title: Former Police Officer Sentenced To Three Years In Federal Prison For Gun Trafficking Offense

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Michael Adrian Nieto (31, St. Cloud) to three years in federal prison for dealing in firearms without a license. Nieto pleaded guilty on February 13, 2025. According to court documents, Nieto, a sworn law enforcement officer, repeatedly purchased and resold firearms. Among others, Nieto supplied firearms to Ernesto Vazquez, a key member of a criminal conspiracy that smuggled hundreds of firearms to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and Haiti. In addition, to benefit the conspiracy, Nieto used police databases to provide sensitive and confidential information to Vazquez. Between June 6, 2022, and September 4, 2024, Nieto purchased at least 58 firearms. Many of the firearms were identical and were purchased together or close in time to one another. On October 17, 2024, FBI and ATF agents executed a search warrant at Nieto’s residence, during which 12 firearms were still in Nieto’s possession. On October 17, 2024, Nieto was interviewed by FBI and ATF agents. He admitted to repeatedly buying and reselling guns to individuals, including Vazquez, despite knowing that Vazquez was transferring these guns to third parties, in violation of federal law. Nieto also admitted that Vazquez had provided him with illegal items, including a machinegun conversion device. Vazquez previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic firearms and was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman. 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: Texas Man Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years in Federal Prison for Dealing Meth

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Frio County man was sentenced in federal court to 235 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, Joe Corona, 34, sold a package containing 486 grams of pure methamphetamine for $2,850 on March 3, 2021. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and Frio County Sheriff’s Office deputies executed a search warrant at Corona’s residence on April 23, 2021, discovering 67.7 grams of pure methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a .38 caliber revolver, .38 special ammunition, and a box of .357 magnum ammunition. Further investigation revealed that Corona had worked for a drug trafficking organization, transporting methamphetamine from Mexico into the U.S., and was paid $1,500 per trip. Corona was originally arrested on state charges by the Texas Department of Public Safety on Sept. 28, 2021. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 20, 2021, and transferred into federal custody on Jan. 25, 2022. Corona pleaded guilty to a superseding information on May 9, 2025, and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jason K. Pulliam on Aug. 13. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Frio County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Spears prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: Baltimore Felon Convicted By Jury of Federal Drug Trafficking and Firearms Charges

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

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Today, a federal jury found Donte Williams, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland, guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the verdict with Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD). During the three-day trial, the United States presented evidence that, on September 28, 2022, Williams was sitting in the 500 block of Cumberland Street in Baltimore, Maryland. BPD officers approached Williams and spoke with him. As Williams walked away, officers observed a large quantity of suspected narcotics in his pocket. Law enforcement then arrested Williams, recovering approximately 72 gel caps containing fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl from his pocket, and an Arcus Model 98DA 9mm pistol, loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition from his waist band. He was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to numerous prior convictions, Williams also possessed approximately $820 in drug trafficking proceeds on him. After a subsequent search of his vehicle, law enforcement uncovered his identification and an additional 97 blue-and-white gel caps that matched the ones in his pocket which also contained fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl. Separately, the jury found Williams not guilty on two counts of alleged firearms possession in relation to a car stop on September 4, 2022. Williams is facing up to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum term of five years for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. The drug trafficking count is punishable by up to 20 years and the unlawful firearm and ammunition count is punishable up to 15 years. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, November 21, at 10 a.m. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 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. Attorneys Stanton Lawyer and Patricia McLane, who are prosecuting the federal case, and recognized Paralegal Specialist Alisha Swiger for her assistance and legal support. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Honduran National Sentenced to 18 Years In Prison for Role in International Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Honduran national was sentenced today to over 18 years in prison for participating in an international drug trafficking conspiracy. “Working with Belizean authorities, the Justice Department dismantled a major international drug trafficking operation before more than a ton of cocaine could be transported internationally,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Transnational criminal networks that move vast quantities of narcotics pose a direct threat to the safety and health of the American people. Through strong coordination with our foreign partners, we continue to attack the problem before narcotics cross our borders.” “This case is proof that there is no safe haven for those who poison our communities from abroad,” said Administrator Terrance Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “A ton of cocaine was stopped before it could ever reach our streets, and a key player in that operation will now spend years behind bars. DEA will continue to hunt down cartel operatives wherever they are — from remote airstrips to the highest levels of their networks — and we will bring them to justice.” According to court documents, Carlos Humberto Henriquez Gomez, 57, of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, was a member of a transnational drug trafficking organization that used a U.S.-registered aircraft to transport more than a ton of cocaine from Venezuela to Belize. Henriquez Gomez played a key role in planning and carrying out the operation. In 2018, he traveled to Belize to inspect a clandestine airstrip for suitability to land a narcotics-laden aircraft. In 2019, he returned to prepare the airstrip for arrival, then assisted in offloading the cocaine for transport within Belize. Authorities intercepted the aircraft and a vehicle carrying the narcotics, seizing more than 1,300 kilograms of cocaine. The DEA Orlando District Office investigated the case. The Belize Police Department’s Anti-Narcotics Unit and DEA Belize provided critical assistance. Henriquez Gomez’s capture and transfer to Washington, D.C., were made possible thanks to key coordination between U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. Trial Attorneys Douglas Meisel and Colleen King of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to 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: Career criminal sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for firearms violation

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas –A career criminal, with at least 10 felony convictions in Jefferson County, has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Kendrick Malbrough, 29, of Humble, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on August 14, 2025. According to information presented in court, on October 30, 2024, law enforcement officers observed a vehicle commit traffic violations and attempted to initiate a traffic stop at the intersection of Concord and Steelton in Beaumont. The driver, Malbrough, eventually exited the vehicle while it was still rolling and attempted to flee on foot, discarding a pistol in the process. During his arrest, Malbrough was found in possession of $1,990 cash and he had attempted to hide almost 5 grams of crack cocaine in a baggie in his mouth. Further investigation revealed Malbrough had at least 10 felony convictions in Jefferson County beginning in 2014. As a convicted felon, Malbrough is prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Quinn. ##


