title: Tennessee Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

body_text: Paducah, KY – A Henry County, Tennessee man was sentenced on July 21, 2025, to 11 years in federal prison for possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Sheriff Nicky Knight of the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Matt Hilbrecht of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police made the announcement. Trey Cowans, 30 years old, admitted in a plea agreement that on April 17, 2024, agents arranged to purchase 2 pounds of methamphetamine from him using a confidential source. Cowans was apprehended when he arrived at the pre-determined location for the purpose of engaging in drug distribution and found to be in possession of 2 pounds of methamphetamine. Through a separate search of a location in Tennessee, Cowans was also found to be in possession of 20.7 pounds of methamphetamine. Based on this conduct and his criminal history, the Court imposed a sentence of 11 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. “Cowans was a significant drug distributor in the Calloway County area that is now off the streets because of first-class law enforcement efforts of the DEA, Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and Kentucky State Police Drug Enforcement and Special Investigations,” said U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner. “This prosecution is yet another example of the strong work that can be done when federal, state, and local partners join forces for a common good.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. This conviction is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: Clarksville, Tennessee Man Sentenced to 1 Year and 8 Months in Federal Prison for Defrauding Employer

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Paducah, KY – A Clarksville, Tennessee, man was sentenced on June 21, 2025, to 1 year and 8 months in federal prison for engaging in a scheme to defraud his former employer. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Acting Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Louisville Field Office made the announcement. Timothy Allen Pew, 43, was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for seven counts of wire fraud. According to court documents, between March 2023 and January 2023, Pew committed wire fraud by engaging in a scheme to embezzle over $250,000 from his employer. Pew, who was employed as a purchasing manager for a manufacturing company in western Kentucky, embezzled the funds from the company by using a company credit card to transfer money to his personal PayPal account. Pew was also ordered to pay $257,400.08 in restitution. “Pew engaged in a brazen pattern of lies and deception from the outset, lying to his employer about his prior relevant experience, engaging in multiple fraudulent transactions on the company credit card once employed, and then creating a paper trail to cover it all up,” said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “This sentence reflects the egregiousness of Pew’s conduct.” There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the FBI Hopkinsville Satellite Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. ###


title: TSA Employee Charged with Attempted Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia Mo., man employed by the TSA appeared in Federal Court today after being charged by complaint with attempted production of child pornography. Daniel P. Meenehan, 64, was charged by complaint with attempted production of child pornography on July 24, 2025. The investigation began on Oct. 29, 2024, when HSI agents in St. Louis, Missouri received information from the Miller County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office regarding a report of a minor victim sending nude photographs to an adult male in exchange for money. The investigation shows the defendant made over 41 transactions to the minor victims in exchange for nude images for a period of one year. The charges contained in the complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Under federal statutes, if convicted, Meenehan faces a federal prison sentence of up to 30 years to be served without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is provided by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, and the Miller County Sheriff’s Office. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Longtime Gang Member Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A member of the violent Boston-based gang H-Block has been sentenced in federal court in Boston on drug conspiracy charges. Jason Bly, 44, of Quincy, was sentenced on July 23, 2024 by U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. In February 2025 , Bly pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to the charging documents, the H-Block street gang is one of the most feared and influential city-wide gangs in Boston. Originally formed in the 1980s as the Humboldt Raiders in the Roxbury section of Boston, the gang re-emerged in the 2000s as H-Block. Current members of H-Block have a history of violent confrontation with law enforcement, including an incident in 2015 when a member shot a Boston Police officer at point blank range without warning or provocation. Bly was one of 10 H-Block gang members and associates charged in August 2024 following a multi-year investigation of H-Block beginning in 2021 in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings and violence. According to court documents, over 500 grams of cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine) and fentanyl, as well as over 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper were seized during the investigation. The investigation identified Bly as a longtime H-Block gang member and a supplier of wholesale quantities of cocaine for distribution. During this investigation, Bly supplied co-defendant and fellow H-Block gang member Avery Lewis with a quarter kilogram of cocaine. According to court documents, Bly’s criminal history includes a 2016 conviction of attempted assault and battery with a firearm and possession of a firearm without a permit during an incident where he fired several rounds from a firearm in H-Block territory. He also has a 2024 conviction for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon during incident in which he threw a cup of hot coffee in another man’s face during an argument for which he was on probation at the time of his arrest in this case. Lewis was sentenced to 46 months in prison in June 2025 . United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Special Agent in Charge Randy Maloney of the U.S. Secret Service Boston Field Office; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. The investigation was supported by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; Massachusetts Department of Corrections; and the Braintree, Quincy, Randolph and Watertown Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Jeremy Franker of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime & Racketeering Section prosecuted the case. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Statement From U.S. Attorney David Toepfer on the Death of Police Officer Phillip Wagner

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND - U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer made the following statement regarding the death of Lorain Police Officer Phillip Wagner. "With sorrowful hearts, we offer our sincerest condolences to the family of Officer Phillip Wagner, his friends, and his fellow officers with the Lorain Police Department. Officer Wagner’s tragic loss is a painful reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers face in service to keep our communities safe. There are no words to express the depths of pain in losing such a young life to a senseless act of violence. We have lost a protector of our community who dedicated his career to ensuring that others can live in safety. We will forever be grateful to Officer Wagner for his bravery and sacrifice in service of others. We also ask everyone to continue to keep Officers Peter Gale and Brent Payne in their thoughts and prayers as they recover not only physically from this brutal attack, but also from the immense pain of losing their friend and colleague." ###


title: New York Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Identity Theft in Connection with Stolen $810,000 Tax Refund Check

body_text: BOSTON – A Yonkers, N.Y. man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to steal an $810,000 tax refund by impersonating a corporate executive in Connecticut. Steven Ware, 64, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Oct. 8, 2025. Ware was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in September 2024 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2024 . In December 2023, Ware opened bank accounts in the name of a Connecticut investment company and one of its executives at a credit union in Tyngsborough, Mass. When opening the account, Ware identified himself as the executive – using the executive’s full name, date of birth, Social Security number and other documents. Shortly after opening the account, Ware returned to the credit union pretending to be the executive and deposited a United States Treasury check payable to the company and the executive for $810,337. Once the check cleared, a debit card was used to withdraw money from the account to buy goods at various retailers in New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Ware returned to the Tyngsborough credit union several times over the following days and weeks pretending to be the executive and wired more than $634,000 of the stolen funds. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charges of aggravated identity theft each provide for a mandatory two years in prison, in addition to any sentence imposed for bank fraud, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; and Michael Carpenter, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, OIG made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Tyngsborough Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Everett Man Indicted for Selling Firearms

