title: FBI Arrests Smyth County Doctor on Child Exploitation Charges

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – A 68-year-old doctor, who worked at Smyth County Community Hospital and allegedly had a sexual relationship with an underage female coworker that included exchanging explicit imagines with the victim, was arrested yesterday by the FBI. Michael Kevin Patrick, of Sugar Grove, Va., was arrested yesterday and charged via federal criminal complaint with receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). He made his initial court appearance today in U.S. District Court in Roanoke. According to court documents, Juvenile Victim 1 (JV1) began working at Smyth County Community Hospital in December 2023, when she was 16 years old. Shortly after starting her job, JV1 met Patrick in an elevator. JV1 told Patrick she was 17 years old, in high school, and interested in the medical field. The two began talking regularly at work. In late 2024, JV1 and Patrick started eating lunch together and communicating regularly via text messages and phone calls. Eventually, Patrick and JV1 engaged in sexual conversations with one another and exchanged nude pictures of themselves via text message. In addition, Patrick started having a physical relationship with JV1 at his home and at work. During that span of time, JV1 was 16 years old. Patrick told JV1 that he was “looking forward to” her birthday, that the relationship had to be “secret,” and that he “needed” her. After JV1 turned 17, and after Patrick believed JV1 had turned 18, Patrick had sexual intercourse with JV1. Patrick and JV1 exchanged more than 19,000 text messages with one another. After Patrick’s activities were discovered, he deleted his text messages with JV1. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Marion Police Department. Acting United States Attorney Robert N. Tracci and Ian Kaufmann, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Pierce is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Ryan Wesley Routh Sentenced to Life in Prison for Attempted Assassination of President Donald J. Trump and Assault of a Federal Law Enforcement Officer

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Today, Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, was sentenced to life plus 84 months in federal prison for the attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and related violent and firearms offenses. U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon for the Southern District of Florida imposed the sentence following Routh’s conviction by a federal jury on all five counts charged in the indictment. “Ryan Routh’s heinous attempted assassination of President Trump was not only an attack on our President — it was a direct assault against our entire democratic system," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Thanks to our prosecutors in the National Security Division and the Southern District of Florida, Routh will never walk free again.” “Routh’s plan to kill a major presidential candidate, President Donald Trump, was a despicable attack on our democratic system,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Thanks to the work of the FBI and our Justice Department partners, he will pay a high price for his actions. Today’s sentencing demonstrates the justice system will not tolerate such heinous attacks.” “Routh attempted to assassinate President Trump and thereby cast our Nation into what would have been one of its darkest periods,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Today’s sentence is a resounding rejection of political violence and a clear reminder that we resolve our differences through civil discourse, democratic elections, and lawful protest, not by force.” “This life sentence reflects a fundamental truth: political violence is un-American and will never be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “An attempted assassination of a presidential candidate is an attack on our democratic process and the rule of law itself. This assassination attempt was stopped by the courage and professionalism of U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano, whose decisive actions protected lives and prevented a national tragedy. Today’s life sentence ensures the defendant will never again threaten public safety and sends a clear message that those who choose violence to advance their beliefs will face swift, certain, and decisive justice.” “Political violence is unacceptable in the United States, and this sentence is commensurate with the gravity of Routh’s actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The investigation was immense and left no stone unturned. The FBI worked shoulder to shoulder with the Secret Service, ATF, the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. The FBI covered leads across the country and around the globe using all the tools and techniques at our disposal to include FBI Laboratory analysis, the Computer Analysis Response Team and the Cellular Analysis Survey Team. I commend our law enforcement partners and investigative team for their tireless work which led to today’s result.” In September 2025, after a two-week trial in Fort Pierce, Florida, a jury found Routh guilty of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assault of a federal law enforcement officer, and multiple firearms offenses. According to evidence presented at trial, then-U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano was patrolling one hole ahead of President Trump at the Trump International Golf Club when he observed Routh pointing what appeared to be an AK 47-style rifle at him from a sniper’s hide concealed in a fence line bordering the golf course. Fearing for his life and the life of President Trump, Special Agent Fercano fired at Routh, who fled the scene. Rifle Behind Fence Line Law enforcement officers later recovered a Norinco SKS rifle equipped with a scope, a loaded magazine containing 19 rounds of ammunition and one round in the chamber, steel armor plates, and a camera affixed to the fence and pointing at the sixth green of the golf course where President Trump was about to play golf. A civilian witness reported seeing Routh run across a roadway and enter a black Nissan Xterra. Based on that information, Routh was apprehended while traveling northbound on I-95 by officers from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. A search of Routh’s vehicle revealed multiple mobile phones and a list of international flights along with directions to Miami International Airport. Cell phone records showed that between Aug. 18 and Sept. 15, 2024, Routh’s phone accessed cell towers located near Trump International Golf Club and the President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago on multiple occasions. Testimony at trial also established that Routh had dropped off a box at a witness’s residence in April 2024 after making another trip to the area near the golf course. Inside the box was a handwritten letter addressed “Dear World,” in which Routh stated, among other things, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.” Routh Handwritten Letter FBI Miami investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and Martin County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with this case. Senior Counsel John C. Shipley, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Browne, National Security Division Chief Maria K. Medetis Long, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Luce for the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorneys James Donnelly and John Cella of the Justice Department’s National Security Division Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.


title: Ryan Wesley Routh Sentenced to Life Plus Seven Years in Prison for Attempted Assassination of President Donald J. Trump and Assault of a Federal Law Enforcement Officer

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Ryan Wesley Routh, 59, was sentenced today to life plus 84 months in federal prison for the attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and related violent and firearms offenses. U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon imposed the sentence following Routh’s conviction by a federal jury on all five counts charged in the indictment. “Ryan Routh’s heinous attempted assassination of President Trump was not only an attack on our President — it was a direct assault against our entire democratic system," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Thanks to our prosecutors in the National Security Division and the Southern District of Florida, Routh will never walk free again.” “Routh attempted to assassinate President Trump and thereby cast our Nation into what would have been one of its darkest periods,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Today’s sentence is a resounding rejection of political violence and a clear reminder that we resolve our differences through civil discourse, democratic elections, and lawful protest, not by force.” “This life sentence reflects a fundamental truth: political violence is un-American and will never be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “An attempted assassination of a presidential candidate is an attack on our democratic process and the rule of law itself. This assassination attempt was stopped by the courage and professionalism of U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano, whose decisive actions protected lives and prevented a national tragedy. Today’s life sentence ensures the defendant will never again threaten public safety and sends a clear message that those who choose violence to advance their beliefs will face swift, certain, and decisive justice.” “Routh’s plan to kill a major presidential candidate, President Donald Trump, was a despicable attack on our democratic system,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Thanks to the work of the FBI and our Justice Department partners, he will pay a high price for his actions. Today’s sentencing demonstrates the justice system will not tolerate such heinous attacks.” “Political violence is unacceptable in the United States, and this sentence is commensurate with the gravity of Routh’s actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office. “The investigation was immense and left no stone unturned. The FBI worked shoulder to shoulder with the Secret Service, ATF, the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office. The FBI covered leads across the country and around the globe using all the tools and techniques at our disposal to include FBI Laboratory analysis, the Computer Analysis Response Team and the Cellular Analysis Survey Team. I commend our law enforcement partners and investigative team for their tireless work which led to today’s result.” In September 2025, after a two-week trial in Fort Pierce, a jury found Routh guilty of attempted assassination of a major presidential candidate, assault of a federal law enforcement officer, and multiple firearms offenses. According to evidence presented at trial, then-U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Robert Fercano was patrolling one hole ahead of President Trump at the Trump International Golf Club when he observed Routh pointing what appeared to be an AK 47-style rifle at him from a sniper’s hide concealed in a fence line bordering the golf course. Fearing for his life and the life of President Trump, Special Agent Fercano fired at Routh, who fled the scene. Law enforcement officers later recovered a Norinco SKS rifle equipped with a scope, a loaded magazine containing 19 rounds of ammunition and one round in the chamber, steel armor plates, and a camera affixed to the fence and pointing at the sixth green of the golf course where President Trump was about to play golf. A civilian witness reported seeing Routh run across a roadway and enter a black Nissan Xterra. Based on that information, Routh was apprehended while traveling northbound on I-95 by officers from the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. A search of Routh’s vehicle revealed multiple mobile phones and a list of international flights along with directions to Miami International Airport. Cell phone records showed that between Aug. 18 and Sept. 15, 2024, Routh’s phone accessed cell towers located near Trump International Golf Club and the President’s residence at Mar-a-Lago on multiple occasions. Testimony at trial also established that Routh had dropped off a box at a witness’s residence in April 2024 after making another trip to the area near the golf course. Inside the box was a handwritten letter addressed “Dear World,” in which Routh stated, among other things, “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I am so sorry I failed you.” U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Skiles announced the sentence. FBI Miami investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and Martin County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with this case. Senior Counsel John C. Shipley, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher B. Browne, National Security Division Chief Maria K. Medetis Long, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Luce for the Southern District of Florida, and Trial Attorneys James Donnelly and John Cella of the Justice Department’s National Security Division Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-80116. ###


