title: Former Physician Who Ran Calabasas Clinic Sentenced to 2 ½ Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Ketamine to Actor Matthew Perry

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former physician from Santa Monica was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison for repeatedly selling vials of ketamine to actor and author Matthew Perry despite knowing Perry’s well-documented history of drug addiction and that Perry’s personal assistant was administering the drug without medical training or supervision. Salvador Plasencia, 44, a.k.a. “Dr. P,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, who also fined him $5,600 and ordered him immediately remanded to federal custody. Plasencia pleaded guilty on July 23 to four counts of distribution of ketamine. He surrendered his California medical license in September 2025. Plasencia was a physician who owned and operated a Calabasas-based urgent-care clinic called Malibu Canyon Urgent Care LLC. As a medical doctor, Plasencia knew that ketamine was a controlled substance and an anesthetic that is used to treat – without the approval of the United States Food and Drug Administration – depression and other psychiatric conditions. At all relevant times, Plasencia knew about potential risks associated with ketamine, including sedation, psychiatric events, abuse and misuse by patients, among others. As his treatment notes reflected, Plasencia also believed that patients “should be monitored by [a] physician when undergoing treatment as a safety Measure,” according to court documents. On September 30, 2023, Plasencia was introduced to Perry by one of his own patients who stated that Perry was a “high profile person” who was seeking ketamine and was willing to pay “cash and lots of thousands” for ketamine treatment, according to Plasencia’s plea agreement. “Rather than do what was best for Mr. Perry – someone who had struggled with addiction for most of his life – [Plasencia] sought to exploit Perry’s medical vulnerability for profit,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Indeed, the day [Plasencia] met Perry he made his profit motive known, telling a co-conspirator: ‘I wonder how much this moron will pay’ and ‘let’s find out.’” The same day Plasencia met Perry, he contacted Mark Chavez, 55, then a licensed San Diego physician. Plasencia that day drove to Costa Mesa and purchased from Chavez $795 in ketamine vials and tablets, syringes, and gloves. Plasencia then drove to Perry’s home in Los Angeles, injected Perry with ketamine, and left at least one vial of ketamine to Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, of Toluca Lake, Perry’s personal assistant. Iwamasa paid Plasencia $4,500. During the following weeks, Plasencia again purchased ketamine from Chavez and administered the drug to Perry multiple times at Perry’s home and once in a Long Beach parking lot while in the backseat of Perry’s vehicle. During one ketamine treatment at Perry’s home, Perry’s blood pressure spiked causing him to freeze up. Notwithstanding Perry’s reaction, Plasencia left additional vials of ketamine with Iwamasa, knowing that Iwamasa would inject the ketamine into the victim. From September 30, 2023, to October 12, 2023, Plasencia distributed 20 vials and multiple tablets of ketamine and syringes to Iwamasa and Perry, knowing that his conduct fell below the proper standard of medical care and that the ketamine transfers were not for a legitimate medical purpose. As prosecutors argued in their sentencing memorandum, Plasencia charged a total of $57,000 for these efforts, even though the going price of ketamine was only approximately $15 per vial. Plasencia later placed an order for 10 vials of ketamine through a licensed pharmaceutical company using his Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) license. After receiving the ketamine, on October 27, 2023, he sent the following text message to Iwamasa: “I know you mentioned taking a break. I have been stocking up on the meanwhile. I am not sure when you guys plan to resume but in case its when im out of town this weekend I have left supplies with a nurse of mine ...I can always let her know the plan.” Perry fatally overdosed on ketamine the following day. Plasencia did not provide the ketamine that caused his death. After Perry’s overdose and in response to a subpoena issued by the DEA to Plasencia, Plasencia falsified purported treatment notes and an invoice for Perry, which prosecutors argued were designed to cover up that he had been illegally selling vials of ketamine to Iwamasa. Among other things, Plasencia provided fraudulent notes that claimed on October 7, 2023, Perry was “scheduled to meet for a treatment session but was not present,” when, in fact, as Plasencia knew, the only person he was schedule to meet on that day was Iwamasa, at midnight, at a public street corner outside of a bar in Santa Monica, to sell Iwamasa vials of ketamine, to be administered to Perry without any health care professional present. Chavez and Iwamasa pleaded guilty last year to federal drug charges and are scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2025, and January 14, 2026, respectively. Two other defendants charged in connection with Perry’s death – Erik Fleming, 56, of Hawthorne, and Jasveen Sangha, 42, a.k.a. “Ketamine Queen,” of North Hollywood, also pleaded guilty to federal drug charges and await sentencing on January 7, 2026, and February 25, 2026, respectively. The Los Angeles Police Department, the DEA, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian V. Yanniello of the National Security Division and Haoxiaohan H. Cai of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case.


title: Man Who Targeted Metro Air Support Helicopter with Laser Sentenced to Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a man who temporarily blinded Metro Air Support pilots with a laser pointer last year to 21 months in prison. Evidence and testimony at the July trial of Joshua J. Johnson showed that shortly before 9:45 p.m. on August 9, 2024, Johnson used a blue Class IV laser to target a marked Metro Air Support helicopter that was flying over the Benton Park neighborhood in St. Louis in support of other officers. A St. Louis County Police Department pilot and a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department pilot were temporarily blinded when the blue light flooded the cockpit. As the laser light started to wane, officers tracked the beam to a vehicle below them and tracked the vehicle as it drove down the street. The driver aimed the laser at the helicopter again. The officers continued to track the vehicle and provided updates to officers on the ground, who stopped the vehicle and arrested the sole occupant – Johnson. After initially denying that he pointed the laser, he later told officers that he was responsible. He also admitted that fact in calls from jail. Jurors the trial of Johnson, now 44, of Warrenton, Missouri, convicted him of one felony count of knowingly aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. “This is dangerous conduct,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Mohsen Pasha said at Wednesday’s sentencing hearing. The strongest consumer model lasers can permanently blind air crews. In addition to criminal penalties, anyone who points a laser at an aircraft can also be subject to civil penalties of up to $11,000 imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration. "Pointing a laser at an aircraft can have catastrophic consequences, including the potential for fatal accidents if pilots are temporarily blinded. This is not a harmless prank," said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. "The act is not difficult to trace, and in this case, it took mere minutes for the jury to convict Joshua J. Johnson." The case was investigated by the FBI, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Metro Air Support Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mohsen Pasha and Derek Wiseman prosecuted the case.


