title: North Carolina Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax Fraud

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. —Oliver Austin Thomas, III, 50, formerly of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, now residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison for failure to file an income tax return and tax evasion. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in 2020 and continuing into 2021 and 2022, Thomas gambled at several casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, resulting in substantial winnings. Thomas then attempted to evade paying income taxes on his winnings by providing false social security numbers to casinos to hide the gambling income. During the investigation, Thomas denied using another individual’s social security number when interviewed by IRS agents. Thomas failed to file a tax return for tax years 2020, 2021, and 2022, despite having enough income to trigger a filing requirement, resulting in a tax loss of $446,072. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Thomas to a total term of 15 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court also ordered Thomas to pay $446,072 in restitution. “By willfully evading tax responsibilities, this defendant isn’t just cheating the government, but he is also shifting the burden of maintaining our nation’s taxpayer funded systems onto the shoulders of honest, hardworking Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Our office remains committed to ensuring that the law applies equally to everyone, and we will continue to prosecute those who attempt to bypass their civic duties for personal gain.” “It’s important for the American people to know everyone is complying with their tax obligations,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “This sentence is a positive message to honest taxpayers and further exhibits the partnership between IRS-CI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office who are committed to protecting the integrity of the tax system and ensure compliance with their tax obligations.” This case was investigated by the IRS-CI Charlotte Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel prosecuted the case. ###


title: Java Center man charged with possession of child pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Patrick Kerwin, 43, of Java Center, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maeve E. Huggins, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on January 2, 2026, the FBI was alerted by the New York State Police (NYSP) regarding an investigation of Kerwin for suspected possession of child pornography, which began in 2022 based on a CyberTip Report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In November 2025, the NYSP also learned that the Lancaster Police Department arrested and charged Kerwin with violations of New York State Penal Law. The arrest stemmed from a tip received from a civilian child safety advocacy group that indicated a group member communicated with Kerwin. Based upon the information provided by the group, Kerwin purportedly believed that he communicated with a minor to meet her for sex. On November 19, 2025, Lancaster Police encountered Kerwin at a local restaurant, at which time he was arrested, and his cell phone was seized. A preliminary review of the cell phone recovered several sexually explicit images and videos of underage females. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, the Lancaster Police Department, under the direction of Chief William Gummo, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Felon Who Crashed into Unmarked FBI Car Sentenced in Illegal Possession of Handgun and Marijuana with Intent to Distribute

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Lorenzo Greene, 21, a previously convicted felon residing in the District, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 30 months in prison in connection with a flight from police, a crash into a law enforcement vehicle, and the subsequent discovery of a 9mm handgun, 18 rounds of ammunition, and about five ounces of marijuana, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Greene pleaded guilty Nov. 5, 2025, before Judge Amir H. Ali to one count of possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances and to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. At sentencing, in addition to the prison term, Judge Ali ordered Greene to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on Aug. 24, 2025, Greene was driving a Nissan Altima erratically in the vicinity of 17th St. SE and T St. SE, The Nissan was tagged with a stolen Virginia temporary license plate and had heavily tinted windows. Police attempted to stop the Nissan after Greene ran a red stoplight and drove across the center of the roadway into oncoming traffic. Instead of pulling over, Greene accelerated. He recklessly swerved the Nissan into an alley, rounded a curve, and collided with an unmarked FBI vehicle that was driving with its lights and sirens activated. As officers approached the crashed Nissan, Greene got out and attempted to flee, which led to a struggle. One of the officers observed a black handgun protruding from Greene’s waistband and recovered it. The firearm was a Taurus G3C handgun, 9mm caliber, loaded with 17 rounds in a large capacity ammunition feeding device and one round in the chamber. From Greene’s backpack, officers also seized about five ounces of marijuana, packaging materials, a scale, and $369 in cash. Greene previously had been convicted of carrying a pistol without a license, punishable by a sentence of more than a year, and was therefore prohibited from possessing any firearm. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolie Zimmerman as part of the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Initiative. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties for offenses, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. 25cr320 Photo showing an obliterated serial number on firearm belonging to Greene.


title: Kansas City, Kansas Man Sentenced to 12 Years  for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Ks., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a Glock .45 caliber handgun. Aaron T. Fant, 35, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Brian C. Wimes, to 12 years (144 months) in prison without parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On March 20, 2023, Fant attempted to push his way into the apartment of a female acquaintance. As the adult female resisted and tried to close the door, Fant punched the female in the chest to gain entry. The adult female’s 16-year-old son tried to intervene, stepping between his mother and Fant. Fant then produced a black and silver handgun from his waistband and struck the juvenile in the head with the firearm. The adult female was able to push Fant back from the doorway and lock the door. As Fant walked away, he yelled, “If you call the police, I will kill you.” The juvenile was transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital where he received three staples to close the wound. On March 29, 2023, Fant was arrested following a prolonged standoff with law enforcement at a hotel he was staying at in Kansas City, Mo. During the standoff, Fant made several threatening statements, including “I have a gun,” “I’m armed,” “You’ll have to kill me” and “Come in and get me.” Ultimately law enforcement deployed a gas projectile through the window of the hotel room, and Fant came out of the room without further incident. In Fant’s vehicle at the hotel, officers located a Glock, Model 37 Gen 4, .45 caliber handgun that was loaded. Fant, who is a convicted felon, had been found guilty of nineteen prior felony offenses. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Former Luzerne County Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Florida man was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for tax evasion in connection with substantial legal fees he earned. The following is based on court documents and statements made in court: Robert J. Powell, of Palm Beach, Florida, and formerly of Pennsylvania, carried out his tax evasion scheme by using nominee bank accounts, causing an accountant to file a request for a filing extension that falsely reported zero estimated tax liability for 2016, and by making false statements during a subsequent IRS audit. After his suspension and disbarment from the practice of law, Powell retained the right to collect a portion of future fees collected by his former firm for representing thousands of plaintiffs in a mass tort litigation that settled for approximately $5.15 billion in 2015. Powell’s firm was expected to receive approximately $120 million in attorneys’ fees from that settlement. Before those attorneys’ fees were disbursed, Powell’s firm used the fees as collateral to obtain a series of loans totaling over $125 million. Instead of depositing the loan proceeds into firm bank accounts and using them to pay firm expenses, Powell directed the loans to nominee bank accounts under his control. He then used the loan proceeds to pay his personal debts and expenses, as well as for the personal benefit of his former law partner and himself. In June 2016, most of the attorneys’ fees were finally disbursed and the loans repaid. Powell did not file a personal income tax return and pay taxes on those fees, even though he personally received an additional $3.6 million of the fees. For the tax years 2010 through 2022, Powell did not file personal tax returns even though he earned income during each of those years and was required to file. In 2019, the IRS audited Powell. During the audit, Powell made false statements in an attempt to conceal his income and expenditures. Specifically, Powell falsely informed the IRS that his only source of funds were loan advances, he and his spouse did not have signature authority or control over other bank accounts, and he had no ownership in any corporations. All of these statements were false. In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Malachy E. Mannion for the Middle District of Pennsylvania ordered Powell to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $3.5 million in restitution to the United States and a $100,000 fine. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorney Alexandra K. Fleszar of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Sharma for the Middle District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case.