title: Huntington Man Sentenced for Role in COVID-19 Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – William Powell, 35, of Huntington, was sentenced today to six months on home detention, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $15,625 in restitution for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Powell admitted that he received $15,625 in proceeds from a criminally derived Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). According to court documents and statements made in court, co-defendant Kisha Sutton conspired with Powell and others to obtain fraudulent PPP loans. Sutton submitted a PPP loan application on Powell’s behalf on April 19, 2021, listing Powell as a sole proprietor hair stylist who received $75,000 in gross income in 2020. The application was filed with an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business, stating that Powell had earned $75,000 in 2020. As part of his guilty plea, Powell admitted that he never earned $75,000 as a hair stylist in one year. Powell further admitted that the IRS Form 1040 submitted with his application was fraudulent and created solely to obtain the PPP loan. A PPP lender in Florida approved Powell’s loan application. The $15,625 in proceeds from the fraudulent loan was deposited in Powell’s personal bank account on June 29 2021. Between July 6 and July 20, 2021, Powell transferred $2,000 to Sutton from the fraudulent PPP loan proceeds using a digital wallet application. Powell admitted that he spent the remainder of the fraudulent loan proceeds on personal expenses. The CARES Act made forgivable PPP loans available to qualifying sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to replace their normal income and for certain other expenses. Applicants were required to certify that they were in operation on February 15, 2020, and provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020. Powell and Sutton among several individuals indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging they and others conspired, as well as aided and abetted one another, to obtain fraudulent PPP loans totaling $140,625. Sutton, 44, of Jersey City, New Jersey, was found guilty on July 15, 2025, of aiding and abetting bank fraud and aiding and abetting laundering of monetary instruments by a federal jury following a two-day trial. Sutton is scheduled to be sentenced on November 13, 2025. The three remaining co-defendants pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Jennifer D. Gordon and former Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson prosecuted the case. 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 Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-192. ###


title: Latin Kings Gang Member Sentenced to 50 Months for Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Today, Jorge Olivares, a/k/a “Stomper,” age 23, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 50 months of imprisonment and 2 years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a felon, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “The defendant is a violent member of the Latin Kings who has repeatedly shot people and brought violence to our streets,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “Even after spilling blood, he armed himself again, showing utter disregard for the law. The people of Minnesota deserve safety—not shootouts. Whether it’s the Highs, the Lows, the Bloods, or the Latin Kings, at the federal level we will continue to use every tool we have to put violent gang members behind bars.” Jorge Olivares is a convicted violent felon and member of the Latin Kings street gang. In December 2023, amid high levels of violence in Minneapolis, Minneapolis Police officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. They found Oliveres asleep in the vehicle’s driver’s seat and saw a firearm—a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm semiautomatic pistol—on the car’s floorboard. The pistol was ready to fire, with a round loaded in the chamber and twelve rounds in the magazine, and was within easy reach of the defendant. Officers also found more than 6 grams of cocaine in the car. When he was arrested, Olivares was wearing a sweatshirt reflecting his ongoing affiliation with the Latin Kings. At sentencing, the government argued that Olivares’s unlawful possession of a firearm posed a considerable risk to the community in light of his extremely serious and violent criminal history. In 2018, Olivares was convicted of first-degree aggravated assault and first-degree aggravated robbery, after Olivares shot two victims and stole their car. In another incident recorded on video, Olivares carried out a drive-by shooting of a residence while yelling the gang slogan “King Love” and flashing a gang sign. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery told Olivares that it was “scary to look at the record and see the violence in your past,” noting that when she sees “a pattern of individuals that keep coming back” to court and the violence escalates, that “it doesn’t usually end well.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) with assistance from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), and the Richfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Green prosecuted the case.


title: Madison Man Sentenced to 33 Months for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Kory Washington, 21, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 33 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Washington pleaded guilty to this charge on June 5, 2025. On November 19, 2024, law enforcement in Madison attempted to arrest Washington because he had an outstanding warrant. Washington fled and during the chase, officers saw him throw a handgun. Officers ultimately apprehended Washington and recovered the handgun, which was a loaded 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P Shield. The handgun had previously been reported stolen in Illinois. Washington is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition because of prior felony convictions. At sentencing, Judge Peterson noted that despite his young age, Washington had already committed an unrelenting stream of crimes, and his criminal conduct was escalating as evidenced by his decision to arm himself in this case. Judge Peterson also cited Washington’s gang ties as a reason for concern, commenting that Washington was the seventh member of the same gang sentenced to federal prison. The charge against Washington was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of agents from ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case. Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Grayson County felon indicted for possessing machine gun

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Grayson County convicted felon has been charged with unlawfully possessing a machine gun in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Xavier Donnell Porter, 32, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition and possession of a machine gun. The indictment alleges that on December 5, 2024, Porter was found in possession of a machine gun. Further investigation revealed he is a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). If convicted, Porter faces up to 15 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chalana Oliver. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former DOJ Employee Who Hurled a Hoagie at a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Officer Charged With Assault

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Sean Charles Dunn, 37, was charged in a criminal complaint yesterday in U.S. District Court in connection with an alleged assault on a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer that included shouted verbal insults and a thrown wrapped sandwich, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Dunn, who had worked at the Department of Justice, was fired today by Attorney General Pam Bondi. He is charged with one felony count of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and employees of the United States. Dunn had his first appearance today before federal Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey and was released on his own recognizance. “If you touch any law enforcement officer, we will come after you,” said Attorney General Bondi in a post on the social media platform X. “I just learned that this defendant worked at the Department of Justice — NO LONGER. Not only is he FIRED, he has been charged with a felony. This is an example of the Deep State we have been up against for seven months as we work to refocus DOJ. You will NOT work in this administration while disrespecting our government and law enforcement.” “Let me be clear, if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, be certain we will come after you with the full weight of the law. Our officers have a job to do, and they should not be abused in the process,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “This alleged assault is no joke – it’s a serious crime, and those who think otherwise will learn just how gravely mistaken they are.” According to the charging documents, on Sunday, Aug. 10, at about 11 p.m., Metro Transit Police and members of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, were patrolling on the 2000 block of 14 th Street NW. Dunn allegedly approached one of the CPB officers, pointed his finger in the officer’s face, and shouted “F--- you! You f---ing fascists! Why are you here? I don’t want you in my city!” About 11:06 p.m., Dunn forcefully threw a sub-style sandwich at the CPB officer, striking him in the chest. An Instagram video recorded by an observer captured the incident. Dunn attempted to flee on foot but was apprehended. While being processed at Metropolitan Police Department’s Third District, Dunn told an officer, “I did it. I threw a sandwich.” This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. 25mj00138


title: Jury Convicts Man Who Threatened Violence on Yale Campus

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal jury in Bridgeport today found MANDEL BIDONE, 34, formerly of Bridgeport, guilty of mailing a threatening communication. According to the evidence presented during the trial, in April 2022, while he was incarcerated in state custody, Bidone filed a civil complaint in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut against “Yale New Haven Inc.” and other defendants alleging that he had undergone an illegal clinical trial administered by Yale University and, as a result, was seeking compensatory and punitive damages. In October 2022, Bidone’s complaint was dismissed as frivolous. In March 2023, Bidone mailed another civil complaint for money damages and other relief to the U.S. District Court’s Clerk’s Office in New Haven. The complaint, handwritten and separated between eight envelopes, contained many of the same allegations as in the first complaint, but included additional language at the top of the first page within each envelope some variation of the following: “If the District Court dismisses this case or looses (sic) any one of the pages of this complaint, Mandel Bidone will purchase an illegal firearm and discharge it on Yale’s campus aiming for the students and staff until his is gunned down.” During the investigation of this matter, the U.S. Marshals Service learned that Bidone sent letters to the City of New Haven, the New Haven Police Department, and a local news affiliate discussing his complaint and repeating his threat against Yale, its students, and faculty. The charge of mailing a threatening communication carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Bidone is detained pending sentencing, which is not scheduled. This investigation has been conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service, with the assistance of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Yale Police Department, and the New Haven Police Department.