title: Texas Man Charged with Conspiracy to Obtain Controlled Substances by Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Louisiana returned an indictment today charging a Texas man with a scheme to obtain controlled substances from multiple pharmacies using fraudulent prescriptions and then sell those drugs on the street. According to court documents, Darrion Denard Brooks, 28, of Houston, and co-conspirators, used fictitious identification information to obtain fraudulent prescriptions for controlled substances on behalf of patients who either did not exist or for whom medical providers did not authorize the prescriptions. As alleged in the indictment, from November 2023 through March 2025, Brooks and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained controlled substances from pharmacies in the Baton Rouge area and elsewhere using prescriptions obtained using the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration numbers and other identifying information of at least five medical professionals without their authority. It is alleged that through this scheme, Brooks and his co-conspirators obtained at least 11 fraudulent prescriptions for codeine and other controlled substances from at least eight different pharmacies in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Brooks is charged with one count of conspiracy to acquire and obtain controlled substances by fraud and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and four counts of obtaining possession of controlled substances by fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison per count. A federal judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall for the Middle District of Louisiana; Assistant Administrator Cheri Oz of the DEA Diversion Control Division; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. DEA and HHS-OIG are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Zakeria A. Haidary of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen L. Craig for the Middle District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,800 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $30 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Dorchester County Felon Sentenced for Illegally Possessing Gun During a Summerville Shootout

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

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Gordon “Rudy” Connell, 28, of Summerville, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Connell has numerous felony convictions, including for illegally possessing firearms (including sawed off shotguns), theft, and violent assaults. Since Connell turned 18, he has been arrested on 53 warrants in 20 incidents with 24 convictions. He was on probation at the time of this crime. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Connell was arrested in Laurens County on Sept. 9, 2023, for stealing a motorcycle. After the arrest, he sold his motorcycle to Timothy Lattimer to raise money for bond. When Connell posted bond and was released from jail, he demanded that Lattimer return the motorcycle. Lattimer refused. Days later on Sept. 15, Connell stole the motorcycle back from Lattimer’s yard. That night, Lattimer drove to where Connell was staying and saw him working on the motorcycle. Surveillance videos recovered from the residence by Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office detectives showed that Lattimer drove down the driveway where Connell approached him in his car. Both exchanged threats and Lattimer drove off and returned later with a firearm. Connell, who was again working on the motorcycle, approached Lattimer, who had begun backing away toward the street. Connell pulled out a gun from his waistband and pointed the gun at Lattimer. The two exchanged gun fire, and Connell ran from the scene. One of Lattimer’s shots hit another person in the yard, severely injuring her. Detectives recovered spent shell casings from the crime scene. Lattimer was arrested and a 9mm pistol was recovered. Lattimer was convicted and is currently incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Arrest warrants were also issued for Connell. On Sept. 18, 2023, Connell was spotted by Dorchester County Sheriff’s deputies riding a white motorcycle and attempted to arrest him. Connell fled. Deputies found the white motorcycle in a ditch behind a business with a loaded 9mm handgun strapped to the handlebar. Connell was found hiding inside the business and was arrested. “Career criminals, like Connell, propel violence into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Law enforcement is working together at every level to identify, investigate and prosecute offenders who continue to break the law and put others in danger. Thank you to our partners at ATF and Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office for seeing this investigation through.” “Repeat offenders often become bolder criminals and bigger threats to the community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “This case illustrates that fact. ATF is dedicated to working closely with the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and all our law enforcement partners to lessen community violence by taking habitual criminals off our streets. This always increases public safety in our neighborhoods.” “This case shows how local and federal partners have been working closely together to protect the people of Dorchester County,” said Dorchester County Sheriff Sam Richardson. “This was a dangerous, relentless offender, and our streets are safer with him serving a federal sentence. Connell is well known to police, and his criminal record speaks for itself. We are grateful to ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their commitment to justice and accountability on behalf of our citizens.” United States District David C. Norton sentenced Connell to 120 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin This case is also 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Sex Abuse Material

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced that RUDOLPH GIRDHARI, 36, of Norwalk, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Hartford federal court to possession of child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2012, Girdhari was convicted in state court of possession of child pornography in the second degree, and was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, execution suspended after two years, and 20 years of probation. In 2022 and 2023, an FBI investigation of individuals trading child sex abuse images and videos on Wickr, an encrypted communication service, determined that an email address connected to Girdhari was being used to access two child pornography trading networks on Wickr. On May 2, 2024, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Girdhari’s residence and seized numerous electronic devices including phones, tablets, computers, hard drives, and thumb drives. Analysis of the seized devices revealed more than 2,000 images and videos of child sex abuse. Girdhari has been detained since May 16, 2024, when he was arrested for violating his state probation. Sentencing is scheduled for February 27, 2026, at which time Girdhari faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The penalties in this matter are enhanced based on Girdhari’s prior conviction for possession of child pornography. This matter is being investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Office of Adult Probation and the Norwalk Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Herkimer County Felon Sentenced to 88 Months for Possessing and Intending to Distribute Cocaine and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Michael Austin, age 47, of Frankfort, New York, was sentenced today to 88 months’ imprisonment for possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing two firearms as a felon. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Bryan DiGirolamo, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement. As part of his prior guilty plea, Austin admitted that between April 2024 and August 2024, he sold approximately 13 ounces of cocaine to one customer over the course of 7 transactions, and on August 15, 2024, he possessed an additional 78 grams of cocaine at his residence, which he intended to distribute to others. Austin further admitted that on July 26, 2024, he illicitly sold two handguns to that same customer despite having been convicted in federal court of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base in 2010. He was sentenced to 67 months’ imprisonment for that offense. Acting U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated: “Michael Austin didn’t learn his lesson after already spending years in federal prison. He continued to endanger the residents of Herkimer County by illegally peddling drugs and firearms. Today’s sentence sends the message to him and other would-be traffickers of drugs and firearms that the U.S. Attorney’s Office will relentlessly pursue dangerous criminals to keep our communities safe.” Special Agent in Charge DiGirolamo said: “Illegal firearms in the hands of convicted felons, combined with drug trafficking, create a cycle of danger that threatens every layer of our community. ATF and our law enforcement partners remain committed to stopping that cycle of violence. This sentencing reflects the power of collaboration—ATF NY Syracuse Field Office, DEA, New York State Police, the U.S. Attorney’s Office NDNY and the New Hartford Police Department working together to safeguard our communities.” Senior U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Scullin, Jr. also imposed a 6-year term of post-release supervision. ATF investigated the case, with assistance from DEA, NYSP Special Investigations Unit-Marcy, and the New Hartford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn . ###