title: Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Pipeline Case in Wisconsin

component: Civil Division

body_text: Note: View statement of interest here . The Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) and Civil Division yesterday filed a statement of interest in a case in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin involving the potential shut down of the Line 5 pipeline operated by Enbridge. The statement of interest supports staying the district court’s injunction that requires Enbridge to cease operating its Line 5 pipeline in the Bad River Reservation by June 16, 2026. The case has been pending appeal since December 2023 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. “If the Line 5 pipeline is shut down in June, America’s energy supply chain would be disrupted and Americans would see increased costs,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of ENRD. “The Seventh Circuit is considering the case, and the district court should not impose drastic actions in this matter while the case is on appeal.” President Donald J. Trump declared a national energy emergency which underscores the need for an affordable and reliable supply of energy for America’s prosperity and security. A shutdown of Line 5 would damage the United States’ interest because there are no ready alternatives to transport energy products currently flowing through Line 5, as the Justice Department further explained in a statement of interest filed last year in a case between Enbridge and Michigan. Chief of Staff and Senior General Counsel John Adams of ENRD filed the statement alongside attorneys within ENRD’s Law and Policy Section and the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch. SOI Enbridge Line 5 WI.pdf


title: Two Individuals Sentenced for Child Exploitation

component: USAO - Puerto Rico

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On January 28, 2026, United States District Court Judge Aida Delgado Colón sentenced two individuals to multiple years in prison for child exploitation. Aneudy Jazzan Pérez-Santiago was sentenced to 10 years in prison for child exploitation. Pérez-Santiago was indicted on July 10, 2025, and arrested on July 14, 2025. According to court documents, from February 2023 to February 2025, Aneudy Jazzan Pérez-Santiago used a cellphone, online instant messaging services, and social media to knowingly persuade, induce, entice, and coerce a 14-year-old female minor to engage in sexual activity and transferred obscene material to her. The defendant plead guilty on October 2, 2025, to one count of coercion and enticement of a 14-year-old female minor. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daynelle Álvarez-Lora of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Immigration Unit, prosecuted the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI was in charge of the investigation. In a second unrelated case, defendant José Antonio Vilella, of Fajardo, was sentenced to 57 months (four years and nine months) in prison for possession of child pornography. According to court documents, from April 2024 until November of 2024, Velilla knowingly possessed and accessed with intent to view images containing child exploitation material, including child pornography of a prepubescent minor or a minor who had not attained 12 years of age. Velilla was indicted on November 20, 2024; arrested on November 13, 2024, and pleaded guilty on October 16, 2025. “There’s no greater priority than safeguarding our children from those who seek to exploit or harm them,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of child sexual predators. We will not rest until those who commit these heinous crimes are brought to justice.” “These sentences demonstrate the seriousness with which these crimes are prosecuted and the severe consequences faced by those who prey on children. These cases also prove that child predators have no single profile—one offender was a minister and teacher, while the other was a collector of online child exploitation images. We urge parents and trusted adults to remain vigilant and closely supervise the online activities of their children. Let this serve as an unequivocal warning: child predators will be found, prosecuted, and held fully accountable for their actions. HSI San Juan is unwavering in our commitment to protecting children and ensuring that anyone who threatens their safety is brought to justice,” said HSI San Juan Acting Special Agent in Charge Yariel Ramos. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emelina Agrait Barreto of the Crimes Against Children, Human Trafficking and Immigration Unit prosecuted the case. The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force led by HSI was in charge of the investigation. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; and Yariel Ramos, Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations San Juan made the announcement. ###


title: Homeland Security Task Force Arrests 2 and Seizes Over 550 Kilos of Meth in San Antonio

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Two San Antonio men were arrested Tuesday on criminal charges related to their alleged conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Gerardo Pineda-Gallegos and Jose Lopez-Ruiz were identified as distributors of methamphetamine, participating in the transportation, packaging and distribution of narcotics. A criminal complaint alleges that Pineda-Gallegos and Lopez-Ruiz were at a wholesale produce distribution warehouse on Dec. 15, 2025, where they received large shipments of methamphetamine concealed within fresh produce. The complaint alleges Pineda-Gallegos and Lopez-Ruiz walked in and out of the warehouse multiple times before entering a cargo van and driving to an office space where they stored the methamphetamine that was concealed in the produce shipments. From there, the drugs were prepared for distribution. On Feb. 3, federal agents from the DEA and FBI, along with the officers from San Antonio Police Department’s High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) unit, executed a court-authorized search warrant on the office space. During the search, agents located approximately 100 boxes containing fresh heads of lettuce. A criminal complaint alleges that the agents searched the lettuce and discovered 998 ball-shaped packages of methamphetamine, with a total weight of approximately 555 kilograms. Pineda-Gallegos and Lopez-Ruiz were arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. If convicted, they face 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), the DEA and FBI are investigating the case with assistance from SAPD, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Nowinski is prosecuting the case. This case is being investigated and prosecuted by the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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 criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Fentanyl and Cocaine Distributor Sentenced for Drug Distribution Conspiracy

