title: Foreign Fighter Sentenced To Consecutive Life Prison Sentences For 2018 Double Homicide And Armed Robbery Of Florida Couple

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Craig Austin Lang (35, Kyiv, Ukraine) to consecutive life sentences in federal prison as a result of his convictions for conspiracy to commit robbery and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, robbery interfering with commerce, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence which resulted in death, conspiring to kill persons in a foreign country, and a violation of the Neutrality Act. Lang was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $10,886 to the family members of the victims of the offenses. Lang was indicted on December 4, 2019, and extradited from Ukraine to the United States in 2024. Lang was found guilty by a jury on September 15, 2025. According to testimony presented at trial, on April 10, 2018, two individuals, S.L., Jr. and D.L., were found dead in Estero, Florida from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body. Further investigation revealed that the couple had traveled to Estero from Brooksville, Florida to complete the purchase of several firearms from an individual who had listed them for sale on a website known as Armslist. As a result of the investigation, Lang was identified as one of two individuals who was believed to have murdered the couple during an armed robbery of the $3,000 that the couple had intended to use to purchase the firearms. Lang, who had previously fought in the Ukraine, pursued a plan to fight the Venezuelan government and committed the robbery of S.L., Jr. and D.L. to obtain money to fund his travel to Venezuela. Lang’s co-defendant, Alex Jared Zwiefelhofer, was previously convicted at trial in 2024 and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing Lang’s arrest and extradition from Ukraine. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jesus M. Casas and Benjamin S. Winter.


title: Sledge, Mississippi Man Sentenced to 37 months imprisonment for COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: ABERDEEN, MS – Docterance Atkins, 32, was sentenced last week to 37 months imprisonment for Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Money Laundering. Atkins, at a prior date, had pleaded guilty to one count of Wire Fraud, and a separate count of Money Laundering. The investigation began after IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) received a tip Atkins had committed COVID-19 Fraud. IRS-CI conducted a thorough investigation unveiling Atkins’ scheme. In essence, Atkins recruited unsophisticated individuals in the community, and convinced them to fraudulently apply for CARES Act Relief funds. Overall, Atkins stole nearly $750,000 from the federal government. The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Small Business Administration that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other related business expenses. Atkins helped numerous individuals file for and receive fraudulent PPP loans in return for a kickback. The PPP loan applications included false information regarding the number of employees and the extent of the claimed business operations. U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Atkins to 37 months imprisonment. After serving the sentence in federal prison, Atkins will be subject to 5 years of supervised release. The Court ordered restitution to be paid to victims. “This defendant exploited a national emergency and stole money that was meant to help businesses suffering during the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated U.S. Attorney Scott Leary. “He has been held accountable and we will recover this money for American taxpayers.” “Those who defrauded the COVID-19 economic program for small businesses took funds designated to help retain employees and used it for their personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Docterance Atkins sentence sends a strong message that IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue searching and investigating the criminals who took advantage of economic programs created to help small businesses and taxpayers.” The IRS Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stringfellow prosecuted the case. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by visiting the webpage of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, which can be found here . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can also report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division's prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 150 defendants in more than 95 criminal cases and has seized over $75 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at Justice.gov/OPA/pr/justice-department-takes-action-against-covid-19-fraud .


title: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SUES THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR UNCONSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES RESULTING IN EFFECTIVE DENIALS OF GUN PERMITS

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, VI –United States Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that the United States Department of Justice filed a complaint against the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) alleging that the territory’s unreasonable delays and conditions on lawful gun owners’ rights create an unconstitutional permitting process in violation of the Second Amendment. Numerous applicants complained that VIPD is unreasonably delaying their gun permit application decisions and adding unreasonable conditions, including bolted-in gun safes, prior to issuing gun licenses. Finally, VIPD continues to enforce a proper cause requirement nearly identical to the law that the U.S. Supreme Court previously struck down in another case years ago. “This Civil Rights Division will protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the United States Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “The newly-established Second Amendment Section filed this lawsuit to bring the Virgin Islands Police Department back into legal compliance by ensuring that applicants receive timely decisions without unconstitutional obstruction.” “The territory’s firearms licensing laws and practices are inconsistent with the Second Amendment,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Sleeper for the District of the U.S. Virgin Islands. “This lawsuit seeks to uphold the rights of law-abiding citizens to bear arms in the U.S. Virgin Islands.” In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a regulation it labeled “proper cause,” which New York law enforcement used to deny gun permits if the applicant did not show “proper cause” for the gun permit. That case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, is the established law of the land, including in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Today, the Virgin Islands maintains and enforces a law nearly identical to the overturned law. Additionally, complaints have poured in from residents showing unconstitutional delays and requirements, including police conducting unconstitutional and unreasonable home searches—the very type of requirements the U.S. Supreme Court finds abusive in permitting schemes. The lawsuit is filed in the U.S. District Court of the Virgin Islands. If you are a current or prospective gun owner and believe your gun permit application is subject to unconstitutional delays or practices, please submit a complaint through justice.gov/crt/second-amendment-section.


title: Nikon SLM Solutions Agrees to Pay $1.37 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Paycheck Protection Program Loans

component: USAO - Delaware

body_text: Wilmington, Delaware–U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace announced today that Nikon SLM Solutions NA, Inc. (“SLM”) agreed to pay more than $1.3 million to resolve allegations that it improperly obtained a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”) for which it was not eligible. PPP was an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act and administered by the SBA. It was created to support small businesses and ensure that they could continue to pay employees and meet other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether an applicant qualified as a small business was determined, in part, by assessing the number of employees of the business, including any domestic and foreign affiliates. In early 2021, Congress authorized a second tranche of loans, referred to as second draw loans, that were available under more restrictive eligibility rules to certain small businesses that had already obtained a first draw loan. SLM is a subsidiary of a global provider of integrated metal additive manufacturing solutions, headquartered in Lübeck, Germany. The United States contends that SLM obtained a PPP loan that it was not eligible for because it exceeded the size requirements for a second draw PPP loan. Specifically, SLM was ineligible for the PPP loan because it, together with its foreign affiliates, had over 300 employees. After the conduct that was the subject of the United States’ investigation, SLM’s parent company was acquired by Nikon Corporation, the publicly listed Japanese company. “PPP was established to provide necessary support for American small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Wallace. “When larger, international companies sought and obtained those loans, they frustrated the purpose of the program and deprived qualifying small businesses of much needed funds to keep American workers employed. Our office will continue to investigate and aggressively seek to recover funds that were obtained from the Paycheck Protection Program by ineligible borrowers.” The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party—known as a relator—can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Nikon SLM Solutions NA, Inc. , 25-cv-103-CFC (D. Del.). The relator will receive a share of the settlement. This matter was handled by Civil Chief Dylan J. Steinberg. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. A copy of this press release and the settlement agreement are located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. settlement_agreement_v.7.pdf


title: Illegal Honduran National Indicted on Drug and Immigration Crimes in Utah after Law Enforcement Allegedly Seized 21,000 Fentanyl Pills