title: Mexican National Sentenced for Illegally Reentering the United States

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has been sentenced for illegally reentering the United States. Andres G. Angel-Martinez, 25, pleaded guilty to illegal reentry by a previously removed alien and was sentenced to time served by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Dec. 3, 2025. Angel-Martinez has been in custody since March 2025. He is being held on an active immigration detainer and will soon be deported to Mexico. According to information presented in court, on April 15, 2025, Angel-Martinez was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Cass County, Missouri Jail after being previously removed from the United States on November 11, 2019. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. It was investigated by ICE, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: CEO of Fresno-based Health Care Company Arrested at San Francisco Airport for an Alleged $7 Million Scheme to Defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: The CEO of a Fresno-based home health care company was arrested at San Francisco International Airport while attempting to board a flight to Nigeria. He is charged in a criminal complaint alleging that he fraudulently obtained more than $7 million in payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs for services that were never actually rendered, including care purportedly rendered to veterans weeks after they had died, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, between December 2019 and July 2024, Cashmir Chinedu Luke, believed to be 66, of Antioch, operated Four Corners Health LLC. That entity provided unskilled in-home nursing and day-to-day care for elderly VA beneficiaries under the Veterans Community Care Program. Four Corners provided services in Fresno, Tulare, Merced, Mariposa, Madera, San Francisco, and Contra Costa Counties. Luke engaged in a five-year scheme to bill the VA for hours of care that were not actually rendered to veterans. Luke caused Four Corners to submit approximately 10,000 individual false claims of care provided that caused the VA, through its third-party benefits administrator, to reimburse Four Corners $7 million for duplicate claims for care actually provided, claims for days caretakers were not present with veterans, claims for hours of care beyond those actually worked by caretakers, and claims of care for veterans who were actually dead. Luke served as the sole owner and billing representative for Four Corners and actively deceived the VA’s third-party benefits administrator as it attempted to recover some of the fraudulently paid reimbursements. This allowed the Four Corners billing scheme to continue. Luke personally profited from the scheme as the sole owner of the bank account that received the reimbursement payments. Luke spent reimbursement payments immediately after being paid by the VA, either by spending lavishly on personal expenses or by promptly transferring the funds across a network of bank accounts throughout Asia and Africa. This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Calvin Lee is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Luke faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 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.


title: Armed repeat illegal alien handed five-year prison sentence for human smuggling and firearms charges

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 38-year-old Mexican national has been sentenced for his part in a human smuggling event that occurred earlier this year, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Alejandro Ramirez-Carranza, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, pleaded guilty May 8, to transporting and bringing an alien into the United States as well as illegal reentry and being an alien in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera has now imposed a 60-month term of imprisonment. Not a U.S. citizen, Ramirez-Carranza is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. At the hearing, the court enhanced his sentence for organizing the smuggling event, brandishing a firearm and creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Mexican citizen Issac Azuara-Vasquez, 40, entered a plea April 10 to the same smuggling-related charges and to selling a firearm to Ramirez-Carranza. He was previously sentenced to 54 months. He could also lose his status as a lawful permanent resident and face removal proceedings. He also received sentencing enhancements for brandishing a firearm and for recklessly creating a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person. On Feb. 12, authorities were conducting surveillance in an area of the border known for its high volume of alien, drug and weapon smuggling. There, agents heard a boat crossing Rio Grande from Mexico. After hearing an individual in Spanish telling people to run, law enforcement saw a truck Azuara-Vasquez was driving heading toward the river. The truck stopped by the river’s edge, and several individuals ran from the brush and climbed into the truck bed. Ramirez-Carranza, who was standing near the pickup, retrieved an AR-15-type rifle from the vehicle and began to run towards the rear of the truck bed, ignoring multiple commands to stop and drop the weapon. The investigation ultimately revealed Ramirez-Carranza was a river guide and had conspired with Azuara-Vasquez to transport and smuggle the aliens apprehended in the truck bed. One smuggled person indicated Ramirez-Carranza brought him across the Rio Grande River by boat and that his relatives were paying for him to be brought into the United States. Ramirez-Carranza has felony convictions for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and illegal reentry after deportation. He was last removed from the United States in September 2009. Both have been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation with the assistance of the FBI and the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Castro 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.


title: Alleged Drug Dealer Charged for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Crimes in the District of Utah

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –A Salt Lake County man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for drug and firearm crimes after he allegedly attempted to sell fentanyl pills during a controlled buy in Murray, Utah. Richard Daniel Garcia, 36, of, Murray, Utah, was charged by complaint on November 19, 2025. According to court documents, on November 17, 2025, agents assigned to the DEA Metro Narcotics Task Force (MNTF) and Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) conducted an operation involving the controlled purchase of fentanyl pills. During the controlled purchase, after confirming the sale of fentanyl, agents arrested Garcia. Agents seized a Springfield Hellcast 9mm handgun and 1,032 grams of fentanyl. The weight of the fentanyl pills possessed by Garcia was approximately 10,000 individual pills. Garcia is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. His initial appearance on the indictment is December 4, 2025, at 1:15 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the DEA Metro Narcotics Task Force (MNTF) and Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). Special Assistant United States Attorney Alex Westenskow of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The case was investigated by agents and officers of the HSTF Salt Lake and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Georgia Businessman Sentenced in International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Georgia businessman was sentenced yesterday to eight years in prison for his role in a nearly five-year long scheme to bribe Honduran government officials and to launder money to secure business for a Georgia-based manufacturer of law enforcement uniforms and accessories. He was also ordered to forfeit over $2 million. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Carl Alan Zaglin, 70, of Marietta, Georgia, agreed to pay bribes to Honduran officials in order to obtain and retain business with Comité Técnico del Fideicomiso para la Administración del Fondo de Protección y Seguridad Poblacional (TASA), a Honduran governmental entity that procured goods for the Honduran National Police. “Bribery is theft from the public,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “This defendant tried to buy influence, rig contracts, and corrupt a foreign government for his own gain. Today’s sentence makes clear that when you bribe public officials, anywhere in the world, you answer for it in an American courtroom.” The trial evidence showed that, between March 2015 and November 2019, Zaglin, the owner and CEO of Atlanco LLC (Atlanco), orchestrated the payment of hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to Honduran officials — including former TASA Executive Director Francisco Roberto Cosenza Centeno and former TASA Titular Director Juan Ramon Molina — in order to secure contracts with TASA worth more than $10 million. The bribes were paid through Aldo Nestor Marchena, a third-party intermediary then residing in Boca Raton, Florida, who received $2.5 million in payments of sham invoices authorized by Zaglin. In exchange for the bribes, Cosenza and other Honduran government officials assisted Zaglin, Marchena, and others in obtaining contracts for the sale of uniforms and other goods for the Honduran National Police and securing payment on the contracts. Zaglin was convicted after trial in September 2025. Marchena, Cosenza, and Molina all previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Marchena was sentenced to 84 months in prison for his role in the scheme in November 2025. Cosenza and Molina are awaiting sentencing. The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and authorities in Belize, Colombia, and Spain provided assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Peter L. Cooch and Clayton P. Solomon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act (FEPA) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA and FEPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa . ###


title: Jury convicts illegal alien who distributed cocaine and machine guns from home