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Justin Antonio Jones, 40, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 29, 2024, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in Mingo County, West Virginia. During the traffic stop, officers heard what they believed was the sound of a slide moving on a semi-automatic firearm coming from the area of another vehicle parked nearby. Officers investigated the sound and encountered Jones standing by the other vehicle. Officers saw Jones place an object beneath the passenger side front tire of that vehicle and recovered a Keltec model PF-9 9mm pistol from that spot. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Jones knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance on October 27, 2008, and on May 22, 2012, both in Mingo County Circuit Court. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on May 20, 2026, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Mingo County Sheriff’s Office. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-191. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Fentanyl Importation And Firearms Charges Against Major Fentanyl Producer For The Chapitos

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Terrance C. Cole, announced the unsealing of an Indictment today charging IVAN VALERIO SAINZ SALAZAR, a/k/a “Mantecas,” with fentanyl importation and related weapons offenses in connection with his participation in a conspiracy to produce fentanyl for the Sinaloa Cartel and import it into the United States. The Mexican government announced the arrest of Sainz Salazar and his associates in Badiraguato, Sinaloa on January 19, 2026. “As alleged, Sainz Salazar served as a major producer of the Sinaloa Cartel’s fentanyl shipments bound for the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Fentanyl kills, and violent dealers in fentanyl must be taken off our streets. Today’s charges target a major producer behind the Chapitos’ supply chain and underscore the commitment of the women and men of our Office to holding traffickers at all levels of the production and distribution chain accountable.” “Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat this nation has ever confronted, and today’s indictment makes that unmistakably clear,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. “The Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, a foreign terrorist organization - ran an enterprise protected by armed sicarios and military-grade weapons, producing millions of counterfeit pills that have killed many people, and leaving devastation in their wake. This is not just alleged drug trafficking. Fentanyl is a weapon used to destroy lives. The DEA is dismantling these networks from the top down, and we will not relent until the laboratories are shut, the traffickers are behind bars, and these cartel organizations are destroyed piece by piece.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment: 1 The Sinaloa Cartel (the “Cartel”) is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico and is largely responsible for the manufacturing and importing of fentanyl for distribution in the United States. Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid that is more than 50 times more potent than heroin. Fentanyl represents the single deadliest drug threat that the United States has ever encountered—it has ruined lives, devastated communities, and killed Americans at an unprecedented rate. The sons of the Cartel’s notorious former leader, “El Chapo,” who are themselves collectively known as the “Chapitos,” have variously and at times led the most powerful faction of the Cartel. To protect and further their fentanyl trafficking operation, the Chapitos and their confederates have relied on armed enforcers, known as sicarios , who commit acts of violence to protect the Chapitos’ operation and its leaders, territory, labs, trafficking routes, and money, and regularly use military-grade weapons smuggled from the United States, including machine guns, to perpetrate violence, including murder, torture, and kidnapping. From at least in or about 2022, up to and including in or about 2025, SAINZ SALAZAR served as a key fentanyl producer for the Chapitos. Among other things, SAINZ SALAZAR worked with others to produce millions of fentanyl pills on behalf of the Chapitos, participated in meetings to arrange fentanyl transactions, carried firearms and relied on armed security personnel at those meetings, and reported to high-ranking lieutenants of the Chapitos who themselves relied on sicarios armed with AK-47s and FN Minimis for the protection and promotion of their fentanyl operations. In or about 2023, the Chapitos consolidated fentanyl production at labs operated by SAINZ SALAZAR and his associates and issued orders authorizing only SAINZ SALAZAR and his associates to produce and distribute fentanyl in territories controlled by the Chapitos. * * * SAINZ SALAZAR, 40, a Mexican national, is charged with conspiring to import fentanyl into the United States, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl in the United States, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; using, carrying, and possessing machine guns and destructive devices in connection with the fentanyl importation conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and conspiring to use, carry, and possess machine guns and destructive devices in connection with the fentanyl importation conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit and thanked the DEA San Diego Field Division, the DEA Hermosillo, Mexico Resident Office, and the Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division for their assistance. This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jane Y. Chong, Sarah L. Kushner, and David J. Robles are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 1 As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Defendant Indicted for Robbing and Assaulting his Former Romantic Partner

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – A 55-year-old Washington, D.C. man, was indicted yesterday by a grand jury on charges stemming from attacking and robbing his former romantic partner in October 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine F. Pirro. A Superior Court grand jury indicted the defendant on February 4, 2026, on robbery and simple assault. This case is set for trial on February 23, 2026, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Andrea Hertzfeld. According to the government’s evidence, on October 15, 2025, at approximately 2:30 p.m., the man came behind the victim, his former romantic partner, on W Street, NW and took her phone out of her hand. The man then fought with the victim as she tried to recover her phone. He struck the victim in the face and shoved her to the ground. When they stood back up, the man took the victim’s purse as well. A bystander observed the altercation and intervened by calling 911 and the defendant left the area with the victim’s phone and purse. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Alaskan man indicted as financial sponsor of unaccompanied minor in Texas alien smuggling investigation

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 44-year-old man from Chugaik, Alaska, has been charged in the Southern District of Texas for paying to bring illegal aliens into the country, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Douglas Price is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon in Anchorage, Alaska, at 1 p.m. (Alaska Standard Time). The charges allege Price used a payment account associated with his business to pay approximately $5,000 to alien smugglers for a Honduran woman and her child to be smuggled into the United States. The woman and her child were subsequently separated during the smuggling journey, according to the criminal complaint originally filed in the case. “This man allegedly paid smugglers to bring an illegal alien child and mother to this country, and in doing so, the child ended up alone during the dangerous journey,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. "Under POTUS, vetting of sponsors for unaccompanied alien children is as strong as ever, and federal partners found this “sponsor” to be unfit. It is a crime to smuggle illegal aliens into this country, and particularly horrendous to expose a child to untold dangers. Working with our federal partners, we will continue to uphold the law and in doing so, keep children from potential harm.” "This indictment demonstrates the far-reaching and positive impact a secure southern border provides for all Americans,” said Ganjei. “Price allegedly spent thousands of dollars attempting to smuggle two aliens, including an unaccompanied minor, more than 4,000 miles, from the Texas border all the way up to Alaska. Price’s alleged scheme unreasonably subjected this child to incredible risk, as human smuggling is a dangerous, and often even deadly, business. Now, Price will be paying for his own return trip—to a federal courthouse in the Southern District of Texas." Law enforcement allegedly apprehended the unaccompanied minor Jan. 16 upon crossing the border in Hidalgo. They took the mother into custody six days later as she crossed illegally at the same location, according to the charges. The indictment, returned Feb. 3, charges Price with conspiracy to bring aliens to the United States and encouraging aliens to come to, enter or reside in the country. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Homeland Security Investigations in McAllen and Anchorage conducted the investigation with the assistance of Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Refugee and Resettlement and U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker is prosecuting the case with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana Weber in the District of Alaska. 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 criminal complaint or indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Defendant Pleads Guilty for His Role in International Human and Drug Smuggling Conspiracy