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – An undocumented Honduran national living in the United States illegally, was remanded into federal custody following his initial appearance on drug and immigration crimes. Norlan Guillermo Andino-Torres, 33, of Honduras, who has been living in West Jordan, Utah, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 10, 2025, after he allegedly sold law enforcement fentanyl during a controlled buy, and after they seized approximately 21,000 fentanyl pills during the execution of a search warrant. According to court documents, during the first week of December 2025, FBI agents conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Andino-Torres, which field-tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. Subsequently, on December 4, 2025, his vehicle and residence in West Jordan were searched pursuant to a search warrant. Agents seized 1,131 grams of fentanyl (approximately 11,000 pills) from his vehicle. Agents also seized an additional 1,043 grams of fentanyl (approximately 10,000 pills) from his residence. Andino-Torres was taken into custody. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Andino-Torres, has been removed from the United States on six prior occasions dating back to 2012. Andino-Torres is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and reentry of a previously removed alien. A three-day jury trial is scheduled for February 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 3.1. before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force, the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Special Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). 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: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

body_text: Assault Jimmy Joe Black , 58, from Clinton, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served, which at the time of sentencing was three months and 24 days, for assault of a dating partner resulting in substantial bodily injury. The defendant also received two years of supervised release. According to court documents, in April 2023 the victim sought medical attention for an injury to her wrist; however, she did not report it as abuse until September of 2023. The victim indicated that the defendant was always with her, and she felt unsafe. She provided investigators photo evidence of the assault along with text messages of the defendant apologizing. She claimed the assault has led to years of pain in her hand and wrist. The FBI investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Black was indicted on July 18, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2025. After the plea hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence. Case No. 24-CR-00125 Firearm Offenses Eddie Lee Shells , 27 of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to time served with two years of supervised release to follow for possession of a firearm by a person convicted of domestic violence. At the time of his sentencing, Shells had served 142 days in prison. According to court documents, the defendant was responsible for an assault on his live-in girlfriend. After the assault, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Department requested help from DCI to locate the defendant. On Oct. 23, 2024, the defendant was located in Campbell County. Wyoming Highway Patrol attempted to pull him over for speeding when he fled. After a brief pursuit, the defendant stopped his truck and attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended. Troopers conducted a search of his truck and located two firearms. The defendant was convicted of domestic assault in February 2021, prohibiting him from possessing a firearm. DCI, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office and Wyoming Highway Patrol investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Shell was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 17. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 8 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00020 Drug Trafficking Danel Akio Moriyama , 44, of Cheyenne, Wyoming was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. According to court documents, in July 2024, the Cheyenne Police Department investigated Danel Moriyama for selling methamphetamine and fentanyl from his home. Surveillance uncovered frequent visitors and vehicle activity consistent with drug sales occurring in the house. Subsequent coordination with the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force (NCDTF) revealed his connection to multiple drug distributors in both Wyoming and Colorado. On September 18, following the defendant’s trip to Colorado to acquire drugs, officers conducted a traffic stop and found 447 grams of methamphetamine and 194 fentanyl pills in his pickup truck. A subsequent search of his residence yielded handguns, additional methamphetamine, an AR-style rifle, and drug distribution materials. The Cheyenne Police Department and NCDTF investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Moriyama was indicted on Nov. 29, 2024, and pleaded guilty on Sept. 19, 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 9 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00173 Micah Edwards Maas , 37, of Worland, Wyoming was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and aiding and abetting in the use of a communication facility to facilitate a felony drug offense. According to court documents, in July 2024, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received information that Micah Maas was a distributor of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Worland, Wyoming area. As the investigation continued, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) learned of a suspected methamphetamine source of supply in San Francisco who was shipping packages to Worland through the U.S. Postal Service. USPIS investigators began monitoring the packages and intercepted multiple packages containing methamphetamine and others containing thousands of fentanyl pills. DCI and USPIS investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Maas was indicted on May 21 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 16. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Dec. 11 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00094 Sarah Louise Hutchinson , 42, from Gillette, Wyoming, was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, between September 2023 and December 2024, DCI agents were investigating drug trafficking in Campbell County. Sarah and her partner John Roberts were identified as distributors of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Throughout the investigation, agents made a controlled purchase from her codefendant. On Dec. 5, 2024, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Roberts and Hutchinson. Officers seized approximately 379 grams of methamphetamine. DCI and the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie R. Morrison and Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Hutchinson was indicted on July 16 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 16. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence and ordered $500 in community restitution on Dec. 4 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00076 Pauline Michelle Lane , 37, of Lakewood, Colorado, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in January of 2024, the Sheridan Police Department along with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation began investigating a drug trafficking organization. Officers seized a phone from one of the distributors and identified Lane as the source of supply. The defendant acknowledged selling methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl to a friend, who was then redistributing the controlled substances in Wyoming. Lane admitted the drug transactions occurred between August 9, 2023, and May 5, 2024. She acknowledged the amount of methamphetamine was more than 500 grams. The Sheridan Police Department and DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie R. Morrison prosecuted the case. Lane was indicted on Jan. 15 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 9. U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence and ordered $500 in community restitution on Dec. 5 in Casper. Case No. 25-CR-00017 Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien Leobardo Rangel-Ventura, 33, of Jalisco, Mexico, was sentenced to time served plus 10 days to allow for deportation proceedings for illegal re-entry of a previously deported alien into the U.S. According to court documents, on June 19, ICE located the defendant at the Sublette County Jail in Pinedale. The defendant was arrested by the Sublette County Sheriff’s Department for the offense of failure to appear on an underlying case for driving under the influence of alcohol. Based on the defendant’s fingerprints, ICE determined he had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in November 2018. ICE investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Dec. 5 in Cheyenne. Case No. 25-CR-00153 About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Operation Take Back America Operation Take Back America is 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. It also streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Victim Witness Program The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to ensuring victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime


title: Former Adair County Resident Arrested For 1999 Murder In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timothy Jacob Hollan, age 73, of Miller, Missouri, was arrested in Kansas City, Kansas, yesterday on a federal arrest warrant. The warrant arose from a grand jury indictment charging Hollan with one Count of Murder in Indian Country and one count of Causing the Death of Another Person in the Course of a Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). Both charges are punishable by death or a term of up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleges that on a date uncertain to the grand jury, in or about September 1999, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Indian country, Hollan, a non-Indian, willfully, deliberately, maliciously, and with premeditation and malice aforethought, unlawfully killed the victim, an Indian. The Indictment further alleges that on that date, Hollan did knowingly use, carry, brandish, and discharge a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that is Murder in Indian Country, and in the course of this violation caused the death of the victim through the use of a firearm. The crimes allegedly occurred in Adair County within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from investigations by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit, the Adair County Sheriff’s Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In November 2023, deputies recovered the victim’s body from an abandoned well in rural Adair County. DNA analysis confirmed the victim’s identity earlier this year. “The Missing and Murdered Unit was established by President Trump during his first term to address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous persons, ensuring that unresolved cases receive renewed attention and investigative resources,” said Billy Kirkland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs at the Department of the Interior. “This joint investigation exemplifies the BIA Missing and Murdered Unit's efforts to bring justice, accountability, and closure to families impacted by violence in Indian Country. By working closely with tribal communities, federal law enforcement, and local partners, we are honoring victims and strengthening public safety.” A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. All defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Member of violent Third World Mob gang sentenced to 17.5 years in prison

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern


title: McKees Rocks Felon Charged with Possessing Firearms and Ammunition

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named Mark Lamarr Beavers, 26, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about August 26, 2025, Beavers, as a convicted felon, possessed two firearms and ammunition. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Squad conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: Keene Man Sentenced to 36-Months Imprisonment for Child Exploitation Offense CONCORD – U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe sentenced a Keene man to 36 months of imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces. Connor Mueller, 31, had previously pleaded guilty to possessing CSAM. In 2023, an undercover law enforcement operation identified Mueller as using specialized peer-to-peer software to receive videos containing CSAM. The same software allowed other users to access materials shared by Mueller. Law enforcement subsequently searched Mueller’s home and discovered multiple devices which together contained numerous images and videos depicting child sexual abuse. Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Keene Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.


title: Beaumont felon sentenced for federal firearms violation

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

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Cydney James Dorsey, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 58 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale on December 16, 2025. According to information presented in court, on September 8, 2024, at approximately 3:30 a.m., law enforcement officers responded to the parking lot of SNS grocery store on Concord Avenue in Beaumont as a large crowd had gathered and refused to leave. As police attempted to dispel the crowd, Dorsey ran from them, and in the process, discarded a firearm. Dorsey was apprehended carrying a bag that had a magazine with ammunition. Further investigation revealed Dorsey had a previous felony conviction which prohibited him from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Beaumont Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James. ###


title: Union City “Ghost Preparer” Sentenced to Prison for Fraudulently Seeking Over $4 Million in COVID-19 Employment Tax Credits

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: Scheme caused IRS to issue over $1.5 million in fraudulent tax refund AUGUSTA, GA: On December 15, 2025, a truckdriver who operated a “ghost” tax preparation business on the side was sentenced to federal prison for making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits. Dantavious Jackson , 39, Union City, Georgia, was sentenced to 84 months in prison for executing a mail fraud scheme to defraud the United States by making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 related employment tax credits announced Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Jackson was also ordered to pay over $1.5 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service by U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. There is no parole in the federal system. “Tax preparers have a responsibility to accurately prepare tax returns on behalf of their clients. Jackson not only undermined the American tax system and the trust of taxpayers relying on his expertise,” said U.S. Attorney Heap, “but he also took advantage of pandemic relief funds that were intended to help individuals harmed by the pandemic. The sentence imposed by the Court reflects the serious nature of Jackson’s conduct. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia works closely with our partners at IRS Criminal Investigation to protect the law-abiding American public and the treasury by stopping this fraud.” According to court documents, Jackson owned and operated a trucking business in Union City, Georgia. He also had a side business preparing tax forms for a fee. By law, any individual who assists in preparing federal tax returns for a fee is required to obtain a preparer identification number (“PTIN”) from the IRS. Jackson prepared and filed tax returns as a “ghost preparer,” omitting his identity by PTIN or by any other means on the returns he filed for clients. In addition, Jackson applied for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (also known as the CARES Act), enacted on March 27, 2020. This Act provided for an employee retention credit (“ERC”), designed to encourage businesses to keep employees on their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jackson executed a scheme to defraud the United States by preparing and filing thirty-five IRS Forms 941 for himself and two clients that falsely claimed they were entitled to receive $4,112,297 in tax refunds based on fraudulently claimed ERCs. Jackson fabricated wages and employees to claim ERCs inducing the U.S. Treasury to mail $1,567,855 in fraudulent tax refunds to himself and his clients. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue investigating and forwarding for prosecution, individuals like Dantavious Jackson, who defrauded American taxpayers at a time when businesses needed funds to help keep employees on their payrolls,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “During FY25, IRS Criminal Investigation initiated 588 investigations involving more than $5.6 billion of potentially fraudulent Employee Retention Credits related to tax years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.” This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney George J.C. Jacobs, III.


title: Baltimore Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson sentenced Jermaine Porter, 35, of Baltimore, Maryland, today, to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. At the time of this conviction, Porter was on federal supervised release for a 2018 conviction for possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. On October 7, 2025, Chief U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III, sentenced Porter to two years in federal prison for his violation of federal supervised release as a result of this conviction, which will be served consecutive to today’s sentence, for a total of eight years in prison. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – Baltimore Field Division, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD). According to evidence presented at trial, on March 3, 2023, BPD’s Northeast District Action Team conducted a traffic stop in the 3900 block of Loch Raven Blvd. Prior to the traffic stop, officers observed Porter moving in his seat, which led them to believe he was hiding something. Officers stopped Porter and removed him from the vehicle. In the vehicle, they found a light blue SCCY CPX-1 9mm handgun loaded with eight rounds of 9mm ammunition on the seat directly underneath Porter’s legs. This is Porter’s second federal felony conviction. Due to prior felony convictions, Porter is prohibited from possessing a firearm and/or ammunition. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF and BPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney LaRai Everett and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Keelan Diana who are prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Nebraska Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Images of S.C. Child