body_text: BOSTON – An Everett man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for trafficking firearms. Joao Victor Da Silva Soares, 21, was indicted on one count of dealing firearms without a license and one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. He will be arraigned in federal court in Boston on July 30, 2025. Da Silva Soares was previously charged by criminal complaint in January 2025. According to the charging documents, between August and September 2024, Da Silva Soares supplied firearms for sale in Eastern Massachusetts. Specifically, on Aug. 26, 2024, Da Silva Soares allegedly delivered two AM-15 rifles and sold them for $6,000 in a parking lot in Malden. It is further alleged that on Sept. 11, 2024, Da Silva Soares participated in another sale involving a total of five firearms (consisting of rifles, pistols and a shotgun) outside a residence in Milford. The charges of conspiracy and engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Malden and Milford Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Tulsan Sentenced to 30 Years After Taking Sexually Explicit Images of an 8-Year-Old

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced today for Production of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Gregory Miller, 56, to 360 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release, ordered to pay a $15,000 fine, and not to have any contact with the victim. Upon his release, Miller will also be required to register as a sex offender. In February 2024, law enforcement conducted a search warrant on Miller’s home and seized various electronic devices. A search of those devices revealed images and videos of a minor child, known to Miller, posed in a sexually explicit way. The investigation revealed that the images and videos were taken at Miller’s residence. At the time the photos were taken, the minor child was only 8 years old. Miller will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Christopher J. Nassar 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: Malden Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Malden man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine. Logan Pierre, a/k/a “LO,” 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. In March 2025 , Pierre pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine, 40 grams and more of fentanyl and cocaine. Logan Pierre was charged along with his brother and co-defendant, Isaiah Pierre in June 2024. Isaiah Pierre fled apprehension and remains a fugitive. In the fall of 2023, an investigation began into drug trafficking activities conducted by Logan and, allegedly, Isaiah Pierre. The investigation revealed that the Pierre brothers were allegedly actively selling methamphetamine in the greater Boston area. Between October 2023 and May 2024, Logan Pierre and, allegedly, Isaiah Pierre sold or arranged the sale of a pound methamphetamine on at least five separate controlled purchases. During a search of Logan Pierre’s apartment, an additional 1000g of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine was recovered. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Malden Police Chief Glenn Cronin; and Interim Revere Police Chief Maria Lavita made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/PSN .


title: Ecuadorian National Sentenced for Illegal Reentry

body_text: BOSTON – An Ecuadorian national illegally residing in Yarmouth was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Jose Tomas Lema Pugo, a/k/a Jose Luis Ledezma, 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to time served (approximately six weeks in prison) and one year of supervised release. He is subject to deportation upon completion of the sentence imposed. Earlier in the hearing, Lema Pugo pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Lema Pugo was arrested by immigration authorities on May 9, 2025 and indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025 . Lema Pugo was deported from the United States to Ecuador in November 2013. Sometime after his November 2013 removal, Lema Pugo illegally reentered the United States without permission. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Zacks of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Brazilian National Indicted for Selling Nearly a Dozen Firearms

body_text: BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Marlborough was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for trafficking firearms. Guilherme Fernandes-Tavares, 31, was indicted on one count of dealing firearms without a license. He will be arraigned in federal court on July 30, 2025. Fernandes-Tavares was previously charged by criminal complaint on March 7, 2025. According to the charging documents, between December 2023 and May 2024, Fernandes-Tavares sold 11 firearms and ammunition across 10 different dates and offered others for sale. It is alleged that the firearms sold were pistols, some of which were privately manufactured firearms without serial numbers and one of which had an obliterated serial number. It is further alleged that one of the firearms was sold with a large capacity magazine that could hold 28 rounds of ammunition. In addition, a package intended for Fernandes-Tavares sent from Florida was intercepted and allegedly found to contain an additional firearm. The charge of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; and the Westborough Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Two Staffers at Ontario Surgery Center Charged in Federal Complaint Alleging They Assaulted and Interfered with ICE Investigation

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: RIVERSIDE, California – Two staff members at a surgery center in San Bernardino County have been charged via a federal criminal complaint alleging they assaulted and interfered with United States immigration officers attempting to lawfully detain an illegal alien, the Justice Department announced today. Jose de Jesus Ortega, 38, of Highland, was arrested this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Riverside. Law enforcement is looking for Danielle Nadine Davila, 33, of Corona. Ortega and Davila are charged with assaulting a federal officer and conspiracy to prevent by force and intimidation a federal officer from discharging his duties. “This story is another example of a false narrative echoed in the media in furtherance of an agenda to delegitimize federal agents,” said United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The illegal alien arrested inside the surgery center was not a patient. He ran inside for cover and these defendants attempted to block his apprehension by assaulting our agents. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you work, if you assault our agents or otherwise interfere with our operations, you will be arrested and charged with a federal crime.” According to an affidavit filed Thursday with the complaint, on July 8, two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers conducted roving immigration-related operations as part of their duties in Ontario. The officers wore government-issued equipment, including law enforcement vests, and were in an unmarked government-operated vehicle. The officers were following a truck with three adult men when the truck made a quick turn into the parking lot of a surgery center in Ontario. Officers approached the men after the men had exited the truck, and two of the men ran away. One of the fleeing men – an illegal alien from Honduras – was partially detained near the surgery center’s front entrance before he resisted and pulled away, causing both him and the ICE officer to fall to the ground. Shortly afterward, a medical staffer helped the alien off the ground and helped pull him away from the officer. The alien proceeded inside the surgery center and was pursued by the ICE officer, who eventually stopped him. Ortega and Davila, both dressed in medical scrubs, impeded and interfered with the arrest – Davila by wedging herself in between the officer and the alien, pushing the officer, and shouting, “Let him go!” and “Get out!”; Ortega by grabbing the officer’s arm and then his vest. The officer called for assistance and another ICE officer arrived on scene and saw multiple staff members grabbing the first officer. The officers eventually detained and handcuffed the alien, then exited the surgery center with him. A criminal complaint contains allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, the defendants would face a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in federal prison on the assault count and up to six years in federal prison on the conspiracy count. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Cory Burleson of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.


