title: El Cajon Company and its and Human Resources Manager Plead Guilty to Engaging in Practice of Employing Aliens; Company to Forfeit More than $200,000

body_text: SAN DIEGO – El Cajon-based San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings and the company’s hiring manager, Karli Buxton, pleaded guilty in federal court today to engaging in a pattern or practice of hiring undocumented immigrants without authorization to work in the United States. The plea follows a worksite enforcement action which occurred on March 27, 2025, at San Diego Powder & Protective Coatings’ facility. The company, a government contractor, also agreed to forfeit $230,000 that it gained from engaging in the practice. As part of the plea agreement, the company admitted that its operations manager, John Washburn, and others recruited undocumented immigrants who did not have authorization to work in the United States. Washburn pleaded guilty in June. Since 2023, Buxton was responsible for verifying that new employees were eligible to work in the United States. As part of her plea agreement, she admitted that she was aware certain employees were presenting fraudulent documents to show their authorization to work in the United States, but she accepted the documents and hired them for employment at the company. The company further admitted that it had frequently sent employees to work in secure locations such as military bases or ports of entry and avoided sending any employees working illegally to these secure locations where they would be subject to further screening. The company also admitted the aliens it employed in its warehouses often had access to military equipment such as components for submarines or aquatic vehicles used by the United States Navy. As part of its plea agreement, the company agreed to participate in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program. The IMAGE program serves the business community by strengthening hiring and employment verification practices by providing guidance on topics such as the use of fraudulent documents and forced labor. IMAGE program participants agree to submit to an audit of their Form I-9s (Employment Eligibility Verification Form) to ensure the integrity of their workforce and that they are only employing individuals authorized to work in the United States. As part of its plea agreement, the company also agreed to use the E-Verify system to check the eligibility of all new employees for the next two years. “Here’s my advice to the business community and to the lawyers who advise them: enroll in IMAGE,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon, “There are numerous tangible benefits to enrolling your company in IMAGE and ensuring the integrity of your workforce. The Department of Justice has and will continue to prioritize investigations into businesses that are employing individuals without authorization to work in the United States.” “Worksite enforcement operations like these deter illegal immigration, ensure employer accountability, and protect the US Workforce,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Murphy. “HSI is committed to investigations that hold companies like SDPC accountable for their criminal actions.” “Bypassing required vetting processes and exposing Department of the Navy resources and information to individuals with insufficient or fraudulent documentation threatens warfighter safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross, NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our partners remain dedicated to safeguarding Department of Navy installations, personnel, and assets against any threat to our national security.” These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry F.B. Beshar and Michael A. Deshong. DEFENDANT Case Number 25 CR 4519 BJS & T Enterprises Inc., Dba San Diego Powder & Protective Coating Karli Buxton Age: 41 SUMMARY OF CHARGES Engaging in a Pattern or Practice of Employing Aliens, in violation of Title 8 U.S.C. § 1324a(a)(1)(A) and (f); Maximum Penalty: Six months in prison; $3,000 fine per alien. INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations Naval Criminal Investigative Service U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General Enforcement and Removal Operations, Department of Homeland Security Drug Enforcement Administration Bureau Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives U.S. Border Patrol U.S. Customs and Border Protection This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: QUINCY FELON RETURNED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR THIRTEEN YEARS

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Zanntayfey Yohoun Bennett, 42, of Quincy, Florida was sentenced to a total of 157 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and marijuana, and for violation of the terms of his supervised release for 2019 federal convictions for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and organized dog fighting. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, this repeat offender has been removed from our streets and will serve a lengthy sentence in federal prison. President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi promised to Take Back America from the drug traffickers and career criminals who have terrorized our communities for far too long, and this successful prosecution is yet another step toward achieving that goal.” According to court records, in February 2025, law enforcement developed information indicating that the defendant, who is a multi-convicted felon serving a five-year term of federal supervised release, was involved in drug trafficking. After a series of controlled operations, during which illegal drugs were purchased from the defendant, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence. During the search, law enforcement seized cocaine base, also known as “crack” cocaine, suspected synthetic cathinones, and marijuana. The defendant had multiple prior federal and state felony drug trafficking convictions, which qualified him as a career offender under federal sentencing rules. “I’m proud of the great work our agents and local police officers did to remove this career criminal and multiple-time felon from North Florida streets,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “This effort will greatly benefit the communities in and around Tallahassee.” The conviction and sentence were the result of a joint investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric K. Mountin. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: THREE MEXICAN NATIONALS CONVICTED FOR IMMIGRATION OFFENSES

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

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Crescencio Diaz-Diaz, 36, Marcelo Perez-Santiz, 33, and Roman Gomez-Diaz, 32, all of the country of Mexico, pleaded guilty and were sentenced by a federal judge. Diaz-Diaz and Perez-Santiz pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a removed alien, and all three defendants pleaded guilty to possession and use of fraudulent employment documents. The pleas and sentences were announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “These criminal aliens tried to lie, cheat, and steal their way into this country by illegally crossing our borders and presenting false documentation. I deeply appreciate the close collaboration between our state and federal law enforcement partners that enabled these successful prosecutions, which continue to deliver on the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America by robustly enforcing our national immigration laws.” Various court documents reflect that Diaz-Diaz, Perez-Santiz, and Gomez-Diaz were arrested following the execution of federal criminal search warrants at a Navarre business, Emerald Coast Lawns, and an adjacent residence in July 2025. During the search, law enforcement found employment records showing that each defendant presented a Social Security card and a permanent resident card (sometimes referred to as a “green card”) bearing their names and/or photographs that were all determined to be fraudulent. Immigration files showed that none of the defendants had record of legal entry into the country, and that both Diaz-Diaz and Perez-Santiz had been previously deported. All three defendants were sentenced to time served and will be deported. “These convictions underscore our commitment to protecting the integrity of our nation’s employment systems,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas G. Ingegno. “Using fraudulent work not only undermines lawful hiring practices but also exposes our communities to significant risks. The successful prosecution of these three illegal aliens reflects the diligent work of HSI and out partners. We will continue to enforce federal law and hold accountable those who engage in document fraud.” “This case highlights our ongoing efforts to identify, arrest and remove people who violate federal immigration laws,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “FBI Jacksonville will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue those who undermine lawful immigration and ensure the security of our borders and communities.” The case involved a joint investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Florida Highway Patrol, United States Marshals Service and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Monmouth County Man Sentenced to 63 Months’ Imprisonment for Armed Bank Robbery