body_text: A defendant pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to illegally smuggle Honduran nationals and cocaine into the United States. According to court documents, Olvin Javier Velasquez-Maldonado, 40, of Honduras, conspired with at least six others to bring Honduran nationals and cocaine from Honduras to the United States. In February 2022, Maldonado and others attempted to illegally bring more than 20 Honduran nationals and approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine from Utila, Honduras, to Cocodrie, Louisiana, aboard the M/V Pop , a sportfishing vessel co-owned by co-conspirator Carl Allison. Many of the aliens paid up to $20,000 to Allison or his co-conspirators to be smuggled into the United States. At some point during the voyage in February 2022, the M/V Pop developed engine trouble. Allison and others chartered a boat to bring fuel to the disabled vessel so that it could complete its journey to the United States. Before the chartered boat reached the disabled vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard interdicted the vessel off the coast of Louisiana and towed it to shore. After the vessel was towed to Jean Lafitte Harbor, a search of the vessel discovered approximately 24 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment under a mattress in the captain’s sleeping quarters. Maldonado packaged the cocaine and his fingerprints were found under the packaging. Maldonado was extradited to the United States from Honduras on April 9, 2025. Maldonado pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine hydrochloride. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. Three additional co-conspirators have also pleaded guilty and were sentenced for their roles in the scheme. Lead defendant Carl Allison, of Pittsburgh, and Darrel Martinez, of Honduras, pleaded guilty to the same charges as Villeda. Lenord Cooper, also of Honduras, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to aid and assist aliens to enter the United States unlawfully and attempting to bring aliens to the U.S. for commercial advantage and private financial gain. Two other co-conspirators, Hennessy Devon Cooper Zelaya and Rudy Jackson Hernandez, both from Honduras, were convicted after trial of conspiracy to unlawfully bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain and attempting to bring aliens to the United States for commercial advantage and private financial gain. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew Wright of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans Field Office made the announcement. The investigation and charges are supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated Assistant U.S. Attorney-detailees from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/ HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 435 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 385 U.S. convictions; more than 330 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood . The HSI Houma, Louisiana Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the HSI Pittsburgh Field Office, HSI Atlanta Field Office and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation. The HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center International Interdiction Task Force, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Louisiana State Police, Pennsylvania State Police, North Huntington Township Police and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office also provided valuable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training in Honduras also provided assistance. Deputy Chief Rami Badawy of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter Guice for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.


title: Chesterfield woman pleads guilty to defrauding numerous COVID-19 programs and tax charges

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Chesterfield woman pled guilty today to making false statements to steal from multiple COVID-19 relief programs. According to court documents, from approximately May 12, 2020, through at least March 18, 2021, Sheila C. Bynum-Coleman, 54, filed for and received at least nine fraudulent COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling over $225,000 on behalf of eight different businesses she and her husband, Rashad H. Coleman, 48, purportedly operated. To obtain these PPP loans, Bynum-Coleman made numerous false certifications, including that each business had significant annual sales and revenue. Bynum-Coleman inflated and manufactured annual sales and revenue figures to inflate the amount of PPP funds for which the business could qualify. Additionally, with each PPP application, Bynum-Coleman fabricated Internal Revenue Service (IRS) income tax return documents to falsely support the inflated business sales and revenue figures. For instance, though Bynum-Coleman submitted excerpts of a 2020 income tax return as part of multiple PPP loan applications, neither Bynum-Coleman nor her husband filed any income tax returns in 2020. Bynum-Coleman and Coleman also pled guilty to failing to file 2020 income tax returns. Though Bynum-Coleman represented to financial institutions in PPP applications that she and her husband were operating numerous businesses in 2020, Bynum-Coleman represented to the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) that she was unemployed from March 15, 2020, through February 13, 2021, to obtain pandemic unemployment benefits. Bynum-Coleman falsely certified to the VEC that she had not applied for or received PPP funds for the same time period she was seeking pandemic unemployment benefits. Bynum-Coleman made false statements to the U.S. Small Business Administration to defraud a separate COVID-19 program, the Emergency Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program. Bynum-Coleman routinely spent fraudulently obtained PPP funds on paying down her home loan, luxury clothing, paying down credit card bills, and other personal spending. Moreover, on May 29, 2020, about a week after receiving $62,500 in PPP loans, Bynum-Coleman transferred $10,000 of fraudulently obtained PPP funds into a bank account in the name of “Friends of Sheila for Delegate,” an account for Bynum-Coleman’s political campaign for the Virginia House of Delegates. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Avi Panth and Thomas A. Garnett prosecuted the case. The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General Mid-Atlantic Region and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Washington D.C. Field Office investigated the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:25-cr-44.


title: Jury convicts two Houston-area men in murder-for-hire plot against wrong man