title: Former Nashville Auto Dealer Convicted on Federal Fraud Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NASHVILLE – A federal jury convicted Mark Janbakhsh, 49, of Brentwood, Tennessee, of Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Bank Fraud, Making False Statements to a Bank, Bankruptcy Fraud, and Making a False Statement Under Oath announced Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Robert E. McGuire. “Our office will vigorously pursue dedicated fraudsters like the defendant who lie and cheat for their own gain, and we’re not afraid to make our case to a jury to hold them accountable for their crimes,” said Acting United States Attorney Robert E. McGuire. “I commend the prosecutors and the federal agents who spent years uncovering this scheme, bringing it to light, and achieving a just result for our community.” According to the evidence presented at trial, Janbakhsh was the chief executive officer and majority owner of a car dealership company named Auto Masters. Between approximately 2013 and 2017, Auto Masters had a line of credit with Capital One and First Tennessee Bank (now First Horizon Bank). According to the evidence, Janbakhsh conspired with his brother, Ron Janbakhsh, and others in the company to submit false documentation to Capital One to artificially inflate the value of the company’s collateral which would allow Janbakhsh to draw on lines of credit he was otherwise not entitled to take. During the course of the scheme, Auto Masters fraudulently obtained approximately $26.4 million that it was not entitled to receive. Once bank auditors began to investigate financial discrepancies in Auto Masters’ submissions, the evidence showed that Janbakhsh directed company employees to delete data, emails, and other company information that would have shown his fraudulent dealings. Auto Masters declared bankruptcy in 2017 and, according to the evidence at trial, Janbakhsh lied about the fraud while under oath during the bankruptcy proceedings. Jurors heard evidence that, once Janbakhsh learned that federal agents who were investigating the fraud were attempting to speak with co-conspirators, he offered one co-conspirator over $300,000 if the person would leave the jurisdiction in order to thwart the investigation. Janbakhsh will be sentenced later this year. At sentencing, Janbakhsh faces a maximum term of incarceration of 30 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. At sentencing, Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw, Jr. will also consider ordering forfeiture of Janbakhsh’s property. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn R. Booth and J. Christopher Suedekum prosecuted the case. # # # # #


title: Two Fayette County Men Plead Guilty to Federal Gun Crimes

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, Lesley Scott Watkins, 50, and Jawuan Akil Watts, 31, both of Oak Hill, each pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 5, 2024, Watkins possessed an HS Product model XD-S .45-caliber pistol and a Sig Sauer model P220 45-caliber pistol in Fayette County. On July 6, 2024, Watts possessed a Heritage Manufacturing model Rough Rider .22-caliber revolver and a Colt model Peacemaker .22-caliber revolver in Fayette County. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Watkins knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance in Fayette County Circuit Court on September 24, 2008. Watts knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for burglary in Raleigh County Circuit Court on July 11, 2014. Watts and Watkins are scheduled to be sentenced on December 4, 2025. Each faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oak Hill Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Boggess and D. Keith Randolph are prosecuting the cases. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (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). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:25-cr-92 (Watkins) and 2:25-cr-93 (Watts). ###


title: El Dorado man sentenced for child pornography distribution

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 126 months in prison for distributing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM). According to court documents, David M. Follett, 38, of El Dorado pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of child pornography. On multiple occasions Follett used his computer to share child pornography with other users on a peer-to-peer filesharing network. Among the recipients was an agent from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). While executing a search warrant at Follett’s home, agents found evidence of child pornography activities on Follett’s laptop. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart prosecuted the case. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Massachusetts Man Who Threatened to Kill Members of Jewish Community and Bomb Synagogues Sentenced to Prison

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Millis, Mass. man was sentenced today for threatening to kill members of the Jewish community and bomb Jewish synagogues. John Reardon, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to 26 months prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Reardon was also ordered to pay $1,260 in restitution to the victims. In November 2024 , pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force in relation to an Attleboro synagogue; one count of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure a person in relation to a Sharon synagogue; and one count of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce in relation to the Israeli Consulate in Boston. “Our office will aggressively prosecute anyone who seeks to terrorize our religious communities. All Americans have the right to worship freely and without fear – it is a founding principle of our nation. Jewish people, in particular, have been targeted and persecuted for centuries, and in recent years we have seen a deeply troubling rise in antisemitic threats and violence. Let me be clear: we will not tolerate such conduct – not against the Jewish community, nor against any faith community. Such vile, hate-driven acts will be met with serious and swift consequences, and we will use every tool we have to hold offenders accountable,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “What John Reardon did is despicable. Spurred by deep-rooted hate, he relentlessly threatened violent, physical harm to members of the Jewish community in greater Boston, spanning two congregations in two different cities, as well as the Israeli consulate,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “This sentence holds him accountable for his insidious crimes and should be a warning to others: the FBI takes all threats to life seriously and so should anyone thinking about making one. Don’t.” Reardon was initially arrested and charged in January 2024 for calling and threatening two synagogues in Massachusetts and their congregates – the Agudas Achim Synagogue in Attleboro, Mass. and the Congregation Etz Chaim in Sharon, Mass. Reardon’s threats to the synagogues included threats to bomb Jewish houses of worship, as well as threats to kill all Jewish people and stomp Jewish babies dead into the ground, among other violent and antisemitic statements. Reardon also stated, “Time to prepare the furnaces again. I hope that you people are wiped off the face of the earth.” Following his arrest, law enforcement learned that, between Oct. 7, 2023 and Jan. 29, 2024, Reardon called the Israeli Consulate in Boston 98 times and made harassing and intimidating statements. Specifically, in his phone calls to the Israeli Consulate, Reardon made a number of antisemitic comments laced with expletives that included: “You are maggots, you are scum, you are below animals, you Israelis”; “You f*****g k***s. You stupid mother f*****g killing kids….F**k you Jewland”; and “Death to Israel, wipe the Jews.” After Reardon pled guilty to federal charges in November 2024, he was released on conditions despite the government’s objections and motion to detain him pending sentencing. Then, according to court filings, Reardon violated the conditions of his pre-sentence release. Specifically, on or about Feb. 5, 2025 and Feb. 12, 2025, Reardon allegedly called and threatened to harm an employee of RightSpace Self Storage in Upton, Mass. Reardon allegedly told the employee he was going to “f**k him up” and threatened to blow up the facility. State charges for these alleged crimes remain pending. Reardon also allegedly contacted the storage facility again after being instructed by the probation office not to do so. U.S. Attorney Foley and FBI SAC Docks made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Attleboro, Upton and Wrentham Police Departments; Massachusetts State Police; Bristol County District Attorney’s Office; and Bristol County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit prosecuted the case.