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 32-year-old Mexican national who unlawfully resided in Laredo has been convicted of unlawful possession of a machine gun and drug trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The jury deliberated for approximately two hours and 30 minutes before returning the guilty verdicts on all 12 counts as charged against Carlos Alberto Garcia-Guajardo following a less than three-day trial. The jury heard that Garcia-Guajardo and Fernando Patino Jr., also an illegal alien, sold firearms and cocaine out of a residential home in Laredo. The firearms included several machine guns. Testimony revealed details of the undercover operation which began with the sale of a pistol. At that time, Garcia-Guajardo had indicated he and Patino could also offer drugs for sale. On Jan. 2, Patino and Garcia-Guajardo sold the first of two machine guns - a model 22 Glock equipped with a conversion device. In the following weeks, they arranged additional sales involving cocaine and other firearms. In total, Patino and Garcia-Guajardo sold 10 firearms. The jury heard the pair used the sale of cocaine and firearms to negotiate future deals. Testimony revealed that during one transaction, they told a buyer that “because you are paying full price on the snow, we will cut you a deal on the Glock.” Evidence also showed Garcia-Guajardo and Patino not only sold firearms but fired them indiscriminately in their neighborhood and conducted extensive drug trafficking. On Jan. 31, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the 3000 block of Monterrey Street in Laredo. At that time, they found Garcia-Guajardo along with Jose Guadalupe Hernandez-Garza, a 26-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, as well as scales, cash in various denominations, multiple firearms and crack cocaine stored near items belonging to young children. Garcia-Guajardo had been ordered removed from the United States on two occasions, most recently in July 2024. As an illegal alien, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law. Visting U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle presided over trial and has set sentencing for March 5. Garcia-Guajardo faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years and up to life in federal prison. He could also be ordered to pay a $250,000 maximum fine. Patino, 33, pleaded guilty prior to trial and is pending sentencing. Both Patino and Garcia-Guajardo have been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Hernandez-Garza admitted to being an alien illegally in possession of a firearm and ammunition and has been ordered to prison. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Laredo Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Anti-Gang Unit – Laredo Center and Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Tory R. Sailer and Brandon Scott Bowling are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Wausau Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Christopher Harter, 49, Wausau, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Comley to 7 years in federal prison for possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to distribute. This prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Harter also pleaded guilty to this charge yesterday. In February 2025, investigators with the Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force identified Harter as a heroin dealer in the Wausau, Wisconsin, area. Investigators also determined that Harter frequently traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to purchase heroin that he would then sell in the Wausau area. On March 7, 2025, investigators stopped a car in which Harter was a passenger as it returned to Wausau from Milwaukee. Investigators located 80.3 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture in Harter’s pocket. Investigators executed a search of Harter’s apartment on the same day. There, investigators located more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, a drug ledger, a digital scale, and drug paraphernalia. At sentencing, Judge Conley noted Harter’s long-standing history of selling drugs and prior convictions for drug related conduct. Judge Conley also noted that Harter continued to degrade his community by selling drugs. The charges against Harter were the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted this case. Federal criminal cases involving narcotics 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: Texas man pleads guilty to trafficking bald and golden eagles

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA - A Texas man accused of trafficking eagles admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. The defendant, John Patrick Butler, 71, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, two counts of unlawful trafficking of bald and golden eagles, and one count of purchasing eagles and eagle parts that had been killed illegally, in violation of the Lacey Act. Butler faces up to 5 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. U.S. District Court Judge Dana L. Christensen will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for April 7, 2026. Butler was released with conditions pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that law enforcement uncovered messages from co-defendant Travis John Branson and others describing the illegal taking of eagles by stating, “[O]ut [here] committing felonies,” and telling buyers he was “on a killing spree” to obtain eagle tail feathers for future sales. Co-defendant Simon Paul, Branson, and others, hunted and killed eagles on the Flathead Indian Reservation and elsewhere. In total, approximately 3,600 birds were killed, including eagles. They then illegally sold the eagles on the black market for significant sums of cash across the United States and elsewhere. The killing of eagles is fueled by individuals willing to purchase the eagles on the black market. Butler was one of those purchasers and he requested the killing of specific types of eagles. For example, Butler inquired of Branson, “Did u ever see any crispy ones yet?” Butler would then purchase eagles from co-defendants by transferring money to through PayPal and other forms of online payment. In return, the co-defendants sent the eagles, including their parts, through the mail from Montana to Humble, Texas, where Butler resides. Postal records and text messages confirm Butler received the eagles, hawks, and their parts. From November 2020 until March 2021, Butler purchased eagles shot in Montana and elsewhere, including: On December 14, 2020, Butler paid Branson $450 through PayPal for two tail feather sets—a golden eagle tail set and a bald eagle tail set. On December 17, 2020, Branson sent a text message to Butler with a photo of a golden eagle tail set. On the same date, Butler paid Branson $300 through a PayPal purchase for the golden eagle tail set. On December 28, 2020, Butler sent Branson $750 for the purchase of two golden eagle tails. Branson mailed the package filled with the two golden eagle tails through the United States Postal Service and Butler confirmed he received the package on January 4, 2021. On January 7, 2021, Butler purchased two golden eagle tail sets from Branson. On the same date, Butler sent Branson $900. On March 1, 2021, Butler purchased two golden eagle sets from Branson after Branson sent pictures of the tail sets to Butler. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Tanner and Ryan Weldon prosecuted the case. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act was enacted in 1940 to protect the bald eagle, recognizing that the bald eagle is not merely a bird of biological interest, but this country’s national symbol, which reflects America’s ideals of freedom. In 1962, Congress extended the Act to also protect golden eagles. XXX


title: 19 Arrested in Four Countries Related to Visa Fraud, Racketeering, Money Laundering and Related Charges