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced an Arundel County, Maryland, man to federal prison in connection with a drug distribution conspiracy involving fentanyl, cocaine, and other drugs. Kelly Bowers, 36, received a seven-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACOPD), and Chief Edward Jackson, Annapolis Police Department (APD). According to the guilty plea, in August 2022, FBI investigators identified Bowers as a member of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) known as Newtowne (collectively, “the Newtowne 20 DTO”) that supplied drugs to individuals in the Annapolis area. During the period of the conspiracy, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland authorized wiretaps on DTO members’ electronic devices. Law enforcement intercepted numerous conversations which allowed investigators to identify individuals, including Bowers, involved in drug trafficking with Newtowne 20 DTO members. Others charged include Leonard Simms, sentenced to 57 months on July 1, 2025; Amber Naylor, sentenced to time-served on June 3, 2025; Isiah Naylor, who pled guilty on May 23, 2025; Raheem Allsup, sentenced to 48 months on May 9, 2025; and Keith Williams, sentenced to 68 months on November 19, 2024. Bowers served as one of the Newtowne 20 DTO’s main distributors. Law enforcement intercepted and recorded several calls between Bowers and his customers and conversations between him and his co-conspirators. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted surveillance and observed Bowers engaging in a drug transaction. On November 27, 2023, AACOPD investigators saw Bowers driving in Annapolis. After AACOPD officers watched Bowers conduct a hand-to-hand transaction with a known user of controlled substances, they initiated a traffic stop. Officers stopped the buyer and recovered drugs from her which later tested positive for cocaine. Law enforcement also recovered cocaine from Bowers’ vehicle. Additionally, during the traffic stop, law enforcement found Bowers in possession of fentanyl. The federal wiretap led to an eventual takedown on January 25, 2024. During the investigation, law enforcement identified multiple vehicles and locations in and around Annapolis used by the Newtowne 20 DTO as stash houses and residences for drug trafficking. On January 25, agents executed search warrants on eight locations and four vehicles and issued arrest warrants for several individuals. Law enforcement also recovered drugs of various types and quantities from three of the targeted locations and one firearm from the residence of a co-conspirator. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, AACOPD, and APD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai Everett and Jon Tsuei who prosecuted this federal case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Baltimore comprises agents and officers from various federal, state, and local agencies with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Illegal Alien Charged with Assaulting Immigration Officer

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Jose Emilio Ba-Ruiz was arrested and appeared in federal court today after he was charged with assaulting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deportation Officer, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. A complaint filed in U.S. District Court alleges that Jose Emilio Ba-Ruiz, 51, a citizen of Mexico, committed the assault on February 2, 2026, while ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Customs Border Protection (CBP) conducted surveillance on a residence in Alabaster, Alabama. After officers saw a vehicle leave the residence that was registered to a foreign national without lawful status in the United States, CBP initiated a traffic stop. A Deportation Officer with ICE/ERO assisted with the traffic stop and approached the vehicle’s front passenger window. The passenger identified himself as Ba-Ruiz and was asked to exit the vehicle. After he exited, the Officer removed a knife from his pants pocket and told Ba-Ruiz that he was under arrest. When the Officer attempted to place Ba-Ruiz in handcuffs, he resisted and began to struggle with the Officer. He then pushed the Officer’s hands away, causing the Officer to fall to the ground and hit her head. Ba-Ruiz fled the scene on foot into the woods and used a stranger’s phone to call someone to pick him up. A short time later, United States Marshals Service deputies observed a male get into a Honda Accord near where the traffic stop had occurred. Officers stopped the Honda and discovered Ba-Ruiz lying in the back seat of the vehicle. Ba-Ruiz was taken into ICE custody and transported to the ICE Birmingham Office. The Deportation Officer was transferred to the hospital to receive treatment for injuries the Officer suffered during the struggle with Ba-Ruiz. This case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant United States Attorney John G. Camp is prosecuting the case. An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Over $8 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions and Forfeitures in FY 2025

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: LAFAYETTE - U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana collected $7,695,567 in criminal and civil actions, as well as $420,268 in asset forfeiture actions, in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $2,410,275 was collected in criminal actions and $5,285,291 was collected in civil actions. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. The Office also worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $637,270 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $2,946 was collected in criminal actions and $634,323 was collected in civil actions. “These collections demonstrate our Office’s commitment to holding individuals and entities accountable for violations of federal law and restoring lost funds to victims,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “Our Office remains focused on securing restitution for victims, protecting public funds, and working with our partners to promote public trust in the justice system.” The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. ### CONTACT Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: New York Man and Alleged Member of Nihilistic Violent Extremist Organization 764 Charged with Receiving Child Pornography

body_text: Aaron Corey, also known as “Baggeth,” of Albany, New York, appeared in federal court yesterday after being charged with receiving child pornography. “The 764 network is a depraved criminal group that exploits vulnerable children and revels in their abuse,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The very serious crimes alleged in this indictment will be aggressively prosecuted until justice is served, as the Justice Department and federal partners continue efforts to take down this violent extremist network.” “Let this send a warning to anyone engaged in any conduct that involves assaulting children: You eventually will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III for the Northern District of New York. “I thank the FBI and the New York State Police for their hard work and the sacrifices they make to keep our communities safe.” “Aaron Corey, an alleged member of the nihilistic violent extremist group 764, has been charged today for allegedly receiving sexually explicit content of minors via the Internet. Preying on our nation’s children, who are among the most vulnerable members of society, is beyond comprehension,” said FBI Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia. “The FBI won’t tolerate these heinous acts and remains determined to stop these predators in their tracks. Along with our law enforcement partners, the dangerous criminals involved with the atrocious activities of violent online networks will be held accountable.” According to the criminal complaint, between October and December 2025, Corey received video and image files depicting pre-pubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct via the Internet. The complaint also alleges that Corey is a member of “764,” a criminal organization of Nihilistic Violent Extremists operating within the United States and abroad. Those involved with the 764 network methodically target vulnerable, underage populations by using social media to encourage the possession, production, and sharing of extreme gore media and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Members of 764 seek to desensitize young people to violence and break down societal norms regarding it. They normalize the possession, production, and sharing of explicit CSAM and gore material to corrupt and groom their victims toward future violence, gain notoriety among other members of the network, and spread fear for the purpose of accelerating chaos with an aim toward the disruption of society. The charge filed against Corey carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five years and up to life. If convicted, a judge will impose a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Corey’s initial appearance yesterday in Albany was before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart for the Northern District of New York. Corey was ordered detained pending a detention hearing which is scheduled for tomorrow. The FBI is investigating the case, with assistance from the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping for the Northern District of New York is prosecuting the case. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: MultiCare Health System to Pay Millions to Settle Fraud Case