body_text: HOUSTON – Two men have been found guilty on multiple charges related to a conspiracy that resulted in the shooting of a Katy man on his way to work, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The federal jury deliberated for approximately two days before convicting Michael Seery, 43, Katy, and Ricardo Obando Jr., 51, Houston, following an eight-day trial. The jury heard the men plotted the murder over the course of months and executed their plan in the early morning of Feb. 4, 2025. Obando shot the victim several times as the man was traveling on his way to work. The victim sustained gunshots wounds to his neck, torso and hand, but ultimately survived. “An innocent victim was ambushed by gunfire during his daily commute—all because of one man’s jealousy and faulty information,” said Ganjei. “This verdict demonstrates my office’s commitment to identifying and prosecuting all members of violent criminal conspiracies. No matter your role, if you conspire to commit an act of violence in the Southern District of Texas, we will hold you accountable and seek a significant sentence. All Texans deserve to be able to travel to work without fear of becoming a target of violent criminals.” “A murder-for-hire plot transformed a Houston highway into an incredibly dangerous situation for morning commuters,” said FBI Houston Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson. “Michael Seery and Ricardo Obando Jr. showed total disregard for human life and put countless innocent bystanders at risk. FBI Houston proudly partnered with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety to identify, locate, and apprehend these men in order to bring them to justice." Seery hired Obando to kill a man he believed had an affair with Seery’s wife while Seery was in prison. Cell phone evidence demonstrated how Obando conducted extensive surveillance and a failed attempt on the victim before finally executing the plot. Obando shot the victim using a firearm equipped with a silencer while the man was driving to work on Highway 99. Jurors heard testimony from the victim and watched the actual footage of the shooting captured on his in-car camera system, which showed the moment of the shooting and the subsequent 911 call. In reality, Seery targeted the wrong person. The actual intended target had moved out of the residence where Seery believed he lived. The intended target testified as did Seery’s wife. The jury heard about the affair that had occurred 12 years prior and that Seery could not get over it. Testimony revealed that even in January 2025, a few weeks before the murder attempt, Seery was angry about the affair. Evidence included multiple photos of various firearms and firearm parts found at Seery’s home and storage unit. The jury also saw the 3D printer Seery used to manufacture the weapon and silencer that Obando is believed to have used. Seery had paid Obando through his business to carry out the crime. The defense attempted to convince the jury there was no evidence about the real intended target or that there was any relationship between the two men and the actual victim, or the intended target. Obando’s defense disputed cellular phone evidence, while Seery claimed he was not involved at in the conspiracy. The jury did not believe any of those claims and found the two men guilty as charged. Both were found guilty of conspiracy to use interstate facilities to commit murder for hire causing bodily injury, aiding and abetting the use of interstate facilities to commit murder for hire causing bodily injury, aiding and abetting discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm silencer during and in relation to a crime of violence. Additionally, Seery was found guilty of transferring a firearm to be used in a felony and felon in possession of a firearm, while Obando was convicted of receiving a firearm that was to be used in a felony. They face up to life in federal prison. The FBI conducted the investigation along with Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and Katy Police Department with assistance of Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hunter Brown and Jill Stotts are prosecuting the case.


title: Former NYPD Supervisor Pleads Guilty To Bribery Conspiracy

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Michael Alfonso, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced that PAMELA DILLARD, a former supervisor in the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), pled guilty to participating in a conspiracy to solicit and accept bribes. DILLARD admitted to providing personally identifiable information of automobile accident victims contained in a non-public NYPD database to a co-conspirator (“CC-1”) who owned and operated a call center that referred accident victims to lawyers and doctors, in exchange for bribes of money and other things of value. DILLARD pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1, 2026. “The NYPD is the gold standard of police departments,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “There is no place in the NYPD for those who compromise the Department’s integrity for personal profit.” “Pamela Dillard shamelessly exploited her law enforcement position to profit from the personal information of vulnerable accident victims, betraying the public’s trust for her own selfish gain,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. “The defendant’s guilty plea is a direct result of her calculated abuse of her access to confidential data, choosing personal greed over the duty to protect sensitive victim information. HSI New York, together with the FBI, the NYPD and the Southern District of New York, remains steadfast in placing New Yorkers’ wellbeing above all else, and will relentlessly pursue those who forsake their sworn responsibilities and in turn endanger our communities.” “Pamela Dillard, a former NYPD civilian employee, abused her supervisory position within a highly acclaimed police department and her access to sensitive information to generate an illicit income,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “While the vast majority of our local law enforcement partners are dedicated to protecting the communities they serve, the FBI will not tolerate those who choose to betray that trust at the expense of New Yorkers.” According to the allegations contained in the Information, court records, and statements made in court: From at least in or about January 2021 through at least in or about September 2023, while working as an NYPD Principal Police Communication Technician (“PCT”), DILLARD solicited and accepted bribes from CC-1 in exchange for providing CC-1 the personally identifiable information of automobile accident victims from a non-public NYPD database. In her capacity as a Principal PCT, DILLARD supervised other PCTs who dispatched police officers to the location of incidents that were called into 911 and had access to sensitive information about automobile accident victims. During this period, DILLARD accepted at least 21 bribe payments from CC-1, totaling approximately $17,300. * * * DILLARD, 48, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, HSI, and the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, Group 25. The case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Connie L. Dang and Rebecca T. Dell are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Former DC Government Employee Pleads Guilty to Theft and Trafficking of Government Laptops

body_text: WASHINGTON – Darrell A. Smith, Sr., 56, of Newark, New Jersey, pleaded guilty Tuesday in District of Columbia Superior Court to three counts of first-degree theft and one count of trafficking in stolen property for stealing D.C. government-issued laptops and selling many of them for personal profit, announced Jeanine Ferris Pirro. The Honorable Andrea Hertzfeld accepted Smith’s plea and scheduled sentencing for April 17, 2026. According to court documents, in 2022, while serving as an Information Technology manager for the DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), Smith used his official badge access to enter secured DHCF storage areas and remove multiple Apple MacBook Pro laptops purchased for agency use as part of a $1.6 million technology procurement. Each laptop was valued at more than $3,000. Smith kept some of the stolen devices, gave others away as gifts, and sold several for as much as $1,250 each, retaining the proceeds. When DHCF officials began inquiring about the missing devices, Smith falsely denied knowledge of their whereabouts. During his guilty plea, he admitted to using his official system access to delete security camera footage from an IT storage room to conceal the theft. In total, Smith’s actions caused a loss to the District government of at least $30,000. Joining the announcement was Brian L. Schwalb, Attorney General for the District of Columbia; and Jeffery Carroll, Interim Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Pirro, Interim Chief Carroll, and D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb commended investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and acknowledged valuable assistance provided by investigators from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Micah Bluming, on detail from the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, assigned to prosecute matters involving fraud and public corruption impacting the District and its residents. 2025CF2014014