title: West Memphis Resident to Spend 10 Years in Prison Following Second Federal Felon in Possession of Firearms Conviction

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—A second federal firearm conviction has resulted in Christopher Grays spending the next 120 months in prison. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the 10-year sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. A federal grand jury indicted Grays, 25, of West Memphis, on June 6, 2024, on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Grays pleaded guilty to the charge on February 4, 2025. Judge Moody also imposed three years of supervised release to follow the prison sentence, which was a significant upward variance from the recommended sentencing range. There is no parole in the federal system. Judge Moody previously sentenced Grays to 46 months’ imprisonment on November 16, 2020, in Grays’ first federal case, again for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Grays was released from federal prison on that sentence on October 4, 2023. He was then arrested in the present case while in possession of two firearms on February 28, 2024, while still on federal supervised release. On February 28, 2024, according to testimony disclosed at today’s sentencing hearing, West Memphis Police received a call about a female being held against her will and a subject, identified as Grays, being in possession of multiple guns in a West Memphis hotel room. When officers arrived at the hotel room, they encountered Grays at the door and saw an extended ammunition magazine in his back pocket. Grays kicked multiple police officers while they attempted to take him into custody. After Grays was detained, officers located two firearms in the toilet tank of the hotel bathroom, including one which was loaded with the same ammunition that was in the magazine in Grays’ pocket. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Moody heard details from numerous police reports describing alleged gun violence that involved Grays, which began when he was a juvenile. In a five-year span from 2015-2020, Grays was mentioned in more than 17 police reports, with most detailing violent conduct. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the West Memphis Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens prosecuted the case. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Guatemalan national, illegally living in Collin County, indicted for unlawfully returning to the United States

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Guatemalan national, illegally living in Collin County, has been charged with unlawfully returning to the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Anibal Gonzalez-Corado, 54, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. The indictment alleges that on February 1, 2025, Gonzalez-Corado was found in the Eastern District of Texas after having been previously deported. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). If convicted, Gonzalez-Corado faces up to 2 years in federal prison and deportation. This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chalana Oliver. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Mexican national, illegally living in Collin County, indicted for unlawfully returning to the United States

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Mexican national, illegally living in Collin County, has been charged with unlawfully returning to the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Vicente Marquez-Gonzales, 49, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. The indictment alleges that on June 3, 2025, Marquez-Gonzales was found in the Eastern District of Texas after having been previously deported. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). If convicted, Marquez-Gonzales faces up to 2 years in federal prison and deportation. This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chalana Oliver. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Statement on civil rights review of death of Manuel Ellis

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: A team of experienced federal prosecutors conducted an independent and comprehensive review of the record in the criminal jury trial of State of Washington v. Tacoma Police Department Officers Burbank, Collins, and Rankine , concerning Manuel Ellis’s death on March 3, 2020. The review focused on the application of 18 U.S.C. § 242, a federal criminal civil rights statute that prohibits certain types of official misconduct. After a careful and thorough review, the Department of Justice has closed its inquiry.


title: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 110 Months Imprisonment  For Illegal Firearms Possession

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A St. Louis, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court for his illegal possession of firearm by a convicted felon. Michael Lamont Miller, Sr., 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool to 110 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Harpool also ordered that the federal sentence would be served consecutive, or after, Miller completed his state sentences on unrelated matter. On Feb. 4, 2025, Miller pleaded guilty to a single count indictment, charging him with illegally possessing a firearm on March 30, 2022. Miller, a nine-time convicted felon, was contacted by Christian County, Missouri, after being stopped for a traffic infraction. When asked if there was anything illegal in his vehicle, Miller admitted that law enforcement would find a firearm within his vehicle. Law enforcement discovered a Springfield-Armory XDS, 9mm semi-automatic firearm. Officers observed that firearm was loaded with a full magazine and a round was in the chamber. Officers also located illegal substances in close proximity to the firearm. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who is convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Branson, Missouri, Police Department, the Christian County, Missouri, Sheriff’s Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: District Woman Pleads Guilty to Assault for Spitting on Former Interim U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and Two Deputy United States Marshals

body_text: WASHINGTON – Emily Gabriella Sommer, 32, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty today to three counts of assaulting a government official, in connection with a May 8 incident during which she spit on former U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. and with her May 22 arrest during which she spit and kicked one Deputy United States Marshal and kicked another, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb scheduled sentencing for Oct. 10, 2025. "I want to congratulate U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro, and her trial prosecutors Josh Gold and Jake Green, for the professional and respectful manner they handled this case and bringing it to a successful conclusion," said U.S. Pardon Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. who also serves as Director of the Weaponization Working Group for the Department of Justice. According to court documents, on May 8, 2025, at about 3:30 p.m., then-Interim U.S. Attorney Martin was conducting an on-camera interview in front of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the 600 block of D Street NW. During the interview, Sommer approached Martin and stated words to the effect of, “Who in the f-- are you?” Martin turned to face Sommer. Sommer then said, “Are you Ed Martin? You are. Ed Martin.” Sommer lunged at Martin and spit on his shoulder. Sommer then walked eastbound on D Street Northwest and yelled, “You are a disgusting man. F--- you, Ed Martin. My name is Emily Gabriella Sommer, and you are served.” Law enforcement identified an X account with username @EmilyGabriellaS and display name “Lefttits” as likely belonging to Sommer. On the evening of May 8, 2025, that account made several posts related to the incident. On May 22, 2025, as Deputy U.S. Marshals placed Sommer under arrest she spit on one Deputy U.S. Marshal and kicked him a short time later. She also kicked a separate Deputy U.S. Marshal. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Green and Joshua Gold. 25cr0164


title: Davis Picnic Day Shooter Indicted for Being Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Joseph Allen Davis, 19, of Sacramento, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, police officers began investigating Joseph Allen Davis after determining that he was a shooter at the April 12, 2025, shooting at Rainbow City Park in Davis, where three people were injured by gunfire. Law enforcement officers conducted a search of Joseph Allen Davis’s apartment and seized a short-barrel AR-15-style pistol. Davis is prohibited from possessing any firearms and ammunition because he has previously been convicted of a felony gun possession offense. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Davis Police Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office, and the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura are prosecuting the case. If convicted, Davis faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood. 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 U.S. Department of Justice 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: Guatemalan Man Sentenced for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Nelson Moran, age 31, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced yesterday to 24 months in prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement. As part of his prior guilty plea, Moran admitted that on July 31, 2024, his co-conspirator asked him to deliver a package to another individual in Saratoga Springs, New York. Moran agreed and delivered the package—which, as he knew, contained over 200 grams of methamphetamine—before he was arrested. The delivery took place near the Saratoga Race Course, where Moran worked. United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed a 1-year term of supervised release to begin after Moran is released from prison. Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated, “Nelson Moran was permitted to enter this country so that he could work an honest job, and he abused that opportunity by conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. He will now be going to federal prison, and will then be deported and forever barred from lawfully re-entering the United States. With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to identify, arrest and prosecute these dangerous and despicable drug peddlers.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III stated, “This case underscores the DEA’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking operations that threaten the safety of our communities. By intercepting this shipment of methamphetamine, we have removed a significant quantity of a dangerous drug from our streets and sent a clear message: those who seek to profit from poisoning our neighborhoods will be met with decisive action.” The DEA and Saratoga Springs Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikayla Espinosa prosecuted the case.