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Court Records Establish That MultiCare Endangered Patients and Fraudulently Billed Taxpayers for Medically Unnecessary Spinal Surgeries. MultiCare’s Settlement Follows Federal and State Settlements with Providence Health & Services and Dr. Jason A. Dreyer in Related Actions Spokane, WA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington today announced that MultiCare Health System (MultiCare), a Tacoma-based hospital and healthcare system that owns and operates MultiCare Deaconess Hospital (Deaconess) and MultiCare Rockwood Clinic in Spokane, will pay $3,728,000 to resolve federal and state allegations that it knowingly endangered patient safety and falsely and fraudulently billed Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs for spinal surgery procedures performed at Deaconess between 2019 and 2021, by Dr. Jason Dreyer, formerly a licensed physician and MultiCare neurosurgeon. This settlement with MultiCare comes after two years of successful federal litigation by the United States and the State of Washington, [1] and is part of six years of federal and state investigations, which resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement with Providence Health & Services (Dr. Dreyer’s previous employer) in 2022, [2] and a more than $1.1 million individual settlement with Dr. Dreyer in 2023, which resolved the allegations of the fraud committed while at MultiCare and a nine year exclusion of Dr. Dreyer from Medicare. [3] In this settlement, MultiCare made factual admissions regarding its conduct, agreeing to pay a total of $3.728 million, $1.6 million of which is restitution, due to the egregious nature of MultiCare’s violations of federal and state law as shown by its own admissions and detailed court records. . [4] Based on MultiCare’s factual admissions and court records, the investigation and resulting litigation has shown that MultiCare hired, credentialed, and supervised Dr. Dreyer while MultiCare ignored and failed to take appropriate action on numerous red flags, warnings, and specific evidence of Dr. Dreyer’s fraud and endangerment of the public, all while increasing its own revenue with fraudulently obtained tax payer money. Significantly, the court records reveal that, within months of Dr. Dreyer starting to operate on patients at MultiCare, two different physician assistants assigned at MultiCare to assist Dr. Dreyer in the operating room raised patient safety concerns directly to MultiCare management. The first physically walked out of the operating room while Dr. Dreyer was performing surgery, out of fear of patient harm, and immediately complained to MultiCare management. The second physician assistant also raised patient safety concerns to MultiCare management and resigned from MultiCare rather than continuing to work with Dr. Dreyer for fear of further patient endangerment. Court records show that MultiCare did not stop or curtail Dr. Dreyer’s surgeries based on the serious patient safety concerns of its own medical staff, or multiple other red flags. MultiCare instead allowed Dr. Dreyer to perform a high volume of medically unnecessary complex spinal surgeries. Despite knowledge of these concerns about Dr. Dreyer, MultiCare not only permitted Dr. Dreyer to continue performing surgeries, but further incentivized Dr. Dreyer to perform medically unnecessary surgeries quickly by tying his compensation directly to the number of surgeries he performed and their complexity. MultiCare continued to fraudulently bill various federal health care benefit programs for those surgeries. Several months after two physician assistants reported concerns about Dr. Dreyer, the United States Attorney’s Office directly informed MultiCare that it was investigating concerns that Dr. Dreyer had harmed patients, falsified diagnoses, and performed medically unnecessary surgeries, while working at Providence. The United States Attorney’s Office even supplied documents and evidence to support its concerns. Dr. Dreyer was still permitted to perform surgeries at MultiCare, including the surgery that initiated the present case. Dr. Dreyer was permitted to perform surgeries as a neurosurgeon at MultiCare with little restriction until, over MultiCare’s objection, the Washington State Department of Health summarily restricted Dr. Dreyer from conducting spinal surgeries. “As the voluminous court records of this case demonstrate, MultiCare had direct knowledge of the danger Dr. Dreyer posed to patients, including through reports made by its own medical staff, and later from explicit warnings from federal investigators,” said Pete Serrano, the First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “MultiCare nonetheless allowed Dr. Dreyer to operate on unsuspecting patients for nearly two years, generating thousands in additional revenue and putting profits before patient safety. Today, thanks to years of comprehensive investigation and litigation, MultiCare has been held accountable for its role in defrauding the taxpayers and endangering some of the most vulnerable members of our community.” Court records show that MultiCare signed a prior settlement agreement in August of 2023 resolving these allegations, then backed out of the agreement, and then litigated the case for two years before resolving it with the settlement announced today. “Today’s settlement shows that no matter who you are, from an individual to a large corporation, if you commit fraud and choose to litigate with the United States rather than accept responsibility, you will be held accountable for your violations and you will pay more in the end,” said Serrano. “The alleged violations by MultiCare show a wanton disregard for ethics and the medical principle to do no harm,” Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said. “This settlement is a win for patient safety and protecting public dollars to get people necessary healthcare.” “Patients trust that the care that they receive from their health providers is medically necessary and in their best interest,” said Special Agent in Charge Robb R. Breeden of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “When providers perform medically unnecessary surgeries and bill federal health care programs including Medicare and Medicaid for them, they not only violate that trust but also exploit programs designed to protect vulnerable populations. HHS-OIG will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who put their own profits over patient safety.” “Healthcare providers have a fundamental duty to protect the well-being of their patients, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service will work tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of our service members and their families,” said John Helsing, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office. “This settlement concludes an intensive multi-year investigation and underscores our commitment to holding providers accountable for putting financial gain over patient safety.” “We will continue to hold accountable those who prioritize profits at the expense of the health and safety of vulnerable patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Derek M. Holt of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General. “We applaud our law enforcement partners and colleagues at the Department of Justice for their dedicated work to protect the welfare of the millions of Americans who rely on our federal health care programs, including the FEHBP.” “This settlement highlights our steadfast commitment to ensuring high-quality healthcare for veterans,” said Special Agent in Charge Dimitriana Nikolov with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northwest Field Office. “The VA OIG is grateful for the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners in this case.” “This is the culmination of a multi-year, multi-agency, collaborative effort to fight egregious health care fraud directly impacting patient safety in Eastern Washington. For years Dr. Dreyer, and both MultiCare and Providence, the hospitals that employed him and unleashed him on an unsuspecting public, endangered and harmed our friends and neighbors while lining their own pockets with taxpayer money,” said First Assistant Serrano. “We could not have held this individual accountable, nor the hospitals that knowingly profited from the fraud, without a dedicated multi-agency team. It is that team that has forced those responsible to pay tens of millions of dollars, stopped Dr. Dreyer from being able to continue harming patients, and that brought the truth of what happened out from the corporate shadows and into the light of day. I’m grateful for the close collaboration we have had with our partners at the Washington Medicaid Fraud Control Division, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General,” continued First Assistant Serrano. This court case began in April 2022, when a former patient of Dr. Dreyer’s at MultiCare, Dr. Deannette Palmer, filed a qui tam complaint under seal in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. [5] The joint investigation and litigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Seattle Field Office; the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, Spokane Resident Office; the Office of Personnel Management, Office of Inspector General, Seattle Field Office; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Seattle Field Office; and the State of Washington Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler H.L. Tornabene and Derek Taylor and health care fraud contractor Echo Fatsis of the Eastern District of Washington handled this matter for the United States. Assistant Attorney Generals Rachel Sterett and Adam McGerty of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office handled this matter for Washington. Settlement Agreement 2:22-cv-00068-SAB [1] On January 26, 2024, the United States and the State of Washington filed their Complaint-in-Intervention. United States and State of Washington File False Claims Act Complaint Against MultiCare for Knowingly Endangering Patients and Fraudulently Billing for Spinal Surgery Procedures , U.S. Dept. Just. (Jan. 26, 2024), https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwa/pr/united-states-and-state-washington-file-false-claims-act-complaint-against-multicare [2] Providence Health & Services Agrees to Pay $22.7 Million to Resolve Liability From Medically Unnecessary Neurosurgery Procedures at Providence St. Mary’s Medical Center , U.S. Dept. Just. (Apr. 12, 2022), https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwa/pr/providence-health-services-agrees-pay-227-million-resolve-liability-medically [3] Former Physician to Pay More than $1.1 Million to Resolve Allegations He Performed Medically Unnecessary Procedures , U.S. Dept. Just. (Apr. 24, 2023), https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwa/pr/former-physician-pay-more-11-million-resolve-allegations-he-performed-medically [4] Due to the voluminous nature of the referenced court records below, this press release includes hyperlinks to the specific court records relied upon. The primary court records referred to are found at ECF No. 16 , ECF No. 64 , and ECF No. 71 . [5] When a whistleblower, or “relator,” files a qui tam complaint, the False Claims Act generally allows the relator to share in any recovery. In the settlement agreement announced today, the relator, Dr. Palmer, will receive 17% of the settlement amount, $633,760. Dr. Palmer was represented by the Gilbert Law Firm of Spokane. In addition to receiving a share of the settlement amount, relators are also entitled to have all of their attorney fees and costs in the action paid by the defendant in successful False Claims Act qui tam case like this one.