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Monmouth County man was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment for armed bank robbery, Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced. Jeffrey L. Kniffin, 51, of Wall Township, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court on July 22, 2025, to a one-count Information charging him with armed bank robbery. U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi imposed the sentence on November 24, 2025 in Trenton federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On October 23, 2024, Kniffin entered a bank in Wall Township, New Jersey armed with a loaded handgun, approached a bank teller, and demanded cash from the teller. After demanding the money, Kniffin removed the handgun from his pocket and displayed it towards the teller. During his interaction with the teller, Kniffin instructed multiple times, “Don’t do anything stupid.” Kniffin received approximately $27,072 in cash from the teller and then fled the bank. He was apprehended and arrested by law enforcement several minutes later. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered from Kniffin and his immediate surroundings a loaded handgun and more than $25,000 in cash. In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Kniffin to three years of supervised release following Kniffin’s term of imprisonment, ordered forfeiture of Kniffin’s robbery proceeds and crime gun, and ordered restitution in the amount of $1,938. Acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Habba credited task force officers with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. She also thanked the Wall Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Sean O’Halloran, and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, for their assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton. 25-281 ### Defense counsel: John M. Holliday, Esq.


title: Canadian National Pleads Guilty To Attempted Enticement Of A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity, And Distributing, Transporting And Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that James Hjelmeland (30, Canada) today pleaded guilty to one count of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, as well as two counts of distributing, one count of transporting, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Hjelmeland faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for his attempted enticement of a minor, a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 20 years, for each distribution and transportation offense, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the possession offense. According to the plea agreement, on December 29, 2024, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office undercover detective posed as the guardian of a 12-year-old fictional child. Hjelmeland engaged in sexually explicit conversation with the undercover detective and made plans to travel from Canada to Orlando, Florida to have sex with the child. During the course of the conversation, Hjelmeland distributed CSAM to the undercover detective. When Hjelmeland was arrested in Orlando, Florida, he possessed CSAM material on his cellular phone that he had transported to the United States involving children who had not attained 12 years of age. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, United States Customs and Border Patrol, and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Team. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson. 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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.projectsafechildhood.gov.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jeffrey Hernandez, 40, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 120 months in prison, the statutory maximum sentence allowed by law, and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge Wendy Beetlestone for illegal possession of a firearm by felon. Hernandez was charged by superseding information and pleaded guilty in August of this year. As detailed in case filings and admitted to by the defendant, Hernandez possessed a 9mm semiautomatic pistol loaded with 30 live rounds of ammunition, despite knowing that he was not permitted to possess a firearm given his status as a convicted felon. As further detailed in court documents and hearings, Hernandez was found in possession of the firearm after the FBI and Philadelphia police received credible information that the defendant and three other men were on their way to kill someone in retaliation for an earlier shooting. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, and the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Martin and Special Assistant United States Attorney Meagan Gordon.


title: Mexican Man Charged with Entering United States Illegally and Eluding Examination by Immigration Officers

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Vicente De La Cruz-Rodriguez, 28, of Mexico, has been charged by criminal complaint with illegal entry into the United States and eluding examination by immigration officers. On November 24, 2025, Rodriguez appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Rodriguez be detained during the pendency of this matter. According to court records, Rodriguez illegally entered the United States from Mexico via Texas in October 2022. Thereafter, Rodriguez travelled to and lived in Addison County, Vermont. On November 10, 2025, Rodriguez was convicted of first degree aggravated domestic assault in Vermont Superior Court, Addison County, and sentenced to 59 to 60 days’ imprisonment. On November 21, 2025, special agents of Homeland Security Investigations arrested Rodriguez in Rutland, Vermont. At no time did Rodriguez present himself for examination or inspection by an immigration officer as required by federal law. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Rodriguez is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Rodriguez faces up to six months’ imprisonment and a $5,000 fine if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecutor is Special Assistant United States Attorney Craig S. Nolan. Rodriguez is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Charles N. Curlett, Jr. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Poplar man sentenced to over 5 years in prison for aggravated sexual abuse on Fort Peck Indian Reservation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man who previously pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was sentenced yesterday to 68 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Chucho Cruzito Garfield, 40, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to one count of aggravated sexual abuse. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on June 14, 2022, law enforcement responded to a report of drunk juveniles fighting at a residence in Poplar, Montana. When the officers arrived, one of them talked with Jane Doe’s brother who told the officer Doe was inside the home. He claimed Garfield held a knife to Doe’s throat and prevented her from leaving a backroom of the house. An officer saw Doe inside the house, was familiar with her from previous interactions, and was aware that the Fort Peck Tribal Court had issued a “pick up and hold” for her. After confirming with dispatch that the “pick up and hold” for Doe was still active, the officer went into the house and arrested Doe. Garfield was also arrested after Doe reported he had given her a black eye the day before—and a bruise was visible beneath her eye—and he had prevented her from leaving the house by holding a knife to her throat. Ultimately, Doe reported Garfield walked her from her house to his house on June 14. While outside the house, Doe’s brother confronted Garfield about the black eye. Garfield grabbed Doe by her arm and jerked her inside the house. Doe told Garfield she wanted to go home, but Garfield told Doe she had to have sex with him and let him slap her around before she could go home. Garfield then forced Doe to perform oral sex on him, and he held a black pocketknife to her throat and chest during the assault. Garfield initially denied striking or sexually abused Doe but eventually admitted Doe was telling the truth: he had forced her to perform oral sex on him. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Jacksonville Man Indicted For Distributing And Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Materials

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe has announced that Tyler Bruce McClure (24, Jacksonville) has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse materials using the internet. McClure faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, and up to 40 years, in federal prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. McClure was arrested on November 17, 2025, by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and made his initial appearance in federal court in Jacksonville the next day. He was ordered detained pending trial. According to the indictment, on or about September 26, 2025, McClure knowingly distributed over the internet the visual depiction of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On October 7, 2025, the defendant possessed on a cellular telephone visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. An indictment is only an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, to include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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, rescue, and seek justice for child 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: Three Philadelphia Men Charged in Connection With a String of Summer Carjackings

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Rasheen Harvey-Fields, 18, Tavon Fry, 20, and Saair Steele, 21, all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were charged by superseding indictment with conspiring to commit, and committing, multiple carjackings, and related firearms offenses. Harvey-Fields and Fry made their initial appearances in federal court in Philadelphia this week and Steele made his initial appearance last week. All three are detained in federal custody. The superseding indictment alleges that, from approximately June 25, 2025, until at least July 11, 2025, the defendants and others conspired to steal at gunpoint numerous vehicles, often using the vehicles they carjacked to commit other crimes, including robbery, aggravated assault, and more carjackings. As further alleged, the defendants sometimes used the pretense of buying or selling marijuana to mislead their victims and facilitate the carjackings, and other times targeted individuals who were exiting their vehicles. The three defendants are charged with conspiring to commit a total of 11 carjackings, all in Philadelphia, with the alleged participants in each carjacking noted: June 25, 2025 – 1400 block of Bouvier Street (Harvey-Fields and others) June 28, 2025 – 3100 block of West Arizona Street (Harvey-Fields and others) June 29, 2025 – 3100 block of West Arizona Street (Harvey-Fields, Fry, and others) July 1, 2025 – 11 th and Wallace streets (Harvey-Fields and others) July 3, 2025 – 1700 block of North 60 th Street (Harvey-Fields, Steele, and others) July 3, 2025 – 700 block of South 55 th Street (Harvey-Fields, Steele, and others) July 3, 2025 – 6000 block of North 5 th Street (Harvey-Fields and others) July 6, 2025 – 6100 block of West Girard Avenue (Harvey-Fields and others) July 6, 2025 – 600 block of West Cumberland Street (Harvey-Fields, Steele, and others) July 7, 2025 – 3100 block of West Arizona Street (Harvey-Fields and others) July 7, 2025 – 2100 block of Natrona Street (Harvey-Fields and others) If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Philadelphia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Branwen McNabb O’Donnell and Shannon Zabel. The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