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: GREENVILLE, S.C. — Luis Alfred Romero, 37, of Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in May 2024, the mother of a minor girl reported to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office that she located concerning messages from Romero on her daughter’s Discord account. Romero knew the child was 13 years old and solicited explicit images and videos from the child. Romero cultivated a relationship with the child and chatted with her online for several months before discovery by the mother. In addition to persuading the child to send explicit images, Romero also urged the victim to engage in sexual relationships with other minors and adults. With the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Romero was apprehended. During a search of his devices, investigators found hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material on his phone. “We urge parents and caregivers to talk to their children and be vigilant about the dangers of online communications especially chatting with strangers,” said Bryan Stirling, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The U. S. Attorney’s Office and our partners at every level of law enforcement remain committed to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who exploit and harm our children.” “This sentencing sends a clear message that those who exploit children and distribute child sexual abuse material will be held accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant who also oversees North and South Carolina. “HSI, together with our local partners, remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and ensuring that offenders face the full consequences of their actions.” “I hope everyone from here to Nebraska sees Romero’s face and realizes there is no level of prosecution high enough for offenders like this,” said Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride. “Our detective said this case generated some of the most disturbing content to ever come across his desk. To echo our partnering agencies, we will continue to track down those who prey on our children and they will be pursued, prosecuted and brought to justice.” United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Romero to 110 months imprisonment, to be followed by a life-time term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Romero was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to help cover expenses for the victim’s mental health counseling. He must register as a sex offender for life. Parents and caregivers can find resources to protect their kids online at dhs.gov/know2protect This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case. ###


title: Mexican man sentenced for illegal reentry

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Mexican man who was in the United States illegally was sentenced yesterday to time served, 31 days, and remanded to the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Marco Antonio Contreras-Delira, 40, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to one count of illegal reentry. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents that on November 14, 2025, law enforcement encountered three individuals in a vehicle near Froid, Montana, including Contreras-Delira. The individuals presented Mexican identifications and admitted they were in the United States illegally. Contreras-Delira was transported to the Plentywood, Montana, Border Patrol Station for processing. Record checks confirmed he had been issued several final orders of removal and had been removed from the United States on one prior occasion. On December 28, 2007, Contreras-Delira was given a final order of removal and removed in December 2009. He had an active warrant at the time of his arrest in 2007. After paying his fine, authorities released him and he absconded to Texas where he was eventually arrested. Record checks revealed Contreras-Delira was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol on February 1, 2004, in Bartow County, Georgia. On November 14, 2025, Border Patrol agents interviewed Contreras-Delira. He confirmed he is a Mexican national and citizen and has no documents to enter or remain in the United States. There is no indication in the files of Department of Homeland Security Contreras-Delira ever applied for or obtained the permission of the Homeland Security to reenter the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The U.S. Border Patrol and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Gainesville Man Sentenced To More Than Ten Years For Role In Convenience Store Robbery

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland has sentenced Jhakheem Smith (26, Gainesville) to 10 years and 6 months in federal prison for the armed robbery of a convenience store in Clearwater in November 2023. Earlier this year, Smith pleaded guilty to robbing and conspiring to rob the store. He pleaded not guilty to brandishing a firearm during a violent crime. Smith proceeded to trial on the firearm charge. A federal jury found Smith guilty of the firearm offense in March 2025. According to testimony and evidence presented at the trial, on November 8, 2023, Store surveillance video showed Jones and Smith jumping over the counter to confront the victim. The video also showed Smith searching throughout the store for a safe which allegedly contained additional money. The safe was never found. The store surveillance video also showed Smith attempting to damage the store surveillance cameras. Text messages obtained pursuant to a search warrant for Jones’s phone revealed text messages between Jones and Smith planning the robbery. Jones pleaded guilty to all three charges in the indictment. On February 6, 2025, Jones was sentenced to 12 years and 11 months in federal prison. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Clearwater Police Department, the Largo Police Department, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Tulsa Drug Dealer Sentenced to 25 Years After Being Convicted for Fentanyl Related Death of a 29-Year-Old

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, a judge ordered Brandon Jerome Silas to 25 years imprisonment after a federal jury convicted him in May, for the fentanyl related death of 29-year-old Haley Nicole Scruggs. In May, a federal jury convicted Silas, 45, of Distribution of Fentanyl Resulting in Death; four counts of Use of a Communication Facility in Committing, Causing, and Facilitating the Commission of a Drug Trafficking Felony; and Money Laundering. U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Silas to 300 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. “Silas will be close to 70 years old when he is released from federal prison after killing Haley Scruggs,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I am grateful for our federal and state partners who worked together to stop Silas from dealing deadly drugs in the Northern District of Oklahoma.” “This sentence sends a message to those who distribute and profit from the distribution of poison in our communities,” said Joseph B. Tucker, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Dallas Division, which covers the State of Oklahoma. “The men and women of DEA and their law enforcement partners work tirelessly hold accountable those praying on the addictions of others, never wavering in the pursuit of justice.” In February 2022, Haley Scruggs fought with her boyfriend about wanting to purchase opioids. After completing drug rehabilitation, her boyfriend discovered that she was relapsing and told her that he would help her stay clean. But if she relapsed, they could not stay together. While her boyfriend was at work the following day, Haley called her friend, Silas, several times, and sent him more than 90 text messages. A DEA agent testified that through texts, Haley explained to Silas how to get to her house. When Silas arrived, he texted Haley that he was there. Shortly after that, Haley stopped responding to her phone. Concerned, her boyfriend left work and discovered Haley at home, unresponsive. He immediately called 911, and she was pronounced deceased. During the trial, two witnesses took the stand and explained to the jury how they originally started purchasing pills from Silas in 2019. When they went to Silas for fentanyl, he warned both of them to “be careful.” Silas’ bank records presented to the jury showed that money was being digitally transferred from various peer-to-peer cash applications into his accounts. Bank records indicated that Silas deposited or transferred more than $450,000 into his accounts over 14 months. Court records show that Silas knew of Haley’s death and continued to sell drugs. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. DEA fentanyl seizures represent over 133 million deadly doses in 2025. Click here to find additional resources or learn more about the OnePillCanKill campaign. The Drug Enforcement Administration Oklahoma City District Office and the Broken Arrow Police Department investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Bailey and Charles Greenough prosecuted the case.