title: D.C. Man Sentenced to 26 Years in Prison for Killing One and Seriously Injuring Another

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Walter Jenkins, 37, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in connection with the shooting homicide of David Williams that also injured Melvin Favors on November 14, 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. On August 21, 2025, Jenkins pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder while armed and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. At the January 29, 2026 sentencing, the Honorable Rainey Brandt ordered him to serve the prison term of 26 years and five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 4:45 p.m., on November 14, 2021, defendant Jenkins drove to the area where David Williams was known to sit in his parked vehicle, in front of the Frederick Douglass Community Center, at the intersection of Alabama Ave SE and Bruce Pl SE. Williams was in a relationship with Jenkins’ sister and there were reports of violence by Williams against members of Jenkins’ family, as well as reports of threats to Williams by Jenkins’ sister. After parking, Jenkins, wearing a mask and with a gun concealed in his backpack, confirmed Williams’ location and approached Williams’ vehicle. Captured on surveillance video, Jenkins briefly leaned down to the window of the car, which contained Williams, Favors, and a third individual who was uninjured, then quickly stood back up and began firing on the vehicle as he slowly walked around it. Jenkins fired through the backpack so that it captured the cartridge casings fired from the weapon. Jenkins then fled the scene. David Williams was pronounced deceased at 6:16pm. Melvin Favors suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his legs and a broken femur, as well as a wound to his hand. Law enforcement arrested Jenkins in February of 2022 and he has remained in custody since. Joining in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zach Horton and Miles Janssen prosecuted the case. 2022CF1000672


title: Pasadena Woman Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison for Stalking Campaign and for Threats to Bomb U.S. Consulate in Vietnam

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A San Gabriel Valley woman was sentenced today to 64 months in federal prison for stalking a victim then impersonating him and his wife to further stalk government employees at a United States consulate in Vietnam, which she threatened to bomb. Nathalie Nguyen, 40, of Pasadena, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, who also ordered her to pay $5,372 in restitution. Nguyen pleaded guilty in April 2025 to one count of stalking and one count of threat by interstate commerce to kill another person and to damage and destroy buildings by fire and explosives. She has been in federal custody since February 2024. Nguyen stalked a victim – identified in court documents as “T.H.” – from April 2023 to February 2024, sending emails threatening to kill him and his wife. One of the emails contained screenshots of a text conversation about paying a hitman $15,000 to kill the victim’s wife. She also began stalking five employees at the U.S. consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. At times, she impersonated T.H.’s wife, including in an August 2023 email in which she threatened to “bomb the [expletive] consular in Ho Chi Minh City.” In October 2023, Nguyen – impersonating T.H. and using T.H.’s email account without permission – sent an email to three government employees at the U.S. consulate stating, “i wil [sic] kill every [expletive] one of you who has been delaying issuing my wife visa.” In January 2024, Nguyen – impersonating T.H.’s wife – sent a message to U.S. officials through an online portal stating, “Device will be detonated at America consular in Saigon and in San Francisco. All of you will be exploded for causing my separation with my husband for this last year. Everything will be exploded around new year or after.” The following month, Nguyen impersonated T.H. and sent an inquiry to a U.S. Embassy online portal threatening to explode grenades around the time of the lunar new year at the consulate. Several minutes later, Nguyen, impersonating T.H., sent an email to the Vietnamese consulate stating, “i have a grenade set to be exploded this lunar new year at the consulate. my wife is ready.” “[Nguyen’s] methods were technical and calculated,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “She stole her victims’ identities, cut off their electricity, and interfered with their health insurance. She researched specific Vietnamese Consulate employees, finding the names of their spouses, parents, and children, which she used to terrify the employees…[Nguyen’s] terror campaign upended her victims’ lives.” The FBI investigated this matter with assistance from the Diplomatic Security Service. Assistant United States Attorney Diane B. Roldán of the Major Crimes Section prosecuted this case.


title: Fairfield County man pleads guilty to receiving child pornography

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Lancaster man pleaded guilty in federal court today to receiving child pornography. Carson A. Bigham, 24, was originally arrested on federal charges in May 2025. In a bill of information filed in January 2026, Bigham is charged with receipt of child pornography. According to court documents, law enforcement received two separate Cybertips from the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) related to a Columbus man who was subsequently charged with federal child pornography crimes in March 2025, including exploitation of a minor. One report was from Kik messenger regarding the distribution of 13 child pornography files. The second report was from Sniffies LLC, a map-based hookup application for gay, bisexual and bicurious men. As part of their investigation, devices were seized from the Columbus man. Law enforcement’s forensic review of the devices revealed conversations between the Columbus man and Bigham. The conversations between the two men were sexual in nature and included discussions about engaging in sex with minors. Between August 2024 and May 2025, Bigham received child pornography, including files that depicted prepubescent minors engaged in sex acts with adults. Law enforcement officers learned that Bigham was at the time employed as a Columbus firefighter and photographs of Bigham match those sent to the Columbus man during their conversations. Receiving child pornography is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin; other members of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force; and officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Columbus Airport Group and Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office announced the guilty plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Norah McCann King. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc . # # #


title: Dayton man pleads guilty to gun crime after shootout on University of Dayton campus

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – Dylan Hiner, 19, of Dayton, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to illegally receiving a firearm or ammunition while under indictment for another felony crime. According to court documents, Hiner was attending a Halloween party on Nov. 1, 2025, at the University of Dayton. While at the party, Hiner participated in a shootout. The defendant fired multiple rounds of ammunition into the air. The Dayton Police Department and University of Dayton Police Department arrived on scene and discovered multiple rounds of ammunition and observed home surveillance footage. Hiner was arrested and charged federally on Nov. 10, 2025. At the time, he was under indictment in Montgomery County for allegedly carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle. Illegally receiving a firearm or ammunition while under indictment for a felony crime is punishable by up to five years in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jorge Rosendo, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Dayton Police Chief Kamran Afzal and University of Dayton Police Chief Steve Durian announced the guilty plea offered today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline H. Gentry. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders is representing the United States in this 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. # # #


title: Justice Department Opens Investigation into Baltimore City Health Department for Racially Segregated Training

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Today, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division launched an investigation into the Baltimore City, Maryland, Health Department (BCHD) to determine whether it engages in employment practices that discriminate against, or limit, segregate, or classify, employees because of their race, color, and national origin in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended. “Separating employees into training groups based on their race is discriminatory, illegal, and un-American. Such practices are divisive and foster a racially hostile work environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Racial segregation of employees is deeply offensive to the American guarantee of equal rights under the law, and it will not be tolerated.” Public reporting indicates that BCHD segregates its employees into groups based on race, color, and national origin for “racial equity training.” These groups include the “white caucus” and the “people of color caucus.” BCHD describes the “white caucus” as a “group of white people who meet for the purpose of building analysis, awareness, stamina, and strategy to challenge systemic racism and internalized white supremacy.” BCHD further states that “[w]hite affinity groups allow us to examine our racial conditioning without relying on people of color for answers or subjecting them to our process.” The Civil Rights Division has not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of the investigation. You can read the notice letter here .