body_text: 19 individuals were arrested today in the United States, Colombia, Ecuador, and El Salvador in connection with racketeering, money laundering and visa fraud charges. Five of the arrestees are charged in a U.S. indictment for participation in a four-year transnational visa fraud, racketeering, and money-laundering scheme that defrauded thousands of Central and South American nationals seeking to work lawfully in the United States. Victims were defrauded of over $2.5M dollars. The U.S. defendants face charges of racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and conspiracy to defraud the United States by impersonating U.S. officials and misusing and counterfeiting the seals and insignia of U.S. departments and agencies. One of the U.S. charged defendants was arrested in Sacramento, California, and one was arrested in the Dallas area. The remaining three U.S. defendants were arrested in Medellin, Colombia. The defendant arrested in Sacramento, California, made his initial appearance in court today; the other will see a judge tomorrow. The three defendants arrested in Colombia will be the subject of extradition proceedings. One indicted defendant in Colombia remains at large. Other individuals arrested in this international law enforcement operation were arrested in Ecuador and El Salvador and will likely face separate charges in those countries. “These defendants are charged with masquerading as United States officials in order to fraudulently enrich themselves at the expense of victims seeking to lawfully travel to the United States,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The defendants are alleged to have deployed their scheme to steal tens of thousands of dollars from hundreds of victims. The Criminal Division will aggressively pursue schemes that undermine immigration laws and erode confidence in government processes.” “The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is committed to protecting the integrity of U.S. travel documents and investigating those who seek to exploit the visa and passport process,” said Chief Joseph Jung of the DSS Overseas Criminal Investigations Division. “This operation demonstrates the strength of our international law enforcement partnerships and our resolve to hold fraudsters accountable. DSS is proud to have supported this coordinated effort, which has resulted in arrests across four countries and the disruption of a transnational visa and financial fraud scheme affecting victims throughout Latin and South America.” “HSI and our federal partners have successfully dismantled a sophisticated international multi-million-dollar immigration fraud scheme that not only spanned multiple countries, but also preyed on thousands of migrants seeking to enter the United States the right way,” said Assistant Director for International Operations Ricardo Mayoral of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “Our mission is to restore integrity to our nation’s immigration system after years of abuse and neglect. HSI and our federal partners will not rest until this scourge is finally put to rest.” “U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Investigations Office of Inspector General (USAID/OIG) works in close coordination with our law enforcement counterparts to aggressively disrupt criminal activity across the globe to ensure significant consequences for defrauding the United States.” said Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Zachary Baumgart for the USAID/OIG. Victims were deceived into believing that they were participating in a legitimate visa-application process though Facebook pages and other websites fraudulently advertising assistance in obtaining supposedly legal work-visas for the United States. Instead, victims were guided through an elaborate, fake process during which co-conspirators called “asesores” (consultants) pretended to help with the application process and made false representations during calls and electronic communications about jobs that were available or offered. These aseores worked out of illegal call centers in Colombia. As part of the fraud, defendants and other co-conspirators impersonated U.S. government officials in video calls and induced victims to make international wire transfers supposedly to pay required U.S. fees to intermediaries in at least 16 states. Victims were shown counterfeit documents, such as fake visa approvals and employment authorizations that included counterfeit replicas of U.S. department and agency seals. The money bilked from victims was laundered as money made its way from the intermediaries in the U.S. to enterprise leaders, it typically changed hands at least twice; often more frequently. Believing that they had actual appointments at U.S. Embassies in their home countries to obtain a valid U.S. visa, unwittingly victims would report to U.S. embassies in those countries for appointments that did not exist. In fact, no legitimate visas or services of any kind were rendered to victims. Some victims traveled long distances to non-existent appointments at U.S. Embassies. Law enforcement has interviewed approximately 700 victims to date and there is evidence that over 7000 additional victims were drawn into the fraud scheme. Reported victim losses range from approximately $50 to $90,000 per person. Between approximately 2021 and the present, enterprise members have been responsible for approximately $2.5 million sent from victims in up to 15 countries to the United States in relation to this scheme. U.S. Defendants The six defendants indicted on Oct. 1, 2025, in the Southern District of Florida are as follows: Edwin Alberto Correa-David supervised approximately eight call center offices in Medellin, including deciding which fraudulent websites to use, how much to charge victims, and which U.S. fund-recipients to use as intermediaries. Andres Giraldo-Ospina, another leader in Medellin, was responsible for the creation of multiple fraudulent websites and provided technical assistance to call centers when websites did not work properly. Over time, he also took charge of an additional group of call centers beyond those overseen by Correa. Danna Pamela Porras-Marin managed one Medellin call center and provided broad-ranging administrative support for other call centers. She also obtained and designed websites used in the fraud. Esteban Robledo-Correa started as a U.S. intermediary and recruited and managed other intermediaries to receive funds from victims and then moved the funds onward. After returning to Colombia, he helped manage call centers in Medellin. Robledo-Correa remains a fugitive. Julian Giraldo-Ospina, who was arrested in Sacramento, California, oversaw a group of intermediaries laundering money in the Sacramento, California area and partnered with his brother, Andres Giraldo-Ospina, in leading a Medellin-based center. Viviana Urrego-Rojas, who was arrested in Denton, Texas, coordinated intermediaries to receive money from victims and then relayed the funds back to Colombia. Additional Arrests in Colombia, El Salvador and Ecuador The U.S. and Colombian arrests were part of a coordinated law enforcement campaign in four countries. In Colombia, the Colombian National Police’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations–Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit and the Colombian Attorney General’s Office conducted the arrests as well as searches of three call centers. In El Salvador, an investigation by the National Police and Office of the Attorney General, resulted in the arrest of six people in this and other visa-fraud schemes. The Ecuadorian National Police’s Anti-Human Trafficking and Smuggling Unit (UNAT), in coordination with the Ecuadorian Prosecutor General’s Office for Guayas Province conducted coordinated operations in five cities throughout the country, resulting in the arrest of eight people and raids of two locations. These individuals were responsible for the Ecuador-based operations of the racketeering and money-laundering scheme. * * * The indictment is the result of a law enforcement investigation conducted with multiple agencies, including USAID/OIG; DSS, United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including HSI, Citizenship and Immigration Service, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Customs and Border Protection. Significant assistance was provided by the Colombian National Police’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations – Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit, the Colombian Attorney General’s Office, the Salvadoran National Police, the Salvadoran Attorney’s General Office, the Ecuadorian National Police, and the Ecuadorian Prosecutor General’s Office for Guayas Province. Trial Attorneys Amy L. Schwartz, Grace Bowen, and Kelly Pearson, of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, are prosecuting the case. Substantial assistance was provided by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia and the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Southern District of Florida, the Eastern District of California, and the Eastern District of Texas. Anyone who believes he or she has been a victim of this fraud and has not already been in contact with law enforcement, can email FakeVisaVictim@state.gov to submit a report. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law