title: Man Charged With Possession Of Machine Gun On New York Street

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”), Bryan DiGirolamo, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging DAVID MALDONADO in connection with a November 14, 2025, daytime shooting in which MALDONADO fired 12 rounds from a machine gun on a public street in the Bronx. MALDONADO was arrested and presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Stein. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff. "As alleged, David Maldonado used a machine gun conversion device to spray bullets on a Bronx street,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New Yorkers want brazen, gun toting criminals off our streets and we hear them. Thanks to the prompt response of our law enforcement partners, Maldonado will now have to answer for his alleged crimes.” “The ATF/NYPD Crime Gun Enforcement Team is committed to keeping illegal machine guns out of the hands of criminals and away from our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo. “We thank the New York City Police Department and the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their continued partnership in keeping the public safe.” “David Maldonado allegedly put New Yorkers at serious risk when he fired a fully automatic ghost gun in broad daylight on a public street, while NYPD detectives were nearby,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Our detectives did exactly what they do best—they ran toward the danger, moved quickly to stop the threat, and our streets are safer because of their actions. I thank the NYPD investigators, our partners at the ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their continued work to hold violent offenders accountable.” As alleged in the Indictment, and in public statements made in public court proceedings: [1] On or about November 14, 2025, at around 4:00 p.m., MALDONADO, who has been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, discharged a machine gun in the vicinity of East 170 th Street and Third Avenue in the Bronx, including two shots that struck a nearby vehicle. Detectives of the NYPD, who were in the vicinity of the gunshots, spotted and promptly apprehended MALDONADO, who was in possession of an unserialized Polymer 80, model PF940C, 9x19mm caliber firearm, also known as a “ghost gun.” During the shooting, MALDONADO used a semi-automatic handgun with an illegal machine gun conversion device installed, which converted his firearm into a fully automatic machine gun capable of shooting more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger. Photographs of the firearm and magazine seized from MALDONADO and the conversion device that was installed on the pistol slide are below: * * * MALDONADO, 53, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of possession of ammunition after felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; and one count of possession of a machine gun, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and the ATF. This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations & Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon D. Harper is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Sexual Exploitation of a Child in Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Court Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced David Donnell Fulton, 32, of York, Pennsylvania, today, to 15 years in federal prison for one count of sexual exploitation of a child, followed by 20 years of supervised release. Fulton must also register as a sex offender for life. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Francis Chardo, District Attorney for Dauphin County; Chief County Detective Corey Dickerson, Dauphin County; and Chief Garth W. Waner, Derry Township Police Department. According to the guilty plea, during Memorial Day Weekend 2024, Fulton traveled with friends and family to Great Wolf Lodge in Elkton, Maryland. While a 7-year-old minor victim slept, Fulton used his iPhone to capture an image of her genitals. A few days later, during a search of Fulton’s home, law enforcement seized several devices and found Fulton with an image of the 7-year-old victim, as well as multiple images of commercially available child sex abuse material. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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 justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, District Attorney’s Office for Dauphin County, Criminal Investigations Division for Dauphin County, and the Derry Township Police Department for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Nursing director pleads guilty to tampering with drugs

body_text: BILLINGS – A Sand Springs woman accused of tampering with drugs at a local health care center admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, Kailyn Marie Smotherman, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with consumer products. Smotherman faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release. U.S. District Court Judge Susan P. Watters presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for April 15, 2026. Smotherman remains released with conditions pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that on January 19, 2023, Kailyn Marie Smotherman was discovered to have been tampering with controlled substances at the Garfield County Health Center in Jordan, Montana, where she worked as the Director of Nursing. Staff at the facility entered Smotherman’s locked office to retrieve a narcotics log and noticed several suspicious items, including hospital stock narcotics, an IV pole, tourniquets, needles, IV equipment, replacement vial caps, replacement medication labels, and what appeared to be blood on many surfaces. During a subsequent search of the office, staff and law enforcement found numerous vials of fentanyl that had been tampered with (caps removed and replaced) or had been emptied. They also discovered other controlled substances that had been replaced. Staff reported concerns patients may have received saline solution instead of pain medication in the months preceding the incident. A forensic chemist with the Food and Drug Administration conducted an analysis of the containers confiscated from Smotherman’s office and concluded the controlled substances had been tampered with and adulterated. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The DEA, FDA and Garfield County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Skiatook Man Charged with Assault After Being Released in June from Being Found Incompetent

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Skiatook man was charged today for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Indian Country after being found incompetent to stand trial and was released. According to court documents, Jacob Robin Gilmartin, now 22, was initially charged in 2023 with Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. Gilmartin was driving under the influence in 2021 and wrecked into another vehicle, killing Clifton Smith. While on pre-trial release, Gilmartin was in a second wreck, injuring only himself and being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. After a medical evaluation, Gilmartin was deemed incompetent to stand trial and was ordered released in June 2025. On December 9th, seven months after being released, court documents allege that Tulsa County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched in reference to a domestic violence call. The 10-year-old victim ran to a neighbor's house after receiving a severe laceration to his right arm that cut to the bone. The neighbor applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. The victim told deputies he sustained the injury when Gilmartin threatened to kill him and threw the knife at him. Court records show that deputies followed the blood trail back to Gilmartin’s residence, where he was detained. Gilmartin is a member of the Cherokee Nation. The FBI is investigating the case, and the defendant was arrested with the help of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mallory Richard is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Agrees to Pay $15 Million to Settle Fraud Allegations Related to Scientific Research Grants

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc. (Dana-Farber) has agreed to pay $15 million to resolve allegations that, between 2014 and 2024, it made materially false statements and certifications related to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants. Specifically, Dana-Farber admitted that its researchers mispresented data and images that resulted in misinformation about research being published in 14 scientific journal articles. As part of the settlement , Dana-Farber admitted that publications reused images to represent different experimental conditions; duplicated images to represent different testing conditions, mice, and/or timepoints; or rotated, magnified, or stretched images. Further, Dana-Farber admitted that a supervising researcher failed to exercise sufficient oversight over the researchers responsible for these publications, and that Dana-Farber spent funds from six NIH grants for these publications that were unallowable. As part of the settlement, Dana-Farber also admitted that another researcher received four NIH grants after submitting grant applications that discussed a journal article authored by the researcher, but did not disclose that certain images and data in that article were misrepresented and/or duplicated. The United States contends that Dana-Farber caused the submission of false claims to NIH by falsely certifying compliance with grant terms and conditions, spending grants funds on unallowable expenses, and obtaining grants through false and misleading statements. “There is no place in scientific research, particularly cancer research, for fraud, waste and abuse, and my office will continue to investigate institutions, no matter how prestigious, to ensure that research data is not tainted and that taxpayer funds are used appropriately. Patients, and the medical community, rely on the important research conducted by institutions like Dana-Farber. It is critical, to say the least, that all research findings are accurately reported,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “NIH has limited resources to support important research being conducted at institutions across the country,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice will pursue grantees that undermine the integrity of federal funding decisions by failing to use research funds appropriately or by failing to abide by grant awards’ terms and conditions.” “The alleged falsification of research data and improper use of federal funds represents a serious breach of public trust and threatens the rigorous standards that uphold the credibility of the scientific process,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Individuals who violate federal grant-making rules not only risk legal consequences but also compromise the stewardship of taxpayer resources. HHS-OIG remains firmly committed to ensuring accountability and safeguarding the integrity of Department programs.” Dana-Farber is a cancer treatment and research center headquartered in Boston, with locations across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Dana-Farber receives research grant funding from federal government agencies, including NIH. Dana-Farber cooperated with the government in this matter and received credit under the Department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The relator will receive $2,625,000 under today’s settlement. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Sholto David v. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-11059-WGY (D. Mass.). U.S. Attorney Foley; AAG Shumate; and AIG Globerman made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia Benjamin and Brian LaMacchia, Chief of the Affirmative Litigation Unit, handled the matter, along with Trial Attorney Megan Engel of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section).