title: Oklahoma City Nurse Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography in Case Connected to a Former South Carolina State Representative

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – CHRISTIAN ISMAEL SOTO RETAMOSA , 35, of Oklahoma City, has pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to court records, in March 2024, the mobile messaging application Kik submitted a tip to law enforcement regarding a user distributing videos containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The FBI determined that the user was exchanging CSAM with Retamosa, a registered nurse who was then working in Oklahoma City. Court records further indicate that Retamosa exchanged CSAM with Robert John May III , a former state representative for South Carolina. May III was charged separately in the District of South Carolina and was recently sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for distributing child pornography. On February 3, 2026, Retamosa pleaded guilty and admitted he knowingly possessed several electronic devices containing CSAM, including images of prepubescent children. At sentencing, Retamosa faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations offices in Columbia, South Carolina, and Oklahoma City, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department in South Carolina. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bow Bottomly. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Pedophile Sentenced for Receiving and Distributing Hundreds of Photos and Videos of Child Sexual Abuse

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A pedophile living in Tulsa was sentenced for receiving and distributing hundreds of photos and videos that showed children, toddlers, and infants being sexually abused, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Devin James Woodis, 34, for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Woodis was ordered to serve 240 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, he will be required to register as a sex offender. Judge Russell further ordered Woodis to pay $18,000 in restitution. The Tulsa Police Department received a CyberTip from the messaging app, Kik, reporting that Woodis was distributing child pornography. After officers executed a search warrant at his home, they found that Woodis was engaging in sexually explicit conversations with several people, including a person he believed to be a 14-year-old minor child. Officers discovered that he used various messaging apps, including Kik, TeleGuard, and Sessions. After reviewing devices collected during the search warrant, officers found 258 photos and 242 videos of children, toddlers, and infants being sexually exploited and abused. The child sexual abuse material found on Woodis devices was submitted to the National Child Victim Identification System managed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Sixty children were identified from the submitted photos and images. Several of those victims provided victim impact statements to the court. Restitution paid by Woodis will go directly to the child victims identified. Woodis will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Mescalero man charged with assault

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man appeared in federal court after allegedly assaulting and strangling a victim. According to court documents, on October 23, 2025, Lance Marion Cojo , 39, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, assaulted and strangled Jane Doe. Cojo is charged with assault by strangling and/or suffocating and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for February 9, 2026. If convicted of the current charges, Cojo faces ten years in prison. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison made the announcement today. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Dickens is prosecuting the case. An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Connecticut Man Admits $2.5 Million Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: DOMINICK N. DONOFRIO, 73, last residing in Middlefield, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to wire fraud. According to court documents and statements made in court, Donofrio was the president and owner of Windstar Financial Services, Inc. (“Windstar”) based in Madison, Connecticut. In January 2013, Wisconsin-based Randall Robert Binversie Holdings (“Binversie”), which was interested in purchasing a renewable fuel business, hired Donofrio to provide business and financial consulting services. In early 2014, Donofrio informed Binversie of the opportunity to purchase Tioga Fuel, a home heating oil company in Philadelphia, and its properties (collectively, the “Tioga properties”), and convinced Binversie that the purchase price was $2,050,567. In fact, Donofrio had fraudulently marked up the purchase price by approximately $1,300,000. Donofrio subsequently completed the transaction. In pleading guilty, Donofrio admitted that he defrauded Binversie of more than $2.5 million. The loss amount includes the difference between the actual purchase price and the inflated purchase price of the Tioga properties; more than $987,000 in fraudulent consulting, negotiation, and legal fees Binversie paid in 2013 and 2014; approximately $87,000 that Donofrio stole from Tioga Fuel’s account during the acquisition; and approximately $136,000 that Donofrio obtained from Binversie as interest payments on a fictitious $1.25 million “loan,” an amount that Donofrio represented to Binversie that Windstar had fronted during the acquisition. On July 30, 2019, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania returned an indictment charging Donofrio with the offense. Donofrio was a fugitive until his arrest on July 24, 2024, in Mystic, Connecticut. After he failed to appear for a pretrial conference in Philadelphia on July 22, 2025, he was again arrested on December 3, 2025, and has been detained since that date. The case was transferred to the District of Connecticut for further prosecution. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for April 29, at which time Donofrio faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Francis of the District of Connecticut and Anita Eve of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.


body_text: Massachusetts Resident Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in the New Hampshire Seacoast CONCORD – A man with ties to a Dominican drug trafficking organization, who previously lived in Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today in federal court for drug trafficking in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Jose Luis Guerrero Nunez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents and statements made in court, Guerrero Nunez served as a leader in a Methuen-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the New Hampshire seacoast area. In late 2023 and early 2024, he organized controlled purchases of fentanyl and methamphetamine with undercover law enforcement officers. He also was recorded by undercover officers arranging for larger distributions in the future. Charges are still pending against one of Guerrero Nunez’s co-conspirators, Juan Carlos De Los Santos Romero. Three co-conspirators, Carlos Alejandro Chevalier Santos, Eddy Mendez Carmona, and Luis Guerrero Cabral, have previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced by the Court. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The Seabrook Police Department, Hampton Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Methuen Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo 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.


title: February Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments Announced