title: Syracuse Man Arrested for Filing False Bankruptcy Petitions Against Local Law Enforcement Official, Judges, and Non-Profit Organization

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Robert Johnson, age 41, of Syracuse, New York, was charged with making false declarations in a bankruptcy case, bankruptcy fraud, and falsification of bankruptcy records for filing false bankruptcy petitions in Michigan, Mississippi, Iowa, Florida, New York, Montana, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement. A criminal complaint alleges that between June 2025 to July 2025 Johnson filed multiple false bankruptcy petitions alleging that a law enforcement official was a commodity broker who engaged in white collar crimes and wire fraud and owed Johnson $99,999,999; an Onondaga County State Court Judge was a stockbroker who engaged in fraud and a commodity broker who engaged in white collar crimes and wire fraud, and owed Johnson $99,999,999 in debts; and a Cayuga County Supreme Court Judge was a stockbroker engaged in Ponzi schemes and owed Johnson $99,999,999 in debts. Further, the complaint alleges that Johnson filed a bankruptcy petition in West Virginia that claimed that a non-profit organization, headquartered in Syracuse, New York, had environmental and health hazards, money laundering, and Ponzi schemes associated with it. According to the complaint, each of the bankruptcy petitions were mailed in Syracuse, New York. The FBI investigated and found the claims in Johnson’s bankruptcy petitions to be false. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III said: “Johnson, as alleged, filed bogus petitions in nine states against respected public officials, and a reputable non-profit organization. These false petitions wreak havoc on the victims; it is a form of financial terrorism. As Mr. Johnson’s arrest will attest, we will not stand for this conduct in the Northern District of New York. I want to commend the FBI agents who conducted this investigation and were able to apprehend the defendant in record time.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli said: “The impact of Mr. Johnson’s alleged fraud was incredibly damaging to the individuals and the non-profit he targeted. Once our office was notified of the alleged crimes, we investigated and swiftly arrested Johnson, who is now facing federal charges for his reckless schemes. The FBI will continue to aggressively investigate criminals looking to defraud our communities.” The charges filed against Johnson carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Johnson appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge, Mark W. Pederson, and was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Brown is prosecuting the case.


title: Gang Member Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: BOISE – Tobias Leary, 44, of Caldwell, was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine and unlawfully possessing a firearm, Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott announced today. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Leary to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. According to court records, Leary, a known gang member, was distributing methamphetamine out of his property. In July of 2024, the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force (METRO) executed a search warrant at Leary’s property and located methamphetamine, fentanyl, and several firearms. At sentencing Judge Brailsford noted the dangerous combination of guns, drugs, and gangs. Leary has an extensive criminal history to include a prior federal felony for unlawful possession of a firearm. “For twenty years, the Metro Task Force has successfully dismantled gangs, removing dangerous criminals, along with their drugs and firearms, from our streets,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott. “This is yet another example of their outstanding work to protect the Treasure Valley from the violence, drug trafficking, and lawlessness committed by gang members.” “When drugs, gangs, and illegal firearms intersect, the results can be destructive and deadly,” said Special Agent in Charge Mehtab Syed of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Mr. Leary's sentence is indicative of the success achieved when law enforcement pools expertise and resources. For 20 years, the Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crime Task Force has been relentlessly pursing those who threaten our community’s safety.” Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey A. Manweiler prosecuted the case. The Treasure Valley Metro Violent Crimes Task Force is comprised of federal, state, and local agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; United States Postal Inspector Services; Caldwell Police Department; Canyon County Sheriff’s Office; and Idaho Department of Correction. This case was prosecuted by the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney hired by the Treasure Valley Partnership and the State of Idaho to address gang crimes. The Treasure Valley Partnership is comprised of a group of elected officials in southwest Idaho dedicated to regional coordination, cooperation, and collaboration on creating coherent regional growth. For more information, visit www.treasurevalleypartners.org . ###


title: Manteca Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition

body_text: Mario Gonzalez, 43, of Manteca, was sentenced on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb to 12 years in prison for being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on Dec. 17, 2019, law enforcement officers responded to a misconduct call from Gonzalez, reporting the improper towing of his truck. Before arriving on scene, officers learned that Gonzalez had an active felony warrant for his arrest. Once at the scene, officers took Gonzalez into custody. During an inventory search of Gonzalez’ truck prior to towing it, officers found a loaded revolver with additional rounds of ammunition in a toolbox in the truck. Gonzalez is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because of multiple prior felony convictions for domestic violence and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manteca Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Two Convicted Felons Charged With Federal Firearms Violations in Connection With Brooklyn Gunfight

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, a criminal complaint was filed charging Edynesson Bauduy and Aaron Richard with federal firearms violations relating to an August 12, 2025 gunfight in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn. Both defendants were arrested and Richard made his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Seth D. Eichenholtz. Richard was ordered detained pending trial. Bauduy will be arraigned at a later date. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD) announced the arrests and charges. “As alleged, these defendants are convicted felons who engaged in a dangerous gunfight on a busy Brooklyn street in broad daylight, endangering the lives of numerous citizens,” said United States Attorney Nocella. “Both defendants had been released from prison earlier this year. Despite repeated encounters with our criminal justice system, each defendant chose to return to the streets to engage in brazen acts of violence. Today’s arrests demonstrate our continued commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to combat gun violence and hold accountable those who illegally possess firearms and endanger our communities.” Mr. Nocella thanked the U.S. Marshals Service Regional Fugitive Task Force for their valuable assistance on the case. "Edynesson Bauduy and Aaron Richard allegedly engaged in a public gunfight despite their previous criminal convictions barring them from possessing firearms. These convicted felons allegedly continued to wreak havoc in our community and posed an unnecessary threat to innocent bystanders. These successful Operation Summer Heat arrests emphasizes the FBI’s steadfast commitment to collaborating with our law enforcement partners to crush all violent crime disrupting the safety of our city," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. As alleged in the criminal complaint, on August 12, 2025, at approximately 7:25 p.m., NYPD officers on patrol in the 70th Precinct heard gunshots and immediately responded near 533 Ocean Avenue in Flatbush, Brooklyn. When officers arrived, they observed a gunfight in progress between Bauduy and Richard. Police recovered a firearm that had been used by Bauduy and shell casings from where Richard fired his weapon. Both defendants have prior felony convictions that prohibit them from possessing firearms or ammunition. Richard was released from prison in April of this year; Bauduy was released from prison in June. The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 15 years in prison. 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. As part of the program, U.S. Attorney’s Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Brachah Goykadosh and Matthew Sullivan are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants: EDYNESSON BAUDUY Age: 22 Brooklyn, New York AARON RICHARD Age: 35 Brooklyn, New York bauduy_and_richard_complaint.pdf E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-248