title: Bronx Street Gang Leader And Rapper Kevin Perez, A/K/A “Kay Flock,” Sentenced To 30 Years For Gang-Related Shootings

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that KEVIN PEREZ, a/k/a “Kay Flock,” was sentenced today to 30 years in prison for committing violent crimes as the leader of a Bronx-based gang, known as “Sev Side/DOA.” In March 2025, a jury convicted PEREZ of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, and a firearm discharge offense following a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, who imposed today’s sentence. “Kevin Perez used violence and fame to fuel fear and intimidation across the Bronx,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Perez and his gang members carried out a string of shootings that struck both rival gang members and innocent bystanders. Perez also used his platform as a prominent rapper to celebrate his violence: threatening his rivals, bragging about his shootings, and taunting his victims. His brazen actions unleashed a series of back-and-forth retaliatory shootings that killed and injured far too many people in the Bronx. Thanks to the hard work of the women and men of this Office and our law enforcement partners, today’s sentence brings New Yorkers what they want: violent, gun-toting gang leaders off our streets.” According to the indictment, public court filings, and the evidence presented at PEREZ’s trial: Since at least 2020, PEREZ was the leader of a gang based on East 187th Street in the Bronx, known as Sev Side/DOA, which is short for “Dumping on” (shooting) “Anything” or “Dead on Arrival.” Members of the gang committed violence against gang rivals to protect their territory, enhance the reputation and wealth of Sev Side/DOA, and increase their status within the gang. The gang primarily supported itself through bank and wire fraud, which in turn funded PEREZ’s music career. Throughout 2020 and until his arrest in late 2021, PEREZ and his co-conspirators carried out a string of shootings. The violence included a June 20, 2020, shooting in which a gang rival was struck in the jaw and several other victims were hit. Days after the shooting, PEREZ and his co-conspirators put out a music video that bragged about the shooting. PEREZ was also held responsible for attempted murders on June 26, 2020; August 10, 2020; and November 10, 2021, which collectively resulted in multiple people being shot. The evidence also showed that, while committing this violence, PEREZ used his status as a recognized “drill rap” artist to celebrate his gang’s crimes. PEREZ put out songs—several of which received millions of views—that glorified his violence, threatened more of it, and taunted rival gang members who had been murdered. In imposing today’s sentence, Judge Liman remarked that the defendant “taunted, celebrated, and created a culture of violence” and that the harm the defendant caused “was immense.” * * * In addition to his prison term, PEREZ, 22, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department and Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations, and also thanked the New York County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ni Qian, Michael R. Herman, Patrick R. Moroney, Elizabeth A. Espinosa, and Jim Ligtenberg are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Ananya Sankar and David Naguib.


title: Sallisaw Resident Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing Firearm

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Marlina Dawn Hardbarger, age 49, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that on September 10, 2025, having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and knowing of such conviction, knowingly possessed one .223-5.56mm caliber semi-automatic rifle. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hardbarger will remain in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending sentencing. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the United States.


title: Member of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A member of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios pleaded guilty today to racketeering charges, including his participation in two murders and one attempted murder. James Jimenez, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. U.S. Senior District Court Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for March 24, 2026. Jimenez was arrested and charged in February 2025, and was alleged to have participated in the murders of Jandriel Heredia and Abraham Diaz in September 2023. The Trinitarios is a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Trinitarios adhere to a Magna Carta, employ an internal hierarchy to organize and execute violence and undertake extensive efforts to maintain the secrecy of the organization and its members. In February 2025 , federal racketeering charges were unsealed against 22 leaders and members of the Trinitarios. The charges were the result of a multi jurisdictional investigation that began in the aftermath of four murders and a series of attempted murders and shootings that took place in Lynn in 2023, allegedly committed by the Trinitarios criminal enterprise and its members. In March 2025 , a Lynn member of the Trinitarios was sentenced to 10 years in prison. In June 2025 , two members of the Trinitarios were charged with kidnapping a drug supplier. In July 2025 , the leader of the Lynn Chapter was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Jimenez is the eighth defendant to plead guilty. During today’s court proceeding, Jimenez admitted to his membership in the gang and participation in two shootings where the Trinitarios intended to kill rival gang members. The first incident took place in August 2023 following the death of a Trinitario member who was believed to have been killed by a rival gang member. Jimenez and five other Trinitarios set out to ambush and kill rival gang members who were at a music studio in Lynn. Jimenez also admitted to his participation in the Sept. 2, 2023 murders of Jandriel Heredia and Abraham Diaz. Jimenez admitted to meeting with other Trinitario members prior to the shooting and learning about the plan to kill a rival gang member who the Trinitarios believed was present at a party on Essex Street in Lynn. Jimenez admitted to driving by the party a number of times, and relaying information about what he observed to the other Trinitarios knowing that the information would be used to further their plan to murder rival gang members. Later that night, members of the Trinitarios drove by the party and discharged numerous rounds at the people gathered outside celebrating a recent graduation. Seven people were shot during this incident, and Abraham Diaz and Jandriel Heredia later died from the gunshot wounds they sustained. After the shooting, Jimenez also worked with other Trinitarios and assisted in concealing and destroying evidence. The charge of conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity (also known as “racketeering conspiracy” or “RICO conspiracy”) provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble; and Lynn Police Chief Christopher P. Reddy made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood .


title: Arkansas woman sentenced to federal prison for East Texas drug trafficking violation

body_text: TEXARKANA, Texas –A Texarkana, Arkansas woman has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Terri Lynn Cooley, 55, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III on December 16, 2025. According to information presented in court, on October 11, 2023, Cooley was stopped in Texarkana, Texas for driving at night without headlights. During the stop, it was discovered she had an active warrant and was arrested. A search of the vehicle following Cooley’s arrest led to the discovery of 109.85 grams of methamphetamine. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Texas Department of Public Safety; and the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucas Machicek. ###


title: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Agrees to Pay $15M to Settle Fraud Allegations Related to Scientific Research Grants

component: Civil Division

body_text: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Inc. (Dana-Farber) has agreed to pay $15,000,000 to resolve allegations that, between 2014 and 2024, it violated the False Claims Act by making materially false statements and certifications related to National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants. Dana-Farber is a cancer treatment and research center headquartered in Boston, with locations across Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Dana-Farber receives research grant funding from federal government agencies, including NIH. “NIH has limited resources to support important research being conducted at institutions across the country,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that the Department of Justice will pursue grantees that undermine the integrity of federal funding decisions by failing to use research funds appropriately or by failing to abide by grant awards’ terms and conditions.” “There is no place in scientific research, particularly cancer research, for fraud, waste and abuse, and my office will continue to investigate institutions, no matter how prestigious, to ensure that research data is not tainted and that taxpayer funds are used appropriately,” said U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts. “Patients, and the medical community, rely on the important research conducted by institutions like Dana-Farber. It is critical, to say the least, that all research findings are accurately reported,” “The alleged falsification of research data and improper use of federal funds represents a serious breach of public trust and threatens the rigorous standards that uphold the credibility of the scientific process,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Individuals who violate federal grant-making rules not only risk legal consequences but also compromise the stewardship of taxpayer resources. HHS-OIG remains firmly committed to ensuring accountability and safeguarding the integrity of Department programs.” As part of the settlement, Dana-Farber admitted that its researchers used funds from six NIH grants to conduct research that resulted in 14 publications in scientific journals containing misrepresented and/or duplicated images and data. The publications reused images to represent different experimental conditions; duplicated images to represent different testing conditions, mice, and/or timepoints; or rotated, magnified, or stretched images. Further, Dana-Farber admitted that a supervising researcher failed to exercise sufficient oversight over these researchers, and that Dana-Farber spent funds from those six NIH grants that were unallowable. As part of the settlement, Dana-Farber also admitted that another researcher received four NIH grants after submitting grant applications that discussed a journal article authored by the researcher but did not disclose that certain images and data in that article were misrepresented and/or duplicated. The United States contends that Dana-Farber caused the submission of false claims to NIH by falsely certifying compliance with grant terms and conditions, spending grant funds on unallowable expenses, and obtaining grants through false and misleading statements. Dana-Farber cooperated with the government in this matter and received credit under the Department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation, and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases. Among other actions, Dana-Farber summarized voluminous materials relevant to the government’s investigation, voluntarily disclosed additional allegations of research misconduct relevant to the government’s investigation, voluntarily produced materials without a subpoena, sought to resolve this matter expeditiously, accepted responsibility for its conduct, and implemented remedial measures. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Sholto David. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. David will receive $2,625,000 under today’s settlement. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Sholto David v. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Inc., No. 2:24-cv-11059-WGY (D. Mass.). The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The matter was handled by Trial Attorney Megan Engel of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olivia Benjamin and Brian LaMacchia for the District of Massachusetts. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Man Who Had $6 Million in Bogus Checks Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Tuesday sentenced a man who committed bank fraud for years with checks stolen from the mail to 72 months in prison. Judge Pitlyk also ordered Terron T. Brown, 23, to repay $51,932 to victims. Brown pleaded guilty in August to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of bank fraud. He admitted that between November 2021 and September 2024, he conspired with others to deposit forged and fraudulent checks that had been stolen from the U.S. Mail. Brown used his social media accounts and other methods to recruit people who would provide him with their debit cards and banking information and allow him to deposit fraudulent checks into their accounts. He also recruited his co-defendants, Justyn M. Boyd, Aaliyah A. Jones, Haiden Williams, and Jalen Wright, to recruit account holders. Together, they found dozens of people willing to participate in the scheme in exchange for some of the money. Brown then used personal and business checks stolen from U.S. Postal Service collection boxes to create forged and fraudulent checks payable to the account holders. Brown altered the payee and amount payable on stolen checks or used stolen checks to create counterfeit checks. He then deposited those checks into the bank accounts that he had co-opted and withdrew the money himself or had the account holders do it. After learning in January of 2024 that he had been indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis, Brown fled to Los Angeles in a Greyhound bus and began living under the fake name "Amiri Leonard." He relocated his scheme there in an attempt to avoid arrest and evade law enforcement. On Sept. 10, 2024, federal law enforcement agents conducted a court-approved search of Brown's California residence and found multiple stolen and counterfeit checks with a value of $1.2 million, blank check stock, multiple debit cards in various names and electronic devices with images of at least $4.7 million worth of counterfeit checks dated between March 2022 and August of 2024. They also found $5,260 in cash and 19 USPS money orders totaling $10,551, proceeds from Brown's check fraud scheme. Brown admitted obtaining and possessing at least $6 million worth of counterfeit checks and checks stolen from the mail and intending to cause a loss of at least this amount. Brown and his co-conspirators deposited at least $116,834 worth of fraudulent checks and obtained at least $29,562 from the scheme. Brown directly harmed the victims who had checks stolen, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow wrote in a sentencing memo, but also undermined public confidence in the mail at a time when mail theft was on the rise. He then assumed a fake name and fled St. Louis to avoid the consequences of crimes while thumbing his nose at law enforcement, Clow wrote. “This sentencing represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this significant mail theft investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.” “The sentencing in this case illustrates that individuals who engage in mail theft will be held accountable for their actions,” stated Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Domicile. “The Inspection Service is proud to work with our local, state, and federal partners to bring mail theft perpetrators to justice and prevent financial crimes targeting local citizens, postal customers, and financial institutions.” Boyd, of Northwoods, Jones, of St. Louis County, Williams, of St. Louis, and Wright, of St. Louis, have all pleaded guilty. All are 24 years old. Boyd was ordered to repay $9,354, Jones $6,000 and Williams $13,015. Wright is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2026. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the University City Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow is prosecuting the case.


title: Tampa Sex Offender Indicted For Distribution And Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material And Escape

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return of an indictment charging Richard Plummer (44, Tampa) with distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material and escape. If convicted on all counts, Plummer faces a maximum penalty of 65 years in federal prison. According to the indictment, in 2018, Plummer was convicted of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Between October 29 and 31, 2025, Plummer distributed and possessed a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On November 1, 2025, Plummer escaped from the Bureau of Prisons and the Tampa Residential Re-Entry Center, a facility where he was serving his sentence. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Derry. 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.justice.gov/psc.