title: Andrew Norris Zack Sentenced for his Role in the Murder of Rosenda Strong

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Yakima, Washington – United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that Andrew Norris Zack, age 43, of Wapato, Washington, was sentenced to 40 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release by Chief United States District Court Judge Stanley A. Bastian. Zack pled guilty to Accessory After the Fact for his role in the 2018 murder of Rosenda Strong and to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm in a separate matter from 2019. According to court documents and information presented at sentencing, Jedidah Iesha Moreno shot and killed Rosenda Strong on or about October 5, 2018, following an argument at a residence, known as the House of Souls in Wapato, Washington. Following the murder, Moreno asked for help disposing of Strong’s body. Zack and Jamaal Antwan Pimms assisted Moreno by rolling Strong’s body into a freezer. The freezer, and other appliances, were loaded onto the back of a truck. The body, still inside the freezer, was then dumped by Zack and others near M&R Towing, which is off Highway 97 in Toppenish, Washington. On July 4, 2019, approximately nine months after Strong’s tragic death, a citizen discovered human remains, which later were identified through dental records as belonging to Strong. In the 2019 Felon in Possession matter, Zack was found to have been in possession of a loaded Ruger .22 revolver following the execution of a search warrant on a residence in September, 2019. “Rosenda Strong was ruthlessly murdered. This Defendant was part of trying to keep that murder silenced” stated US Attorney Pete Serrano. “Working alongside our state and tribal partners we were able to keep Rosenda’s voice alive and ensure that her family’s requests for justice were also heard. While this outcome will not bring Rosenda back to life, I hope it allows justice to stand as part of her memory. I’d like to thank our law enforcement partner agencies and the people in my office for their hard work and dedication in bringing this important case to tell Rosenda Strong’s story.” “More than seven years after this senseless murder, another defendant is being sentenced for helping to conceal the crime in an attempt to evade justice," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "The FBI and our partners are committed to combatting violent crime on tribal lands and throughout the entire state of Washington, and we are dedicated to pursuing justice for victims and their grieving families and communities no matter how long it takes.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Yakama Nation. It was prosecuted by presented for prosecution by the Yakama Nation Police Department and the investigation was assisted by the Yakima County Sheriff’s Department and the Washington State Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Assistant United States Attorneys Thomas J. Hanlon and Michael D. Murphy. Jamaal Antwan Pimms pleaded guilty to Misprision of a Felony in this case and was sentenced to 26 months in prison on May 28, 2025. Remaining Co- Defendants are pending sentencing. 1:23-cr-02027-SAB 1:21-cr-20208-SAB


title: Jury finds Lame Deer man guilty of assaulting federal officers on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation

body_text: BILLINGS – A Lame Deer man who assaulted federal officers on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Following a one-and-a-half-day trial, Caleb Raymond Carter, 39, was found guilty of two counts of assault on a federal officer with a dangerous weapon, and one count of use of a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence. Carter faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release for the assaults and a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years, consecutive to the sentence imposed for the assaults, a $250,000 fine, and at least 5 years of supervised release for the firearm charge. U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing will be set for a later date. Carter will remain detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents and at trial John Does 1 and 2 are federal law enforcement officers employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. On the date of the alleged offense, both were in uniform and were working their scheduled shifts on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. On May 2, 2025, John Doe 1 responded to a 911 call in Lame Deer. The caller, Jane Doe, advised Carter was drunk and was yelling at her mother, causing her to fear for her mother’s safety. By the time Doe 1 responded, the disturbance had subsided. Doe 1 contacted Jane Doe and her brother and confirmed they were safe. He instructed Jane Doe to call 911 again if there were any other issues. He cleared the residence. Later the same day, Jane Doe called 911 again to report Carter had woken up and was “yelling around.” Again, Jane Doe expressed concern for her family’s physical safety. She also advised Carter may be armed with a firearm. John Does 1 and 2 responded to the residence in separate, marked patrol vehicles. Both officers activated their emergency lights and parked at the northeast corner of the property. They approached a camper trailer on the property that Carter had been using as a bedroom but no one responded to their knock on the door or their announcement that they were BIA police. John Doe 1 proceeded to the nearby residence and was greeted at the door by Jane Doe’s brother. As he was speaking with the brother, Doe 1 heard a loud bang that he immediately recognized as a gunshot. Both Doe 1 and Doe 2 drew their duty weapons and retreated from the door. They advised dispatch that shots had been fired and commanded the occupants of the camper to exit. Eventually, Carter and his wife emerged from the trailer with their hands raised and both were taken into custody. Law enforcement searched and photographed the camper trailer, noting a hole in the door consistent with a gun shot. They seized a 20-gauge shotgun in an overheard cabinet across from the door of the camper and observed a spent shell casing stuck inside the chamber. They also located and seized a box of 20-gauge ammunition from a kitchen cabinet. During an interview with law enforcement, Carter claimed he had had “issues” with law enforcement entering onto the property in the past, and had posted a “No Trespassing” sign on the gate in an effort to deter them from doing so. He admitted he watched John Doe 1 access the property the first time and said he locked a gate after the officer left. Carter also said he had been sitting inside for approximately five minutes when the officers arrived for the second time. He claimed he saw the camper “light up,” and then heard a knock at his door, followed by the sound of someone trying to open it. By that point, “it was too late:” Carter had retrieved his shotgun and pointed it at the door. He said the gun accidentally discharged when he pointed it at the door. An FBI analyst examined the firearm and determined it functioned normally and would not have discharged when handled in the manner described by Carter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Yerger prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the BIA. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Eagle River man sentenced to 20 years for child exploitation offenses

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Eagle River man pleaded guilty and was sentenced today to 20 years in prison and will spend the rest of his life on supervised release for attempting to coerce a minor, and for receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography. According to court documents, on Sept. 25, 2023, Michael Koetter, 30, sent a message to a commercial sex worker in Alaska, asking about finding girls under the age of 12 who had “rates,” which is described as prices for sex acts or sexually explicit images. Koetter’s intention with this request was to access a minor for the purpose of coercing them to engage in sexual activity. The sex worker reported the conversation to law enforcement. The FBI executed a search warrant on Koetter’s person, vehicle and residence, and discovered multiple digital devices containing child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) and conversations of child sexual abuse. The FBI seized a thumb drive that contained a file folder with roughly 72 subfolders holding over 1,400 files, many of which contained images and videos depicting child sexual abuse involving pre-pubescent minors as young as toddlers. The thumb drive also contained two text files, one of which was labeled “Manifesto.txt,” where he described himself as a “hardcore child rapist” with a mission “to rape and molest as many children as [he] can before [he] die[s].” The investigation determined that Koetter was convicted of possessing child pornography in Indiana in 2019, before he moved to Alaska “for a fresh start.” Koetter pleaded guilty to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of receipt and distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. “Mr. Koetter is a recidivist sex offender who made the mistake of moving to Alaska and seeking another child to exploit. Now, he will spend the next 20 years behind bars and the rest of his life on supervised release,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank the witness who came forward to report Mr. Koetter’s perversity, as that report and the hard work of our law enforcement partners has prevented the defendant from harming another child for the next 20 years.” “Koetter, a repeat sex offender, committed disturbing child exploitation crimes across jurisdictions, and with a broader plan to continue sexually exploiting and traumatizing as many young children as he could,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This investigation and sentencing represent the FBI’s commitment to ensuring sadistic child predators like Koetter are held accountable and removed from our communities. Our children are undeniably safer with him behind bars.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, with assistance from the Anchorage Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Madison Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Unlawfully Possessing Firearm