title: Chinese National Sentenced to More than Two Years in Federal Prison for Laundering Approximately $3.5 Million Stolen from Fraud Victims

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Chinese national was sentenced today to 28 months in federal prison for laundering approximately $3.5 million in money stolen from victims of investment scams as part of so-called “pig butchering” schemes, including opening bank accounts used to launder the money and picking up packages of bulk cash sent by fraud victims. Li Liu, 27, a.k.a. “Qiunan Li” and “Xiaoying Zhao,” of the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando M. Olguin. She pleaded guilty on June 4 to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. “Pig butchering” fraud schemes (a term derived from a foreign-language phrase used to describe these crimes) consist of scammers encountering victims on dating services or social media, or via unsolicited messages or calls, often masquerading as a wrong number. Scammers initiate relationships with victims and slowly gain their trust, eventually introducing the idea of making a business investment. Victims are then directed to other members of the scheme operating fraudulent investment platforms and applications, where victims are persuaded to transfer money for the purpose of financial investments. Once funds are sent to scammer-controlled accounts, the purported investment platform often falsely shows significant gains on the purported investment, and the victims are thus induced to send more money for additional investments. Ultimately, the victims are unable recover their money, often resulting in significant losses for the victims. In September 2024, Liu – using a fake passport under the alias “Xia Ran” and other documents – opened a bank account for a sham company named Ocean X Trading Ltd Inc. and had access to the account until April 2025. Multiple investment scam victims wired their money to this account. During October 2024 alone, Liu transferred $83,461 out of this bank account to a Hong Kong-based company called Alamo Tech Ltd. As part of the conspiracy, Liu and her co-conspirators also used fake IDs – including passports and California driver’s licenses – to open accounts at mail receiving facilities and pick up package of bulk currency sent by wire fraud victims. For example, in March 2025, Liu – using a fake passport with the name “Qiunan Li” along with other documents for a business called Sunny South Trading Inc. – opened an account at a shipping company located in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. During two days in April 2025, six packages containing bulk cash – were received at this location. Liu picked up, opened, and photographed the packages’ content then consolidated the money and sent it to co-defendant Shaui Lyu, 28, of Koreatown, and other co-conspirators. Lyu possessed on his cellphone approximately 46 images of bulk currency, many of which Liu sent to him. Law enforcement estimated that the bulk currency in the images totaled approximately $3.5 million of laundered money. Finally, the conspiracy used couriers to deliver bulk cash from fraud victims. In March 2025, Liu was involved with someone transporting from Dallas to Los Angeles more than $200,000 in bulk currency of wire fraud victims. The co-conspirators also used an image of a serialized U.S. dollar bill for each courier pick up of currency, with the courier and the victim each showing the same serialized dollar bill to confirm the courier’s identity at pick up. In April 2025, Lyu on his cellphone, possessed more than 100 images of serialized dollar bills, each representing a different pick up of bulk cash. Liu admitted in her plea agreement that she received payment for laundering the fraudulently obtained money. Law enforcement searching Liu’s residence found $104,000 in cash from fraud victims that had not yet been sent to other co-conspirators. Law enforcement also recovered 27 packages that Liu and Lyu had not picked up from mail receiving facilities, which were found to contain about $285,000 in cash and $87,000 in gold bars. Lyu – who is an illegal alien from China – also pleaded guilty on June 4 to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and will face up to 20 years in federal prison at his September 4 sentencing hearing. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Erik M. Silber of the Post-Conviction and Special Litigation Section prosecuted this case.


title: Three men arrested for their roles in international drug trafficking ring involving pharmaceuticals

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Leeladhar H. Tandel, 44, of Mobile, AL, Barry M. Wright, 55, of Marietta, GA, and Jesus Andon, 56, of St. Louis, MO, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who is handling the case, stated that according to the criminal complaint, the Buffalo Office of the DEA has been investigating online websites, including “MEDDZONLINE.COM,” which sell counterfeit pharmaceutical and controlled substances. The website has listed for sale medications such as Percocet, Adderall, Alprazolam, and Oxycodone. MEDDZONLINE.COM and related websites are believed to be part of a larger organized drug trafficking organization, operating domestically and internationally. After orders are received, the organization sends a bulk shipment of drugs via international mail, to a U.S. based bulk re-shipper, which are then sent to domestic re-shippers who are responsible for shipping out the individual orders via USPS to customers. These domestic re-shippers are paid by the drug trafficking organization for each package they mail out to customers. In February 2024, the DEA began investigating a non-fatal overdose in the Silver Creek, NY, area, of a victim who purchased drugs five separate times from the MEDDZONLINE.COM website, including Valium, Ambien, and Tapentadol. Payment was made to an individual in Pakistan. This exchange shows the flow of money back to the head of the drug trafficking organization overseas in Pakistan, even though the website advertises the drugs as originating in the USA and shipping within the USA. Subsequently, investigators conducted several controlled purchases through the websites operated by the head of the drug trafficking organization. One of the controlled purchases identified defendant Tandel as a co-conspirator operating in the Mobile, Alabama, area. Law enforcement believes he is a distributor of illegal controlled substances and/or counterfeit substances through the United States Postal Service. He is believed to have mailed at least 40 packages from Summerdale, Alabama, to locations across the country, including Buffalo. During the investigation, law enforcement also conducted undercover purchases from defendant Wright in Georgia. Wright is also accused of shipping packages across the country, mailing out a total of 333 parcels containing a variety of Schedule II and Schedule IV drugs. Defendant Andon is accused of shipping 41 packages of Ambien pills from St. Louis, Missouri to an individual identified as C.B. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division. Additional assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Offices in St. Louis, MO, Atlanta, GA, and Mobile, AL. If members of the public have purchased substances from any of the following websites, they should not ingest the substances and contact law enforcement: MEDDZONLINE.COM PHARMACYSTOREONLINE.COM MEDSHEALTHONLINE.COM PHARMACYHUBONLINE.COM PHARMACYMEDSONLINE.COM The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. # # # #