title: Venezuelan National Sentenced To Prison For Bank And Passport Fraud

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza has sentenced Nerio Alberto Ortega Delgado (45, Kissimmee) to 33 months in federal prison for bank fraud and passport fraud. Ortega Delgado pleaded guilty on September 4, 2025. According to court documents, Ortega Delgado engaged in a bank fraud scheme in which he deposited fake checks into bank accounts and then withdrew or attempted to withdraw the funds before the bank detected the fraud. As part of the scheme, Ortega Delgado manufactured fake checks, obtained a false identity via a counterfeit foreign passport and other identification documents, used the false identity to create a shell company and fraudulent bank accounts, and paid other individuals to use their bank accounts to perpetrate the fraud. In total, Ortega Delgado attempted to steal over $867,000. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew J. Del Mastro.


title: Mexican Nationals Arrested and Charged in Million-Dollar Real Estate Scheme

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO –Victor Hugo Villalobos Almazan and Nayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez, both Mexican nationals, were arrested by federal agents Tuesday and charged with fraudulently selling properties they did not own. The defendants were taken into custody upon their arrival at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston after arriving from Mexico. They appeared in federal court in Houston today to face wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges. An identity and detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Houston. According to the complaint, the defendants pretended to be the owners of vacant or undeveloped plots of real estate and sold the properties to unwitting third parties by forging signatures of notaries and wiring the proceeds abroad to bank accounts in Mexico and Jordan. According to the complaint, the defendants netted nearly $1 million from two illegal real estate sales. The complaint alleges that between March and April 2023, Villalobos impersonated the recorded owner of a parcel of vacant land in San Diego for purposes of selling the property and collecting the proceeds. Villalobos allegedly opened a bank account in his own name, with the indication that he was “doing business as” the entity that was the recorded owner of the real property. Villalobos then directed the escrow company to wire the proceeds from the sale into his bank account and then wired nearly all of the illicit proceeds to bank accounts in foreign countries. Photo evidence shows Villalobos dropping off forms necessary to complete the fraudulent sale of the real property at the escrow company responsible for facilitating the sale. According to the complaint, Montoya executed a similar scheme in March 2023. She impersonated the recorded owner of real estate with a vacant structure, selling it for approximately $400,000. The complaint said she opened a bank account in her own name, “doing business as” the recorded owner of the property, and directed the proceeds of the sale into that account. Once the proceeds were deposited, Montoya wired most of the money into foreign bank accounts within days. She also withdrew several thousand dollars of the money at various ATMs in San Diego. She was seen on bank surveillance cameras withdrawing money from the account, both alone and with Villalobos. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Beeler and David Kete. DEFENDANTS Case Number 25-mj-6506-AHG Victor Hugo Villalobos Almazan Age: 48 Mexico Nayeli Noemi Montoya Rodriguez Age: 48 Mexico SUMMARY OF CHARGES Wire Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349 Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine Aggravated Identity Theft – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1028A Maximum penalty: Two years in prison, consecutive to the underlying felony INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Homeland Security Investigations Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Kansas farmer indicted for insurance fraud

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas farmer for filing a crop loss insurance claim and receiving payment after allegedly failing to disclose the sale of thousands of bushels of wheat that he reported as ruined. According to court documents, David L. Mongeau, 54, of Holcomb was indicted on two counts of making a false statement and 17 counts of bank fraud/attempted bank fraud. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case OTHER INDICTMENTS Edgar Cuellar-Ortega, 45, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case. Miguel Modesto-Cesario, 26, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case. Lazaro Rodriguez-Hernandez, 35, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gordon is prosecuting the case. Jose Guillermo Uribe Perez, 38, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. Enrique Villareal-Varela, 53, a Mexican national residing illegally in the United States was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Three indicted for burglary conspiracy involving Puget Sound area post offices

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – Three residents of the South Sound region face federal charges for their post office burglary scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. Justin Tate, 36, most recently of Tacoma, Gregory Foster, 58, of Port Orchard, Washington, and Paula Gamboa, 37 of Federal Way, Washington, were indicted by a federal grand jury on May 21, 2025. Tate was sentenced for an unrelated crime in Kitsap County yesterday and transferred to federal custody, where he will appear for arraignment in Tacoma at 1:30 PM. His co-defendants were previously arraigned. According to the indictment, Tate led a burglary crew that targeted post offices in the Puget Sound region. The break-ins spanned Kitsap, Thurston, Pierce, King, and Island Counties. The thieves kept cash and other valuables from the stolen mail. Tate went on to allegedly use identity and financial documents obtained from victims’ mail to commit bank fraud. The specific burglaries are these: July 4, 2024, Tate and Foster allegedly break into the Olalla Post Office wearing face masks to obscure their identities. July 8, 2024, Tate and Foster allegedly attempt to enter the restricted area of the Littlerock Post Office – they disconnect the security camera but cannot breach a metal shutter into the restricted area. July 9, 2024, Tate and Gamboa allegedly enter the Fox Island Post Office and steal mail from various post office boxes. July 15, 2024, Foster allegedly breaks a window and enters the Anderson Island Contract Post Office and steal $3,000 in stamps, $100 in cash and about 100 postal money orders. July 24, 2024, Tate allegedly enters the Vashon Island Post Office and steals mail from multiple post office boxes. July 27, 2024, Tate and Foster allegedly force their way through the back door of the Snoqualmie Post Office and steal mail. July 30, 2024, Tate and Gamboa allegedly steal mail from boxes inside the Preston Post Office. July 31, 2024, Tate and Gamboa break into the Clinton Post Office on Whidbey Island and steal mail from post boxes and from a mail drop box. The indictment charges Justin Tate with two counts of bank fraud and lists various transactions that constitute the bank fraud charges. Tate opened a bank account in the name of one of the victims and then transferred or attempted to transfer more than $3,500 for his own use. He attempted to deposit more than $13,000 in fraudulent checks. Tate also ran up $7,200 in point-of-sale charges with a stolen debit card. Tate is also charged with two counts of Aggravated Identity Theft for his use of the identities of his victims in the bank fraud scheme. Conspiracy is punishable by up to five years in prison. Bank fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aggravated Identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum two years in prison to run consecutive to any other prison term imposed in the case. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Victoria Cantore.