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jontrae Larsen, 24, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced yesterday by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 5 years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. Larsen pleaded guilty to this charge on September 11, 2025. On January 6, 2024, witnesses to a vehicle crash observed Larsen flee from one of the vehicles involved in the collision. Law enforcement eventually found Larsen and a Glock 17, Gen 5 handgun equipped with an extended magazine and loaded with 27 rounds of ammunition, including one round in the chamber. The firearm was also equipped with a machinegun conversion device. Larsen’s DNA was recovered on multiple parts of the firearm, and law enforcement also found evidence of Larsen’s gun possession on his phone. A machinegun conversion device is an illegal after-market device that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully functioning machinegun. A handgun with a machinegun conversion device is extremely dangerous, even for experienced firearms users, because it is difficult to control and is capable of firing 50 rounds in four seconds with a single pull of the trigger. Larsen has a prior state conviction for first degree recklessly endangering safety. As a convicted felon, Larsen is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition. At sentencing, Judge Peterson expressed disappointment that Larsen returned to criminal behavior so soon after he was released from state prison, and he attributed Larsen’s return to crime to negative social influences and a lack of maturity. Judge Peterson found Larsen’s possession of a machinegun particularly concerning due to Larsen’s history of impulsive decisions, terrible judgment, and substance abuse. Judge Peterson said a substantial sentence was also warranted given the automatic firing capacity of the firearm. The charge against Larsen was the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which is comprised of federal agents from ATF and task force officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Ayala prosecuted this case. Federal criminal cases involving firearms are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the U.S. 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: Hunt County woman sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas –A Quinlan woman has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Rosalind Horton, 34, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 1, 2025. According to information presented in court, beginning in 2020, Horton conspired with others to distribute and possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Rattan. ###


title: Honolulu Man Who Trafficked Illegally-Caught Hawaiian Tropical Fish Sentenced to Probation and Home Detention

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Shane Takasane, 43, of Honolulu, Hawaii, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Shanlyn A. S. Park to three years of probation for selling illegally-caught Hawaiian yellow tang and kole tang, in violation of the Lacey Act. Takasane pled guilty to those charges on August 6, 2025. Takasane’s conditions of probation included 45 days of home confinement, 50 hours of community service to an organization focused on improving the marine environment, and the payment of $10,100 in restitution to the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources. As part of his guilty plea, Takasane admitted that in June through August 2023, Takasane arranged with divers to obtain Hawaiian yellow tang and kole tang, which the defendant sold to a buyer on the U.S. Mainland without the required commercial fish license. Takasane also admitted as part of his plea agreement that on multiple occasions between July 2023 and June 2024, he imported snakehead fish, which are considered injurious to domestic wildlife, and Asian arowanas, which are protected by the Endangered Species Act, in violation of federal law. “The protection of Hawaii’s wildlife is a critical component in preserving the unique and beautiful marine environment that draws so many to our islands,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “We will continue to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, FBI, and other agencies to aggressively investigate, arrest, and convict those who seek to profit by violating the laws and regulations that safeguard Hawaii’s precious ocean wildlife.” “The illegal trade of native Hawaiian marine species threatens fragile coral reef ecosystems, while the smuggling of injurious species poses serious risks to our nation’s wildlife and habitats,” said Douglas Ault, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. “We thank the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their strong partnership in enforcing the laws that protect our nation’s most vulnerable wildlife and ecosystems.” The investigation was conducted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Albanese prosecuted the case.


title: Jasper man sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas –A Jasper man has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. David Anthony Piepenburg, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 1, 2025. According to information presented in court, beginning in 2019, Piepenburg conspired with others to distribute and possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Rattan. ###


title: Smith County woman sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas –A Tyler woman has been sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Laura Ann Messay, 38, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 1, 2025. According to information presented in court, beginning in 2019, Messay conspired with others to distribute and possess 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Rattan. ###


title: Former President of the Allen Firefighters Association sentenced to federal prison for fraud

body_text: PLANO, Texas – The former president of the Allen Firefighters Association has been sentenced to federal prison for wire fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Jeremy Painkin, 42, of Frisco, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Richard Schell on December 3, 2025. Painkin was also ordered to pay over $108,000 in restitution. According to information presented in court, Painkin was the president of the Allen Professional Firefighters Association from 2017 until he resigned in October 2023 following an investigation into the finances of the organization. The investigation revealed that Painkin made multiple personal purchases with the funds of the organization under his control. The purchases included expensive clothing, travel, tickets to various venues, fuel, food, and purchases from on-line retailers. Following discovery of the purchases, Painkin attempted to conceal the purchases through false statements to various members of the organization. This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William R. Tatum. ###


title: Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening to Kill Election Official

component: Criminal - Public Integrity Section

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to threatening to kill a Pennsylvania poll watcher working in the Western District of Pennsylvania, First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced. John Courtney Pollard, 63, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon to a one-count Indictment charging Pollard with making interstate threats. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on September 6, 2024, Pollard sent Victim 1, a Regional Election Integrity Director, four iMessages over the course of about ten minutes. Victim 1 had previously posted online, in Victim 1’s capacity as an employee of a state political party, that Victim 1 was recruiting volunteers to help “observe at the polls on Election Day” and included Victim 1’s phone number. Pollard texted Victim 1 that he was “interested in being a poll watcher” and included Victim 1’s first name. Pollard then texted Victim 1 three threats: • “I will KILL YOU IF YOU DON’T ANSWER ME!” • “Your days are numbered, B****!” • “GONNA F***ING FIND YOU AND SKIN YOU ALIVE AND USE YOUR SKIN FOR F***ING TOILET PAPER, YOU F***ING KKK**T!” “Election workers, including volunteers and poll watchers, must be able to do their jobs without fear of threats and intimidation,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Rivetti. “Unfortunately, online threats are increasing, as individuals appear to believe that they can hide behind their keyboards. We are committed to using all of our law enforcement tools to investigate and prosecute these offenders to the fullest extent of the law.” “Ensuring free and fair elections is a cornerstone of our system of government,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “Threatening those tasked with protecting the integrity of elections will not be tolerated. Threats such as these carry very real consequences. The FBI and our partners will hold accountable anyone who thinks they can weaponize fear to influence our election process.” Judge Bissoon scheduled Pollard’s sentencing for March 31, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States, with valuable assistance from the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section (PIN). PIN oversees the investigation and prosecution of all federal crimes affecting government integrity, including bribery of public officials, election crimes, and other related offenses. PIN handles cases independently but also often works in partnership with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices on investigating and prosecuting these crimes. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pollard.