title: Canadian resident arrested at border with 109 kilograms of cocaine

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Vishavpal Singh, 31, a citizen of India residing in Canada, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, and a fine of $10,000,000. “This seizure represents one of the largest ever at international border crossings in the Western District of New York,” stated U.S. Attorney DiGiacomo. “The investigative efforts of our law enforcement partners is a very important step in preventing this vast amount of illegal narcotics from ending up on the streets of our community, and those attempting to smuggle this cocaine into our neighborhoods will be held accountable.” HSI Buffalo Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan stated, “As alleged, Vishavpal Singh brazenly transported hundreds of pounds of cocaine through multiple states and into New York, where his cross-country trip was abruptly halted. with the assistance of eagle-eyed federal agents and officers, an investigation into Singh’s tractor trailer uncovered 108 kilos of cocaine inside boxes comingled within a large shipment of fabric softener. this arrest underscores the indispensable value of law enforcement collaboration, and i commend both CBP buffalo and HSI buffalo along with our partners across the country for their quick thinking and coordinated efforts.” Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Richard Antoine, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, Singh was associated with a previous seizure of approximately 228 kilograms of cocaine in July 2025, at the Detroit Ambassador Bridge Port of Entry. An individual, identified as Pawanjit Gill, was arrested after bulk quantities of cocaine were found during an inspection of his outbound traveling commercial vehicle. Subsequent investigation determined that earlier that day, Gill met with Singh at a nearby travel center. HSI Port Huron alerted HSI Buffalo Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) that Singh was traveling within the United States. On the afternoon of August 13, 2025, Customs and Border Protection and HSI Buffalo BEST conducted an outbound inspection on Singh, who was operating a commercial tractor, at the Peace Bridge Port of Entry. During the inspection, CBP officers discovered boxes containing approximately 109 kilograms of suspected cocaine. Singh was taken into custody. Singh made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and is being held pending a detention hearing on August 19, 2025. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The complaint is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan, and Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy. Additional assistance was provided by HSI Port Huron. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. # # # #


title: Iuka Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: OXFORD, MS – An Iuka, Mississippi man was sentenced today to over 8 years in prison for possessing child sexual abuse materials. According to court documents, Sydney Briggs, 29, was uploading child pornography on a popular mobile application since October of 2023. Briggs was utilizing sophisticated computer software to avoid detection by officials. The investigation revealed over 19,000 images and videos, many of them involving infants and toddlers, were saved on his electronic devices. In addition to 97 months in prison, Briggs was also sentenced to 5 years of supervised release and will have to register as a sex offender after release from prison. Judge Michael P. Mills awarded $28,000 to eight (8) victims who sought restitution for Briggs’ actions. “There is no excuse, justification or mitigation for Briggs’s crimes, which are not victimless - he downloaded and kept thousands of absolutely horrific images of helpless children being violently sexually abused, and he should be in prison for as long as it is possible to put him there,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “I cannot say enough about the continuing collaboration by the FBI, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and AUSA Parker King that is daily taking the fight to those who want to harm our children.” “I am grateful to our partners at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their work with our Cyber Crime investigators to secure this sentence,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “Together, we were able to successfully stop a predator from doing more harm. But our most important partner is the concerned citizen who reports suspected abuse. If you suspect it, report it. Your tip can be the key to a successful prosecution like this one.” “Behind the 19,000 images and videos are real children who were robbed of their innocence. Protecting children and holding vile predators, like Sydney Briggs, accountable are at the top of the FBI’s priorities for crushing violent crime,” stated Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. “The FBI's Jackson Field Office and the MS Attorney General's Office will continue to work shoulder to shoulder in our tireless pursuit to unmask and prosecute predators who believe ultramodern technology can shield their evil deeds from justice.” The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: LaPorte Man Sentenced to 228 Months in Prison

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Ron Deming, 38 years old, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after a jury convicted him of one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney M. Scott Proctor. Deming was sentenced to 228 months in prison, 10 years of supervised release, ordered to pay $148,500 in restitution to the victims of the offense and a $25 assessment to the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. According to documents in the case, Deming possessed over 30,000 still images and over 400 videos depicting child sexual abuse material. “Each of those many images and videos shows a child suffering horrific abuse,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Proctor. “And each time one of those images or videos is received or possessed, the child in it is victimized yet again. As this case shows, this Office and its law-enforcement partners will never cease in our efforts to bring to justice those who victimize children in this manner.” This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Indiana State Police and the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah T Jones and Katelan McKenzie Doyle. 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 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: Marshalltown Woman Sentenced to Six Months in Federal Prison for Drug Diversion and False Statements in Medical Records

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A Marshalltown woman was sentenced to six months in prison on August 14, 2025, for diverting controlled substances for her own use and falsely noting the administration of controlled substances in patient records. According to public court documents, Amanda Nicole Manatt, 37, was employed as a registered nurse in the emergency room at Unity Point Marshalltown Hospital, Marshalltown, Iowa, where in 2023 she diverted controlled substances (fentanyl, hydromorphone, and morphine). She obtained controlled substances in patients’ names, documented them as administered to the patients, and then took them for her own use. In December 2023, Manatt’s employment ended at Unity Point Marshalltown Hospital. In January 2024, Manatt obtained employment as a nurse at the emergency room at Mary Greely Medical Center, where she again obtained controlled substances (hydromorphone) in patients’ names, recorded them as administered to the patients, and then took them for her own use until her employment ended in April 2024. Court records reflect that in some cases patients experienced pain due to Manatt’s taking the controlled substances prescribed for them. In other cases, Manatt took controlled substances from patients in excess of what they needed. Manatt’s false statements in the medical records resulted in billing health care benefit programs for controlled substances not actually administered. After completing her term of imprisonment, Manatt will be required to serve a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Manatt was also ordered to pay $5,258.20 in restitution, a $5,500 fine, and a $300 special assessment. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa Insurance Fraud Bureau investigated this case.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to a Total 44 Years for Murder and Possessing a Firearm as an Illegal Alien