title: Jamestown man pleads guilty for his role in Jamestown drug conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Jaquez Thomas, 22, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua A. Violanti, Stacey Jacovetti, and Louis A. Testani, who are handling the case, stated that between 2020 to 2022, Thomas distributed quantities of fentanyl and cocaine he received from Joseph Zaso. Thomas utilized Facebook and Cash App to conduct his drug trafficking activities. During the conspiracy, he supplied quantities of fentanyl to Justin Yuchnitz and Joseph Thayer. Thomas also conspired with Jose Maisonet in 2022. In Spring of 2022, Jamestown Police officers conducted three controlled purchases from Jose Maisonet. In July 2022, a search warrant was executed at Thomas’ Allen Street residence. During the search a loaded handgun, and drug paraphernalia were seized. A search warrant was also executed at Maisonet’s Forest Avenue residence, during which quantities of suspected crack cocaine and methamphetamine, digital scales, cell phones, and $2,715.00 in cash was seized. Joseph Zaso, Joseph Thayer, and Justin Yuchnitz were previously convicted and are awaiting sentencing. Jose Maisonet was previously convicted and sentenced in a separate case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The plea is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone. Sentencing is scheduled for March 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Man from Ecuador charged with being an alien in possession of a firearm

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Victor Jose Marino Pullo, 24, a native and citizen of Ecuador, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with being an alien in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, late in the morning on November 25, 2025, Custom and Border Protection (CBP) officers encountered Marino Pullo at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry as he operated a U-Haul box truck. Marino Pullo and another individual were moving from Connecticut to Buffalo. Marino Pullo was following a Global positioning system (GPS) and was directed on to the Peace Bridge. Marino Pullo did not enter Canada, however. Instead, Marino Pullo turned around on the bridge, where he was inspected by CBP officers. Marino Pullo and his companion were sent to secondary inspection for not having proper immigration documents. During secondary inspection, an officer discovered pictures of Marino Pullo holding a pistol on his cell phone. During a search of the U-Haul truck, officers recovered the loaded pistol in a cardboard box filled with clothes. Record checks reveal that Marino Pullo was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol on four previous occasions and was removed from the United States. The complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors AUSA Mary V. “Jena” King and Legal Assistant Niurka “Nikki” Machin on Their Retirement

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida proudly celebrated the retirements of Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary V. “Jena” King and Legal Assistant Niurka “Nikki” Machin during a clap-out ceremony honoring their decades of dedicated federal service. Jena King has been a steady and respected presence in this Office for more than 36-years. Her career stands as a model of integrity, professionalism, and devotion to justice that has shaped generations of prosecutors and staff. She has served this community faithfully in defense of the rule of law with the grace, judgment, and compassion throughout her time in the Southern District of Florida. “Jena’s family’s legacy of public service is woven into the very fabric of our community. Every day, we walk through the doors of the King Federal Justice Building—a powerful reminder of her father’s enduring contributions to the bench and to this District. Jena has carried that same spirit forward in her own distinguished service, leaving behind a record of excellence that will continue to inspire those who follow.” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. Nikki Machin has served the Office for nearly 20 years, primarily supporting the Narcotics Section. She is known for her discipline, reliability, and her ability to manage complex and demanding casework with calm and care. Prosecutors relied on her judgment and steady presence. Her work strengthened this Office’s mission and contributed to some of the most significant prosecutions in the District. “Nikki was a constant source of support for our Narcotics Section. She kept demanding cases on track and brought order and professionalism to the most complex cases. She made our mission stronger, and we are deeply grateful for the service she gave this Office and the people of South Florida.” – U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones The clap-out ceremony brought together colleagues and leadership to recognize King and Machin as they concluded their federal careers and embarked on the next chapter of their lives. Their legacy of excellence, professionalism, and service will remain an enduring part of the Office’s history. The Office extends its thanks to City of Miami Chief of Police Manny Morales for his continued support and for his officers joining the Office in recognizing the distinguished service of both honorees. ###


title: Jamestown man arrested, charged with fentanyl possession

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Russell Sims, 32, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katerina F. Powers and Joshau A. Violanti, who are handling the case, stated that in the early morning hours of July 20, 2025, a Jamestown Police officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in the vicinity of East 6th Street. Sims was a passenger in the vehicle. After noticing that Sims was agitated, the officer ordered him and the driver out of the vehicle. Sims and the driver were interviewed separately, giving inconsistent details. A search of the vehicle recovered a quantity of cocaine and fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and four cell phones. Fentanyl was also located on Sims’s person. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Jamestown woman arrested for meth possession

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. –U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Micayla L. Blair, 23, of Jamestown, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that on October 30, 2025, investigators executed a search warrant at a William Street residence connected to Blair. During the search, investigators recovered a quantity of suspected crystal methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a pistol. Blair made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and was detained. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson, the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division Highlights to D.C. Appeals Court the Illegality of 2024 EPA Rule

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Earlier this week, the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to void the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s 2024 air quality standard for particulate matter, because EPA recognizes that it took an unlawful regulatory shortcut in imposing the rule. The Clean Air Act requires the EPA to conduct a thorough review of the underlying science before revising an air quality standard. Under the previous administration, the EPA decided it could not be bothered to do the science, so it took an illegal regulatory shortcut to adopt a stifling and costly national air quality standard for particulate matter through a truncated reconsideration process. Under President Donald J. Trump’s Administration, the EPA has renewed its commitment to following the law. ENRD’s filing this week concedes the illegality of the 2024 rule. During the Biden Administration, EPA violated the Clean Air Act by issuing its rule without a thorough review of the science and without considering the costs of its shortcut. Discarding the rule would bring EPA back into compliance with the Clean Air Act and protect Americans from burdensome environmental standards that may ultimately do more harm than good.


title: Two women sentenced to prison for Hampton Roads drug conspiracy

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Two women were sentenced to prison for their roles in a vast Hampton Roads-based drug trafficking conspiracy. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, federal law enforcement opened an investigation into large-scale drug trafficking activity at Lux Auto in Newport News around June 2021. The conspirators used the business as a base of operations, storing illegal drugs in vehicles throughout the parking lot of Lux Auto. Thirty-seven defendants were charged in a 127-count superseding indictment returned on Sept. 11, 2023. Amanda Bell, 24, was a courier and a distributer of drugs and narcotics for the organization, selling marijuana and fentanyl pills. Over the multiple controlled transactions conducted by law enforcement, Bell sold more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Bell also served as a money courier for the organization, travelling between Virginia and California with large quantities of money related to drug trafficking. On March 3, 2022, Bell and a companion were intercepted in route to California with a suitcase containing more than $35,000 intended as part of the organization’s marijuana trafficking activities. Bell pled guilty on April 26 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Bell was sentenced Nov. 25 to five years and 10 months in prison. Farrah Fair, aka 10K Fay, 26, was a courier for the organization, transporting marijuana in checked suitcases on commercial flights between the supplier in California and her co-conspirators in Virginia. Fair pled guilty on Jan. 14 to use of a communication facility in furtherance of drug trafficking. Fair was sentenced Nov. 25 to two years and six months in prison. Lindsey Halligan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric M. Hurt, Alyson C. Yates, and Luke Bresnahan prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-54.