title: Portageville Man Sentenced to 21 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearms Possession

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Portageville, Mo., man, who was convicted following a January 2025 jury trial for trafficking methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms, was sentenced in federal court yesterday. Michael C. Patton, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 21 years and eight months in federal prison without parole. On Jan. 14, 2025, Patton was found guilty after a two-day jury trial of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of firearms. Patton was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by Springfield police officers on May 12, 2021. When officers searched the vehicle, they found a backpack in the front passenger floorboard that contained a loaded Beretta firearm, along with a plastic bag that contained 344 grams of pure methamphetamine and Patton’s Missouri identification. Officers also found a small black backpack in the backseat floorboard that contained a loaded revolver. According to court documents, Patton has an extensive criminal history that includes prior felony convictions for stealing, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, and possession of cocaine with intent to sell. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron A. Beaver and Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Mexico Resident Sentenced for Possession of Firearm by Illegal Alien

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Mexico pleaded guilty and has been sentenced in federal court to time served on his conviction of unlawfully possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Ignacio Xalamihua-Salinas, 30. According to information presented to the Court, on or about September 25, 2025, in connection with an ongoing investigation, law enforcement encountered Xalamihua-Salinas and searched the vehicle that he was operating. During the search, officers located a revolver, which Xalamihua-Salinas admitted to possessing. Because Xalamihua-Salinas was illegally and unlawfully in the United States, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. In connection with his guilty plea, Xalamihua-Salinas agreed to cooperate with immigration authorities and will remain in custody until he is deported from the United States pursuant to an Immigration Judge’s Order of Deportation. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti commended the United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania State Police, and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Narcotics and Vice Unit for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Xalamihua-Salinas. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, combat illegal immigration, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Four Charged with Human Smuggling and Illegal Entry Offenses

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Fabian Ronald Reyes-Lopez, 36, of Ecuador, Kelbys Josefina Velazquez-Guitierrez, 43, of Puerto Ordoz, Venezuela, Solanger Almonte-Lopez, 39, of Cieza, Spain, and David Christopher Burke, 43, of Piltown, Ireland, have been charged by criminal complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Vermont. Reyes-Lopez and Velazquez-Gutierrez have been charged with attempting to transport illegal aliens in furtherance of their entry into the United States, a felony charge. Almonte-Lopez and Burke have been charged with being aliens who illegally entered the United States, a misdemeanor charge. On December 10, 2025, all the defendants appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Velazquez-Gutierrez and Almonte-Lopez be detained during the pendency of this matter. Judge Doyle ordered that Reyes-Lopez be released on conditions. Burke plead guilty to the charged offense immediately after his initial appearance. According to court records, Almonte-Lopez and Burke crossed into the United States from Canada late at night on December 8 near Franklin, Vermont with the assistance of two other unidentified people. Reyes-Lopez and Velazquez-Gutierrez were waiting in a car to pick up Almonte-Lopez and Burke. United States Border Patrol agents detected the crossing and took all the defendants into custody. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Reyes-Lopez, Velazquez-Gutierrez, and Almonte-Lopez are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. As mentioned above, Burke plead guilty the same day of his initial appearance, and received a sentence of time served. Reyes-Lopez and Velazquez-Gutierrez face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Almonte-Lopez faces up to 6 months in prison 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 the United States Border Patrol. The prosecutor is Special Assistant United States Attorney Charles W. Kirkham. Reyes-Lopez is represented by Devin T. McKnight, Esq. Velazquez-Gutierrez is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Charles N. Curlett, Jr. Almonte-Lopez is represented by Chandler W. Matson, Esq. Burke was represented by Karen R. Shingler, Esq. 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: Las Cruces Daycare Provider Pleads Guilty in Child Exploitation Case

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces daycare provider pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, Juan Jose Cardiel-Hernandez, Sr. , 80, admitted to possessing child pornography between January 2012, and December 2014. In April of 2024, police searched Cardiel’s residence after allegations that he sexually abused a minor. In search of his residence, police located child sexual abuse material. At the time Cardiel was arrested, he was operating a daycare out of his home. At sentencing, Cardiel faces two to eight years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Cardiel will be subject to no less than five years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Ryan G. McRae, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department and the U.S. Marshals. Assistant United States Attorneys Jackson K. Dering V and Mark Saltman is prosecuting the case as part of as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.


title: Head of Albuquerque Fentanyl Trafficking Organization Sentenced

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE - David Mendoza-Enriquez was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for leading a drug trafficking organization responsible for moving tens of thousands of fentanyl pills from Mexico into Albuquerque, along with alien smuggling and importing illegal wildlife. According to court records, from at least 2020 through January 2023, Mendoza , 42, a Mexican national illegally present in the United States, was the head of a fentanyl distribution network that transported large quantities of pills from Juarez across the U.S. border and onto Albuquerque streets. Beginning in 2020, law enforcement initiated an undercover investigation that resulted in multiple controlled purchases directly from Mendoza , including a 2022 transaction involving nearly 5,000 fentanyl pills at his restaurant, Taco-H. Mendoza coordinated additional multi-thousand-pill deals and handled drug proceeds. The investigation intensified in early 2023 following a shooting tied to Mendoza’s associates. During the response to that incident, officers discovered a live tiger cub concealed inside a trailer. The tiger cub, now named “Duke,” was transferred to the ABQ BioPark, and later to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado. Further investigation revealed that Mendoza had also conspired to import other exotic animals for profit and sought to expand his criminal operation into alien smuggling, arranging for his sons and other individuals to be transported from Mexico into the United States. On one occasion, he directed aliens to cross the border alongside an alligator, which had its mouth taped shut. Alligator with mouth taped shut Photo of Duke courtesy of the Wild Animal Sanctuary Photo of Duke courtesy of the Wild Animal Sanctuary Mendoza was charged along with 13 co-defendants in a 26-count superseding indictment returned in January 2024, alleging drug and firearms trafficking offenses. Mendoza later plead guilty to eight federal charges, including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, four counts of distribution of fentanyl, alien in possession of ammunition, conspiracy to smuggle aliens, and conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act for illegal wildlife trafficking. To date, 14 co-defendants have pled guilty and seven have been sentenced. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison, Omar Arellano, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, Ryan G. McRae, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso, and Doug Ault, Assistant Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, made the announcement today. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the Albuquerque Police Department, the Rio Rancho Police Department, the Pojoaque Pueblo Police Department, the Laguna Police Department, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hirsch prosecuted the case as 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.