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Mexican national was sentenced today to 34 years in prison for murder, which occurred on the Natchez Trace Parkway, after being sentenced previously to 10 years in prison for possessing a firearm as an illegal alien. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 23, 2018, Cristian Mitchel Mondragon Gonzales, 30, while unlawfully in the United States, had an altercation with the victim following a party at a residence where they both lived. The victim left the residence and Mondragon Gonzales sought after him and found him. He convinced the victim to go for a ride with him. He then drove the victim to a location on the Natchez Trace Parkway where they both got out of the car. Mondragon Gonzales shot the unarmed victim multiple times. After shooting the victim, Mondragon Gonzales took the victim’s identification. The victim was discovered the following morning by an individual walking along a trail on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Despite the victim having no identification, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Ridgeland Police Department were able to identify the victim and, within 24 hours, locate and identify Mondragon Gonzales as the shooter. On October 1, 2019, Mondragon Gonzales pled guilty in federal court to possessing a firearm as an illegal alien, and on August 25, 2020, he was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison. On November 14, 2024, Mondragon Gonzales pled guilty in federal court to second-degree murder and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime—murder, and on August 14, 2025, he was sentenced to an additional 34 years in prison which will be served consecutively to the sentence imposed in 2020. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office, made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Natchez Trace Parkway Police, and the Ridgeland Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Fentanyl Smuggler and Dealer Sentenced to Over Three Decades in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Waterloo man who smuggled fentanyl into the United States and distributed it in the Waterloo area was sentenced today to 37 years in federal prison. Javoni Marcelius Butler, also known as “G Man,” age 44, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 20, 2024 jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, one count of international money laundering, and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Evidence at trial and sentencing showed that, beginning in at least January 2022, and continuing until December 20, 2023, Butler traveled to Mexico on several occasions to acquire fentanyl pills and fentanyl powder. In total, Butler obtained over 10,000 fentanyl pills and a significant quantity of fentanyl powder from his source of supply in Mexico, which Butler smuggled into the United States and brought to the Waterloo area. During that time, Butler possessed firearms, and he made credible threats of violence towards others, including threatening to kill his son over a drug‑related dispute. Butler also directed the drug‑related activities of multiple individuals, including his girlfriend. On March 14, 2023, Butler’s friend asked Butler for additional fentanyl pills, and Butler directed the friend to Butler’s residence to obtain the pills as Butler was out of town. Butler’s friend told Butler that he just kept “popping” the fentanyl pills, and Butler warned the friend that the pills were dangerous. The next day, Butler’s friend was found dead from a fentanyl‑related overdose, which was caused by the fentanyl pills that Butler’s friend acquired from Butler. On May 9, 2023, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on Butler as Butler had an active warrant for his arrest. During the traffic stop, officers searched Butler’s vehicle and seized a backpack that contained almost $60,000. On December 20, 2023, law enforcement officers searched Butler’s residence and another residence that Butler utilized as a “stash” house. Officer seized over 40 grams of fentanyl powder, a fentanyl pill, and a firearm. Around the time of the searches, officers intercepted phone calls made by Butler to others, including his girlfriend and his sister. During those calls, Butler stated that he was “going to jail,” expressed regret that he didn’t stop selling fentanyl earlier, and discussed fleeing to either Mexico or Belize to avoid prosecution. Butler was arrested by law enforcement in the Southern District of Texas on December 21, 2023. Butler was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Butler was sentenced to 444 months’ imprisonment, and he must also serve a five‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Butler is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Hudson, and it was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department; the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the United States Postal Inspection Service; and Homeland Security Investigations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23‑CR‑02078‑CJW. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Former Gustavus Adolphus College Professor  Who Embezzled $670,000 Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – James Anthony Kroger, 46, pled guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge Donovan W. Frank to one count of wire fraud, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “This defendant was a professor and an attorney—someone entrusted to teach and uphold the law. Instead, Kroger betrayed that trust, embezzled more than $670,000, and blew it on a lifestyle of self-indulgence,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “In Minnesota, titles and credentials won’t shield you from federal prosecution. If you choose greed over integrity, you will face justice.” Between 2019 and 2021, James Kroger, an attorney and, at the time of his indictment, a tax and accounting professor at Gustavus Adolphus College, embezzled over $670,000 from Lone Star Municipal Finance Company, LLC, a real estate joint venture in which he was a partner. To carry out the scheme, Kroger convinced his partner to invest approximately $840,000 into Lone Star to purchase distressed properties in Texas. Kroger managed the day-to-day operations of Lone Star. Kroeger used his position of trust to embezzle most of the invested funds, through transfers into his own personal bank account under the guise of “loans” from the company. Kroger spent the money he embezzled on extravagant personal purchases. These purchases included large cash withdrawals, purchases of gold and silver bullion, checks to family members, paying off loans against insurance policies, and retail and travel purchases from Amazon, eBay, Apple, Delta, and other vendors. Sentencing is set for December 1, 2025, before Judge Frank. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also thanks the Department of Justice’s United States Trustee Program (USTP) for their important assistance and partnership in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs and Rebecca E. Kline are prosecuting the case.


title: Moss Point Man Sentenced in Bank Robbery

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mississippi man was sentenced today to 37 months in prison for Bank Robbery. According to court documents, Joseph Deric Nelson, 67, of Moss Point disguised himself and entered a Family Security Credit Union branch located in Mobile, Alabama, on March 19, 2025. Nelson passed the teller a note demanding money. The note stated that he was armed with a gun and explosives. The teller placed cash into an envelope and gave it to Nelson. As Nelson was leaving the location, a witness from the bank followed him on foot and then followed his vehicle. The witness was able to flag down Mobile Police Department Officers who quickly took Nelson into custody. After serving 37 months in the Bureau of Prisons, Nelson will be on a supervised release term of three years. U.S. Attorney Sean Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation along with Mobile Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tandice Blackwood prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Evergreen Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon

body_text: MOBILE, AL – An Evergreen man was sentenced to 46 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. According to court documents, Cornelius Antoine Dean, 34, was arrested by Alabama State Troopers during a traffic stop in Evergreen on July 11, 2023. Troopers smelled marijuana emanating from a vehicle in which Dean was a passenger. During a pat-down search of Dean, Troopers located and seized a .45 caliber pistol in his waistband. In the backseat of the vehicle, within reaching distance of Dean, agents found a bag containing multiple individually packaged baggies of marijuana and a digital scale near Dean’s Alabama identification card. In an interview following his arrest, Dean admitted that he possessed the .45 caliber pistol and had previously been convicted of a felony drug-distribution crime. Dean’s prior felony conviction made his possession of the pistol illegal under federal law. Dean admitted that he knew he was not supposed to possess a firearm. In addition to the 46-month prison sentence, United States District Judge Terry F. Moorer ordered Dean to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge Moorer ordered Dean to pay $100 in special assessments and forfeited Dean’s pistol to the United States. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Denver Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Large-Scale Drug Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in Rapid City Area and within the Pine Ridge Reservation

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Denver, Colorado, woman, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on August 8, 2025. Shelina Martinez, 34, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Martinez was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2024 for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. She pleaded guilty on May 21, 2025. Between January 2022 and February 2024, Martinez was part of a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota, including in the Rapid City area and within the Pine Ridge Reservation. During the conspiracy, large quantities of methamphetamine were transported from Denver, Colorado, to South Dakota, and Martinez assisted on occasion with the transportation of those drugs. This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Wyoming State Highway Patrol, and the North Metro Denver Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Martinez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.