title: Mason City Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution and Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Darius Stackhouse, age 33, from Mason City, Iowa, was sentenced October 1, 2025, to 25 years in federal prison after a March 12, 2025, jury verdict where he was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, four counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and one count of possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of drug trafficking. Evidence at trial showed that between June 2021 and March 2023, Stackhouse was part of an ongoing drug conspiracy based in Mason City, Iowa to distribute methamphetamine. Stackhouse sold more than 40 pounds of methamphetamine throughout the conspiracy and three pounds to sources working with law enforcement. During the execution of several search warrants, more than $30,000 cash was located in Stackhouse’s residence, as well as additional methamphetamine, other controlled substances, and a firearm. Stackhouse was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 300 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Stackhouse is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-3001. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Sioux City Man on Parole Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Multiple Firearms

body_text: A Sioux City man who was on parole for a Woodbury County, Iowa burglary, was sentenced September 29, 2025, to more than 5 years in federal prison. Mchennlley Mutsuo, age 40, from Sioux City, received the prison term after a May 7, 2025, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user. Mutsuo was serving his term of parole for a March 1, 2021, conviction of second-degree burglary when Iowa parole officers were conducting a home visit. Upon entering his property, officers located a plate with drug paraphernalia and a white crystalline substance. Sioux City Police were informed, and an Iowa search warrant was obtained, where officers located two semi-automatic pistols and a revolver, along with 132 grams of methamphetamine. Mutsuo was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 69 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Mutsuo is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and the United States Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol Tabaco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-4063. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: All 70 NYCHA Employees Charged In February 2024 Sweep Convicted Of Bribery, Fraud, Or Extortion Offenses

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), Jocelyn E. Strauber, Acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (“HUD-OIG”), Brian D. Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel, Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”), Jonathan Mellone, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), Harry T. Chavis, announced that all 70 employees of the New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) who were arrested and charged in February 2024 have now been convicted of bribery, fraud, or extortion offenses. Of the 70 defendants charged in February 2024 with accepting bribes in exchange for awarding NYCHA repair contracts, three defendants were convicted after jury trials, 56 defendants pled guilty to felony offenses, and 11 defendants pled guilty to misdemeanor offenses. Sentencings are ongoing, but sentences imposed to date range up to 48 months in prison. The defendants were collectively responsible for accepting over $2.1 million in bribes in exchange for awarding NYCHA contracts worth over $15 million. As a result of the convictions, the defendants will collectively pay over $2.1 million in restitution to NYCHA and will forfeit over $2 million in criminal proceeds. “Today’s plea of the 70th and final NYCHA pay-for-play contracting scheme defendant marks an important milestone in one of the largest single-day corruption cases in the history of the Justice Department,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “All 70 charged defendants have now been convicted for attempting to criminally leverage the contracting process of work for affordable housing for New Yorkers to line their own pockets. NYCHA residents deserve better. New Yorkers deserve better. This broad and swift action demonstrates our Office’s commitment to combatting corruption in our nation’s largest public housing authority—home to 1 in every 17 New York City residents.” “Today, the last of the 70 NYCHA employees charged with bribery and extortion in connection with the awarding of micro-purchase contracts pled guilty, closing the chapter on an investigation in which DOI and our federal partners exposed widespread corruption that touched almost one-third of NYCHA’s 365 developments in each of the five boroughs,” said DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber. “All the defendants, many of them supervisors, now have taken responsibility for separate schemes that, in total, involved more than $15 million in no-bid contracts, awarded in exchange for the payment of more than $2.1 million in bribes to employees who chose to serve themselves instead of the residents of NYCHA, driving up costs of maintenance and improvements in a public housing system dependent on scarce resources. To date, approximately $2 million in restitution to NYCHA and nearly $2 million in forfeiture has been ordered. Equally important, DOI’s 14 recommendations to improve controls with respect to NYCHA’s micro-purchase contracting have been implemented – three of which were similar to DOI’s 2021 recommendations that were rejected by NYCHA. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and our federal law enforcement partners for their commitment to thwart corruption that drains public housing resources, and NYCHA for the implementation of much-needed contracting reforms.” “Today’s final guilty plea is an important milestone in bringing to an end the egregious pay-to-play bribery scheme that wasted millions of dollars that should have benefited HUD tenants in New York and raised serious questions about the integrity of NYCHA operations,” said HUD-OIG Acting Inspector General Brian D. Harrison. “All 70 of the NYCHA employees who failed to uphold the basic duty of not stealing from public housing have now admitted guilt or been found guilty at trial within two years of indictment, a testament to the investigative excellence of HUD OIG and its law enforcement partners. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its support and prosecutions in this case and know that this sends a clear signal to corrupt public officials that they will be held accountable.” “Nearly two years ago, HSI New York and our law enforcement partners announced a sweeping investigation that uncovered a brazen corruption and extortion scheme that marked the largest number of federal bribery charges in a single day in history,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “Today’s guilty plea is the latest step in exposing a scheme that exploited NYCHA’s operations, shortchanged its communities, and siphoned trust and resources from NYCHA residents—New Yorkers who deserve better. Working in lockstep with our federal, state, and local law enforcement counterparts, HSI will keep pressing forward to protect New Yorkers and ensure that anyone who attempts to jeopardize their well-being faces decisive consequences.” “An important part of the mission of DOL-OIG is to investigate fraud and other federal crimes involving matters within the jurisdiction of the Office of Inspector General,” said DOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone. “The seventy convictions obtained in this investigation send a clear message that public corruption will not be tolerated. We are committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who exploit governmental programs and the American workers.” “IRS-CI will continually use its unique expertise in tax and finance to find leverage in assisting with complex investigations,” said IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Harry T. Chavis. “We are proud to build on our law enforcement partnerships to continue to bring criminals to justice.” According to information contained in court filings and public court proceedings, including as proven at trial: NYCHA is the largest public housing authority in the country, providing housing to 1 in 17 New Yorkers in 335 developments across the City and receiving over $1.5 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development every year. When repairs or construction work require the use of outside contractors, services must typically be purchased via a bidding process. However, at all times relevant to the cases referenced above, when the value of a contract was under a certain threshold (up to $10,000), designated staff at NYCHA developments could hire a contractor of their choosing without soliciting multiple bids. This “no-bid” process was faster than the general NYCHA procurement process, and selection of the contractor required approval of only the designated staff at the development where the work was to be performed. The defendants, all of whom were NYCHA employees during the time of the relevant conduct, demanded and received cash in exchange for NYCHA contracts by either requiring contractors to pay up front in order to be awarded the contracts or requiring payment after the contractor finished the work and needed a NYCHA employee to sign off on the completed job so the contractor could receive payment from NYCHA. The defendants typically demanded approximately 10% to 20% of the contract value—between $500 and $2,000 depending on the size of the contract—but some defendants demanded even higher amounts. * * * Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of DOI, HUD-OIG, HSI, DOL-OIG, and IRS-CI, which work together collaboratively as part of the HSI Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, as well as the special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Clayton also expressed appreciation for the cooperation and support of NYCHA’s senior executive leadership. These cases are handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry J. Fang, Jacob R. Fiddelman, Meredith Foster, Catherine Ghosh, and Justin Horton are in charge of the prosecutions, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Deininger, Jane Kim, Benjamin Burkett, Matthew J. King, and Amanda C. Weingarten also handled individual cases.