title: Former Luzerne County Attorney Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON, Pennsylvania – Robert J. Powell, age 65, of Palm Beach, Florida, was sentenced today to 48 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for tax evasion in connection with substantial legal fees he earned. According to court documents and statements made in court, Powell sought to evade a substantial tax that was due and owing the IRS for 2016 by using “nominee” bank accounts (i.e., accounts in others’ names), causing an accountant to file a request for a filing extension that falsely reported zero estimated tax liability for 2016, and making false statements during an IRS audit in 2019. At sentencing, the Government put forth evidence that Powell did not file taxes for a period of approximately fifteen years, during which he earned over $18 million in income. “Today’s sentencing holds Mr. Powell accountable for his criminal actions” said Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation for the Philadelphia Field Office. “Mr. Powell’s fraudulent scheme to evade income taxes is unfair to every taxpayer who obeys the law and pays their fair share. IRS CI is committing to working with our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office to see that criminals like this are stopped.” In 2009, Powell pleaded guilty to multiple federal felony offenses for paying bribes to two judges of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas and assisting those judges in concealing the bribe payments from tax authorities. In 2011, Powell was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for these offenses. The conduct for which he was sentenced today began around the time that he pleaded guilty to the earlier offenses and continued throughout the time of his imprisonment and beyond. Powell’s license to practice law was suspended in 2009, and he was subsequently disbarred in 2015, in connection with his earlier convictions. As a result, in 2009 he relinquished his ownership of The Powell Law Group. He nevertheless retained the right to collect 90% of the remainder of any future fees collected by the firm after the payment of firm expenses. Specifically, The Powell Law Group represented thousands of plaintiffs in a mass tort litigation that settled for approximately $5.15 billion in 2015, and The Powell Law Group was expected to receive approximately $120 million in attorneys’ fees from that settlement. Prior to the disbursement of the attorneys’ fees, The Powell Law Group and its co-counsel used those future legal fees as collateral to obtain a series of loans totaling over $125 million. Instead of depositing the loan proceeds into The Powell Law Group’s bank accounts and using them to pay firm expenses, Powell instead directed the loans to nominee bank accounts that were under his control. He then used the loan proceeds for his personal debts and expenses, as well as his and his former law partner’s personal benefit. Powell’s personal expenses included multiple luxury vehicles, a $1.25 million sportfishing yacht, and tuition and living expenses for private high schools and universities for his children. Powell’s personal expenses also included buying a $2.65 million home in Palm Beach Gardens, to which he then made more than $1 million in renovations. Once Powell was informed that he was the focus of a federal investigation, he transferred ownership of the home to a business partner, but Powell and his wife have continued to live in that home—now worth more than $6 million-rent-free. In June 2016, most of the attorneys’ fees were finally disbursed and the loans were repaid. Nevertheless, Powell did not file a personal income tax return and pay taxes on the receipt of the fees in that year. After the initial disbursement and through October 2019, an additional $12 million in attorneys’ fees was distributed, and The Powell Law Group’s share continued to be directed into nominee bank accounts that Powell controlled. Powell personally received an additional $3.6 million of the fees during that time. In 2019, when the IRS commenced an audit of his tax liabilities, Powell made false statements to the interviewing agents to conceal his income and expenditures. Namely, Powell falsely stated that, for tax years 2014 through 2016, his only sources of funds were loan advances, that he and his spouse did not have signature authority or control over other bank accounts, and that he had no ownership in any corporations. Powell agreed to pay restitution in the amount of $3,500,000, to the IRS. Powell also agreed that the IRS may later determine that he owes even more in taxes, plus penalties and interest, beyond what he has agreed to pay. Assistant Attorney General Tyson Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller for the Middle District of Pennsylvania made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorney Alexandra K. Fleszar of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case. ###


title: Previously Convicted DC Man Indicted for Assaulting His Former Romantic Partner with a Firearm with Enhancements for Two Prior Convictions for Crimes of Violence

body_text: WASHINGTON – A 23-year-old man from Washington, D.C., was indicted by a grand jury on charges stemming from his brandishing a firearm and threatening his ex-girlfriend during an argument in October 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine F. Pirro. A Superior Court grand jury indicted the man on February 4, 2026, on assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction), possession of a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number, and carrying a pistol without a license. This case is set for a status hearing on February 6, 2026, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Carmen McLean. The man has two prior convictions for crimes of violence. According to the government’s evidence, on October 26, 2025, at approximately 6:20 p.m., the man got into an argument with his child’s mother in an apartment complex on Oak Street NW. At some point during the argument, the man pointed a firearm at the victim while she was holding their two-year-old son. The man threatened the victim, indicating that if she was not holding his son, he would shoot her. The victim was able to call police from a nearby market. The man was arrested on scene, and a firearm was found in the closet of an apartment where the man was seen exiting and entering. Joining the announcement was Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jasmine Dohemann. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Waterloo Woman Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who trafficked methamphetamine in the Waterloo area was sentenced February 4, 2026, to 20 years in federal prison. Michelle Bruno, age 51, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 7, 2025, guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that, in May 2024, Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force investigators made a controlled delivery of methamphetamine to Bruno. After the delivery, Bruno was in possession of four pounds of methamphetamine that she received during the controlled delivery and two additional ounces. Bruno had received approximately twelve pounds of methamphetamine over the past several months from her source of supply. She also sent over $25,000 to her source of supply. A few months later, investigators had contact with Bruno again. She admitted to acquiring another kilogram of methamphetamine and that she had paid her source of supply over $5,000 to satisfy her debt. Bruno was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Bruno was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Bruno is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force, consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-cr-2033-2. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: California Man Charged with Transmitting a Demand for Ransom

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz, - On Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, the FBI arrested Derrick Callella, 42, in Hawthorne, Calif. Callella has been charged via a criminal complaint filed in federal court for transmitting a demand for ransom in interstate commerce, and without disclosing his identity, utilizing a telecommunications device with the intent to abuse, threaten, or harass a person. “The Department of Justice will protect victims and families at all costs, and grief profiteers will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “This case came together in under 24 hours because of the coordinated work of the FBI, local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.” “To those imposters who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation – we will investigate and ensure you are held accountable for your actions,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. Per policy, the FBI does not release booking photos. A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. See complaint here: usa_v_callella_complaint.pdf CASE NUMBER: 26-04209MJ RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-021_Callella # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Going bust: Houston man sentenced for $1 million embezzlement scheme to fund gambling habit

body_text: HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Spring resident has been sentenced for embezzling more than $1 million from his employer, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Donald Ray Owens Jr. pleaded guilty May 9, 2025. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks Jr. has now ordered Owens to serve 24 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional testimony from Owens, who asked for leniency and said he had developed an addiction to online sports gambling. In imposing the sentence, the court noted the significant financial harm to the company and Owens’ repeated misuse of its credit card. Owens must also pay $1,081,722.96 in restitution. Owens was employed at Dominion Aesthetics Technology Inc. Between May 2022 and January 2024, he used his company credit card approximately 217 times to send money to an online payment platform account opened in his wife’s name. He then transferred the funds to bank accounts he controlled and ultimately into a personal gambling account. He admitted he used the company credit card to embezzle approximately $1.1 million to pay gambling debts he incurred. Owens was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman prosecuted the case.


title: Waianae Man Charged with Threatening to Kill Federal Officer and His Family During Execution of Warrant for Drugs and Guns

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Nehemiah Kealoha, 40, of Waianae, Oahu, was indicted on January 22, 2026, for threatening to assault and murder a federal law enforcement officer. The indictment was unsealed on January 30. According to information provided to the Court, Kealoha approached a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Task Force Officer who had assisted in executing a federal search warrant at the Waianae residence of an individual who had been placed under arrest for drug and firearms offenses. As the HSI Task Force Officer was preparing to depart the residence and transport the arrested individual, Kealoha pointed at the officer and stated, “I’m going to kill you! I’m going to find you all and kill you and your family! You f****** haole, I’m going to kill you, remember this face. I’m going to find you and your family and kill you, remember this face, it’s the last face you going to see! You think I’m playing!?” If convicted, Kealoha faces up to ten years in prison and fine of up to $250,000, plus a term of supervised release. The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In the case of conviction, any sentence would be imposed by a United States District Judge based on the statutory sentencing factors and the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines. FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Muehleck is prosecuting the case.


