times since the first instance in February 2008. He repeatedly returned illegally. On December 25, 2025, law enforcement again discovered him in Houston with no authorization to be in the country.
Garcia-Garcia has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Hostetter and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Whitney prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
Illegal PRC National Sentenced for Unlawful Possession of AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Saipan, M.P. – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that Bai Yichuan, age 40, an illegal alien from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was sentenced by Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona in the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to 24 months in federal prison for Unlawful Possession of Ammunition by an Illegal Alien, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(5)(A) 9 and 924(a)(8). The court also imposed a one‑year term of supervised release, 50 hours of community service, and a $100 special assessment. Bai must thereafter report to immigration authorities for removal proceedings.
In September 2025, Bai surrendered to the CNMI Department of Public Safety (DPS) due to an outstanding warrant seeking his arrest for alleged violent offenses. During his arrest, Bai possessed a blue bag containing a Sig Sauer magazine loaded with fifteen rounds of 9mm ammunition. He claimed ownership of the ammunition but denied knowing the location of any firearm.
Bai was conditionally paroled into the CNMI in January 2018 and authorized to remain there until February 5, 2019. He continued to reside there without authorization. He was ordered removed by an immigration judge in November 2021 following a conviction for methamphetamine trafficking in the CNMI Superior Court. He was released from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody in March 2022 due to COVID‑19 concerns and suspended repatriation flights to the PRC. After release, he failed to report as required and was later deemed a fugitive by DHS.
“Federal law prohibits illegal aliens from possessing firearms and ammunition in any quantity,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “DPS’s referral of this case to HSI and ATF resulted in the successful prosecution of Bai, which will facilitate his removal from the United States. This case demonstrates our continuing commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
“We’ll continue working with our local law enforcement partners to keep the CNMI safe. Remember that even if you’re here legally on a visa, federal law says you may not possess firearms or ammunition as an alien, and HSI will investigate and enforce these laws,” said CJ Ammons, Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the CNMI Department of Public Safety.
Assistant United States Attorney Garth R. Backe prosecuted the case in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.