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the February Federal Grand Jury 2025-A Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Andres Avila Pineda; Anthony Avila; Andres Avila, Jr.; Ranferi Manriquez. Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of Firearms (superseding). Andres, 48, a Mexican national, Anthony, 22, Andres Jr., 24, and Ranferi, 31, of Houston, Texas, are charged with conspiring with others to transport firearms knowing that possession would constitute a felony. Andres is further charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and Kenneth Elmore are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-460 Robin Christopher Black. Conspiracy; Benefits Fraud. Black, 63, of Tulsa, is charged with conspiring with others to obtain money from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) by selling stolen benefits for cash. He is further charged with acquiring and possessing SNAP funds contrary to the Department of Agriculture regulations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of the Inspector General, the Oklahoma Department of Health Services – Office of the Inspector General, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney John W. Dowdell is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-035 Bryan Abisai Costeira-Hernandez. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Costeria-Hernandez, 38, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. He is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Further, Costeria-Hernandez is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in Sep. 2022 Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Augustus Forster is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-036 Willis James Gray. Felon in Possession of Ammunition; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Gray, 41, of Bartlesville and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with possessing ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. He is additionally charged with assaulting the victim with a dangerous weapon and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bartlesville Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Flesher is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-037 Crawford Don Harper, Jr. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Harper, 38, of Indianapolis, Indiana, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Heign is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-038 Romiro Leonardo Hernandez. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition; Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Leonardo Hernandez, 33, a Mexican national, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was unlawfully residing in the United States. Further, he is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after being removed in May 2017, January 2018, and August 2018. Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-039 James Robert Hurley, aka James Gomes. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Hurley, also known as James Gomes, 25, of Rose, is an individual who is knowingly required to register as a sex offender. He is charged with failing to register as a sex offender from July to on or about November 2025. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulgaard is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-040 Jose Brian Jimenez Contreras. Possession of a False Immigration Document. Jimenez Contreras, 20, a Mexican national, is charged with knowingly possessing a fake Legal Permanent Resident card. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Briolara is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-044 Arturo Rodriguez Aguero. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Rodriguez Aguero, 49, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in June 2017, February 2018, and August 2018. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ammon Brisolara is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-045 John Edgar Williams, IV; Jeremy Mindez Ruff; Savannah D’naisha May Gage; Nevaeh Charise Cox; Trinity Rinique Goudeau; Shavari Shantell Melton; Vanessa Lashay Bell; Ashley Elaine Charles. Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking (Count 1); Transporting an Individual for Prostitution (Counts 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, and 13); Interstate Travel to Aid Racketeering (Count 4); Distribution of Child Pornography (Count 5); Sex Trafficking (Counts 6, 12, and 15); Sex Trafficking a Minor (Counts 8, 11, 14, and 17); Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (Count 16); Commission of Felony Sex Offense Involving a Minor by a Registered Sex Offender (Counts 18 & 19); Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity (Count 20); Child Exploitation Enterprise (Count 21) (third superseding). Williams, 38, Gage, 25, Cox, 39, Goudeau, 24, Melton, 20, Bell, 20, Charles, 37, of Tulsa, and Ruff, 39, of Dallas, Texas, are charged with conspiring with each other to recruit, entice, and harbor a person by threats of force to engage in a commercial sex act for payment. Williams, Gage, Ruff, and Goudeau are charged separately for transporting people to engage in prostitution and other sexual activities. Williams, Ruff, Gage, Cox, Goudeau, Melton, and Charles are further charged with using interstate and foreign commerce to promote and manage a business enterprise involving prostitution. Ruff, Cox, Gage, Goudeau, and Melton are charged with recruiting and enticing minor children, between 14 and 18 years old, to engage in sexually explicit acts. Williams is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. Ruff is charged with committing a felony offense involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender. Additionally, Williams, Gage, and Goudeau are charged with benefiting financially from recruiting, harboring, and providing transportation to an individual to engage in commercial sex acts. Cox is further charged with knowingly distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Gage transported a minor child across state lines to engage in sexual activity. Lastly, Gage is charged with engaging in a child exploitation enterprise by working with others, in three or more incidents, to sex traffic more than three victims. The Tulsa Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth Elmore, John Brasher, and John W. Dowdell are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-197


title: Yorktown drug trafficker sentenced to five years in prison for firearm possession

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

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Yorktown man was sentenced today to five years in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, on Feb. 3, 2025, law enforcement conducted a controlled purchase of an ounce of methamphetamine, which was supplied by Jonathan Michael Jenkins, aka JHood, 42. On March 3, 2025, the investigative team searched two residences associated with Jenkins. From the first residence, investigators recovered methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and crack cocaine as well as a loaded handgun. From the second residence, investigators recovered additional indicia of drug trafficking and use. Jenkins previously was convicted of 15 crimes and 17 probation violations as an adult. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated the case with significant assistance from the Virginia State Police Tri-Rivers Task Force, Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office, Mathews County Sheriff’s Office, and York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon Heath prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). 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. 4:25-cr-16.


title: Three Defendants Indicted for $447,000 COVID-19 Fraud

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three men from the Kansas City metropolitan area have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their receipt of $440,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Robert Turner, Kansas City, Mark Crosby, Kansas City, and Earl Howard, Grandview, were charged in separate sealed indictments returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on January 28, 2026. These indictments were unsealed following the initial appearance of these individuals in court this week. These federal indictments allege that Robert Turner’s company, Handy Hands Services LLC, submitted a fraudulent application for a PPP loan. Based upon false payroll records, Turner received a $324,900 PPP loan. Mark Crosby submitted fraudulent applications for two companies, Crosby Auto LLC and MSC & Sons Trucking LLC. Crosby Auto received $71,400 based upon false payroll records submitted with the application and MSC & Sons Trucking received $20,832 based upon similar false statements regarding the company’s payroll. Howard’s company, Turn 2 LLC, also submitted a fraudulent PPP loan application. Turn 2 received a $30,800 PPP loan. The applications allegedly caused more than $447,000 in fraudulent PPP loans to be issued to these three ineligible borrowers, all of which were forgiven by the SBA even though the funds were not used for the purposes specified in the PPP. The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. They were investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.


title: New Terrorism-Related Charges Filed Against Alleged Killer of Israeli Embassy Employees

body_text: WASHINGTON – Elias Rodriguez, 31, of Chicago, was charged in a 13-count superseding indictment unsealed today in U.S. District Court with multiple terrorism-related offenses in connection with the May 21, 2025, fatal shootings of two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in downtown Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Rodriguez previously was charged with the murder of a foreign official, causing death through the use of a firearm, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, two federal counts of hate crime resulting in death, and two counts each of first-degree premeditated murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed under the D.C. criminal code. The superseding indictment adds four counts of acts of terrorism while armed (two counts each for the first-degree murders and assaults with intent to kill) in violation of the D.C. criminal code and a federal statutory aggravating factor for substantial planning and premeditation to commit an act of terrorism. Several of the charges filed against Rodriguez carry a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment. “My office will not rest in our efforts to hold Elias Rodriguez accountable for this horrific, and targeted act of terror against Yaron Lischinsky, Sarah Milgrim and our Jewish community,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “These additional terrorism-related charges carry a mandatory life sentence under D.C. Code, while also reflecting the reality that this act was in fact an act of terror.” “In addition to allegedly murdering two innocent people and terrorizing the survivors of his attack at the Capital Jewish Museum, Rodriguez wrote and published a manifesto attempting to morally justify his actions and inspire others to commit political violence,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. “His alleged actions warrant the additional terrorism charges being announced today.” Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, died in the attack. Lischinsky was an Israeli citizen and employee of the Government of Israel who was in the United States on official business while working for the Israeli Embassy. Milgrim, from Overland Park, Kansas, was also employed by the Israeli Embassy. Two surviving victims also worked for the Embassy. According to the superseding indictment, Rodriguez allegedly approached the victims as they left a “Young Diplomats Reception” at the museum, fired approximately 20 shots from a semi-automatic handgun, and called out “Free Palestine.” After the shooting, Rodriguez entered the museum. Several event attendees were still present. Rodriguez allegedly displayed a red keffiyeh and said, “I did it for Palestine. I did it for Gaza.” As police removed Rodriguez from the museum, he shouted, “shame on you” and “shame on Zio-nazi terror” at the remaining event attendees. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia with assistance from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. 25cr224 42_rodriguez_superseding_indictment_1.pdf


title: California Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Meth Trafficking