title: Eight Indicted In Denver Metro Area On Drug, Weapon, and Money Laundering Charges

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Dario Perez Quintero, 34, formerly of Denver, Colorado; Guadalupe Mendoza Martinez, 46, of Aurora, Colorado; Pedro Mendoza Martinez, 54, of Aurora, Colorado; Abimael Felix Luque, 32, of Aurora, Colorado; David Uvaldo Mora Sanchez, 32, formerly of Aurora, Colorado; Hector Joel Quijada Portillo, 30, of Commerce City, Colorado; Oscar Noel Ruelas Molina, 44, of Aurora, Colorado; and Jose Alexis Guzman Felix, 30, of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, were indicted this week on charges related to weapons possession, money laundering, and drug trafficking in the Denver metro area. According to the eighteen-count indictment: Each of the aforementioned defendants are charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; fentanyl; and cocaine. Perez Quintero is also charged individually and with others with six additional counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, as well as one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Guadalupe Mendoza Martinez is also charged individually and with others with: Four counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; Four counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; One count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; One count of possessing a firearm as an alien who is illegally and unlawfully present in the United States; and One count of promotion of unlawful activity using funds represented to be proceeds of illegal controlled substances distribution. Pedro Mendoza Martinez faces one additional charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Luque and Mora Sanchez face one additional charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Quijada Portillo faces one additional charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; one additional charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; and one count of promotion of unlawful activity using funds represented to be proceeds of illegal controlled substances distribution. Guzman Felix faces one additional charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted of count one, conspiracy, defendants face a sentence of up to life in prison. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This investigation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Rocky Mountain HSTF comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Internal Revenue Service, Office of Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); United States Marshals Service (USMS); Diplomatic Security Service (DSS); United States Citizenship and Immigration Services; and Immigration and Customs Enforcement / Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE/ERO); and United States Customs and Border Patrol with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. The prosecution is being handled by the Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. Case Number 26-CR-27-DDD


title: Former California resident sentenced to prison for defrauding his Kent, Washington employer

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 44-year-old former Laguna Niguel, California resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 18 months in prison for wire fraud for his scheme to steal nearly $1 million from his employer, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Paul Joseph Welch was the IT manager of a Kent, Washington energy manufacturing company when he used various schemes to steal more than $950,000 from the company. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead said, “This was not a crime of desperation. You used the funds to support a lifestyle you could not afford.” “Mr. Welch stole nearly $1 million from his company to pay for luxuries such as expensive hotel stays, first class airline tickets, and even a Porsche for his wife as a Mother’s Day gift,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “His theft caused the company to cut staff, reduce or cancel bonuses, and delay projects. These impacts justify this prison term.” According to records in the case, Welch worked for the company from 2011 to 2024. He was promoted to Information Technology Manager in 2018. As early as 2017, Welch used the company’s Amazon business account to make unauthorized personal purchases from Amazon.com. Between 2017 and 2023, those purchases totaled at least $43,000. Welch primarily purchased electronics such as televisions, laptops and more—all for personal use. In 2019, Welch began using his company credit card for personal purchases through other online retailers such as Apple, Alaska Airlines, Instacart, and BestBuy. Between 2019 and 2024, those unauthorized personal purchases totaled at least an additional $60,000. The scheme really accelerated in January 2021 when Welch began making payments to himself disguised as payments to a computer services company. Welch created a series of email addresses and payment processor accounts using a business name that was very similar to a legitimate computer services company based in Washington State. Welch then used the company credit cards to pay the computer services company under the guise that the company was providing IT equipment and services to the victim company. However, the legitimate computer services company had no relationship with Welch and never provided any services or equipment to the victim company. The credit card payments Welch made went directly to the payment processor accounts that Welch controlled. Between 2021 and 2024 Welch used this scheme to transfer approximately $879,175 from company accounts to his own accounts. The victim company tried to verify the legitimacy of Welch’s activity on multiple occasions, but each time, Welch provided false or misleading information to cover up his scheme. When Welch was asked to submit invoices to substantiate his charges, he emailed phony documents designed to look like invoices from the legitimate computer services company. At one point in 2023, an accounting employee at the victim company identified personal purchases on Welch’s company credit card. Welch claimed the charges were inadvertent and said he would repay the company. Welch never repaid the charges and continued to defraud the company through unauthorized personal purchases and more fake vendor charges. On January 19, 2024, company employees confronted Welch about the charges from the computer services company accounts that Welch controlled. After Welch again claimed that the vendor was a real vendor for the company, the company fired him. In all, between 2017 and January 2024 Welch secretly made at least 250 fraudulent charges for the third-party vendor he controlled. He made at least 140 unauthorized purchases with retailers using the company credit card and at least 100 fraudulent purchases on the company’s Amazon account. While Welch profited some $950,000 from his theft, the loss to the victim company was approximately $982,520 due to various fees on the transactions. “As an information technology manager, Mr. Welch held a position of trust with his employer which allowed him access to business accounts and the company credit card," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "Welch betrayed that trust by stealing almost $1 million from the company through years of fraudulent transactions for his own personal gain. Despite being confronted about his illicit expenditures multiple times, Welch disguised his schemes with false documents or by saying he didn’t intend to make the charges. When such theft occurs, the FBI diligently follows the money to ensure fraudsters are held accountable for their crimes.” Welch agreed to make full restitution to the company. The case was investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dane A. Westermeyer.


title: Skagit County, Washington, man, who threatened two different congresspeople and their staffs, sentenced to six months in prison

body_text: Seattle – A 67-year-old Skagit County, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six months in federal prison for making Interstate threats against two different U.S Congressmen and their staffs, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. In March 2025, Bradley Whaley repeatedly called the offices of congresspeople in Washington DC, leaving threats on voicemail as well as directly with staffers. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead said, “Mr. Whaley made multiple threatening calls to offices of two U.S. Representatives… This was part of a dangerous pattern that if left unchecked threatens the democratic process.” According to records filed in the case in March 2025, Whaley made multiple calls to two different DC offices threatening to kill the congresspeople and their staff. Whaley referenced his second amendment rights and threatened to slit their throats. Whaley left his name and phone number in the voice messages. Whaley was arrested on March 21, 2025, at the downtown Seattle location where he worked. In the center console of his vehicle was a loaded handgun. Whaley pleaded guilty on October 31, 2025. In asking for a one-year sentence, prosecutors noted the incredible increase in threats to members of congress writing, “… over the last several years, there has been an alarming surge in the number of similar threat cases against members of congress, their families, and staff. The number of threat cases increased from 7,501 cases in 2022, to 8,008 cases in 2023, and to 9,747 cases in 2024, according to the United States Capitol Police. In 2025, the number of threat cases investigated by USCPS jumped to about 14,000.” In his letter to the court, Brad Whaley blamed the threatening phone calls on heavy alcohol abuse. His attorney noted that Whaley has since completed treatment. Judge Whitehead ordered that he complete three years of supervised release following the prison term. The case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Yemini.