title: La Nueva Familia Michoacana Drug Cartel Member Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ATLANTA - Pablo Tabares-Martinez, 50, a member of the La Nueva Familia Michoacana drug cartel who was arrested in Guatemala and extradited to the United States, will serve a ten-year prison sentence following his conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. “The successful extradition and prosecution of Tabares-Martinez reflect my office’s commitment to eliminating dangerous cartels that seek to introduce drugs into our community,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “This case also sends a strong message to cartel members who transport deadly drugs destined for the Northern District of Georgia: we will find you and bring you here to face justice.” “This investigation demonstrates DEA’s commitment to protecting our communities,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA remains focused on keeping America safe by removing dangerous drugs from our communities and bringing criminals to justice.” “We will relentlessly pursue and dismantle cartels and criminal organizations that threaten our communities with deadly drugs,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “The extradition and conviction of Pablo Tabares-Martinez, a key member of the La Nueva Familia Michoacana cartel, is a direct result of the unwavering dedication of HSI and our law enforcement partners to eradicate these dangerous criminal organizations from our society.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: The La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) cartel is a violent Mexican cartel responsible for the annual transportation, importation, and distribution of approximately 12 tons of methamphetamine, 13 tons of opioids, including heroin and fentanyl, and 18 tons of cocaine in the United States. On November 16, 2021, Tabares-Martinez, who resided in Mexico and was a mid-level member of LNFM, orchestrated the sale of one kilogram of methamphetamine to an individual in the Atlanta area. After the transaction was complete, Tabares-Martinez contacted the purchaser to confirm the methamphetamine was high quality. In 2022 and 2023, Tabares-Martinez and other LNFM members established a transportation route for 150 kilograms of cocaine from Colombia to Atlanta, Georgia. In March 2023, local law enforcement arrested Tabares-Martinez after he traveled to Guatemala to inspect the cocaine. In November 2023, Tabares-Martinez was extradited to the Northern District of Georgia, where he has remained in federal custody. Earlier today, Chief United States District Judge Leigh Martin May sentenced Tabares-Martinez to ten years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Tabares-Martinez was convicted on January 13, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. Guatemalan law enforcement provided valuable assistance in the arrest of Tabares-Martinez. Assistant United States Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert and Laurel B. Milam prosecuted the case. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to eliminate the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the David G. Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force (Atlanta Strike Force) is to eliminate transnational organized crime syndicates and major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the Northern District of Georgia. To accomplish this mission, the Atlanta Strike Force will target these organizations’ leaders, focusing on targets designated as Consolidated Priority Organization Targets, Regional Priority Organization Targets, and their associates. The Atlanta Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, USMS, USPIS, and IRS, as well as numerous state and local agencies. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6185. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: TICKFAW MAN SENTENCED TO 60 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR DISTRIBUTION OF COCAINE AND FENTANYL

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Ellison C. Travis announced that U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Randevois Ingram, age 28, of Tickfaw Louisiana, to 60 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for distribution of cocaine and fentanyl. The Court further sentenced Ingram to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, between May 2, 2024, and June 27, 2024, Ingram distributed controlled substances containing cocaine and fentanyl to a confidential source working under the direction of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations. This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Pugliese. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Civil Rights Division Moves to Dismiss Court-Ordered Agreement Regarding Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Today, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced that it has moved to dismiss a 2015 Court-Ordered Settlement Agreement regarding the Leflore County Juvenile Detention Center (the Center) in Greenwood, Mississippi because the Center has achieved sustained substantial compliance with all areas of the Settlement Agreement. The Center implemented reforms to ensure that children are not subjected to undue restraint use; children who feel suicidal or need to talk to mental health are connected to a mental health provider within hours; children are not punished with isolation and instead receive programs and activities that include cooking and robotics classes; sleeping rooms are clean and have appropriate beds. Additionally, the Center implemented an outstanding compliance review system and staff misconduct is taken seriously and handled professionally. “All children deserve to be protected from harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “We thank the Center’s leadership and staff for their commitment over the years to ensuring safety for these children and for the community of Leflore County.” “The counties and municipalities that this center serves can now move forward, knowing that when they make use of this facility to hold juveniles, that they can do so with the knowledge that these youths are held safely in a constitutionally compliant manner,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi.


title: U.S. District Court in Chicago Approves the Appointment of Andrew S. Boutros As United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — The U.S. District Court in Chicago has approved the appointment of Andrew S. Boutros as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. U.S. Attorney Boutros has been serving in the position of United States Attorney since April 7, 2025, pursuant to a 120-day appointment by Attorney General Pamela Bondi. The order to approve the appointment beyond Aug. 5, 2025, was entered on Thursday by U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall after the full Court met in executive session. “I am deeply grateful that two branches of our government have agreed upon my appointment,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “President Donald J. Trump, acting through Attorney General Pamela Bondi, appointed me as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois on April 7, 2025. Then the full U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois met in executive session on July 21, 2025, and, pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, Section 546(d), approved my appointment as U.S. Attorney effective Aug. 5, 2025. I am thankful to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, as well as Chief Judge Kendall and the U.S. District Court judges of the Northern District of Illinois for their confidence in me. It is an honor of a lifetime to have the trust and support of both the Executive (Article II) and Judicial (Article III) branches of our constitutional government. As the son of Coptic Christian parents who immigrated from Egypt to this great land, it is incredibly special to be the first person of any color to assume the role of Chicago U.S. Attorney in the 170-year history of this extraordinary and esteemed Office. The strong support I’ve received from so many different communities has been heartwarming and profoundly touching. I am energized to tackle the enormous challenges that our district faces and to do so by calling balls and strikes in the proudest ways of this incredibly storied Office. I am grateful for the extraordinary talent, work ethic, and warm reception I have received from the Office and its exceptional attorneys and staff. I look forward to working with them for years to come, along with our various law enforcement partner agencies and leaders. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office has always been one of the crown jewels of the Department of Justice, and I intend to carry forward that tradition under my leadership.” As an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 2008 to 2015, U.S. Attorney Boutros investigated and prosecuted hundreds of cases, many of which involved matters of national and international significance. Among the types of matters he handled, U.S. Attorney Boutros investigated and prosecuted drug trafficking organizations, street gangs, violent criminals, illegal immigrants with criminal records of violence, and money launderers, as well as fraud and white collar crimes. U.S. Attorney Boutros worked closely with law enforcement partners in the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, IRS, Secret Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service, among other law enforcement partners, as well as with various DOJ components and U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country--and in some cases, law enforcement authorities throughout the world. U.S. Attorney Boutros’s notable convictions included the world’s largest online drug trafficker on the dark web, one of the country’s “Top Ten Most Wanted” mortgage fraud defendants, and the owner of a Chicago hospital who thwarted collection of more than $188 million in civil judgments. U.S. Attorney Boutros also successfully prosecuted a series of cases involving unprecedented criminal violations of international trade, customs, and anti-dumping laws, which have been described as the largest of their kind ever prosecuted in the country. U.S. Attorney Boutros received numerous awards and accolades for his work as a federal prosecutor. The Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association selected him as the National Prosecutor of the Year, presenting him with the National Prosecutorial Award. The American Bar Association honored U.S. Attorney Boutros with the Criminal Justice Section’s Norm Maleng Minister of Justice Award for best exemplifying the prosecutor’s duty to seek justice. U.S. Attorney Boutros also received honors from the FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. From 2015 until his appointment as United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney Boutros worked in private law practice in Chicago, holding various leadership roles. For 15 consecutive years, U.S. Attorney Boutros has taught an advanced criminal law course at the University of Chicago Law School. While practicing law full time, Mr. Boutros has also written and spoken extensively on criminal law and criminal law adjacent topics, including publishing two books, authoring nearly 160 articles and book chapters, and presenting at 90 speaking engagements. U.S. Attorney Boutros earned a bachelor’s degree, In-Honors summa cum laude, from Virginia Tech, and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He clerked for the Honorable Eugene E. Siler, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.


title: FORMER MAYORAL CANDIDATE SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ARMED ROBBERY OF DOLLAR GENERAL

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

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA –Whitfield Leland III, 45, was sentenced to 22 years’ imprisonment in federal court today for Hobbs Act Robbery, Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, and being an Armed Career Criminal in Possession of a Firearm. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to excellent work of our law enforcement partners, this career criminal will no longer be able to victimize and terrorize our community. My office remains committed to aggressively prosecuting violent criminals to hold them accountable to the full extent of the law in order to keep our communities safe.” Court documents reflect that Leland robbed a Tallahassee Dollar General at gunpoint on May 20, 2024. During the robbery, Leland pointed a pistol at the store manager and demanded that the manager open the safes. A customer observed the robbery in progress and called 911. Officers from the Tallahassee Police Department responded within minutes and surrounded the store while Leland was still inside. Leland then stole the manager’s Dollar General shirt and exited the store pretending to be an employee. Leland made it outside the store in his disguise but kept running when ordered to stop. Officers chased Leland and were able to follow a trail of dropped money to where he was hiding in nearby bushes, still wearing the Dollar General shirt and with additional money stuffed into his pants. Officers were able to recover $689 stolen during the robbery. Leland is a 13-time convicted felon who qualified as an Armed Career Criminal because he had convictions for three violent felonies committed on separate occasions: two separate incidents of resisting a law enforcement officer with violence and one conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Leland was a 2022 candidate for Tallahassee mayor. Leland received a sentence of 22 years in prison, which will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Leland was also ordered to pay restitution. “The safety of our community is always our top priority,” said Chief Lawrence Revell of the Tallahassee Police Department. “Thanks to the quick actions of our officers and strong collaboration with our federal partners, a repeat violent offender is off the streets. This outcome reflects our continued commitment to protecting Tallahassee’s residents and businesses from harm.” The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Mexican Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

body_text: BOSTON – A Mexican man pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Ausencio Flores Salazar, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Aug. 27, 2025. Flores Salazar was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025. Flores Salazar was deported to Mexico in 2019. Sometime after his removal, Flores Salazar unlawfully reentered the United States and was encountered in Shrewsbury on or about May 12, 2025. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement.


title: Dominican National Indicted for Illegal Reentry

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing in Chelsea has been indicted for illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Dawin Hereaux-Pena, 30, was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. According to the charging documents, Hereaux-Pena was deported from the United States to the Dominican Republic on or about Feb. 5, 2019. It is alleged that sometime after his removal, Hereaux-Pena unlawfully reentered the United States and was arrested in Chelsea on May 29, 2025. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Brazilian National Indicted for Selling Firearms

body_text: BOSTON – A Brazilian national unlawfully living in the Clinton and Framingham areas has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for trafficking firearms. Patrick Rodrigues DeOliveira, 25, was indicted on one count of dealing firearms without a license and one count of conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. He will be arraigned in federal court in Boston on July 30, 2025. Rodrigues DeOliveira had previously been charged by criminal complaint Sept. 18, 2024. According to the charging documents, between August and September 2024, Rodrigues DeOliveira conspired to obtain firearms in South Carolina and sell them in Massachusetts. Specifically, in August 2024, Rodrigues DeOliveira allegedly traveled with others to South Carolina to obtain firearms. Additionally, it is alleged that Rodrigues DeOliveira sold a shotgun and a pistol outside of a motel in Framingham on Sept. 10, 2024 for $3,500. The charges of conspiracy and engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Framingham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Repeat offender convicted at trial of drug trafficking and firearms offenses

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A Seattle man with prior convictions for robbery, burglary and indecent liberties with forcible compulsion for sexually assaulting a homeowner during the course of a residential burglary, was convicted late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Seattle of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Anthony Raymond Dodd, 36, was convicted following a three-day jury trial. The jury deliberated about 6 hours before returning the guilty verdict. At a second proceeding, the jury convicted Dodd of being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge John H. Chun scheduled sentencing for October 20, 2025. According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, on February 22, 2024, Dodd was scheduled to meet with his community corrections officer in the SODO neighborhood of Seattle. Law enforcement had received a report that Dodd was armed and dealing fentanyl pills. Corrections officers followed Dodd in a car he was driving to the check-in meeting. The car was kept under surveillance while Dodd met with his corrections officer and failed to truthfully an swer some questions about guns and drugs. When corrections officers searched the vehicle Dodd was driving, they found two bags of fentanyl pills in the center console, with a loaded handgun sitting on top of the pills. DNA consistent with Dodd’s DNA profile was found on the trigger of the gun and the magazine holding the bullets. When law enforcement searched Dodd’s apartment, they found $1,460 in cash and a few pills hidden in a heat vent. On Dodd’s phone was a request from someone asking for ‘blues’ – the street name for fentanyl pills. In closing arguments Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson told the jury, Dodd “was the only person in that car, he was the last person in that car.” Dodd’s defense tried to argue that the case was a ‘cautionary tale’ about borrowing the wrong car from a friend – a car Dodd claimed he did not know contained drugs and a loaded gun. Prosecutors say the case is something different, “This is a ‘cautionary tale’ about a defendant thinking he could commit crimes on the way to and from his Department of Corrections appointment.” To limit what the jury knew of Dodd’s criminal history, Judge Chun held a second trial on whether Dodd illegally possessed the firearm since he is a convicted felon. Jurors briefly deliberated before returning that guilty verdict. Possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute is punishable by a mandatory minimum 5 years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of 40 years. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum 5 years in prison to run consecutive to any sentence imposed on the drug trafficking count. Unlawful Possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The case was investigated by the Washington State Department of Corrections, the Seattle Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cecelia Gregson and Rachel Yemini.


title: Jamaican Woman Pleads Guilty to Illegal Reentry

body_text: BOSTON – A Jamaican woman pleaded guilty yesterday to illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Tanya James, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Sept. 3, 2025. James was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2025 . In 2003, Tanya James was convicted in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts of possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base. Subsequent to that conviction, she was ordered removed from the United States and was removed to Jamaica in 2004. In 2011, James was again ordered removed from the United States and was removed to Jamaica in 2012. On or about May 12, 2025, James was found to be in the United States without having received permission to reenter. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement.


title: New Jersey Woman Sentenced in Connection With Scheme to Fraudulently Obtain Loans From Small Business Administration

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Jennifer Watkins, 48, of Marlton, New Jersey, to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, in connection with her role as a co-conspirator in a multi-million-dollar bank fraud conspiracy. Watkins and her co-conspirators schemed to fraudulently obtain more than $35 million in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans from financial institutions that they used to purchase hotels. Judge Chasanow also ordered Watkins to pay restitution of $6,010,655.72. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak, Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey D. Pittano, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) – Mid-Atlantic Region. According to the factual stipulations in the guilty pleas of Watkins, and co-conspirators Mehul Ramesh Khatiwala, aka “Mike Khatiwala,” 43, of Voorhees, New Jersey, and Rajendra G. Parikh, 64, of Monroe, New Jersey, Khatiwala was the owner and managing member of Delaware Hotel Group LLC (DHG), and an operator of GMK Consulting LLC (GMK) and KPG Hotel Mgmt. LLC (KPG). These LLCs were hotel management and loan broker companies located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Watkins served as a project coordinator for DHG and managing member of Forza Consulting LLC (Forza), a hotel consulting and loan broker company located in Marlton, New Jersey. Parikh was an owner of KPG. Co-defendant Rebecca Marie Cohn a/k/a Rebecca Marie Stanton, 38, was a settlement and title processor for Residential Title & Escrow Company, a real estate title company located in Owings Mills, Maryland, that offered escrow and loan-settlement services. The guilty pleas outline how from August 2018 through February 2020, Khatiwala, Parikh, and Watkins conspired to obtain loan proceeds to buy and sell hotels in connection with a hotel flipping scheme. “Flipping” is a real estate investment strategy that involves purchasing property to hold for a short period before selling it to make a quick profit. During the SBA-loan application process, the co-conspirators made and caused others to make material misrepresentations and omissions to financial institutions regarding the sellers’ identity, familial relationships between parties, and the nature and amount of the equity injected by the borrowers. The defendants sought loans through the SBA’s Section 7(a) Program, which guaranteed and insured approximately 75-85 percent of these loans, and required that the small business owner/borrower invest a certain amount of their own money into the business to qualify for the loan. In their guilty pleas, Khatiwala and Parikh admitted that they acted as managers or supervisors in connection with the scheme. Additionally, Khatiwala, Parikh, and Watkins admitted that they created shell companies using co-conspirators as straw owners of the entities. These straw owners had no actual ownership interest in the entities as Khatiwala and Parikh were the true owners. The straw owners signed purchase contracts, operating agreements, and related documents to buy hotel properties in the name of the shell companies. Co-conspirators then created a second company to purchase the hotels from the shell companies at substantially higher prices. After the co-conspirators formed the companies to control both sides of the flip transaction, they solicited banks for small-business loans to finance the buying company’s purchase of the hotel from the straw companies. The co-conspirators helped the buying companies qualify for the loans by falsely representing investors’ equity injections to the banks, among other materially false statements, misrepresentations, and omissions. The financial institutions extending the loans relied on the false statements and misrepresentations. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FHFA-OIG and FDIC-OIG for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber, Evelyn L. Cusson, and Ari D. Evans, who are prosecuting the federal case, and recognized Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber, who provided legal support for the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Southern District of Texas charges 204 this week alone in relation to border enforcement efforts