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Los Angeles, Ca., man was sentenced in federal court yesterday for his leadership role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy involving over 122 kilograms of methamphetamine. Dejuan Tyrone Parker, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 25 years in federal prison without parole for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and 20 years in federal prison without parole for one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. These sentences will run concurrently. Parker will also have to pay a money judgment in the amount of $400,000, which represents proceeds he obtained directly and indirectly from his distribution of methamphetamine during the charged conspiracy. Parker pleaded guilty on Mar. 31, 2025. According to court documents, in 2023, law enforcement received reliable information that Parker was bringing large quantities of methamphetamine from Los Angeles, Ca., to the Springfield, Mo., area for distribution. While investigating Parker’s drug-trafficking activities, law enforcement learned that Parker was recruiting women to transport the methamphetamine on commercial flights from California to Missouri. The investigation culminated on May 9, 2024, when investigators, who were tracking Parker’s cell phone, observed him at the Los Angeles International Airport. Investigators subsequently learned that Parker and a co-defendant were scheduled to arrive in Springfield just after midnight on May 10, 2024. Parker and his co-defendant were detained upon their arrival at the Springfield-Branson National Airport, and investigators subsequently located 11 vacuum-sealed bags containing approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine inside her suitcase. The bags of methamphetamine were wrapped inside men’s clothing. At the time of his arrest, Parker was wearing over $111,000 of jewelry. Parker is the first defendant to be sentenced in this case. Defendants Richard Allen Thomas, 43; Brian Edward Davidson, 45; Robert Dean Miller, Jr., 43; Cassidy Elden Conner, 36; DeShaunda Nicole Wells, 36; Dawn Marie Klapp, 47; and Victoria Marie Jenkins, 25, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Kentucky Highway Patrol, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Taney County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, and the Branson, Mo., Police Department. Homeland Security Task Force This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Kansas City comprises agents and officers from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Homeland Security Investigations; with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri.


component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: Rochester Man Sentenced to 4 Years’ Imprisonment for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine CONCORD – A Rochester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for conspiring to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Trevor Mackenzie, age 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 48 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In May 2025, Mackenzie pleaded guilty to the single-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, namely, fentanyl and cocaine. “Fentanyl and crack cocaine bring misery to our state,” said U.S. Attorney Creegan. “This sentence demonstrates that we are committed to interdicting the supply of these harmful drugs.” “Fentanyl is an incredibly dangerous drug that destroy lives and tears communities apart. HSI continues to work alongside our state and local partners to disrupt the distribution networks that bring these drugs to our streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. According to the charging documents and plea agreement, investigators learned that Mackenzie had been conspiring with a drug trafficking organization led by codefendant Michael Martinez to purchase fentanyl and cocaine. Vehicle tracker data on cars operated by Martinez’s drug couriers or “runners” showed repeated trips to Mackenzie’s home. Toll analysis showed that Mackenzie had at least 354 separate contacts with a phone belonging to Martinez between May 8, 2024, and August 6, 2024. CashApp records showed that Mackenzie paid a total of $4,900 to Martinez between April 28, 2024, and July 3, 2024. A search warrant for Martinez’s TextNow account revealed numerous messages between the defendant and Martinez discussing Mackenzie’s purchases of narcotics from Martinez. Mackenzie would in turn sell narcotics he acquired from Martinez to his own customers. On October 16, 2024, investigators executed a search warrant at Mackenzie’s home, where they arrested him on a federal warrant. In a back bedroom, investigators found scales, baking soda, and plates with residue on them. In the living room, investigators found on a coffee table approximately 269 grams of fentanyl (almost nine and a half ounces) and approximately 164 grams of powder cocaine (over five and a half ounces) in multiple baggies, which were distribution-level quantities of those drugs. Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. The Strafford County Sheriff’s Office provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Shannon and Yasir Sadat prosecuted the case.


title: Level 2 Sex Offender Sentenced to Prison for Unregistered Email Account

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kyle Caton, 38, a registered sex offender of Albany, New York, was sentenced yesterday to a total of 18 to 24 months in prison following his plea of guilty for failure to register an email address he used to access pornography with the New York State Sex Offender Registry and admission to violating his federal supervised release in doing so. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Acting U.S. Marshal Christopher Amoia made the announcement. According to Caton’s admissions and statements made in court, Caton was convicted of receipt of child pornography in 2019 and sentenced to 88 months of incarceration, followed by 15 years of post-release supervision. Caton has been registered as a Level 2 sex offender with New York State ever since. Caton violated his supervised release conditions almost immediately following his release from prison by possessing an unauthorized internet-capable device he used to view and possess pornography and was sentenced to 9 months of incarceration. Just three months after his release from that sentence, Caton created an email account, which he used to access pornography, and failed to register the email account with the New York State Sex Offender Registry. In this case, Caton previously pled guilty to failure to register the email address with the New York State Sex Offender Registry and admitted to violating the terms of his second term of supervised release in doing so. Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino sentenced Caton to a term of imprisonment of 12 to 18 months on his guilty plea, followed by a term of imprisonment of 6 months on the violation of supervised release, for a total sentence of 18 to 24 months in prison. Caton was also ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release and remains obligated to register as a sex offender. Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated: “Here in the Northern District of New York, we prosecute every sex offender who fails to comply with their registration requirements to the fullest extent of the law. The Marshals’ excellent work combined with my Office’s dedication to holding this sex offender accountable ensured Kyle Caton is right back where he belongs: in prison.” “The successful prosecution of habitual offender Kyle Caton reinforces the United States Marshals Service’s unwavering commitment to locating and apprehending non-compliant sex offenders. Failure to register is not a technical violation, but a serious crime that places communities at risk,” stated Acting U.S. Marshal Christopher Amoia. “SORNA requires convicted sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction where they reside. Failure to comply with these requirements is a federal offense and undermines efforts to protect the public and monitor known offenders.” The U.S. Marshals Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Albany County Man and Alleged Member of Nihilistic Violent Extremist Organization 764 Charged with Receiving Child Pornography

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Aaron Corey, a.k.a. “Baggeth,” of Albany, New York, appeared in federal court on February 3, 2025, after being charged with receiving child pornography. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Federal Bureau of Investigation Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia, Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the FBI, made the announcement. According to the criminal complaint, between October and December 2025, Corey received video and image files depicting pre-pubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct via the Internet. The complaint also alleges that Corey is a member of “764,” a criminal organization of Nihilistic Violent Extremists operating within the United States and abroad. Those involved with the 764 network methodically target vulnerable, underage populations by using social media to encourage the possession, production, and sharing of extreme gore media and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Members of 764 seek to desensitize young people to violence and break down societal norms regarding it. They normalize the possession, production, and sharing of explicit CSAM and gore material to corrupt and groom their victims toward future violence, gain notoriety among other members of the network, and spread fear for the purpose of accelerating chaos with an aim toward the disruption of society. “The 764 network is a depraved criminal group that exploits vulnerable children and revels in their abuse,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The very serious crimes alleged in this indictment will be aggressively prosecuted until justice is served, as the Justice Department and federal partners continue efforts to take down this violent extremist network.” “Aaron Corey, an alleged member of the nihilistic violent extremist group 764, has been charged today for allegedly receiving sexually explicit content of minors via the Internet. Preying on our nation’s children, who are among the most vulnerable members of society, is beyond comprehension,” said FBI Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia. “The FBI won’t tolerate these heinous acts and remains determined to stop these predators in their tracks. Along with our law enforcement partners, the dangerous criminals involved with the atrocious activities of violent online networks will be held accountable.” “Let this send a warning to anyone engaged in any conduct that involves assaulting children: You eventually will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “I thank the FBI and the New York State Police for their hard work and the sacrifices they make to keep our communities safe.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “The allegations against Mr. Corey are inexcusable and deeply depraved. The FBI is steadfast in our mission to collaborate with our law enforcement partners at every level across the country and overseas to identify, investigate, and bring to justice any criminal associated with this disturbing network that aims to manipulate our children into harming themselves. While this dangerous activity happens online, these predators cannot hide from the FBI and will be held accountable.” The charge filed against Corey carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute(s) the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Corey had an initial appearance yesterday in Albany, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing. The detention hearing is scheduled for February 5, 2026. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###