title: Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who distributed methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine was sentenced on December 2, 2025, to 35 years in federal prison. Cordarryl Cortez Smith, age 38, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 3, 2025, guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance near a protected location. In March 2023, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, law enforcement officers purchased methamphetamine from Smith twice. One of the purchases occurred within 1,000 feet of a school. On March 22, 2023, officers stopped Smith’s car as it was returning to Cedar Rapids. Although the car belonged to Smith, Smith’s brother and another individual were driving it. Smith was in a separate car also on the way back to Cedar Rapids. In the trunk of Smith’s car, officers located approximately an ounce of cocaine and approximately nine pounds of methamphetamine. In November 2023, in Cedar Rapids, officers again purchased cocaine from Smith multiple times. Smith was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Smith was sentenced to 420 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Smith 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 Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion Police Department; and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-28. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Three Men Sentenced for Involvement in ATM Jackpotting Scheme

body_text: Three men from South America were sentenced for their involvement in an ATM jackpotting scheme in Iowa. Jhonger Suarez, age 23, from Venezuela, was sentenced on November 3, 2025, after a September 4, 2025, guilty plea to one count of aiding and abetting bank larceny. Ysmael Martinez Jimenez, age 38, from Venezuela, was sentenced on November 13, 2025, after a September 24, 2025, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit bank larceny and one count of bank larceny. Cristian Guillermo Canas Gomez, age 22, from Columbia, was sentenced on December 1, 2025, after an October 1, 2025, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit bank larceny and one count of bank larceny. At his plea hearing, Suarez admitted to assisting a bank larceny from a bank in Dubuque, Iowa, on May 25, 2025. At Martinez Jimenez’s and Canas Gomez’s respective plea hearings, they both admitted that they had conspired to commit the bank larceny. Martinez Jimenez and Canas Gomez both admitted that they carried out a jackpotting scheme on an ATM at a bank in Dubuque. A jackpotting scheme is a type of cyberattack where vulnerabilities of an ATM’s software are exploited, causing an ATM to dispense cash without debiting an account. Martinez Jimenez and Canas Gomez obtained approximately $33,600 from the jackpotting scheme on the ATM in Dubuque. Suarez was acting as a lookout in the area while they were conducting the jackpotting scheme. Suarez, Martinez Jimenez, and Canas Gomez were sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Suarez was sentenced to 125 days’ imprisonment. Martinez Jimenez and Canas Gomez were each sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. They were ordered to make $33,600 in restitution. All three men must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after their prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Suarez has been turned over to immigration officials. Martinez Jimenez and Canas Gomez are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be turned over to immigration officials. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Dubuque Police Department, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Marshals Service, and Enforcement and Removal Operations of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-1028. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Mother Involved in Marijuana Drug Conspiracy Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison

body_text: A woman involved in a drug conspiracy in Waterloo, Iowa, was sentenced on December 2, 2025, to five years in federal prison. Nicole Ann Fordyce, age 50, who lived in Waterloo, Iowa, at the time of her involvement in distributing marijuana, received the prison term after an April 16, 2025, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. From August 2022 through January 2024, Fordyce was involved in a conspiracy to distribute large quantities of marijuana intended for further distribution in Waterloo. Fordyce received marijuana in the mail from her son, Jonathan Reins, who was living in California. Fordyce gave the marijuana to other people involved in distributing it throughout Waterloo. During this time, Fordyce also deposited approximately $191,896 in drug proceeds into a bank account used by the people involved in distributing the marijuana. Fordyce was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Fordyce was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a four-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Fordyce is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, Denver Iowa Police Department, Fullerton California Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR- 02050-002. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Cedar Rapids Felon with a Gun Sentenced to  Over 7 Years in Prison

body_text: A convicted felon who possessed a gun while on supervised release was sentenced on December 2, 2025, to more than seven years in federal prison. Marcus Dejohn Wallace, age 30, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 11, 2025, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Evidence at trial showed that on September 5, 2024, Wallace led officers on a high-speed car chase through Cedar Rapids before pulling over in a residential neighborhood and running from officers. As he ran, he threw a loaded gun, which hit a nearby roof before landing in the grass. Police officers using a K-9 caught Wallace. Officers found the loaded gun, which was missing a magazine. Officers later found the missing magazine in the path Wallace had run. Wallace was on supervised release at the time he possessed the gun because of a prior federal conviction for distribution of heroin resulting in serious bodily injury. Wallace was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Wallace was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment, plus 18 months’ imprisonment for violating the terms of his supervised release, for a total of 88 months’ imprisonment. Wallace must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Wallace 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 Attorneys Devra T. Hake, Shawn Wehde, and Dan Tvedt, and it was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-90. 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. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Iowa Man to Federal Prison for Drug Conspiracy and Illegal Gun

body_text: On December 1, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City, Ryan Miller, 40, most recently residing in Pilot Mound, Iowa, was sentenced. On June 27, 2025, Miller pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Miller was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in 2017, this conviction prohibits him from possessing a firearm. At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed that from January 2024 through April 27, 2024, Miller and others conspired to distribute at least ½ pound of methamphetamine and more than 1700 fentanyl pills. On April 21, 2024, Miller and two others were headed to Colorado to pick up more methamphetamine and to sell fentanyl pills. They attempted to elude law enforcement in a high-speed vehicle chase during which Miller threw two pop cans containing fentanyl pills from the vehicle. In an attempt to distract the police, Miller’s two co-defendants made “false” 911 calls. Later on the same date, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Miller’s residence and seized a small amount of methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, and a loaded .22 caliber Beretta handgun. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Miller was sentenced to 112 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of five years of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Miller remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Ida and Sac County Sheriff’s Offices, the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; and the Woodbury County Attorney’s Office; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Iowa DCI Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-4042. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Sioux City Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Meth

body_text: Timothy Koons, 66, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term December 4, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. Koons pled guilty April 10, 2025, to distribution of methamphetamine. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that on two separate occasions in March 2024, Koons was involved in the distribution of seven ounces of pure methamphetamine to others, including an individual cooperating with law enforcement. In 2000, Koons was federally convicted of felony possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and in 2010, Koons was again federally convicted for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Koons was sentenced to 132 months’ imprisonment and must serve a four-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Koons remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office, as well as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-4034. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Felon Who Defrauded Credit Unions in the Midwest Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: A seven-time felon who, along with another person, used fake military IDs and passports to steal money from credit unions was sentenced on December 1, 2025, to more than seven years in federal prison. Jeffrey Blake Palmer, age 44, from Davenport, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 27, 2025, guilty plea to one count of financial institution fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. Information from the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from June 22, 2021, through September 30, 2021, Palmer and his coconspirator, Maegen Fortin, used stolen personal information, such as dates of birth and Social Security numbers, to apply for checking accounts, saving accounts, credit cards, lines of credit, and loans from credit unions. Palmer and Fortin provided false documents and IDs, including fraudulent United States passports, military IDs, state driver’s licenses, and employment documents, to the credit unions with their applications. In one instance in June 2021, Palmer and Fortin used assumed names and stolen personal identifiers to open a joint account at a credit union in Cedar Rapids. They applied for two auto loans totaling more than $57,000 from the credit union. Based on their fraudulent applications, the credit union deposited the loan proceeds into an account under their control. Palmer has a long criminal history that includes seven prior adult felony convictions. On August 4, 2023, Fortin was sentenced to 93 months’ imprisonment on charges related to this scheme. Palmer was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Palmer was sentenced to 94 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $253,572.26 in restitution to victims of the offense. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Palmer 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 Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-113. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.