title: Former Commodities Trading Executive Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Scheme To Defraud Employer By Hiding Trading Losses

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that DAVID SMOTHERMON was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein to three years in prison. In May 2025, SMOTHERMON pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud his employer by hiding trading losses. “David Smothermon engaged in a fraudulent scheme that always ends badly: he concealed trading losses and inflated performance, induced his firm to award him a $15 million bonus, and when the losses were discovered, his firm was devastated,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “That devastation cost hundreds of jobs, including in New York. Our Office has no tolerance for insiders who like to enrich themselves at the expense of our fellow New Yorkers.” As reflected in the Indictment and other court filings: From 2005 through early September 2016, SMOTHERMON worked for a privately owned firm, headquartered in Manhattan, that engaged in the international marketing, distribution, and trading of commodities products (the “Company”). SMOTHERMON was the Chief Executive Officer of a subsidiary of the Company, based in Houston, Texas, specializing in the trading of liquefied petroleum gas or “LPG” (the “Subsidiary”). SMOTHERMON was also on the Board of Directors of the Company. The Subsidiary engaged in two forms of LPG trading: entering into and executing contracts for the purchase and sale of barrels of LPG (the “Physical Trading”) and trading financial derivative products related to LPG in an over-the-counter market (the “Financial Trading”). From at least in or about December 2015 up to and including in or about September 2016, SMOTHERMON caused false entries to be made into an electronic accounting system used by the Company in an effort to hide substantial trading losses. Specifically, SMOTHERMON falsely inflated the marks, i.e., the values he assigned to individual trading positions in the Financial Trading book, and he directed other individuals to alter the terms of Physical Trading contracts in the company’s accounting system to make it appear as though those contracts were substantially more profitable than they were. In doing so, SMOTHERMON concealed over $240 million in trading losses. SMOTHERMON took these steps in order to obtain a large, discretionary bonus that he knew the Company was considering in early 2016. Ultimately, in May 2016, the Company awarded SMOTHERMON a bonus of approximately $15 million, of which approximately $11.6 million was paid immediately in cash. In late August 2016, SMOTHERMON was contacted by a senior Company executive to alert him that the Company had unearthed a discrepancy between a Physical Trading contract and what was entered into the accounting system. Thereafter, on or about September 1, 2016, SMOTHERMON resigned from the Company and admitted to a Company executive that he had been mispricing his trading book. The Company ultimately concluded that SMOTHERMON had concealed more than $240 million in trading losses. Upon this discovery, the Company realized considerable losses that resulted in the significant downsizing of the company and the layoffs of hundreds of employees. * * * In addition to the prison term, SMOTHERMON, 55, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $11,600,000 and pay restitution in the amount of $19,550,081. As a condition of his plea agreement, SMOTHERMON paid $8 million of this restitution amount in May 2025, after entering his guilty plea. SMOTHERMON also paid an additional $300,000 prior to sentencing. Mr. Clayton praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this case. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Qais Ghafary and Matthew Weinberg are in charge of the prosecution.


title: United States Attorney’s Office Persisted in Mission to Improve  Public Safety in South Dakota Despite Government Shutdown

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that the dedicated men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office continued their efforts in the pursuit of justice during the recent federal government shutdown. Working unabated to keep our communities safe and uphold the rule of law, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners continued to prosecute drug trafficking, child exploitation, and violent assaults, among other federal crimes. In addition to securing convictions at trial, federal prosecutors recorded significant sentences for numerous individuals who committed federal crimes in South Dakota, many of which are highlighted below. The U.S. Attorney’s Office secured sizable federal sentences for drug traffickers: Box Elder Woman Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota Rapid City Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in Rapid City Area Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 24 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Rapid City and within the Pine Ridge Reservation Minnesota Man Sentenced to Over 22 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine within Lower Brule and Crow Creek Reservations California Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl in Sioux Falls Area The U.S. Attorney’s Office helped bring to justice those who abuse and exploit children: Watertown Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Assaulting a Child Nebraska Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a South Dakota Minor Winner Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison in Child Sex Trafficking Case Sioux Falls Teacher Sentenced to Over 24 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Pornography Rapid City Man Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet and Child Pornography And the U.S. Attorney’s Office made our streets and communities safer by pursuing serious sentences for the perpetrators of violent crime: Kyle Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Assaulting Woman, Causing Serious Bodily Injury Rapid City Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Brandishing Firearm During Crime of Violence Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Nearly 6 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm Rapid City Man Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm To review all press releases issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr .


title: WAKULLA COUNTY MAN SENTENCED TO 60 YEARS FOR  CHILD EXPLOITATION OFFENSES

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Donovan Arthur Sauleda, 39, of Crawfordville, Florida, was sentenced on Thursday to 60 years’ imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for possession and receipt of child pornography, and production and distribution of obscene material portraying a child. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Our state and federal law enforcement officers work tirelessly to safeguard our communities against predators, like this repeat sex offender, and this case exemplifies their commitment to keeping our children safe from exploitation and victimization. I am very proud of the outstanding work by my office to secure this successful prosecution and lengthy sentence against this predator, which ensures he will spend the remainder of his life behind bars.” In November 2021, the defendant, a registered sex offender, came under investigation by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office for a suspicion that he had failed to register his internet accounts as required by law. Further investigation led to a search warrant in March 2022, where Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement found child pornography and child-like sex dolls within the defendant’s residence. The defendant was found to have made videos for sale and distribution with the child-like sex dolls. The defendant was convicted by a federal jury of all charges in June 2025. “This case underscores the unwavering commitment of the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office to protect our most vulnerable—our children,” said Sheriff Jared F. Miller. “Through the diligent work of our Detectives and the collaborative effort with FDLE’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a repeat offender has been removed from our community. This is what teamwork can do. We will continue to pursue those who violate the law and endanger children with every available resource. There is zero tolerance for this type of exploitation in Wakulla County.” “Protecting the children of the great State of Florida is something we take very seriously.” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “The sentence handed down today from the U.S. Attorney’s office was the maximum allowed by statute and reinforces the message. If you attempt to hurt children in Florida, we will find and arrest you and our partners will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.” “HSI’s advanced forensic capabilities and expertise serve as a critical force multiplier for the law enforcement community, enabling us to uncover, investigate, and prosecute predators who engage in these heinous crimes, said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “This case exemplifies the importance of collaboration between HSI, the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, demonstrating that together, we can bring justice to victims and ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions. HSI will continue to leverage every resource at its disposal to combat child exploitation and safeguard communities across the nation.” Sauleda’s sentence represents the maximum authorized sentence under the law for the offenses. He will be required to continue to register as a sex offender following his prison sentence. This conviction was the result of an investigation by the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer. 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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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.projectsafechildhood.gov . 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 for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: MILTON FELON PLEADS GUILTY TO UNLAWFULLY POSSESSING  FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Willie Curtis Slack Jr., 49, of Milton, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the excellent work of the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, supported by our federal law enforcement partners, this violent career criminal has been removed from our streets. My office stands ready to aggressively prosecute these repeat offenders to keep our communities safe.” Court documents reflect that during a traffic stop in October 2023, law enforcement officers found and seized a loaded pistol and marijuana from the defendant’s waistband. Then, in December 2024, law enforcement seized two additional firearms and matching bulk ammunition that the defendant had knowingly possessed earlier that year. Prior to these incidents, the defendant had been convicted of numerous felonies, including batteries, resisting officer with violence, aggravated assault by threat, and multiple drug sale and trafficking convictions. As a result, under the Armed Career Criminal Act, the defendant faces a minimum mandatory term of 15 years in prison up to a maximum term of life on each count. Sentencing is currently set for January 13, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. The plea was the result of investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alicia Forbes. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Highlights Drug Trafficking and Illegal Firearm Possession Sentencings During Lapse in Federal Appropriations