title: Quad City Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm Charges

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – Two Quad Cities men were sentenced on January 27, 2026, to federal prison for firearms and drug crimes. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Jewahn Lequez Walton, 28, and Preston Manning McDowell Jr., 26, each tossed loaded firearms from a vehicle driven by Walton while attempting to elude law enforcement in June 2024. In July 2024, McDowell possessed another firearm in Davenport. McDowell is prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions, including a 2022 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois. In May 2025, Walton was arrested and found in possession of a distribution quantity of cocaine and a loaded firearm. Walton is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a 2018 felony conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine in the Illinois Circuit Court for Rock Island County. McDowell was sentenced to a 72-month prison term to run consecutively to his supervised revocation sentence, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Walton was sentenced to a 100-month prison term, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department and the Bettendorf Police Department investigated the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to over 33 Years in Federal Prison for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Beaverton, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for coercion and enticement of a minor after he directed the minor victim to send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Michael Cambalik, 43, was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison and a lifetime term of supervised release. Cambalik will pay restitution to the minor victim. “Our foremost responsibility is the safety of children. Predators like this one hide in plain sight, including on online gaming platforms,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “We will remain vigilant in holding them accountable and keeping our children safe.” “Today’s sentence sends a clear message emphasizing the FBI’s unwavering commitment to holding child sex abusers accountable for their actions,” said FBI Portland Acting Special Agent in Charge Mari Panovich. “Our focus while investigating these horrendous crimes is victim-centric and removing violent offenders from our community continues to be a top priority.” According to court documents, in December 2024, the parent of a then-nine-year-old minor victim contacted their local police department after finding CSAM texted to an unrecognized phone number from the minor victim. Cambalik, a registered sex offender, contacted the minor victim through an online video game, Call of Duty. After posing as a female minor, Cambalik coerced the minor victim into sending him sexually explicit photos and videos. On May 20, 2025, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a three-count indictment charging Cambalik with sexual exploitation of a child, receipt of child pornography, and coercion and enticement of a minor. On November 12, 2025, Cambalik pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor. This case was investigated by the FBI. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pamela Paaso. This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty To Involuntary Manslaughter

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Daeshaun Jared Ickle Cobretti Small, age 22, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of a Superseding Indictment charging him with Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, punishable by up to eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Superseding Indictment alleged that on December 31, 2022, Small unlawfully killed the victim in the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, that is failing to devote full time and attention to driving and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and in the commission in an unlawful manner and without due caution and circumspection of a lawful act, that is, operating a motor vehicle, which might produce death. The crime occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. 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. Small will remain on bond with conditions of release pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Illegal Alien Sentenced For Unlawful Reentry

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Cesar Briseno Mauricio, age 26, a Mexican national unlawfully present in Love County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. On January 7, 2026, Mauricio pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 17, 2025, Mauricio, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on March 18, 2020. 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 District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan E. Soverly and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Reentry

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Abraham Suy Suar, age 35, a Guatemalan national unlawfully present in Bryan County, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien, punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than two years, and a fine of not more than $250,000.00. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The Indictment alleged that on November 17, 2025, Suy Suar, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on September 23, 2014. 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 Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. 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. Suy Suar will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ersy Gregorio Umanzor Lopez, a/k/a Ersy Gregorio Umanzor, a/k/a Ersy G. Umanzor, age 33, a Honduran national unlawfully present in Bryan County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served for one count of Unlawful Reentry of Removed Alien. The charge arose from an investigation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement Division and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. On January 5, 2026, Lopez pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 17, 2025, Lopez, an alien, was found in the United States without obtaining the express consent of the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States after having been previously removed on September 8, 2017, October 20, 2017, and January 12, 2018. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Illinois Resident Sentenced For Wire Fraud And Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jalen Jace Cancel, age 25, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to one month in prison and seven months home detention for one count of Wire Fraud Conspiracy, one count of Wire Fraud, and one count of Money Laundering Conspiracy, and ordered to pay $504,948.49 in restitution. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On July 21, 2025, Cancel pleaded guilty to the charges. Between June and September 2023, Cancel conspired with others to obtain money from area businesses through materially false and fraudulent pretenses. According to investigators, the businesses received emails claiming to be from legitimate vendors with instructions to wire payments to certain bank accounts. It was later determined the emails were created and sent by a member of the conspiracy, and the bank accounts were opened by conspirators to receive and distribute the fraudulently obtained funds. Cancel facilitated the fraud by opening bank accounts for receiving and distributing the funds. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, Chief District Court Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Cancel will self-report to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve his sentence on March 2, 2026. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.


title: Latimer County Resident Pleads Guilty To Sexual Abuse Of A Minor

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Morgan Ellis, Jr., age 38, of Wilburton, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to three counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country, punishable by up to fifteen years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country, punishable by up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that beginning in July 2023, and continuing until June 26, 2024, Ellis knowingly engaged in sex acts and sexual contact with a minor who had attained the age of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16 years, and who was at least four years younger than Ellis. The crimes occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the McAlester Police Department, and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. 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. Ellis will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Wittlinger and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: Sallisaw Resident Pleads Guilty To Attempted Robbery In Indian Country

component: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that James Paul Cripps, age 28, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Attempted Robbery in Indian Country, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that on October 28, 2025, Cripps attempted to take by force and violence and by intimidation, a thing of value from the person and presence of the victim. The crime occurred in Sequoyah County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. 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. Cripps will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Conway represented the United States.