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 201 new cases have been filed related to immigration and border security from July 18-24, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Among those are 87 people who face charges of illegally reentering the country. The majority have prior felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, prior immigration crimes and more. A total of 98 people are charged with illegally entering the country, while 11 cases allege various instances of human smuggling with the remainder involving other immigration crimes and assault of officers. Some of those facing new criminal charges are five Mexican nationals, all of whom have previous felony convictions, according to their charges. One is Cristian Jesus Rodriguez-Cuarenta who allegedly has a prior conviction for conspiracy to transport an illegal alien and had just been removed in January. Four others – Juan Manuel Perez-Tamez, Ramiro Rodriguez-Esquivel, Jose Martinez-Lemus and Hector Esael Gonzalez-Garcia – are also alleged to be convicted felons of crimes including drug trafficking, multiple driving while intoxicated instances or illegal reentry. Despite their previous removals on varying dates between 2019 - 2022, authorities allegedly discovered all five men in the Edinburg area without any authorization to be in the United States. They face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted. Also in the McAllen area this week, a suspicious vehicle led to the arrest of three, two of whom are Mexican nationals, and the discovery of nearly three dozen illegal aliens. They are now charged with human smuggling after authorities discovered 24 illegal aliens hidden in a tractor trailer at a Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint, which included defendant Elbis Lisandro Moreno Uruqia. Joe Michael Cruz and Uruqia allegedly transported the aliens from Mission to Hebbronville. According to the charges, Uruqia and Cruz smuggled 18 aliens two weeks earlier. A related search at a Mission residence led to the arrest of Jesus Felipe Hernandez Rangel and the discovery of 10 additional illegal aliens, according to the complaint. If convicted, each faces up to 10 years in federal prison. In addition to the new cases, Laredo resident Juan Francisco Reyna was ordered to federal prison. He led a multi-year human smuggling operation that used social media, inclement weather and the Covid-19 pandemic to transport over 100 illegal aliens, including minors, across the United States. Reyna coordinated the scheme through Facebook, paid drivers to monitor checkpoints and scheduled crossings during storms to avoid detection. Authorities linked him to stash houses in Laredo and San Antonio where they seized over $56,000 in U.S. currency and ammunition. He received a sentence of 63 months. “Over the past six months, the Department of Justice has made securing our national border the number one priority, and the Southern District is putting that promise into action,” said Ganjei. “Human smugglers may have had an easy time over the past few years, but those days are over. If you engage in these crimes, if you break our nation’s immigration laws, you will be caught and you will be punished. Simple as that.” An armed cartel carjacker was also sentenced this week. Mexican national Johnathan Mata-Espinoza received 108 months for two counts of armed carjacking. On July 27, 2023, he threatened two adults and a child, stealing their vehicle after they refused to give him a ride to the bus station, saying, “You better take me because if not, I will kill you all.” Authorities later linked him to a second armed encounter that same night, during which he threatened another victim and displayed a concealed firearm. In Corpus Christi , a 40-year-old Mexican national illegally living in Houston pleaded guilty to leading a human smuggling organization and unlawfully reentering the United States. Edgar-Ruiz-Briones coordinated transportation of illegal aliens crossing the southern border, recruited drivers from as far as Kansas and managing over 100 smuggling trips into the United States over an 18-month period. He handled payments from aliens and paid drivers to move them from stash houses to destinations across the country. Ruiz-Briones, who had previously been removed multiple times, now faces up to 30 years in federal prison. Jose Pascual Soliz received a sentence of 240 months in federal prison after admitting to recruiting Clara Miranda Aleman and others as well as coordinating the transportation of methamphetamine hidden in a vehicle’s gas tank. Aleman helped smuggle the drugs into the United States as part of a Laredo-based trafficking operation tied to Cartel De Noreste. Authorities seized more than 11.85 kilograms of methamphetamine from the pair, noting it was part of a larger shipment. The court also found Soliz had multiple felony convictions, including one for narcotics trafficking. Aleman previously received a 41-month sentence. A Corpus Christi jury also convicted a former Texas National Guard soldier of smuggling illegal aliens. Mario Sandoval coordinated smuggling trips in the Rio Grande Valley and sent text messages to a co-conspirator about law enforcement activity. The defense attempted to convince the jury no conspiracy existed, and his text messages were out of context. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison. In Houston, a 32-year-old Mexican national was ordered to serve 42 months after again illegally reentering the country. Juan Medina-Garcia has felony convictions for possession, aggravated assault and illegal reentry. He also has two prior removals from the United States. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the sentence should serve as a significant deterrence to prevent any future illegal reentries. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, BP, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood . Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Erie Felon Sentenced to Six Years of Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking and Possession of Stolen Firearms

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 72 months of imprisonment, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his conviction of violating federal drug and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Djimon Dapree Johnson, 27, on July 24, 2025. According to information presented to the Court, on or about October 20, 2021, Johnson possessed with the intent to distribute 382.61 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl. In addition, Johnson possessed two stolen firearms and a 50-round 9mm drum magazine as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Baxter ordered that Johnson’s federal sentence be served consecutive to the sentence Johnson is already serving for violation of his parole for an unlicensed firearm conviction. Assistant United States Attorney Molly W. Anglin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Johnson.


title: Somerset County Man Indicted For Receipt Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tyler Fuller, age 31, of Somerset County, PA, was indicted yesterday on charges of receipt and possession of child pornography. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Fuller received and possessed child pornography from August 2023 to January 2024, in Centre County. The case was investigated by the State College Police Department, Ferguson Township Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, and the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 20 years, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. # # #


title: Fatal Overdose Traced to Henderson Dealer Leads to Federal Prison Sentence

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Henderson man whose distribution of fentanyl led to a fatal overdose has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison. Keymon Leahke Cofield, a/k/a “Keymoney,” a/k/a “Boi Fat,” 25, pleaded guilty on April 22, 2025, to charges of distribution of fentanyl and heroin and possession with intent to distribute both substances. According to court records and evidence presented in court, on June 13, 2020, Cary Police Department officers responded to a 911 call for a suspected overdose at a hotel in Cary. Upon arrival, officers found a deceased 35-year-old man in the room alongside drug paraphernalia and 50 bindles of suspected heroin and fentanyl. Law enforcement determined that one of the bindles had been used, resulting in the victim’s overdose. The remaining bindles were tested and found to contain heroin, fentanyl, and acetyl fentanyl. Investigators traced the fatal fentanyl back to Cofield, who was 20 years old at the time and had traveled from Henderson to Cary to sell the drugs. The investigation continued through July and August, during which undercover officers conducted several purchases of heroin from Cofield. On July 15, 22, and 23, an undercover officer bought a total of more than 750 bindles from him. When Cofield arrived at another arranged deal on August 5, he was arrested. Law enforcement then seized an additional 651 bindles of suspected heroin and fentanyl. Lab testing confirmed the bindles contained mixtures of heroin, fentanyl, 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP), cocaine, and tramadol. A search of Cofield’s phone revealed photographs of large quantities of cash and firearms. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief United States District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Cary Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:22-CR-00278-M-RJ.


title: Baltimore Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Today, U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Vincent Edison, 45, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possession of firearms by a prohibited person. Edison led a fentanyl trafficking operation that distributed large quantities of fentanyl throughout the state of Maryland. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Ibrar A. Mian, Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) – Washington Division; Secretary Carolyn J. Scruggs, Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS); and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD). According to the guilty plea, in 2022, the DEA identified Edison, as the leader of a drug shop operating on Winchester and North Dukeland Streets in West Baltimore. During the investigation, Edison’s drug shop sold fentanyl capsules to countless individuals, including undercover officers, daily, for 10-12 hours a day for several months. The investigation also revealed that Edison routinely sent text messages to street dealers imploring them to “open his drug shop on time,” 7 a.m. – or he would “dock” half their pay. Law enforcement also uncovered additional text messages from Edison terminating street dealers’ employment with his drug shop and collecting proceeds from drug sales. In addition to Edison’s Baltimore-based customers, he supplied fentanyl to buyers from distant counties. On December 7, 2022, investigators surveilled the drug shop via closed circuit cameras. Law enforcement observed Edison arriving at the street shop in the afternoon where he delivered a black plastic bag to one of his dealers. Meanwhile, drug customers’ cars were parked near the drug shop. Investigators checked the parked cars’ registrations and took note of a Chevy registered to an individual from Washington County, Maryland. The customer that owned the Chevy returned from the drug shop, got in the car, and left the area. The DEA notified local enforcement to conduct a traffic stop on the Chevy. When the Chevy arrived in Washington County, Maryland, law enforcement stopped and searched it, recovering 500 gel caps of fentanyl inside of a black plastic bag for a total weight 263 grams. As the investigation progressed, investigators identified Edison’s stash location, in Baltimore County, Maryland. The stash location was used to prepare fentanyl for distribution. Investigators observed Edison frequenting the stash location daily and believed that he obtained drugs that he secreted inside black plastic bags. Then Edison delivered them to his street level dealers. During the afternoon of December 11, investigators surveilled the stash location via a covert camera and observed Edison leave the stash location with a black plastic bag. Edison drove to the street shop and delivered the bag to street dealers. Soon after, investigators observed an increase in drug activity at the drug shop. Then on January 27, 2023, investigators executed search warrants for Edison’s Baltimore City residence and his Baltimore County stash location. Edison was present when investigators searched his residence. During the search, law enforcement recovered five firearms, including an AR style rifle; a 12-gauge shotgun; and three, loaded semi-automatic handguns. Investigators also recovered 70 grams of fentanyl; multiple luxury jewelry items, valued at approximately $150,000; and approximately $90,805. Additionally, investigators identified a fentanyl lab at the stash location. The lab contained hundreds of capsules, 22 Cap-M-Quick capsule fillers, a digital scale, numerous latex gloves, and paraphernalia for packaging fentanyl for distribution. Investigators also recovered 133.28 grams of fentanyl powder from a clear bag and 400 capsules of fentanyl powder, totaling 307 grams. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DEA, DPSCS, BCPD, and Washington County Sherriff’s Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin C. Miner who is prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Brazilian Man Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the US After Prior Removal

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Brazilian man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for re-entering the country after being deported. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Americo Lopes-Da Silva , 37, to time served. Lopes-Da Silva pleaded guilty on May 20, 2025. According to court records, on April 7, 2025, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent from the Rangeley Border Patrol Station was on routine patrol when he ran the license plate of a white van from Massachusetts. He learned that the van was registered to a person who entered the United States in 2018 but had overstayed their visa. The agent stopped the vehicle to investigate further and found the driver and his passenger, Lopes-Da Silva, to be the vehicle’s only two occupants. Both men acknowledged that they did not have lawful authority to be in the country. The agent transported both men back to the Border Patrol station where further checks revealed that Lopes-Da Silva had been ordered removed and deported from the U.S. in 2021. The U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case. Operation Take Back America: This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). ###


title: Roanoke Rapids Man Sentenced in Large-Scale Drug and Gun Case

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Diandre Sherod Ireland, aka “Debo”, 35, was sentenced Wednesday to 13 years in prison for drug trafficking in Roanoke Rapids. “This sentence reflects the serious threat posed by fentanyl traffickers who fuel addiction and violence in our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. “We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who profit from dealing this deadly poison.” “This conviction is the culmination of hard work by the Halifax Narcotics and Gang Taskforce, a partnership between RRPD and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, as well as our federal law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The dedication of each,” said Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Lawrence Wiggins. “Over the past three years we have built an excellent relationship with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners. We have used this partnership to go after those who are terrorizing our community,” said Halifax County Sheriff Tyree Davis. “Drugs and gangs are a problem in Halifax County and a vast majority of our murders, violent crimes and non-violent crimes are directly related to drugs and gangs. In partnership with the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, our (HCSO & RRPD) Drug and Gang Task Force works tirelessly to ensure our communities are safer. Our agents will build strong, detailed cases. The Chief and I take a tough stance on drugs and gangs.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Halifax Regional Drug and Gang Task Force began investigating Ireland in 2022 after sources identified him as a major drug supplier. Officers observed him making short visits to suspected drug houses in North Carolina and Virginia and interacting with known traffickers. In February 2024, agents executed a search warrant at his home. When they arrived, law enforcement observed Ireland exit out the back door and toss two backpacks into the neighboring yard before returning inside. Inside the bags, investigators found more than 1,500 grams of cocaine and 300 grams of fentanyl. A search of Ireland’s home uncovered nearly 250 grams of marijuana, digital scales, more than $38,000 in cash, and four firearms – including two stolen handguns and a rifle with a high-capacity magazine. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, the Roanoke Rapids Police Department, and the ATF investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Childress prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00075.


title: South Georgia Drug Trafficking Organization Defendants Found Guilty at Trial

body_text: VALDOSTA, Ga. – Three co-conspirators involved in an armed drug trafficking organization (DTO) based out of Cook County, Georgia, were found guilty at trial this week of federal drug and weapons charges, the second federal trial of members of this criminal organization. Calvin James Smith, Jr., 36, of Tifton, Georgia, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Smith faces a maximum of life in prison. Eddie Lee Hardley, 36, of Adel, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Hardley faces a maximum of life in prison. Yardley Payne, 57, of Adel, Georgia, was found guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of a firearm by a drug user. Payne faces a maximum of 15 years in prison per count. The trial began on Monday, July 14, and concluded on Thursday, July 24. Senior U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands is presiding over the case. Sentencing dates will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system. “This case highlights the commitment of our law enforcement partners alongside our office to combat armed drug trafficking organizations and hold those connected to them accountable for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “We are thankful for the strength of the collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in the Middle District of Georgia as we work together to make the communities we serve safer for everyone.” “The success of this large-scale investigation and the arrests of these drug dealers demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to fighting the drug trafficking organizations responsible for driving addiction and destroying communities,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. "Today’s verdict sends a clear message that criminal organizations operating in Georgia, especially those trafficking in dangerous drugs and using firearms to further their operations, will be held accountable,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “This conviction is a testament to the tireless work of our law enforcement partners, who have dedicated countless hours to ensuring that those who threaten our communities with violence and illegal substances will face justice.” According to court documents and statements referenced in court, the FBI undertook a significant investigation beginning as early as December 2020 of an armed drug trafficking organization (DTO) centered in Adel. The DTO was led by co-conspirator Calvin James Smith, Sr., aka “Rollo,” 56, of Adel, Georgia, who, in January 2025, was found guilty at trial of all 23 counts charged in the 44-count indictment. For more information about that trial, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/guilty-verdict-cook-county-armed-drug-trafficking-conspiracy-trial . The investigation determined that Smith, Jr. (the son of Smith, Sr.), Hardley and Payne conspired with others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and crack cocaine, as well as marijuana, working with several associates of the DTO. Agents discovered 13 locations used by the DTO. Search warrants were executed at these locations on Nov. 10, 2022, and methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana and 15 handguns and rifles were seized. Agents recovered more than five kilograms of pure methamphetamine, more than ten pounds of marijuana and several hundred grams of crack cocaine and cocaine. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the FBI and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the Adel Police Department, the Hahira Police Department and the Moultrie Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica Daniels prosecuted the case for the Government with assistance from Criminal Chief Leah McEwen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Morrison.


title: KC Man Indicted for Illegal Firearms, Meth Trafficking

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for illegally possessing firearms and drug trafficking. Victor Roseberry, 60, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on June 27, 2025. The indictment was unsealed and made public today following Roseberry’s arrest. The indictment charges Roseberry with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The indictment alleges Roseberry possessed firearms on June 9, 2023, and July 4, 2024. The indictment also alleges that on July 4, 2024, Roseberry possessed 5 or more grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The indictment alleges Roseberry is an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions. Roseberry has prior felony convictions for robbery, domestic assault, aggravated assault, tampering, and possession of a firearm by a person with three prior convictions for crimes of violence. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Under federal statutes, Roseberry is subject to a sentence of up to life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Federal jury convicts South Carolina man on sex trafficking and firearms charges

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A federal jury convicted a South Carolina man today on charges of sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; sex trafficking of a minor; production of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct; transportation with the intent to engage in prostitution; transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in prostitution; and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, during July 2024, Johnny Thiel Banks, 30, of Summerville, transported a minor, identified as Jane Doe, from North Carolina to Virginia on multiple occasions. While in Virginia, he sex-trafficked Jane Doe at hotels, a truck stop, and a gas station in Hampton Roads, including in Suffolk and Virginia Beach. Jane Doe was 15 years old at the time and had just finished the 8 th grade. Banks repeatedly threatened Jane Doe and her family to get her to comply with his demands. He also had her pose for and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM). When she did not want to go back to Virginia to engage in commercial sex, he threatened to have her “floating in a creek.” On July 31, 2024, while armed with a firearm, Banks took Jane Doe from a residence and brought her to a hotel in Virginia Beach to sex traffic her. He set up multiple commercial sex appointments that night. After they arrived in Virginia Beach, he argued with Jane Doe and strangled her, and she called a family member for help. After receiving information that Jane Doe was missing from Charlotte, the Virginia Beach Police Department quickly located Jane Doe in the parking garage of a hotel. As officers spoke with Jane Doe, Banks walked by and was detained. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant and recovered Banks’ loaded handgun from his rental vehicle. As a previously convicted felon, Banks cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Police also obtained search warrants for three cellphones that contained CSAM and evidence of sex trafficking. Banks is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19 and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Christopher Heck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Gantt and Megan M. Montoya are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . 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. 2:25-cr-15.


title: Dominican National Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Illegal Reentry

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Onassis Alexander Tejeda-Arias, age 42, a Dominican Republic National previously residing in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 51 months in prison by United States District Judge Julia K. Munley for illegally reentering the United States following his deportation after committing an aggravated felony. According to Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus, Onassis Alexander Tejeda-Arias illegally entered the United States on at least two prior occasions. After illegally living in Lawrence, Massachusetts, since 2009, Onassis Alexander Tejeda-Arias was deported to the Dominican Republic on October 16, 2018, following a Massachusetts criminal conviction in 2015, for possession with the intent to distribute 635.7 grams of heroin. That crime resulted in a three-and-a-half-year imprisonment sentence. Thereafter, in early 2020, the defendant illegally reentered the United States through Texas. On October 6, 2022, Onassis Alexander Tejeda-Arias was arrested by agents with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for his involvement in significant drug trafficking activities where he was supplying various co-conspirators with bundles of heroin/fentanyl. This second drug trafficking conviction following his illegal reentry netted a sentence of two and half to five-years’ imprisonment. On April 24, 2025, Tejeda-Arias the defendant pleaded guilty to the Federal Indictment charging illegal reentry. Judge Munley ordered that the 51 months’ imprisonment sentence was to run consecutive to the defendant’s state drug trafficking sentence. After service of his sentences, Tejeda-Arias will be deported to the Dominican Republic. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera and Acting United States Attorney John Gurganus prosecuted the case. ###


title: Six Massachusetts Men Arrested for Alleged Roles in Bank Fraud Ring

body_text: BOSTON – Six Massachusetts men have been charged and arrested in connection with a multi-million-dollar scheme to defraud banks in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The following individuals have been indicted on one count each of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering: Phalentz Vernot, 24, of Waltham, who was also indicted on one count of aggravated identity theft; Selby Okai, 23, of Worcester; Yves Bissainthe, 23, of Randolph; Marvin Kimani, 24, of Lowell; Keith Wainaina, 23, of Lowell; and Victor Kolawole, 25, of Brockton. All six defendants were arrested this morning and appeared in federal court in Boston. According to the charging documents, from at least December 2022 through the present, the defendants allegedly obtained, without authorization, the names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and bank account numbers of customers of various local banks; recruited individuals to pose as those customers; obtained fake identification documents with the victim customers’ names but the imposters’ photos; drove the imposters to banks in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, where the imposters presented the fake identification documents and withdrew large sums from the victim customers’ accounts in the form of Cashier’s checks; deposited those checks into bank accounts defendants and their co-conspirators controlled; and transferred the money to other bank accounts they controlled. The defendants allegedly recruited bank insiders to facilitate their scheme, including by providing them access to victim customers’ information and disabling account notifications that would have alerted customers to the unauthorized withdrawals. The charges of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount of money involved in the laundering transactions, whichever is greater. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence consecutive to any sentence received on the other charges. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New Haven Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Connecticut State Police; Glocester (RI), Sutton, Concord (Mass.), Dracut, Westwood and Abington Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.