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – Throughout the 43-day lapse in government funding, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky continued to advance the Department of Justice’s mission in priority enforcement areas, including drug trafficking, violent crime, and illegal possession of firearms. Below are highlights of sentencings that the U.S. Attorney’s Office secured in connection with several drug and violent crime-related cases prosecuted during the recent lapse in federal appropriations. Monday, October 6 A Lexington, Ky., man, Bryan Anicasio-Miranda, 24, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to his plea agreement, on March 30, 2021 Anicasio-Miranda was convicted of first degree fleeing or evading police in Fayette Circuit Court. On at least two occasions, December 18, 2022 and December 16, 2024, Miranda was found in possession of firearms that he was prohibited from possessing because of his previous felony conviction. A Reynoldsburg, Ohio, man, Samuel Young, 44, was sentenced to 37 months for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to his plea agreement, on March 13, 2024, law enforcement conducted a stop on a vehicle driven by Young and recovered a firearm in his possession. Young admitted to being previously convicted of a felony and knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. A Lexington, Ky., man, Khmari Smith, 22, was sentenced to 324 months for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking offenses. In May 2023, law enforcement began investigating an individual distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in Lexington and identified the vehicle being used to transport the drugs into the area. On July 10, 2023, law enforcement located the vehicle traveling from Detroit to Kentucky and observed the vehicle following another car and mirroring its movements, which led them to believe the vehicles were connected. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on both vehicles. Khmari Smith, and his brother and co-defendant, Khari Qunarll Smith, 24, were found in one vehicle, with no evidence of drugs. In the other vehicle, Smith’s co-defendant, Brianna Hanspard, 30, of Detroit, was found with 4.6 kilograms of methamphetamine and 199.7 grams of fentanyl. Hanspard admitted to entering into an agreement with Khmari Smith and others to transport drugs from Detroit to Lexington for payment. Further investigation proved that Khari and Khmari Smith continued their drug distribution, from sources in Detroit. In August 2023, law enforcement searched their leased residences in Lexington. At the first residence they found 354.4 grams of fentanyl and 216.3 grams of methamphetamine; at the second, the found additional methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as a drug processing room. Law enforcement also found 18 firearms at the first residence and 12 firearms at the second residence. Khmari Smith admitted that he received those firearms as payment for the drugs he distributed. Khari Smith was previously sentenced to 200 months and Hanspard was sentenced to 84 months. Wednesday, October 8 A Corbin, Ky., man, Jonathan Blevins, 40, was sentenced to 110 months for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, beginning in April 2024 through June 2024, Blevins conspired with his co-defendants, Randy Lester, Jeffrey Gray, and Kathy Baird, to distribute methamphetamine in Laurel and Knox Counties. Blevins would obtain 1.5 pounds quantities of methamphetamine from his source of supply to distribute to several mid-and lower-level drug dealers and users. Blevins’ co-defendants were previously sentenced as followed: Baird received 27 months in prison; Gray received 53 months in prison; and Lester received 140 months in prison. Friday, October 10 A Burlington, Ky., man, Gary Wayne Isaacs, 47, was sentenced to 186 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, on June 6, 2024, law enforcement stopped Isaacs’ vehicle, and Isaacs gave a false name and social security number. Officers searched the vehicle and found 73.89 grams of methamphetamine that he admitted he possessed with the intent to distribute it to others. Tuesday, October 14 A Lexington, Ky., man, Khalil Washington, 28, was sentenced to 240 months for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to his plea agreement, on April 4, 2023, law enforcement arrested Washington following a traffic stop and seized 1,360 grams of methamphetamine, 28 grams of fentanyl, and a loaded firearm. Washington admitted to possessing the drugs with intent to distribute to others and that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking. A London, Ky., man, Jeffrey L. McDaniel, 56, was sentenced to 120 months for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, beginning in June 2024 through July 2024, McDaniel conspired with others to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine through Laurel, Knox, and Whitley Counties. As part of the conspiracy, McDaniel would obtain upwards of ounce quantities of meth from his source of supply and distribute it to mid-and lower-level drug dealers and users. A Lexington, Ky., man, John Robert Eckler, 46, was sentenced to 70 months for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, in August 2022, a package was seized that contained 14 one-pound bags of methamphetamine. Law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery of the package, which was picked up by Eckler. Eckler later admitted to law enforcement that he possessed the methamphetamine, and he knew the package contained a controlled substance, and he intended to give the package to another individual. Thursday, October 16 A Corbin, Ky., man, Matthew Martin, 43, was sentenced to 78 months for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, from June 2023 through June 2024, Martin conspired with his co-defendants, Laura Huffman, 35, and Erica Mullis, 35, to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl to others in Whitley, Knox, and Laurel Counties. Both co-defendants were sentenced on October 15—Huffman received 57 months in prison and Mullis received 84 months in prison. Friday, October 31 A London, Ky., man, Ronald Dugger, 64, was sentenced to 88 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, on June 17, 2024, law enforcement responded to a residence where Dugger, who was on federal supervised release, was residing. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the residence and found $1,680 in cash and 38.076 grams of methamphetamine. Dugger admitted that he was obtaining methamphetamine from multiple suppliers, and he intended to distribute it to others. Monday, November 3 A United States Penitentiary inmate, Eric Watson, 34, was sentenced to 108 months for assaulting a federal officer. According to his plea agreement, on December 25, 2023, two inmates at USP McCreary began fighting. When instructed by staff to stop, Watson instead advanced towards staff, whose efforts to subdue him did not initially work. Watson then took an Officer to the ground and struck him multiple times with a closed fist until responding staff gained control. A Lexington, Ky., man, Jacque Harmon Jones, 26, was sentenced to 150 months for possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of fluorofentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to his plea agreement, law enforcement searched Jones’ residence in February 2024 and discovered three bags of a fluorofentanyl and fentanyl mixture and $27,020 in drug proceeds inside a diaper bag. Additional fentanyl pills and a loaded firearm were found inside the master bedroom. Jones admitted that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity. A Lexington, Ky., man, Quincy Taylor, 39, was sentenced to 360 months for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. According to evidence at trial, on October 27, 2021, Taylor was involved in a single-vehicle collision on southbound I-75. After exiting his vehicle, Taylor attempted to provide a bystander with a bag containing 45 grams of cocaine and a firearm. After the bystander declined, Taylor hid the bag near brush along the exit ramp. Taylor then left the scene by hitchhiking with a second bystander to Richmond, Ky. Taylor had multiple prior convictions for felony drug trafficking. As a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Additionally, based on his significant prior criminal history, Taylor qualified as an Armed Career Criminal, which enhanced his sentence. Tuesday, November 4 Two defendants, Jaloni Andrews, 35, of Richmond, Ky., and Bridgett Vance, 57, of Strunk, Ky., were sentenced to 144 months and 27 months, respectively, for drug distribution charges. Andrews was sentenced to distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to his plea agreement, on March 4, 2024, a confidential informant met Andrews to obtain fentanyl and during the meeting Andrews sold the informant 521 blue round pills, which collectively weighed 54.83 grams. Event though the pills were marked with a “30” on one side and a “M” on the other side, like a real oxycodone pill, Andrews admitted that they were fake and contained fentanyl instead. Vance previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. According to her plea agreement, Vance sold oxycodone pills in McCreary County by obtaining the pills from a local supplier, but then began traveling to Lexington, Ky., to obtain pills from suppliers there. On October 24, 2023, law enforcement tracked Vance traveling to her supplier in Lexington and they conducted a traffic stop on her vehicle. During a search, law enforcement located 293 oxycodone 30mg pills and $3,529 in cash. Vance admitted that she possessed these pills and intended to distribute them as she had done in the past. Thursday, November 6 A Munford, Alabama, man, Floyd Jenkins, 46, was sentenced to 212 months for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, Jenkins worked with his co-defendants, Frederick Holt, Jr., 51, to import methamphetamine and fentanyl into the Johnson County area. Specifically, on December 4, 2024, law enforcement seized more than 300 grams of methamphetamine in Jenkins’ vehicle, which he admitted he possessed and intended to distribute. Holt was previously sentenced in August 2025 to 65 months for his role in the methamphetamine trafficking. Wednesday, November 12 A London, Ky., man, Shane Brock, was sentenced to 97 months for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, between January 2021 to March 2022, Brock received pound quantities of methamphetamine from co-defendant Stacey Smith, who distributed to multiple mid-level dealers. Brock, in turn, sold the drugs to other methamphetamine traffickers and end users. Brock admitted to being responsible from between 500 grams and 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine distribution. The final defendant in large methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, Charles Phillip Dozier, of Baxter, Ky., was sentenced to 100 months for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to Dozier’s plea agreement, on February 14, 2023, Dozier was found to be in possession of 140 grams of methamphetamine at a local motel where he was staying. Law enforcement also found a loaded handgun hidden in the ceiling tile in the room, near the methamphetamine. Dozier’s co-defendants were previously sentenced to the following: Jessica Nicole Creech received 64 months; Gregory Mills received 164 months; and David Hale received 180 months in prison. – END –