title: Yakama Repeat Offender Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Yakima, Washington –United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Mitchell Jason Ranes aka Cricket, an enrolled member of the Yakama Nation, age 45, of Toppenish, Washington, to 7 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition. Ranes will also be on federal supervised release for three years after serving his custodial sentence. According to court records, Ranes pattern of criminal history led to this recent sentence. On September 6, 2000, Ranes was convicted of Drive-By-Shooting and sentenced to 33 months in prison. He was subsequently released, placed on a term of supervised release, violated his term of supervised release and was sent back to prison. On September 17, 2007, Ranes was convicted of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and sentenced to 77 months in prison. He was subsequently released, placed on a term of supervised release, again violated his term of supervised release and was again sent back to prison. On January 23, 2024, the Defendant was convicted of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. Ranes was released from prison and on March 25, 2024, began serving a term of supervised release, and for a third time, violated his terms of supervised release and was sentenced to a time served sentence followed by a term of 34 months of supervised release. Upon his recent release from prison, Ranes again engaged in dangerous conduct. On January 22, 2025, law enforcement officers were looking for Ranes due to an outstanding arrest warrant. Ranes was observed in a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle fled, attempting to elude pursuing police vehicles. After a lengthy car chase, the suspect car crashed near a residence and Ranes was apprehended. Ranes was later booked into the Yakima County jail. During the booking process, 6 rounds of ammunition was in Ranes’ pocket, a new federal crime. On April 9, 2025, a federal indictment was filed charging Ranes with being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition and on October 17, 2025, he pled guilty to the Indictment. On February 3, 2026, Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 84 months to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Judge Dimke based her sentence on Ranes’ lengthy criminal history involving firearms and found significant the multiple opportunities he had on prior supervision to attain services for substance abuse which he did not take advantage of and instead had a history of absconding and engaging in new criminal conduct. United States Attorney Serrano stated, “I’m grateful to our office for pursuing this case. While some may question why the United States would prosecute the possession of ammunition, there is no need to look beyond Mr. Ranes’ persistent firearms-related criminal history. Yakima is now safer with Mr. Ranes off the streets for the next 7 years.” Lieutenant Church with the Yakima County Sheriff’s state, “This case is a great example of collaboration with fellow law enforcement and federal partners working to get a dangerous person with a significant criminal history off the streets for a significant amount of time. This type of collaboration is what it takes to truly make an impact on public safety in Yakima County. Thanks again to our law enforcement partners and the US Attorney’s Office.” “Mr. Ranes has a pattern of criminal history dating back over a quarter century in which he repeatedly violated his supervised release and persisted in possessing firearms despite being prohibited from doing so by federal law,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “Together with our partners, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Forces will continue to combat violent crime throughout the state of Washington and nationwide.” This case was investigated by the Southeast Washington Safe Streets Task Force which consists of agents and task force officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, the Toppenish Police Department, and United Stats Customs and Border Protection. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tom Hanlon.


title: Central Georgia Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud Conspiracy

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A Central Georgia resident guilty of a fraudulent loan scheme at a local bank branch was sentenced to serve seven years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Ronnie Atkinson, 57, of Macon, Georgia, was sentenced to serve a total of 84 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release on Feb. 5, after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft on May 12, 2025. Atkinson was also ordered to pay a total of $3,357,073.21 in restitution. In a related case, Alan Childs, 60, of Gray, Georgia, was sentenced to serve twelve months and one day in prison on Sept. 17, 2025, and was ordered to pay $3,094,200.98 in restitution after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on April 12, 2025. U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell presided over the case. There is no parole in the federal system. “The defendant conspired with others to defraud a Gray, Georgia, bank branch, costing a small business and causing harm to many,” said U.S. Attorney William R “Will” Keyes. “These types of financial schemes have a negative ripple effect in the community and will not be tolerated by our office. We will continue to work with law enforcement to hold fraudsters accountable.” “This case shows how greed-driven fraud schemes can devastate small businesses and undermine trust in our financial system,” said Peter Ellis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Mr. Atkinson exploited personal relationships and falsified records to secure millions in illegal loans, and today’s sentence holds him accountable for that harm." According to court documents and statements referenced in court, Childs served as the Market President for the Gray, Georgia, branch of Morris Bank, from March 2018 to August 2022. He had lending authority up to $500,000.00 per customer relationship; to lend more required approval from the Senior Credit Officer. Atkinson owned a timber-harvesting business. In March 2018, Atkinson obtained his first loan from Morris Bank to purchase equipment. This loan, and all subsequent loans, were handled by Childs. By June 2019, Atkinson reached the maximum $500,000 threshold, and Childs was not allowed to make additional loans without higher approval. Also, Atkinson’s loans were downgraded to substandard, indicating they displayed a well-defined weakness that could jeopardize collection. Beginning in August 2019 and continuing through May 2022, Atkinson began having relatives and friends appear as borrowers for loans intended for his benefit, which Childs knew the loans were for Atkinson, exceeding his $500,000 limit without the proper approval. In loans involving the purchase of goods, Atkinson included many bills of sale that were fraudulent. In addition, Atkinson instructed some of the so-called reported sellers of the goods to instead cash the loan checks and give the money to him or one of his relatives. Atkinson also brought several Morris Bank loan and cashier’s checks to a local check-cashing business, sometimes bringing the payee with him and then collecting the cash or even cashing out the checks without the payee present; these payees had not sold anything to Atkinson. As a result of the conspiracy, Morris Bank issued 57 loans to and for the benefit of Atkinson, with a total loss of between $1.5 million and $3.5 million. The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Ricky Allen Kane, 47, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on February 5, 2026, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Kane to 162 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Kane is released from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. An investigation into the 2022 death of a man from a fentanyl overdose led investigators to a suspected source of supply of fentanyl in the Omaha area. The DEA executed a search warrant on November 14, 2022, on the residence of Michele Waters, Kane’s co-defendant. Both Waters and Kane were present. Law enforcement seized two baggies: one contained 86 grams of actual methamphetamine, and one contained 11 grams of actual methamphetamine. The 86 grams of actual methamphetamine were found between the armrest and seat of the chair in the living room. Numerous items of drug paraphernalia were seized, including scales and baggies. Michele Waters pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. On October 17, 2024, she was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: El Salvadorian National Indicted for Illegal Re-Entry After an Aggravated Felony Conviction

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced an indictment against a 45-year-old El Salvadorian national charged with illegally re-entering the United States after he was convicted of an aggravated felony and was previously removed from the country. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Acting Field Office Director Vernon Liggins, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE-ERO) – Baltimore Field Office. According to the indictment, on January 19, 2026, ICE law enforcement officers encountered Kevin Mendez Vasquez, aka “Kevin Estix Lara Henriquez,” while conducting a vehicle investigation in Elkridge, Maryland. As a result of the traffic stop, and after a positive confirmation, law enforcement officials arrested and charged Mendez Vasquez for illegally re-entering the U.S. Mendez Vasquez did not obtain consent from the Attorney General of the U.S., or the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, for readmission into the country. In May 2011, law enforcement officials deported Mendez Vasquez after he was convicted and served a five-year sentence for burglary, grand larceny, and abduction charges connected to three home invasions in Fairfax County, Virgina, during October 2010. Then in 2015, Mendez Vasquez illegally re-entered the U.S. at an unknown location. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. If convicted, Mendez Vasquez faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes commended ICE-ERO for its work in the investigation. U.S. Attorney Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Ty Pittinger who is prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #