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9 July 2026
South Carolina Man Sentenced for Setting Fire to Central Georgia ChurchRead the Press Release
MACON, Ga. – A South Carolina Man who maliciously set fire to a church in Byron, Georgia, was sentenced to prison today.
Luke Andrew Westefeld, 35, of North Augusta, South Carolina, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on July 9 by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell after he pleaded guilty to one count of malicious use of fire on April 6. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Setting fire to a house of worship is a deeply destructive act in a community,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “By working together with local, state, and federal law enforcement, we will hold offenders accountable for these grievous crimes.”
“The act of setting fire to a place of worship is not just an attack on a building, it’s an assault on the community's spirit,” said ATF Atlanta’s Resident Agent in Charge Robert W. Davis. “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure justice is served.”
“This case was solved thanks to the crucial assistance provided to us by our law enforcement partners at ATF, GBI, the State Fire Marshals, and the Centerville Police Department,” said Byron Police Chief Wesley Cannon. “We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia for their diligence in securing the guilty plea. This case is another great example of law enforcement working together for a successful outcome, and we know the citizens of Byron appreciate everyone's efforts.”
According to court documents and statements in court, Westefeld approached a few Byron United Methodist Church (now Byron Heritage Church) members who were standing in the church’s parking lot on West Heritage Boulevard in Byron after their choir practice on Aug. 20, 2024. Westefeld asked for water, which the women declined, telling officers they were concerned about their safety.
Later that night, Westefeld broke into the church and became upset when he saw unlit candlesticks on the altar. Westefeld believed the candlesticks should remain lit through the night. He said he noticed that the Bible on the pulpit was opened to Ezekiel 24:21, which spoke of the desecration of the sanctuary due to sin. Westefeld took it as a sign for him to burn the Church. Westefeld lit the candlesticks and burned the American and Methodist flags in the sanctuary.
Westefeld then went to the Church office next to the sanctuary and found cash and checks. Westefeld said his “anger level reached a 10” because he believed the money should be deposited in a bank. Westefeld took the cash for himself. He then saw food in the office pantry and became even more enraged, believing it should be given to the poor. For these reasons, Westefeld set the Church’s office on fire.
Westefeld then stole a plastic gas can from a nearby home, planning to siphon gasoline out of the Church’s van to use as an accelerant. The van was parked and locked behind the Church. Westefeld was unable to retrieve the gasoline, so he stuffed his white shirt in the gas cap of the van and set it on fire.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Georgia Fire Marshals, and the Byron Police Department investigated the case, along with assistance from the Centerville Police Department and the GBI.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch prosecuted the case for the Government.
South Bend Man Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
SOUTH BEND – Laquan Broussard, 37 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Broussard was sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release.
“A convicted drug dealer was the passenger in a vehicle speeding down the road and was armed with a loaded handgun with 22 rounds of ammunition in its magazine. Officers determined that he had several felony convictions, including residential entry, dealing cocaine, and conspiring to deal controlled substances, and had no business possessing a gun. Due to the solid work by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the South Bend Police Department with a referral from our state partners in the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office led by Ken Cotter, Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander was able to prosecute the Defendant and will service 6 years in prison followed by a year of supervised release,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander.
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.
Six Individuals, Including a Pharmacist and Doctor, Charged in Connection with $20 Million Healthcare Fraud and Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
NEWARK, N.J. – United States Attorney Robert Frazer announces criminal charges against 6 defendants in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid involving a doctor and other medical professionals issuing medically unnecessary prescriptions to a pharmacist in exchange for cash kickbacks.
“The District of New Jersey remains committed to aggressively rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse committed by doctors, pharmacists, and medical professionals who betray their patients in pursuit of greed. Our Office will continue to ensure that those individuals who bilk our insurance systems to line their pockets with taxpayer dollars face swift justice.”
- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer
"The defendants in this case allegedly orchestrated a sprawling kickback scheme involving fraudulent prescriptions to fuel their own greed,” stated Special Agent in Charge Naomi D. Gruchacz, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG wants to ensure the public that we are committed, alongside our law enforcement partners, to dismantling schemes that abuse federal health care programs and to bringing those who perpetrate such fraud to justice.”
“Each of the defendants had a unique role in this alleged scheme, but the common thread is a complete disrespect for the Medicare and Medicaid programs that so many Americans rely on,” said Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. “The defendants defrauded these programs through kickbacks that lined their pockets, while over $20 million taxpayer dollars were quietly disappearing. The FBI will continue to root out conspiracies to commit health care fraud and restore balance to a system that will not be shaken by these disrupters.”
The following individuals were charged by Information in the District of New Jersey on July 7, 2026 and appeared before Judge Karen M. Williams in federal district court in Camden in connection with the scheme:
- Sherif Elmasri, 45, of Morganville, New Jersey, pled guilty to a two-count Information charging him with conspiring to commit health care fraud and to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute on June 16, 2025.
- Boris Veysman, 48, of Freehold, New Jersey, pled guilty to a two-count Information charging him with conspiring to commit health care fraud and unlawfully distribute controlled substances on June 17, 2025.
- Stephanie Cupo, 45, of South Plainfield, New Jersey, pled guilty to an Information charging her with conspiring to make false statements relating to health care matters and to use a Drug Enforcement Administration registration number issued to another person on January 7, 2026.
- Nikki Steidle, 53, of Toms River, New Jersey, pled guilty to an Information charging her with conspiring to defraud the United States, solicit and receive kickbacks, offer and pay kickbacks, and unlawfully distribute controlled substances on June 30, 2026.
- Janet Tadros, 59, of Union City, New Jersey, pled guilty to a two-count Information charging her with conspiring to commit health care fraud and to violate the Anti-Kickback statute on July 7, 2026.
Additionally, Ashlee Maixner, 39, of Lakehurst, New Jersey, was charged by indictment with conspiracy to defraud the United States, solicit and receive kickbacks, offer and pay kickbacks, unlawfully distribute controlled substances, and two counts of soliciting and receiving a kickback. Maixner was arraigned before Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark on June 25, 2026, and pled not guilty.
According to documents filed in these cases and statements made in court:
From October 2022 to November 2025, Elmasri, a pharmacy owner, paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to several health care providers in exchange for them issuing prescriptions for high-reimbursement medications, which Elmasri selected, to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. Elmasri personally profited from these prescriptions and the insurance claims it generated for his pharmacies.
One of the providers involved in the scheme was Dr. Boris Veysman, an emergency medicine doctor with offices in New Jersey. Elmasri paid Veysman to issue prescriptions recommended by Elmasri to Medicare beneficiaries Elmasri referred to Veysman from from approximately May 2023 to December 2024. Veysman, at times, did not examine the patients prior to issuing the prescriptions. Maixner and Steidle were advanced practice nurses who worked for Veysman and are also alleged to have received illegal kickbacks from Elmasri for issuing prescriptions. Cupo also worked for Veysman and submitted prior authorizations with false information to increase the likelihood that the prior authorizations she prepared would be approved by Medicare and other health care benefit programs.
Separately, Janet Tadros was the office manager of a neurology practice in Jersey City, New Jersey, who, from between December 2023 and November 2025, solicited and received cash kickbacks of approximately $3,000 per week in exchange for sending Elmasri’s pharmacies medically unnecessary prescriptions for patients who were not evaluated nor prescribed the medications and that were sent without the provider’s knowledge or authorization.
In total, the defendants are alleged to have caused a loss of approximately $20,684,264 to Medicare and Medicaid.
Veysman, Steidle, and Maixner are separately charged with allegedly conspiring to unlawfully distribute controlled substances to patients without assessing them.
The charges of conspiracy carry a statutory maximum of five years imprisonment as well as a maximum fine equal to twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss caused by the offense. The charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and violations of the Anti-Kickback statute each carry a statutory maximum of ten years imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz, and special agents, task force officers, and diversion investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Jersey Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James.
The Department of Justice has established the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the National Fraud Enforcement Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The National Fraud Enforcement Division will fulfill that mission by coordinating with agencies responsible for administering benefit programs; partnering with federal, tribal, state, territorial, and local law enforcement on fraud-fighting efforts; developing systems and processes that ensure efficient identification of fraud against taxpayer dollars; and equipping prosecutors and law enforcement with state-of-the-art tools and resources needed to bring criminal actors to justice. The attorneys in the National Fraud Enforcement Division will work every day to protect the financial integrity of our government and the tax system that supports it.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake A. Nasar of the Healthcare Fraud Unit in Newark and Trial Attorneys Nicholas Peone, Paul J. Koob, and Kraig Ahalt of the Department of Justice’s Fraud Section. Valuable assistant in the investigation was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Ecker of the Northern District of Illinois.
The charges and allegations contained in the Indictment against Maixner are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Defense counsel:
Ryan M. Magee, Esq. for Sherif Elmasri.
Benjamin Brafman, Esq. for Boris Veysman.
James A. Abate, Esq. for Stephanie Cupo.
Julian Wilsey, Esq. for Nikki Steidle.
Timothy S. Farrow, Esq. for Ashlee Maixner.
Kathleen Theurer Platts, Esq. for Janet Tadros.
cupo.information.pdf elmasri.information.pdf maixner.indictment.pdf stiedle.information.pdf tadros.information.pdf veysman.information.pdfSin City Deciples Member Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Racketeering ConspiracyRead the Press Release
HAMMOND- Romairal Allen, age 52, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to racketeering conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
Allen was sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by 1 year of supervised release.
“According to the Indictment, the Sin City Deciples, originally formed in 1967 in Gary, Indiana, is an outlaw motorcycle organization in which its members and associates engaged in acts of violence, extortion, and narcotics distribution in the Northern District of Indiana and elsewhere."
“The Defendant was a leader of an outlaw motorcycle organization called the Sin City Deciples and will serve six years in prison for the crime of Racketeering Conspiracy. The organization’s members and associates have engaged in acts of violence, extortion, and narcotics distribution in the Northern District of Indiana and elsewhere since being originally formed in 1967 in Gary, Indiana. The Defendant was the president of the Chicago Chapter in 2020 and later was promoted to a regional president overseeing all chapters in Illinois and Indiana. During his participation in the racketeering conspiracy, he participated in multiple predicate acts of racketeering, including possession with intent to distribute cocaine and other controlled substances and the extortion of another motorcycle club in Indiana. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) and was brought by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Toth and David J. Nozick, with extensive cooperation between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gary Police Department, the Griffith Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents, the Merrillville Police Department, the Munster Police Department, the Schererville Police Department, the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Kokomo Police Department,” said U.S. Attorney Adam L. Mildred.
“The sentence in this case underscores ATF’s commitment to accountability for those who use violence and intimidation to further their crimes. The Sin City Deciples weren’t just a motorcycle club but a criminal gang that preyed on others for their own benefit. ATF and our law enforcement partners will not stop and we’ll continue to work together to dismantle criminal organizations that threaten the safety and welfare of our communities,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon.
"The defendant was instrumental in driving the Sin City Disciples' criminal enterprise, leading efforts that relied on violence, intimidation, drug trafficking, and extortion to enrich the organization and reinforce its criminal influence," said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Timothy J. O'Malley. "The FBI will continue working with our partners to identify, investigate, and dismantle violent criminal organizations and hold those who threaten our communities accountable."
The agencies involved in this prosecution were: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Chicago Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Gary Police Department, the Griffith Police Department, the Hammond Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area officers and agents, the Merrillville Police Department, the Munster Police Department, and the Schererville Police Department. Also providing assistance were the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Kokomo Police Department.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Toth and David J. Nozick.
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 Indianapolis comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Indiana State Police, and other partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Indiana.
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.
Seminole County Marijuana Farm Employees Indicted on Federal Charges Relating to Illegal Foreign PesticidesRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced the unsealing of a federal indictment against two employees of a state-registered Seminole County marijuana farm on charges relating to illegal foreign pesticides.
The Indictment charges Jin Zhao Chi, a/k/a/ a Chi LU, a/k/a A Chi, age 44, with one count of Conspiracy to Smuggle Goods into the United States, one count of Smuggling Goods into the United States, and one count of Unlawful Distribution and Sale of Pesticides—Misdemeanor.
The Indictment also charges Dian Lin Jiang, a/k/a Dianlin Jiang, age 65, with one count of Unlawful Distribution and Sale of Pesticides—Misdemeanor.
The Indictment alleges that while employed at the marijuana growing operation:
- On February 25, 2025, and continuing to on or about March 19, 2025, Chi willfully and knowingly conspired to import unregistered and misbranded pesticides from Hong Kong into the United States, knowing that the importation was contrary to law;
- On February 25, 2025, and continuing to on or about March 19, 2025, Chi fraudulently and knowingly imported merchandise contrary to law, to wit, unregistered and misbranded pesticides, and did receive, conceal, buy, sell, and in any manner facilitate the transportation, concealment, and sale of such merchandise after importation, knowing it to have been brought into the United States contrary to law;
- Beginning in or about June 2022, and continuing to in or about February 2025, Chi knowingly distributed, sold, offered for sale, held for distribution, held for sale, held for shipment, shipped, delivered for shipment, released for shipment, and received, delivered, and offered to deliver an unregistered pesticide; and
- Beginning on or about April 27, 2022, and continuing to on or about May 8, 2023, Jiang distributed, sold, offered for sale, held for distribution, held for sale, held for shipment, shipped, delivered for shipment, released for shipment, and received, delivered, and offered to deliver an unregistered pesticide.
The charges arose from a joint investigation led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Homeland Security Investigations.
A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
- On February 25, 2025, and continuing to on or about March 19, 2025, Chi willfully and knowingly conspired to import unregistered and misbranded pesticides from Hong Kong into the United States, knowing that the importation was contrary to law;
Schenectady Man Sentenced to 38 Months for Methamphetamine OffenseRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Keith Edmonds, age 31, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced July 7th 2026, to 38 months in federal prison and 2 years of post-imprisonment supervised release, a fine of $1,500 and a money judgment for forfeiture of $9,730, for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam made the announcement.
As part of his previously-entered guilty plea, Edmonds admitted that on April 24, 2025, he possessed 425 pills containing methamphetamine that he intended to sell. Edmonds also admitted that between October 2024 and March 2025, he sold more than 1,300 pills containing either methamphetamine or benzodiazepine to buyers in the Capital Region.
“I applaud the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Schenectady and Albany County Sheriff’s Offices for bringing down yet another drug dealer,” said First Assistant United States Attorney John Sarcone. “Deadly narcotics are a plague on our communities, devastating families and undermining public safety. Thanks to the dedication and coordination of our partners in law enforcement, this defendant has been held accountable for his actions and will now be serving his sentence in federal prison. Their continued commitment to protecting our neighborhoods makes a meaningful difference every single day.”
“The sentencing of Keith Edmonds reflects the unwavering commitment of the DEA and our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who distribute dangerous counterfeit pills,” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “Counterfeit pills, frequently laced with methamphetamine, fentanyl, or other illicit substances, place countless lives at risk through addiction and far too often, death. The DEA remains committed to identify and target those individuals who profit from poisoning our communities.”
DEA investigated the case with assistance from the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Rosenthal prosecuted the case.
Schenectady Man Sentenced to 140 Months for Drug and Gun Crimes Committed While on Bail for State ChargesRead the Press Release
ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Garrow, age 40, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced on June 24, 2026, to 140 months’ imprisonment following his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division Bryan DiGirolamo made the announcement.
The defendant’s conviction was based on his drug trafficking activities in Schenectady over several months in 2024, including while he was actively wanted on arrest warrants for unrelated state charges.
“Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the ATF, the Schenectady Police Department, and the Schenectady District Attorney’s Office, this dangerous offender has finally been brought to justice, and his supply of deadly narcotics has been removed from our streets, said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “Under New York State’s current bail laws, defendants like Mr. Garrow can repeatedly return to the community while awaiting trial, giving them the opportunity to reoffend again and again. That is why federal intervention is essential. Working with our local partners the ATF and U.S. Attorney’s Office were able to bring charges federally, where we can ensure that violent, repeat offenders are detained and unable to continue their illegal operations, protecting both public safety and our communities.”“This investigation demonstrates the persistence and coordination required to dismantle armed drug trafficking operations before more lives are put at risk,” said ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo. “Armed drug traffickers fuel violence and endanger our communities by combining deadly narcotics with illegal firearms. ATF NY remains committed to working alongside our partners to identify, investigate, and disrupt those who threaten public safety. This sentence is the result of the outstanding collaboration between ATF NY Albany, Schenectady Police Department, the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Schenectady Police Chief Brian Whipple stated: "Our officers are doing outstanding work every day alongside our federal partners to make Schenectady safer. The combination of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and an illegal firearm is incredibly dangerous, and this sentence ensures one more violent offender has been removed from our community. Our officers will continue to proactively target those responsible for bringing guns and deadly drugs into our neighborhoods.”As part of his sentence, the defendant will also be required to serve a term of supervised release of 4 years, which will follow his term of imprisonment.
ATF investigated this case with the assistance of the Schenectady Police Department and the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn.
Salem Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Possession of Unregistered Firearms and Possession of Firearms by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
Salem Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Possession of Unregistered Firearms and Possession of Firearms by a Prohibited Person
CONCORD – A Salem man was sentenced today in federal court for possessing unregistered firearms in violation of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Act and for possession of firearms and ammunition as a felon, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.
Daniel Fratus, age 39, who previously pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord before U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty, was sentenced to 72-months of incarceration along with 3 years of supervised release.
According to the charging documents and statements made in court, Daniel Fratus was indicted after an investigation that began on January 23, 2024. During that investigation Salem Police Department received a call from a concerned neighbor for shots fired coming from Fratus’ residence. Salem Police Department and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) law enforcement members later executed a search warrant and entered the residence where they observed several firearms along with approximately 12,870 rounds of ammunition. Fratus had previously been convicted of a felony for Sale of a Controlled Drug and, as such, was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
ATF led the investigation. Salem Police Department provided valuable assistance. Special Assistant U.S Attorney Christopher Marin and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherniske prosecuted the case.
Richland Man Who Used Online Platforms to Solicit Minor Girls Indicted by Eastern Washington Grand Jury on 15 Counts of Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on July 8, 2026, Otoniel Parraga, a 22-year-old Richland man, was indicted by a federal grand jury with 15 separate criminal offenses surrounding his use of online platforms to solicit multiple minor victims.
Parraga was initially charged on April 27, 2026, in Benton County Superior Court Case Number 26-1-00358-03, with one count of Commercial Sexual Abuse of a Minor, one count of Rape of Child in the Third Degree and one count of Communication with a Minor for Immoral Purposes.
The federal indictment now charges Parraga with seven counts of Sex Trafficking of Children, seven counts of Online Enticement and Attempted Online Enticement of a Minor, and one count of Production of Child Pornography. This case continues to be investigated by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations and the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Should a member of the public have information to provide to law enforcement regarding this case, such information should be directed to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office at 509-727-8788.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
4:26-CR-6029-MKD
Ponchatoula Woman Charged with Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal FundsRead the Press Release
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today a bill of information charging RACHEL CRAWFORD, a/k/a “Rachel Davenport,” a/k/a “Rachel Monjure,” a/k/a “Rachel Haygood,” age 47, of Ponchatoula, with Theft from an Organization Receiving Federal Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A). CRAWFORD was charged on July 8, 2026.
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.
According to the bill of information, CRAWFORD was the Chief Financial Officer of an organization that received federal funds. Beginning on or about May 14, 2021, and continuing until on or about May 8, 2025, CRAWFORD withdrew cash from the organization’s checking account for personal use and made unauthorized purchases using the organization’s credit card. In each of the one-year periods beginning May 14, 2021, May 14, 2022, May 14, 2023, May 14, 2024, and May 14, 2025, CRAWFORD embezzled at least $5,000.
If convicted, CRAWFORD faces up to ten (10) years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release for up to three (3) years, and a fine of up to $250,000. A mandatory $100 special assessment fee is also applicable.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation on this investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.
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Pompey Man Sentenced for Possessing over 400 Grams of Pure MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
UTICA, NEW YORK – Jon Radway, age 47, of Pompey, New York, was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement.
As part of his prior guilty plea, Radway admitted that on October 9, 2025, he knowingly possessed with intent to distribute approximately 466 grams of pure methamphetamine at his home. He further admitted that he intended to sell that methamphetamine to numerous customers located in Onondaga County and elsewhere.
First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Dangerous narcotics place a tremendous burden on our communities and public health systems. Individuals like this defendant choose to profit at the expense of the very people they harm. I appreciate the diligent investigative work of our partners at the ATF, whose efforts were critical in bringing Mr. Radway to justice.”
Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo stated: “This guilty plea is the result of strong collaboration among ATF’s Syracuse Field Office, the New York State Police Community Stabilization Unit and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. Together, we remain committed to disrupting criminal activity that fuels the illegal distribution of dangerous drugs and threatens the safety of our communities.”
United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi also imposed a 4-year term of supervised release to begin after Radway is released from prison and ordered $3,135.00, seized from Radway’s home, to be forfeited as drug proceeds.
ATF investigated the case with assistance from the New York State Police Community Stabilization Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Brown prosecuted the case.
Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Russell Jeremy Doctor, age 37, of Longtown, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 13 months in prison for one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
On October 15, 2025, Doctor pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on May 4, 2025, Doctor knowingly possessed a semi-automatic rifle and eight rounds of ammunition after having been previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment.
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 Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. On August 10, 2026, Doctor will self-report to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced for Failing to Register as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sammy Monroe Ebarb, Jr., age 41, of Longtown, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force and the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office.
On October 8, 2025, Ebarb pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, Ebarb was convicted of First Degree Rape in the District Court of Latimer County, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2003, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from November 2024 to February 2025, Ebarb failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Ebarb will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.
Pike County Woman Sentenced to 45 Years for Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material of Toddler VictimsRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Kimper, Ky., woman, Pamela Denise Sargent, 45, was sentenced on Thursday to 45 years by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell for two counts of production of child pornography.
According to Sargent’s plea agreement, on or before December 30, 2023, through June 4, 2024, Sargent produced child pornography with two toddler victims. Specifically, Sargent filmed herself engaging in sexual activity with the minor victims and filmed child sexual abuse material with each other. Sargent then uploaded the videos and used the internet to distribute them to an individual in Missouri.
“The conduct in this case represents a profound betrayal of one of society’s most basic duties — to protect its children,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Our office will zealously pursue anyone who exploits or endangers children, and we will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to bring offenders to justice. This prosecution underscores our unwavering resolve to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our community.”
Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Dennis M. Fetting, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence.The investigation was conducted by HSI, KSP, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Blankenship prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
– END –Panama City Felon Indicted for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Tallahassee, Florida –Brian Earl Glass, 36, of Panama City, Florida, has been indicted in federal court with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges.
Glass appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, at 8:30 am, before District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee, Florida.
The defendant faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
The case was jointly investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin.
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.
Owasso Man Charged with Killing One Man and Injuring Three Others in Fatal Car WreckRead the Press Release
TULSA, Okla. – An indictment was unsealed today charging an Owasso man with killing Brian Bizzell and injuring three others in a fatal car wreck.
Christopher Robert Chaney, 52, of Owasso, is charged with Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country; two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country; and Assault by Striking, Beating, and Wounding in Indian Country.
According to court documents, on September 30, 2025, Chaney was allegedly driving a motor vehicle on a public road while speeding, failed to obey traffic lights, and was driving after consuming hydrocodone and cannabis. Court documents show that Brian Bizzell was killed, two others were seriously injured, and one victim was wounded in the fatal accident.
Chaney is a member of the Cherokee Nation
The FBI and the Owasso Police Department are investigating the case with the assistance of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Dunn is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Orlando Pharmacy and Pharmacist Agree to Pay $50,000 to Settle Controlled Substances Act ViolationsRead the Press Release
Orlando, FL – Plaza Pharmacy, LLC and Paul Ezeobinwa have agreed to pay the United States $50,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the Controlled Substances Act by improperly distributing schedule V drugs and committing multiple recordkeeping violations. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
The settlement relates to a DEA investigation of Plaza Pharmacy. According to the settlement agreement, between December 22, 2021, and March 21, 2024, Plaza Pharmacy and Mr. Ezeobinwa failed to properly identify a total of 104 fraudulent prescriptions with 193 refills, resulting in the dispensing a controlled substance without a valid prescription. As explained in the settlement agreement, on March 21, 2024, the DEA conducted an on-site investigation of Plaza Pharmacy and discovered dozens of record-keeping violations of the Controlled Substances Act. Plaza Pharmacy surrendered its DEA license for cause on May 2, 2024, and ceased operating in September 2025.
“Pharmacies and pharmacists serve everyone in our communities and carry an obligation to track and properly report the dispensing of controlled substances,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “This settlement highlights our commitment to enforcing the Controlled Substances Act to protect our citizens.”
“Our Diversion investigators will continue to pursue and investigate those who abuse the system and poison our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Daniel Escobar, Tampa Field Division. “DEA will not stop until anyone who violates the CSA has been brought to justice.”
This settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The civil settlement was reached by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Bloor.
The settlement resolves the United States’ claims. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Sex Offender Registration Rules and Failing to Present at Designated Border CrossingRead the Press Release
BANGOR, Maine: An Ohio man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to failing to comply with sex offender reporting requirements, failing to present at a designated border crossing, and violating federal supervised release.
According to court records, in 2021, Darrell Murphy, 42, was convicted in federal court in the Western District of North Carolina of two counts of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. He was sentenced to 52 months in prison and 25 years of supervised release. Among his conditions of supervised release was the requirement that he comply with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Under SORNA, a registered sex offender must provide his local registration authority with advance notice of his intent to travel internationally. Murphy was registered with the Carroll County, Ohio, Sheriff’s Department.
On December 31, 2025, Canadian authorities advised U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) that a man (subsequently identified as Murphy) had illegally entered Canada by walking across a train trestle in Vanceboro. Canadian law enforcement officers responded to the area but did not apprehend the man. USBP agents immediately responded to the U.S. side of the bridge and found a set of tracks in the snow leading to the parking lot of the Vanceboro post office and a vehicle bearing Ohio plates.
Shortly before 5:00 a.m. on January 5, 2026, USBP was alerted that the same man had returned to the U.S. from Canada by walking back across the bridge. A USBP agent responded to the parking lot and observed Murphy walking towards the Ohio-plated vehicle. When encountered by the agent, Murphy admitted to crossing into Canada days earlier and then returning in the same manner.
The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) confirmed that Murphy had not notified the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department of his intention to travel to Canada.
For the SORNA violation, Murphy faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. For the failure to present violation, he faces up to one year in prison and a $5,000 fine. For the supervised release violation, he faces a consecutive prison term of up to three years.
USBP and USMS investigated the case, with assistance provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the Carroll County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Department.
New Jersey Man Sentenced for Robbery of a Postal Letter CarrierRead the Press Release
Tampa, Florida– Tajmir Wyles (32, New Jersey) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber to three years in federal prison for robbery of a postal mail carrier and receipt, possession or concealment of stolen property of the United States. This sentence was ordered to run consecutively with a Dallas, Texas state sentence of eight years prison for obstruction, possession of a controlled substance, and fraudulent possession of identification information of 50 or more individuals. Wyles pleaded guilty in the federal case on December 4, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, on May 15, 2023, Wyles robbed a postal letter carrier of his master keys while he was delivering mail at a community mailbox inside the Whittier Center shopping center on E. Busch Boulevard, in Tampa, Florida. Following a physical altercation over the keys, Wyles successfully fled the scene with the keys.
In July 2023, Wyles was arrested in Dallas, Texas, where he was found with a binder of approximately 120 checks, with multiple different check owners. Many of the checks were reported stolen from the Tampa Bay area, where the postal keys worked, after the robbery. In addition, Wyles was in possession of the postal master keys that had been taken during the robbery on May 15, 2023.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Tampa, Florida, and Fort Worth, Texas, the Tampa Police Department, and the Dallas Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ilyssa M. Spergel.
Muskogee Resident Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Ray Quigley, a/k/a Steven Woods, age 38, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The Indictment alleged that Quigley was convicted by the State of Oklahoma of Lewd or Indecent Acts to Child Under 16 in Mayes County on October 11, 2012, and was required to register as a sex offender, and that from May 2022 until May 22, 2026, Quigley failed to register and update his registration despite entering, leaving, or residing in Indian country, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force.
The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report.
A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Quigley will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Morgan Muzljakovich and Sarah McAmis represented the United States.
Moore Resident Sentenced for Burglary in Indian CountryRead the Press Release
MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nariah Demournay Jones, age 23, of Moore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for one count of Burglary in the Second Degree in Indian Country.
The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
On March 18, 2026, Jones pleaded guilty to the charge in federal district court. According to investigators, on April 2, 2024, Jones and two co-defendants, Demontrae Davion Rogers, 20, of Wewoka, Oklahoma, and Damarion Hiawatha Nichols, 21, of Moore, Oklahoma, forcibly entered a detached residential garage in Wewoka intending to commit a felony. Once inside, Rogers and Nichols held four individuals at gunpoint and proceeded to strike one with their weapons, causing lacerations and abrasions to the victim.
On April 1, 2026, Rogers was sentenced to 21 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country, to be served consecutively to 84 months in prison for one count of Use, Carry, and Brandish of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Rogers was also sentenced to 12 months in prison for Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, to be served concurrently to the assault charge.
On March 5, 2026, Nichols was sentenced to 46 months in prison for four counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country.
The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Jones will self-report on August 10, 2026, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Lewis M. Reagan represented the United States.
Michigan Tax Preparers Indicted for Conspiring to Defraud the United States and Preparing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Michigan returned an indictment today charging three tax preparers with conspiring to defraud the United States and preparing false tax returns over a three-year period.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Jamar Harten, of Shelby Township, Tabitha Scott, of Davisburg, and Tyree Monroe Jr., of Detroit provided tax preparation services for Michigan-based clients at Harten’s tax preparation business, First Class Tax and Consulting. For the year 2022, Harten, Scott, and Monroe allegedly prepared or assisted in the preparation of fraudulent tax returns for clients.
These tax returns allegedly contained fraudulent tax deductions and tax credits, which reduced the amount of taxable income reported by the clients and generated refunds the clients were not entitled to receive. According to the indictment, the clients did not provide Harten, Scott, and Monroe any information indicating they were eligible to claim the false deductions or credits. Harten and Scott allegedly provided prepared fraudulent tax returns for clients in 2021 and 2023 as well.
Harten, Scott and Monroe are each charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and multiple counts of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. If convicted, all three face up to five years in prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States, as well as three years in prison for each count of helping to file false tax returns for clients.
Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division made the announcement.
IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.
Trial Attorneys Christopher P. O’Donnell and Joseph D. G. Castro of the Criminal Division’s 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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Mexican illegal alien charged after smashing into and seriously injuring two motorcyclistsRead the Press Release
DETROIT – A native and citizen of Mexico has been charged for illegally re-entering the United States after having been previously removed, announced United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr., U.S. Border Patrol, Detroit Sector.
“Illegal aliens continue to break American laws and threaten American lives. The only sure way to prevent these crimes is to keep them out of our country,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
"This case underscores the critical importance of our mission to secure the border and protect our communities," said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo, Jr., U.S. Border Patrol, Detroit Sector. "The illegal re-entry of this alien, Jose Manuel Cazarez-Pulido, not only violated our laws but also led to a tragic incident where two individuals were critically injured. We are committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners, like the Waterford Police Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office, to ensure that those who illegally re-enter the United States and endanger our citizens are held accountable. This effort is a direct reflection of our dedication to Operation Take Back America, as we strive to repel illegal immigration and safeguard our communities from criminal activity."
The government charged Jose Manuel Cazarez-Pulido, 33. Cazarez-Pulido appeared in federal court in Detroit yesterday where he was temporarily detained pending a detention hearing.
According to court records, on or about July 1, 2026, Cazarez-Pulido was arrested by Border Patrol Agents near Waterford, Michigan, after a call for assistance from Waterford Police Department to help identifying a subject in their custody.
According to police reports, Cazarez-Pulido ran a red light smashing into a motorcycle carrying a female, age 71 and a male, age 64. Cazarez-Pulido was the sole driver of the Chrysler Town and Country van that struck the motorcycle at the intersection of N. Hospital Road and Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. The two victims were critically injured. Following the accident, Waterford Police searched Cazarez-Pulido’s vehicle and found an open Budweiser beer bottle on the passenger floorboard. According to the officers on the scene, Cazarez-Pulido did not appear intoxicated. Cazarez-Pulido was issued a citation for Open Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle, Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Accident and Disobey Red Traffic Signal.
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.
A complaint is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent. It is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Mexican National Extradited from Canada Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
PORTLAND, Ore.—A Mexican national was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine in the Portland area, the Oregon coast, and Olympia, Washington, leading to the murder of a victim who owed a drug debt.
Fernando Adolip Cruz-Lerma, 25, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay over $3,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, in April and May 2019, Cruz-Lerma conspired with others to engage in drug trafficking. In April, Cruz-Lerma transported a victim from the state of Washington to Clackamas County due to a drug debt that the victim owed to members of the drug trafficking conspiracy. The victim was killed by members of the drug trafficking conspiracy in furtherance of the conspiracy. Cruz-Lerma assisted with leaving the victim’s body along a rural road in Clackamas County after the victim had been killed.
In May 2019, Cruz-Lerma distributed approximately two pounds of methamphetamine. He returned to Mexico the following month.
In May 2023, Cruz-Lerma’s co-conspirator, Marcos Alonso Castillo-Bernal, was sentenced to 26 years of imprisonment. A few days after that sentencing hearing, Cruz-Lerma flew from Mexico to Calgary, Canada, and was arrested by Canadian authorities on the arrest warrant issued in the District of Oregon.
On June 6, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a superseding indictment charging Cruz-Lerma with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substances and distribution of methamphetamine. On April 7, 2026, Cruz-Lerma pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and distributing controlled substances.
U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the DEA, the FBI, the Portland Police Bureau, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, the Clackamas County Interagency Task Force (CCITF) and the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office Homicide and Violent Crimes Unit. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon is prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Canadian authorities to secure the arrest and July 2024 extradition of Cruz-Lerma from Canada.
CCITF, led by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, works to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in and around Clackamas County, and reduce illegal drugs and related crimes throughout the community. The task force is comprised of members from the Canby Police Department, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, the FBI, and the Oregon National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. CCITF is supported by our community with the passage of the Public Safety Levy and grant funding from the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program.
This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Portland comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, USMS, IRS-CI, ATF, USPIS, CBP, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, Oregon Air, Army National Guard Counterdrug program, and Oregon-Idaho HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
Mexican National DACA Recipient Charged with Receipt and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging SILVIO RAMIREZ-LOPEZ, 38, a Mexican national living in Oklahoma City through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, with receipt and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.
According to public records, agents with Homeland Security Investigations identified a user profile on an online chat application that had obtained images and videos containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Court records allege that the user, later identified as Ramirez-Lopez, was a member of at least six group chats on the application through which CSAM was exchanged. Ramirez-Lopez was arrested on May 28, 2026, and charged by criminal complaint in federal court.
On July 7, 2026, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Ramirez-Lopez with receipt of child pornography and possession of material containing child pornography. If convicted, Ramirez-Lopez faces no less than five and up to 40 years in federal prison and fines of up to $500,000.
The public is reminded that these charges are merely allegations, and that Ramirez-Lopez is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Edgmon is prosecuting the case.
Reference is made to public filings for additional information.
Meadville Resident Indicted on Sexual Exploitation of Minor ChargesRead the Press Release
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Meadville, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal child sexual exploitation laws, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The four-count Indictment named Jason Michael Dekaye, 50, as the sole defendant.
According to the Indictment, on or about January 19 and January 20, 2026, Dekaye received and attempted to receive material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor. The Indictment also alleges that, in January of 2026, Dekaye possessed and accessed with intent to view material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, and possessed obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children.
As to the receipt and attempted receipt charge, the law provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. As to each of the charges of possession of and accessing with intent to view material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of obscene visual representations of the sexual abuse of children, the law provides for a 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 Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Stuart, Florida, Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Massachusetts Man Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Enticement, Interstate Travel, Child Pornography ChargesRead the Press Release
PROVIDENCE – A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island today to attempted enticement, interstate travel, and child pornography charges contained in a superseding indictment.
Robert Consorti, 64, of Wilmington, MA, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to two counts of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activity, interstate travel for the purpose of illicit sexual activity, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 13, 2026. The sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors, including applicable mandatory minimum sentences.
Consorti was charged in a superseding indictment following an extended investigation that followed his arrest in October 2024 when he arrived at a Warwick hotel expecting to meet with and engage in illicit sexual contact with a fourteen-year-old girl. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Consorti was communicating with a law enforcement officer posing as the girl when he made the arrangements.
According to court documents, a review of Consorti’s electronic devices uncovered evidence supporting the offenses charged in the superseding indictment.
Consorti admitted that he began communicating online with a 13-year-old, travelled interstate to meet the child for unlawful sexual activity, and took substantial steps toward carrying out that plan before his arrest prevented that meeting from occurring.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.
The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the East Providence Police Department, the Wilmington, MA Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police ICAC Task Force.
The ICAC Task Force is comprised of members of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit along with detectives from the Warwick Police Department, Cranston Police Department, East Providence Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Bristol Police Department, Middletown Police Department, and Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations.
This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Man Serving Federal Prison Sentence Charged with Theft of Forfeited CryptocurrencyRead the Press Release
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Rossen G. Iossifov, 53, a former Bulgarian national, made an initial appearance in federal court in the Eastern District of Kentucky yesterday on charges of the destruction or removal of property to prevent seizure, aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges stem from Iossifov’s alleged role in the unauthorized withdrawal and transfer of approximately $290,000 in cryptocurrency that had been seized and forfeited by the United States.
“Having been convicted of a widespread online auction fraud scheme targeting U.S. victims, Iossifov is now charged with moving cryptocurrency that he obtained from that crime, in violation of a court’s forfeiture order,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Defendants who flout lawfully entered orders and portions of their criminal sentences in prior federal cases will be charged with such obstructive conduct. The Department of Justice will take all steps to ensure that justice is served for victims of complex financial crimes.”
“Iossifov’s alleged efforts to evade a lawful forfeiture order and obscure the movement of criminal proceeds represent a direct affront to the authority of the federal courts,” said Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Such conduct, if proven, reflects a calculated attempt to undermine the rule of law and to compromise the rights of victims who have already suffered significant financial harm. Our office remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the integrity of judicial orders and ensuring that individuals who engage in sophisticated schemes to obstruct justice are held fully accountable.”
“Iossifov’s deliberate attempt to remove and launder lawfully seized funds is a direct challenge to our justice system and a blatant disregard to his victims’ rights,” said Robert Holman, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Louisville Field Office. “We are committed to ensuring that victims of online fraud receive justice, and that individuals who attempt to circumvent lawful court orders are held accountable.”
At the time of the alleged offenses, Iossifov was serving a sentence of 111 months in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to commit a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) offense and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Iossifov and his co-conspirators participated in a criminal conspiracy involving online auction fraud that victimized at least 900 Americans. Romania-based members of the conspiracy posted false advertisements to popular online auction and sales websites — such as craigslist and eBay — for high-cost goods (typically vehicles) that did not actually exist. Once victims were convinced to send payment, the defendants engaged in a complicated money laundering scheme wherein domestic associates would accept victim funds, convert these funds to cryptocurrency, and transfer the funds to foreign-based money launderers, including Iossifov. Evidence submitted during trial and his sentencing hearing revealed that Iossifov laundered nearly $5 million in cryptocurrency in a period of less than three years. As part of Iossifov’s sentence, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky imposed a forfeiture money judgment against Iossifov as part of his sentence and then ordered Iossifov to forfeit cryptocurrency held in an account registered to Iossifov at the Kraken cryptocurrency exchange, worth approximately $290,000, which had been restrained as part of the criminal investigation.
According to the indictment related to the post-conviction activity, between approximately January and December 2024, Iossifov allegedly conspired with others to conduct interstate and foreign financial transactions in order to remove the $290,000 in cryptocurrency from the Kraken account and prevent and impair the United States’ lawful authority to take the contents of the Kraken account into its custody and control. Iossifov then allegedly conspired with others to transfer the illegal proceeds through multiple cryptocurrency exchanges and illicit mixing services, ultimately converting it to fiat currency at a foreign bank account.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
This case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel Vasantha Rao of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn M. Dieruf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Man Serving Federal Prison Sentence Charged with Theft of Forfeited CryptocurrencyRead the Press Release
Rossen G. Iossifov, 53, a Bulgarian national, made an initial appearance in federal court in the Eastern District of Kentucky yesterday on charges of the destruction or removal of property to prevent seizure, aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges stem from Iossifov’s alleged role in the unauthorized withdrawal and transfer of approximately $290,000 in cryptocurrency that had been seized and forfeited by the United States.
“Having been convicted of a widespread online auction fraud scheme targeting U.S. victims, Iossifov is now charged with moving cryptocurrency that he obtained from that crime, in violation of a court’s forfeiture order,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Defendants who flout lawfully entered orders and portions of their criminal sentences in prior federal cases will be charged with such obstructive conduct. The Department of Justice will take all steps to ensure that justice is served for victims of complex financial crimes.”
“Iossifov’s alleged efforts to evade a lawful forfeiture order and obscure the movement of criminal proceeds represent a direct affront to the authority of the federal courts,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Such conduct, if proven, reflects a calculated attempt to undermine the rule of law and to compromise the rights of victims who have already suffered significant financial harm. Our office remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the integrity of judicial orders and ensuring that individuals who engage in sophisticated schemes to obstruct justice are held fully accountable.”
“Iossifov’s deliberate attempt to remove and launder lawfully seized funds is a direct challenge to our justice system and a blatant disregard to his victims’ rights,” said the Special Agent in Charge Robert Holman of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) Louisville Field Office. “We are committed to ensuring that victims of online fraud receive justice, and that individuals who attempt to circumvent lawful court orders are held accountable.”
According to court documents, in January 2024, Iossifov allegedly conspired to remove $290,000 in cryptocurrency that had been ordered forfeited to the United States after Iossifov’s 2021 conviction in the Eastern District of Kentucky. In the instant case, Iossifov is alleged to have conspired to transfer the forfeited cryptocurrency through multiple cryptocurrency exchanges and illicit mixing services, avoiding the United States obtaining possession of the funds.
At the time of the alleged offenses, Iossifov was serving a sentence of 111 months in prison for his 2021 conviction, during which he participated in a fraud scheme that victimized Americans. Evidence submitted at trial and his sentencing in the previous case revealed that Iossifov had laundered nearly $5 million in cryptocurrency in a period of less than three years. Iossifov had been ordered to pay $2,642,297.43 in restitution to victims of the earlier scheme and to forfeit the cryptocurrency that is the subject of the instant offense.
Iossifov is charged with removal of property to prevent seizure and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
The investigation was conducted by the USSS. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
This case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel Vasantha Rao of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn M. Dieruf for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Macy Man Sentenced to One Year and One Day for Assaulting a Federal OfficerRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Britain Snyder, 23, of Macy, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 2, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for assaulting a federal officer. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Snyder to one year and one day imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, Snyder will begin a 3-year term of supervised release.
On or about October 26, 2024, Victim I was a police officer with the Omaha Nation Law Enforcement Services who was in the performance of her official duties. Victim l's contract with the Omaha Nation Law Enforcement Services was federally funded. Victim 1 was called to assist with removing Snyder from a residence on the Omaha Nation Indian Reservation in Macy, Nebraska. Snyder fled and hid. Victim 1 located Snyder and in the process of taking him into custody, Snyder resisted arrest and assaulted Victim 1 by headbutting Victim l in the head.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Media AdvisoryRead the Press Release
Law enforcement leaders and the U.S. Attorney's Office are joining forces to disrupt drug trafficking, reduce substance abuse, and hold offenders accountable. Hear the latest data and trends on Wyoming's drug landscape, the growing threat posed by cartels and traffickers, and the coordinated efforts underway to protect Wyoming communities.
WHO:
- Darin Smith, United States Attorney for the District of Wyoming
- Dave Olesky, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration
- Sheriff Brian Kozak, Laramie County Sheriff’s Office
- Jeremy Wicht, Training Manager, Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)
WHAT:
The press conference will take place in front of multiple law enforcement and drug awareness vehicles.
WHERE:
George Cox Parking Facility (Top floor)
20th and Pioneer
Cheyenne, WY 82001WHEN:
10:30 a.m., Monday, July 13, 2025
A press release will follow with still images.
Leader of Multi-State Auto Theft Ring Sentenced More Than Eight Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The fifth member and leader of an organized auto theft ring that stole more than 100 high-end vehicles worth millions of dollars from dealerships located across the United States was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison yesterday, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Hosea Fernandez Hampton, 27, of Charlotte, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term.
Hampton previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport, possess, and sell stolen vehicles in interstate commerce and possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
“This was a sophisticated car-stealing operation by professional criminals across multiple states,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “Hampton now has years behind bars to contemplate whether a life of crime is worth the loss of his freedom.”
Hampton’s four co-defendants also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport, possess, and sell stolen vehicles in interstate commerce and were previously sentenced as follows:
- Dewanne Lamar White was sentenced to 108 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. White also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen motor vehicle.
- Kevin Ja’Coryen James Fields was sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Fields also pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle.
- Reginald Eugene Hill was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release.
- Garyka Vaughn Bost was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release.
According to court documents and court proceedings, from 2021 to 2023, Hampton and his co-defendants engaged in a conspiracy to steal luxury vehicles worth millions of dollars from dealerships in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Arizona. To maximize profits from the thefts, Hampton and his co-defendants targeted luxury vehicles made by Bentley, BMW, Cadillac, Land Rover, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as other expensive models from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and other manufacturers.
Court documents show that Hampton was one of the leaders of the auto theft scheme, frequently organizing the thefts, identifying target dealerships, recruiting drivers to transport the stolen vehicles and later paying the drivers for their services. According to court records, during Hampton’s time in the conspiracy, conspirators stole at least 82 vehicles worth nearly $5.9 million.
Generally, Hampton and the co-defendants visited dealerships posing as customers interested in purchasing vehicles. After pretending to test drive or inspect the vehicles, the defendants would swap the vehicles’ key fobs with similar ones and later use the stolen key fobs to steal the vehicles. Other times, they employed methods like “smash-and-grab” thefts, where they would break into dealerships and locate keys to the high-end models, or break open lockboxes containing keys to luxury vehicles and then drive the vehicles off the lot. On several occasions, the defendants and other co-conspirators stole multiple vehicles simultaneously, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.
U.S. v. White et al.: Hampton (right) with co-defendants Reginald Hill (left) and DeWanne White (bottom) at a car dealership in Panama City, Florida, where multiple thefts occurred as part of the auto theft scheme.
According to court documents and the sentencing hearings, once the stolen vehicles were taken off the dealership lots, the defendants avoided law enforcement detection by removing the GPS navigation and tracking systems from the stolen vehicles, attaching fictitious dealer tags or stolen license plates on the vehicles, and replacing the vehicles’ authentic Vehicle Identification Numbers, among other things. The stolen vehicles were then transported back to Charlotte where they were sold locally at prices well below market value.
Hampton also frequently possessed and later sold many of the vehicles stolen in the scheme. Adding to the seriousness of the offense, Hampton and his coconspirators drove vehicles recklessly, including by fleeing from law enforcement at high speeds, and possessed firearms. During the scheme, Hampton was stopped in Flagler, Florida, driving a blue 2018 BMW M5 that was stolen from a car dealership in Wilmington, North Carolina. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement located various key fobs and a Glock 19X firearm under the driver’s seat.
U.S. v. White et al. – Picture of the Glock firearm and various vehicle key fobs located in the stolen BMW that Hampton was driving in Florida.
Hampton is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prison upon designation to a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for their investigation of the case and recognized the contributions of the York County in South Carolina Sheriff’s Office and many other state and local law enforcement partners that assisted with the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bozin and Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.
Las Cruces Woman Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking Co-WorkersRead the Press Release
ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces woman pleaded guilty in federal court to anonymously sending threatening messages to co-workers through a health clinic’s online scheduling platform.
According to court documents, between September 11 and September 23, 2025, Jovanni Celeste Ortega, 33, anonymously sent multiple harassing and threatening messages to co-workers at Millennium Health and Wellness through the clinic’s online scheduling platform, an interstate electronic communication service. The messages threatened physical harm to employees and their family members and included references to victims’ children, vehicles, home addresses, and other personal information. Among the messages were threats of fatal car crashes, shootings, and other acts of violence, causing substantial emotional distress to the victims.
After the clinic reported receiving numerous threatening messages, the FBI traced the communications to an IP address associated with Ortega’s residence. During a subsequent interview, Ortega admitted sending the messages.
Ortega pleaded guilty to cyberstalking and faces up to five years in prison at sentencing.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.
The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James A. Dickens is prosecuting the case.
Land O’Lakes Ransomware Negotiator Who Extorted and Attacked Multiple U.S. Victims Sentenced to PrisonRead the Press Release
MIAMI – Angelo Martino, 41, of Land O’Lakes, formerly employed as a ransomware negotiator, was sentenced today to 70 months for his role in conspiring with Blackcat/ALPHV (BlackCat) actors to extort multiple victims, as well as conspiring with other former cybersecurity professionals to attack additional victims in 2023.
“Angelo Martino’s victims shared heartbreaking accounts of how their businesses were nearly destroyed, while the people they hired to help them instead betrayed them to ransomware gangs,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentence accounts for the harm Martino caused and demonstrates that the Department of Justice can and will identify and prosecute cybercriminals to the fullest extent of the law.”
“He was hired to help victims in a moment of crisis. Instead, Martino betrayed them, fed their confidential negotiating positions to ransomware criminals, and helped squeeze them for more money,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This case sends a clear message: we will pursue the hackers who deploy ransomware, the insiders who enable them, and the money they steal from American victims. Thanks to the outstanding work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, Martino is going to federal prison, and more than $10 million in criminal proceeds has been seized.”
“Angelo Martino sold out the very victims he was hired to represent, handing their confidential negotiating positions to BlackCat actors to drive up ransoms and enrich himself,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that the FBI will pursue not just the criminals who deploy ransomware, but the insiders who enable them. Working with our partners, the FBI will find those who betray that trust and hold them accountable.”
According to court documents, Martino abused his role at a U.S.-based cyber incident response company and conspired with the operators of the BlackCat ransomware variant beginning in April 2023 to extort five different ransomware victims. Specifically, Martino was paid by BlackCat attackers to provide confidential information about the negotiating position and strategy of his employer’s clients and enable the ransomware actors to maximize the ransoms paid by the victims.
Additionally, Martino conspired with former cybersecurity professionals Kevin Martin, 36, of Texas, who was hired as Martino’s coworker after the conspiracy began, and Ryan Goldberg, 41, of Georgia, who was employed by a separate incident response company, to successfully deploy BlackCat ransomware against additional victims located throughout the United States between April 2023 and November 2023. After successfully extorting one victim for approximately $1.2 million in Bitcoin, the men split their share of the ransom three ways and laundered the funds through various means.
Martino pleaded guilty on April 14 to a one-count information charging him with conspiring to interfere with interstate commerce through extortion. On May 1 Martin and Goldberg were sentenced to 48 months in prison by U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore.
To date, law enforcement has seized $10 million of assets from Martino, including digital currency, vehicles, a food truck, and a luxury fishing boat that Martino obtained through the scheme. A hearing to determine the amount of restitution to be ordered against Martino is set for Sept. 17.
Today’s announcement follows the Justice Department’s prior actions in December 2023 to disrupt BlackCat ransomware, during which the FBI developed a decryption tool that allowed FBI field offices across the country and law enforcement partners around the world to offer hundreds of victims the capability of restoring their systems, saving victims approximately $99 million in ransom payments. At that time, the FBI also seized several websites operated by the BlackCat ransomware actors.
The FBI’s Miami Field Office is leading the investigation, with assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Haggerty and Quinshawna Landon for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Christen Gallagher and Jorge Gonzalez of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitchell Hyman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Denielle N. Croke for the Southern District of Florida are handling asset forfeiture and restitution.
Significant assistance in this investigation was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Merrilyn Hoenemeyer for the Middle District of Florida and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx P. Calderón of the Southern District of Florida.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.
This action is part of Operation Riptide, an ongoing FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime, and fraud against the American people. Last year, Americans reported over $20 billion in losses to cybercrime, a 26 percent single-year increase. Operation Riptide is the FBI's sustained enforcement response to that threat.
If you are a victim of ransomware, contact your local FBI field office or file a report at ic3.gov.
If you have information about ALPHV/BlackCat, their affiliates or activities, you may be eligible for a reward through Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards program or Rewards for Justice program. Information can also be submitted through the following Tor-based tip line (Tor browser required):
he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case numbers 26-cr-20065.
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Justice Department Sues Maryland over Sanctuary PoliciesRead the Press Release
Today, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Maryland and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown over the State’s sanctuary policies that interfere with the federal government’s enforcement of its immigration laws.
“Federal immigration officers merely enforce the laws that our Nation’s elected representatives in Congress passed, reflecting the will of We the People,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “When sanctuary jurisdictions enact laws to shield illegal aliens from federal law enforcement, it is not merely federal law that is violated, but the voices of everyday American voters silenced. Today’s suit proves that this Department will never stand for such lawless action from blue state leaders.”
“The American people are ultimately the ones who suffer when states pass these irresponsible sanctuary policies,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will always defend the Constitution and the rule of law, and it does so today by challenging Maryland’s efforts to thwart federal immigration enforcement.”
Not only are the sanctuary policies illegal under federal law, but, as alleged in the complaint, Maryland’s refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities has already had negative operational consequences for federal immigration law enforcement, with facilities refusing to facilitate transferring illegal aliens to federal custody even when presented with a routine detainer. The State’s and City’s intentional efforts to obstruct federal law enforcement put citizens at risk and are preempted under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Acting Attorney General Blanche has instructed the Department’s Civil Division to identify state and local laws, policies, and practices that facilitate violations of federal laws or impede lawful federal operations. Today’s lawsuit is the latest in a series of 20 other lawsuits brought by the Civil Division targeting illegal policies designed to thwart federal law enforcement across the country, including in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, and New York.
Justice Department Announces End to Illegal DEI Admissions Practices at Jersey City College Prep SchoolRead the Press Release
This week the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the Jersey City Board of Education (the “District”) entered a voluntary settlement agreement to end race and national origin discrimination in student admissions at Dr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, a college prep magnet school with a competitive admissions process. The settlement agreement resolves the Department’s investigation under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin.
“Quota systems that define students by their race or national origin have been illegal since the 1970s,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Federal law requires that all students, regardless of their race or national origin, be allowed to compete for admission to the best schools in their district — and this Department of Justice will ensure they have equal opportunity to do so.”
The Department’s investigation determined that McNair admitted students under a quota system that set aside a certain number of seats in four categories: “Black,” “White,” “Hispanic,” or “Other.” Applicants were divided into these categories based on their self-identification. After offering admission to an equal number of students in each category, McNair filled the remaining class seats without regard to race or national origin.
Under the settlement agreement, the District will overhaul its admissions process to end the practice of reserving a certain number of seats for students based on race or national origin. The District will no longer provide any preference or benefit to a McNair applicant based on his or her race or national origin. Before the next admissions cycle — which will be for the 2027-2028 school year — the District will adopt an admissions policy that complies with these prohibitions and train staff on nondiscriminatory admissions. In addition, the District will submit status reports to the Department on McNair’s admissions process. The settlement agreement will be in effect until Aug. 15, 2029, unless the Department and the District agree otherwise.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt, and more information about the Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section’s work to combat discrimination is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov.
July Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments AnnouncedRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the July Federal Grand Jury 2026-A Indictments.
The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence.
Craig Thornton Bissell. Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography; Possession of Child Pornography. Bissell, 64, a Canadian national, is charged with knowingly receiving and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Additionally, Bissell is charged with possessing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children under 12 years old. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Wright is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-258
Marco Antonio Cordova Morales. Drug Conspiracy. Cordova Morales, 19, a Guatemalan national, is charged with conspiring with others to possess and distribute methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-262
Jacob Koran Dake. First Degree Murder in Indian Country (Counts 1 & 3); Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises (Count 2); Assault with Intent to Commit Murder in Indian Country (Count 4) (superseding). Dake, 25, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with deliberately killing McKaylah Cunningham in Dec. 2025 and Steve Norman in Mar. 2026. He is charged with maintaining a residence for the purpose of storing, distributing, and using controlled substances. Lastly, Dake allegedly strangled a victim in Jul. 2022 with intent to commit murder. The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Nasar and Valeria Luster are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-119
Rafael Diaz Blett; Raul Manuel Almarales Rodriguez; Raudelis Columbie Ferrer. Conspiracy to Commit Access Device Fraud (Count 1); Possession of Fifteen or More Counterfeit Access Devices (Counts 2 & 5); Possession of Device Making Equipment (Counts 3 & 6); Illegal Transportation of Hazardous Material (Counts 4 & 9); Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition (Count 7); Use of Counterfeit Access Device (Count 8). Diaz Blett, 31, Almarales Rodriguez, 40, and Columbie Ferrer, 24, all Cuban nationals, are charged with conspiring together to install and use skimming devices to purchase fuel. Diaz Blett and Almarales Rodriguez are charged with possessing more than 15 counterfeit credit cards. Diaz Blett and Columbie Ferrer willfully transported a hazardous material in violation of the Department of Transportation rules and regulations. Almarales Rodriguez is additionally charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Lastly, Columbie Ferrer is charged with knowingly possessing a cloned credit card. Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Transportation, and IRS Criminal Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elmore and John Brasher are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-251
Luis Garcia Ambriz. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia Ambriz, 52, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed twice in 2009 and once in 2010. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-257
Efren Garcia. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Garcia, 26, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2010 and 2012. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Osborn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-259
Jose Luis Hernandez Lopez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Hernandez Lopez, 29, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed twice in 2024. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-260
Jose Miguel Malerva Herver. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm. Malerva Herver, 25, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Flynn and Mike Flesher are prosecuting the case. 26-CR-252
Arturo Oliva Moreno. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Oliva Moreno, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed twice in 2009, once in 2011, and in 2023. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-265
Lucio Perez Mendias. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Perez Mendias, 39, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in 2009, 2017, and 2020. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-253
Cesar Uriel Rodriguez Martinez. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Rodriguez Martinez, 32, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-261
Ryan Thomas Salisbury. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor. Salisbury, 46, of Norman, is charged with attempting to entice an individual he believed was under 18 years old to engage in sexual activity. Homeland Security Investigations and the Broken Arrow Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case.
26-CR-264Indian National Illegally in U.S. Sentenced to 23 Months in Prison for Gun PossessionRead the Press Release
PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Harshpreet Singh, 25, an Indian national illegally in the U.S., was sentenced today to 23 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Catherine Henry for possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States.
The defendant was charged by indictment in October of last year and pleaded guilty in March.
As detailed in court filings, on August 28, 2024, at approximately 1:17 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police troopers and Bethel Township Police Department officers responded to a Bethel, Pennsylvania, residence for a report of a shooting incident relating to a home invasion. At the same time, Berks County police dispatch advised officers of a call for a gunshot victim at a gas station less than half a mile away from the residence.
Officers found A.S., charged elsewhere, inside of a vehicle at the gas pumps with a gunshot wound to the torso, with the defendant and a co-defendant also in the vehicle.
After A.S. was transported to the hospital for treatment, police officers canvassed the area around the gas station and discovered two firearms in a gravel lot across the street: a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 12 live rounds of ammunition; and a privately manufactured firearm bearing no serial number, loaded with 17 live rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Another firearm, a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with 13 live rounds of ammunition, was located in the yard of the residence that had reported the home invasion.
Forensic testing on the three guns subsequently found a DNA profile consistent with a mixture of four contributors, with Harshpreet Singh included as a potential contributor to this mixture profile.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Bethel Township (Berks County) Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rosalynda M. Michetti.
Illegal alien sentenced for gun possession in the Eastern District of TexasRead the Press Release
BEAUMONT, Texas –An illegal alien has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms possession in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Freddie Castillo, 36, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on July 9, 2026.
According to information presented in court, on August 2, 2025, Castillo, a national of Belize illegally living in Houston was stopped by law enforcement in Trinity County. During the stop, Castillo provided the officer with a Belize passport, Belize driver’s license, and Belize consular identification card and informed the officer that he was in the United States on an expired visa. Castillo admitted to possessing a shotgun and rifle which were in the vehicle. Further investigation revealed Castillo was issued a visa in 2000, which expired in 2010, and he had not applied for permission to extend the visa or remain in the United States.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Department of Homeland Security. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.
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Illegal alien indicted in the Eastern District of Texas and charged with the kidnapping of a child from LouisianaRead the Press Release
PLANO, Texas – A Honduran national illegally living in Princeton has been charged with federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas related to the kidnapping of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.
Osman Daniel Vasquez-Mejia, 18, was named in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with kidnapping, transportation of a minor, and improper entry by an alien.
If convicted, Vasquez-Mejia faces life in federal prison.
This case is 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
This case is being investigated by the Allen Police Department, FBI, and the Collin County Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Anderson.
A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Illegal alien from Mexico sentenced to over two years in prison after using a stolen identity to vote in U.S. electionsRead the Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced yesterday to two years and nine months in prison for aggravated identity theft and making false statements in a passport application.
According to court documents, Jose Maria Hernandez Bautista, 43, previously was deported from the United States in 2007 and twice in 2011. Following his most recent removal, Hernandez Bautista unlawfully re-entered the United States and by March 2013 began using the identity of a U.S. citizen. Hernandez Bautista used the victim’s identity to obtain driver licenses in Alabama in 2013 and North Carolina in 2015. In 2013 and again in 2015 Hernandez Bautista used the victim’s identity to obtain replacement Social Security cards. On April 14, 2016, Hernandez Bautista used the victim’s personal identifying information along with a photo of himself to apply for and obtain a United States passport.
In 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2024, Hernandez Bautista used the victim’s identity to apply for and receive Virginia identification cards or driver’s licenses. In an application dated May 16, 2016, Hernandez Bautista registered to vote in the victim’s name. Hernandez Bautista then used that fraudulent voter registration to vote in the 2016 and 2020 federal elections.
In 2019, Hernandez Bautista took out a line of credit in the victim’s name to purchase a vehicle. Between 2016 and 2021, he received at least seven traffic tickets in Virginia and Maryland, all under the victim’s name.
Homeland Security Investigations - Washington, D.C., and the Social Security Administration - Office of Inspector General investigated this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Bolzman 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.
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-27.
Illegal alien convicted felon handed federal prison sentence for unlawful presence in the countryRead the Press Release
HOUSTON – A 37-year-old illegal alien from Mexico with a felony criminal history has been sentenced for illegally entering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.
Ivan Garcia-Lopez pleaded guilty April 10.
U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett has now ordered Garcia-Lopez to serve 60 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen and with a current removal order, he will be immediately removed from the country following his imprisonment. In handing down the sentence, the court considered the dangerousness of his other crimes and lack of respect for the law.
Garcia-Lopez has previous convictions for illegal reentry, engaging in organized crime and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
He was first removed from the country in 2012. However, authorities discovered him again in Houston Sept. 8, 2025, following his arrest for felony evading arrest with a motor vehicle.
Garcia-Lopez will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
Immigration Customs Enforcement - Enforcement Removal Operations conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Law 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 Indicted for Transportation of Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
LAFAYETTE – On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Kevin Renan Vargas Aguilera, 20, of Honduras, with Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison for the charge.
According to court documents, Vargas Aguilera is accused of transporting a 13-year-old girl from Amelia, Louisiana, to Texas in November 2025. The day of the abduction, the victim’s mother discovered the child missing and reported the matter to law enforcement who issued an endangered/missing child advisory. The indictment alleges Vargas Aguilera intended for the minor victim to engage in criminal sexual activity. Texas authorities arrested Vargas Aguilera and were also able to safely recover the minor child. Law enforcement was alerted to the whereabouts of the child by a member of the public who had seen the missing child advisory.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Lufkin Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott Cassidy with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Denise Duhon.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is 6:26-cr-00247-01.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
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Western District of Louisiana
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Héctor Ramírez-Carbó Serves as Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto RicoRead the Press Release
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Héctor Ramírez-Carbó serves as Acting United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico pursuant to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, 5 U.S.C. § 3345 et seq., subject to the time limitations set forth in 5 U.S.C. § 3346.
Mr. Ramírez-Carbó has served in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico for more than 17 years as a civil and criminal litigator, Chief of the Civil Division, and, since 2020, as the First Assistant United States Attorney.
As Acting United States Attorney, Mr. Ramírez-Carbó serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District of Puerto Rico and is responsible for overseeing the prosecution of federal criminal cases and the litigation of civil matters on behalf of the United States. He also works closely with federal, Commonwealth, and local law enforcement agencies to protect the public, uphold the rule of law, and advance the priorities of the Administration and the Department of Justice.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico is committed to enforcing federal law, safeguarding the rights and safety of the public, and ensuring the fair and impartial administration of justice throughout the District.
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Hope Hull Woman Sentenced for False Testimony During Federal Court ProceedingRead the Press Release
Today, United States Attorney Thomas Govan announced the sentencing of Cindy Coffman Jacques, 59, of Hope Hull, Alabama, following her conviction for perjury.
According to court records and her plea agreement, the case stems from a domestic disturbance reported on July 13, 2025, at a residence in Tallassee, Alabama. When law enforcement officers responded to a 911 call, the victim reported that Jacques’s son, Raymond David Jacques III, who was serving a term of federal probation, had assaulted her. Raymond Jacques was arrested at the scene. His arrest and new criminal conduct triggered federal probation‑revocation proceedings.
On July 28, 2025, during those proceedings, Cindy Jacques testified under oath. Evidence later established that she knowingly made materially false statements when she denied instructing a witness on what to say in an effort to have the charges against her son dismissed. A recorded conversation between Jacques and the victim on July 16, 2025, directly contradicted her sworn testimony.
“Our justice system depends upon truthful testimony under oath,” said United States Attorney Govan. “Those who deliberately lie in federal court to influence the outcome of a case must be held accountable. A felony conviction carries significant and lasting consequences and affirms our commitment to protecting the integrity of judicial proceedings.”
On July 8, 2026, a United States District Judge sentenced Cindy Jacques to two years of probation. As special conditions of her probation, the court ordered Jacques to serve four consecutive weekends in jail, followed by five months of home detention with location monitoring at her own expense.
Previously, on September 14, 2025, Raymond Jacques received a 48-month prison sentence, followed by five years of supervised release, for violating the conditions of his previous terms of supervised release.
The Tallassee Police Department and the United States Probation Office for the Middle District of Alabama investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Geer, III prosecuted the case.
Honduran Man Illegally in the United States Sentenced to 18 months for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm and Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Marlon Leiva-Orellana, of Honduras, was sentenced on June 30, 2026, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for illegal reentry and unlawfully possessing a firearm. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Leiva-Orellana to concurrent terms of 18 months’ imprisonment on both charges. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he faces deportation to Honduras. It is unlawful under federal law for an alien unlawfully in the United States, such as Leiva-Orellana, to possess a firearm.
On January 13, 2026, the Omaha Police Department responded to a location near Camden Avenue in Omaha concerning gun shots. Officers arrived and located a Nissan truck with North Carolina license plates. Leiva-Orellana, also known as Marlon Leiva-Orellaha, was the only occupant of the truck. Officers observed a .22 caliber pistol inside the truck. Leiva-Orellana admitted that he had discharged the pistol. The officers arrested him.
In addition to being convicted of unlawfully possessing a firearm, Leiva-Orellana was convicted for illegally reentering the United States. Despite being previously removed from the United States in November of 2023, Leiva-Orellana returned without lawful authority.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Omaha Police Department, and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Hometown Hero Detective Edgar Salazar Recognized by the Department of JusticeRead the Press Release
Spokane, Washington — First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on July 9, 2026, the Department of Justice and United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington recognized Detective Edgar Salazar as its 2026 Hometown Hero.
Detective Salazar has been a law enforcement officer with the Moses Lake Police Department for 11 years, where he has served with distinction. For the last approximately 5 years, he has performed exceptional work on the MLPD Street Crimes Unit with an emphasis on community safety investigations, to include very significant drug trafficking and firearms offenses. He also served as a Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration and MLPD’s lead firearms instructor. Detective Salazar also takes pride in his role as a peer support counselor for his fellow police officers.
Prior to joining MLPD, Detective Salazar was a Police Officer for the Western Shoshone Department of Safety in Elko, Nevada. Prior to his domestic law enforcement experience, he was a Marine for 6 years, honorably serving the United States in 2 combat tours in Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
During the first day of Beyond Wonderful, a three-day EDM musical festival at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington on June 17, 2023, five officers, working undercover at the concert, found themselves in the midst of a terrifying scenario. A gunman, 26-year-old James Kelly, was assaulting his girlfriend in the campground area of the event space. When two bystanders attempted in to intervene (Brandy Escamilla, age 29, and Josilyn Ruiz, age 26), Kelly indiscriminately opened fire in the campground, killing the two good Samaritans and wounding at least three others. Kelly then took his girlfriend hostage, dragging her into a nearby field where he continued to violently assault her.
Despite being in undercover assignments without ballistic vests, standard police equipment, or their usual firearms, and armed only with small backup pistols, the officers exhibited unmatched bravery amid the chaos and panic that ensued from the very large crowd. They navigated approximately 150 yards of open grassy terrain, advancing towards the gunman who was actively firing in their direction. Their swift and decisive action allowed them to close in on the suspect to about 65 yards. Detective Salazar then took a crucial shot with his pistol, successfully incapacitating the gunman. Thanks to the fearless and skilled response of these officers and the exceptional shot by Detective Salazar, the threat was ended, Kelly was apprehended, and immediate aid was provided to the victims. There is no question that without Detective Salazar’s heroic actions, more lives would have been lost.
First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano said, “Our office is honored to recognize Detective Salazar as the 2026 Hometown Hero for his bravery, sacrifice and exemplary service to our community on behalf of the Department of Justice.”
"The Moses Lake Police Department is extremely proud of the professionalism and dedication to service displayed by Officer Salazar and all the officers that responded to this horrific event, something they will remember for the rest of their lives. As we celebrate Officer Salazar today, we also remember there are families that are missing their loved ones and will surely grieve for the rest of their lives as well. I would like to thank the United States Attorney’s Office for recognizing Officer Salazar today."
Homeland Security Task Force Charges Dozens in South Florida with Federal Firearms and Drug Trafficking Crimes, 94 Firearms SeizedRead the Press Release
MIAMI – U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida, joined by federal and local law enforcement partners, announced today the results of a two-month, multi-agency enforcement initiative targeting repeat violent offenders in Palm Beach County.
In May, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Miami Field Division launched “Operation Hurricane,” an enhanced enforcement initiative focused on combating violent crime and disrupting the illegal possession and trafficking of firearms throughout South Florida. As part of the operation, ATF deployed personnel from across the country to work alongside federal and local law enforcement agencies, providing specialized expertise in tactical operations, technical support, and undercover investigations.
To date, the ATF-led initiative has resulted in federal charges against and the arrest of 38 federal defendants and 8 state defendants, most of whom are Palm Beach County residents facing firearms and narcotics trafficking offenses. Law enforcement also seized 94 firearms, including semiautomatic rifles and handguns, along with more than 600 rounds of ammunition. Additionally, investigators seized approximately 9.4 kilograms of illegal narcotics, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack, and other controlled substances.
“As we’ve seen in Memphis, Washington, D.C., and now South Florida, targeted law enforcement surges drive down crime,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald. “Operation Hurricane is the latest success: over two months of focused enforcement by ATF and its partners removed nearly 100 illegal firearms from communities, along with significant quantities of illegal drugs and controlled substances. We commend ATF and all our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for their relentless efforts to hold violent repeat offenders accountable and make our neighborhoods safer.”
“Operation Hurricane shows the Homeland Security Task Force model at work: federal, state, and local law enforcement moving as one team to identify the drivers of violence and remove illegal guns and drugs from our streets,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones. “This was dangerous, difficult work. Our agents and officers went into harm’s way to save lives in Palm Beach County and across South Florida. Because of their courage and professionalism, 46 defendants, 94 firearms, and kilograms of deadly narcotics are now off the street.”
“This enforcement initiative demonstrates ATF’s unwavering commitment to reducing violent crime by identifying and targeting the individuals who pose the greatest threat to our communities,” said ATF Director Rob Cekada. “ATF-led surge operations such as Operation Hurricane in south Florida supports the White House’s violent crime strategy and the Homeland Security Task Force – by focusing our investigative resources on known members of violent gangs, transnational criminal organizations, cartels and other prolific offenders. Our ATF Miami Field Division personnel removed 38 dangerous criminals from our streets, disrupted criminal groups, armed robbery crews, firearms trafficking cells, drug trafficking networks, and thus, made our neighborhoods significantly safer. These results will have a lasting impact and are a testament to the dedication of our special agents, and law enforcement partners who work every day to protect the public through strategic, intelligence-driven enforcement.”
“These criminals posed a serious threat to the well-being of Palm Beach County residents and the actions of our dedicated law enforcement partners in getting these weapons and drugs off the streets will lead to safer communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Aley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division.
“This case demonstrates what is possible when law enforcement agencies work together with a shared commitment to protecting our community,” said Police Chief Tony Araujo of the West Palm Beach Police Department. Strong partnerships, open communication, and coordinated efforts were essential to advancing this investigation and bringing those responsible to justice.”
The charges were brought via federal indictments and criminal complaints over the past few weeks.
Operation Hurricane Defendants:
NameAgeCity of ResidenceChargesAntwuan Alexander23Lake ParkFelon in possession of a firearmSarne Barfield38West Palm BeachConspiracy to distribute 28 grams of crack cocaineHenry Bennett Jr.50West Palm BeachConspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (500 grams or more of cocaine)Simon Black24Lake WorthConspiracy to possess and distribute a controlled substanceNevara Brown32Port Saint LucieFelon in possession of a firearm
Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
Use, carry, and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Woodley David35West Palm BeachConspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (500 grams or more of cocaine)Carlos Dennard55West Palm BeachConspiracy to distribute 28 grams of crack cocaineChris Duncan Jr.56Riviera BeachDistribution of a controlled substanceLiosbel Guillermo Ferrer Ortiz29Palm BayConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
Attempt to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
Conspiracy to use, carry, and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Use, carry, and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery
Attempt to commit Hobbs Act robbery
Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition
Dequan Fleming30Riviera BeachConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine
Use, carry, and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Camaron Furlow26Fort MyersPossession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
Taron Furlow28Fort MyersPossession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
Dametria Alexandria Gibson29Belle GladeFederal possession of unregistered firearms
Felon in possession of a firearms
Shon Lashard Grimsley33West Palm BeachDistribution of a controlled substance
Distribution of a controlled substance
Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
Attempt to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
Conspiracy to use, carry, and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Use, carry, and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery
Attempt to commit Hobbs Act robbery
Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition
Edward Lamar Hamilton III26Riviera BeachFederal possession of unregistered firearms
Felon in possession of a firearm
Deonte Harry28Daytona BeachFelon in possession of a firearmGavlyn Renard Hooks42West Palm BeachConspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of a cocaine base
Possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance
Possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of a cocaine base
Stephanie Hugee42Fort PierceDistribution of a controlled substanceMichael Jean24Lake WorthFelon in possession of a firearmJoseph Jerome, Jr.39West Palm BeachPossession with intent to distribute controlled substances
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a federal drug trafficking crime
Possession of firearms by a convicted felon
Derick Julien35West Palm BeachConspiracy to traffic firearms and trafficking firearmsJohn Phillip King38West Palm BeachConspiracy to distribute a controlled substance to include 28 grams or more of a mixture and substance
Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon
Raleigh Markale Lewis47Riviera BeachConspiracy to distribute 280 grams or more of a cocaine base
Possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled substance
Possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of a cocaine base
Carlos Lorenzo Linder, Jr.20Riviera BeachConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
Attempt to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
Conspiracy to use, carry, and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Use, carry, and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery
Attempt to commit Hobbs Act robbery
Alonzo Little29Fort MyersConspiracy to transfer firearms to another person in or otherwise affecting interstate or foreign commerce
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
Dallas Little29Fort MyersFelon in possession of a firearm
Conspiracy to transfer firearms to another person in or otherwise affecting interstate or foreign commerce
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
Larry Little31Lehigh AcresPossession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance
Rayan Masamvu26West Palm BeachConspiracy to possess and distribute a controlled substanceTyran McNeal24Riviera BeachFelon in possession of a firearm
Distribution of a controlled substance
Possession of a firearm during and in relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime
Milton Andrew Richardson40West Palm BeachConspiracy to distribute a controlled substance to include 28 grams or more of a mixture and substance
Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon
Sagon Mickaletoe Steward38West Palm BeachConspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
Attempt to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance
Conspiracy to use, carry, and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Use, carry, and possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery
Attempt to commit Hobbs Act robbery
Felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition
Antony Stokes23Riviera BeachConspiracy to traffic firearms and trafficking firearms
Possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon
Robert Lee Turner, Jr.31Riviera BeachDistribution of a Schedule II controlled substance
Distribution of 28 grams or more of a Schedule II controlled substance
Kevin Walker34PahokeeFelon in possession of a firearmJarvis Williams31West Palm BeachFelon in possession of a firearmDavid Woodley35West Palm BeachConspiracy to distribute a controlled substance (500 grams or more of cocaine)Marcus Young30Lake ParkDistribution of a controlled substance over 50 grams of a mixture
Distribution of a controlled substance over 40 grams or more
Distribution of a controlled substance
U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones acknowledged and commended the investigative efforts of ATF, DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Palm Beach Police Department.
The federal prosecutions are being coordinated by West Palm Beach Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McMichael and West Palm Beach Narcotics Chief Daniel Funk.
These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Miami comprises of agents and officers from ATF, DEA, USMS, HSI, and HIDTA with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The charges contained in indictments and complaints are not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Guilty Plea Unsealed for Former DC Public Schools Administrator Involved in Bribery SchemeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – Tracy Hatton, 60, of the District of Columbia, a former administrative officer at McKinley Technology High School, pleaded guilty to bribery in connection with a scheme that caused a loss to the District of Columbia government of more than $40,000, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. The plea was unsealed today in U.S. District Court.
According to court documents, Hatton was an administrative officer for McKinley, a unit of the District of Columbia Public Schools, and was responsible for managing the school's supply budget, selecting and awarding vendor contracts, and approving invoices for payment.
Beginning in or about October 2020 and continuing until about September 2023, Hatton accepted cash bribes from a contractor identified in court papers as Contractor 1, the owner of an approved D.C. Supply Schedule vendor, in exchange for using her official position to benefit that vendor.
In exchange for the bribes, Hatton issued purchase orders to the contractor and approved payment for goods that were never delivered to McKinley, including fraudulent invoices for inflated and under-delivered orders. Hatton also directed the contractor to fraudulently charge her government-issued purchase card for supplies that were never provided. On some occasions, Hatton accepted additional cash payments from the contractor that did not derive from fraudulently obtained DCPS funds, in exchange for steering additional business to the contractor.
In total, Hatton personally profited by at least $30,000. Because the payments to Hatton were made in cash, the total loss to D.C. Public Schools is difficult to identify. Hatton pleaded guilty to bribery on Nov. 10, 2025. Sentencing is set for Nov. 5, 2026.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Howland of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section. The matter was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the D.C. Office of the Inspector General.
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Guilford County Woman Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud in Connection with Million Dollar Urine Drug Testing SchemeRead the Press Release
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Gwendolyn Singleton pled guilty today to health care fraud in connection with a scheme to fraudulently bill the North Carolina Medicaid program for over $1.7 million of urine drug tests that were not performed, announced Dan Bishop, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina and North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson.
According to court documents, Singleton, age 55, owned and operated a business called Joelle’s Center of Hope located in Greensboro, North Carolina. Joelle’s Center of Hope purported to provide substance abuse treatment, including urine drug tests. Between June 2021 and March of 2023, Joelle’s submitted approximately $1,735,865 worth of fraudulent urine drug testing claims directly to Medicaid. A nurse practitioner and a doctor were listed as the ordering providers on the claims. Both providers reported that they never ordered any urine drug tests for Joelle’s Center of Hope.
Over the course of the scheme, Medicaid reimbursed Joelle’s Center of Hope over $1.7 million.
Sentencing is scheduled to take place on October 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, before United States District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder. At sentencing, Singleton faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, a period of supervised release of up to three years, and monetary penalties.
The Department of Health and Human Services–Office of Inspector General, North Carolina Attorney General’s Office-Medicaid Investigations Division, and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ashley Waid and Eric Iverson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Spillman.
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