title: Palm Harbor Man Sentenced To 17 Years In Prison For Producing  And Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge John L. Badalamenti has sentenced Alexander William Czech (34, Palm Harbor) to 17 years in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for two counts of producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and one count of receiving CSAM. Czech was also ordered to pay $133,000 in restitution and will be required to register as a sex offender. Czech pleaded guilty on August 22, 2025. According to court documents, the FBI obtained a federal search warrant to search Czech’s residence for evidence of CSAM and found thousands of videos and photos of CSAM in Czech’s computer and an external hard drive. In Czech’s cellphone, the FBI found chats with a 16-year-old girl whom Czech personally knew. The chats showed Czech directing the minor to take sexually explicit photos of herself to send to him via a mobile application. The investigation also revealed that, on several occasions, Czech engaged in sexual activity with the minor after picking her up from school. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Largo Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Florida Man and Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Sell Counterfeit Drugs on Dark Web

body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A Boca Raton, Fl., man, Michael Basalyga, 36, and woman, Reina Chirinos de Urena, 39, were sentenced on October 9 by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier to 80 months and 45 months, respectively, for conspiring with others to produce and sell counterfeit drugs. According to their plea agreements, Basalyga and Chirinos de Urena worked with their co-conspirators, Omar Thomas Wala, Vienna Cavanaugh, and Philbert Campbell, to make and sell counterfeit alprazolam, commonly known by the brand name Xanax. As part of the conspiracy, Basalyga, Chirinos de Urena, and their co-defendants made pills that looked similar to real tablets and were stamped with numbers used by legitimate manufacturers, but were in fact made from other substances, including clonazolam and etizolam, designed to replicate the effects of alprazolam. The conspiracy involved selling directly to known customers and by selling the counterfeit drugs under pseudonyms on darknet marketplaces. People purchased the drugs with cryptocurrency across the United States, including in Kentucky. Under federal law, Basalyga and Chirinos de Urena must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences. Upon his release from prison, they will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for two years. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, with assistance from the FBI, IRS, and United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Rosenberg is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: U.S. Attorney Tom Albus Appointed to Continue by Court

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Thomas C. Albus, serving as the U.S. Attorney for Eastern Missouri since August 1st, was appointed to continue in that office Monday by the U.S. District Court. Chief U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark swore in Mr. Albus pursuant to 28 United States Code 546, meaning he will serve until the vacancy is filled. Mr. Albus’s nomination as U.S. Attorney by President Donald J. Trump is pending in the U.S. Senate, having been favorably reported out of the Judiciary committee on October 16th. “I am grateful for the vote of the Court and honored to lead an office of outstanding professionals in the Eastern District of Missouri,” Mr. Albus said.


title: New York Man Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting and Threatening Child He Met on Snapchat

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ZACHARY WILLIAMS, 38, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 240 months of imprisonment for offenses related to his sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl he met on Snapchat. According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2021, Williams began communicating with an 11-year old girl on Snapchat. Williams groomed the girl and coerced her to send her sexually explicit images of herself. Once in possession of the images, Williams threatened to post them online for her family, friends, and others to see, and used these tactics to pressure the girl to meet him in person for a sexual encounter. Then, on two occasions in February 2021, Williams traveled to Connecticut, sexually abused the girl in her home while her family was asleep, and recorded the sexual acts on his iPhone. After these encounters, Williams used the sexual videos and images he recorded to threaten the girl further so she would not expose his conduct. Williams has been detained since March 13, 2021, after he was charged in the District of New Jersey with similar child exploitation offenses. He was convicted after trial and sentenced on March 18, 2025, to life in prison. On August 8, 2025, Williams pleaded guilty in the District of Connecticut to one count of production of child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in illegal sexual conduct. Williams is also charged with child exploitation offenses in the Eastern District of New York where he is currently awaiting trial. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Galloway Township (N.J.) Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy V. Gifford, Daniel E. Cummings, and Alexis L. Beyerlein. U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .