title: District of Arizona Charges 232 Individuals for Immigration-Related Conduct this Week

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During this week of enforcement operations from April 19, 2025, through April 25, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 232 defendants. Specifically, the United States filed 110 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 110 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 9 cases against 11 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. The United States also charged one individual with failing to register, as required by law. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Alex Esparaza Sanchez, et al : On April 22, 2025, Alex Esparza Sanchez, Nikolas Baldriche, Carlos Zuniga-Lizo, Sherman James-Guzman, and Benjamin Lopez-Barron were indicted for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and Bringing in Illegal Aliens to the United States for Profit. According to the court documents, Esparza Sanchez, Baldriche and Zuniga-Lizo coordinated with James-Guzman and Lopez-Brown who picked up illegal aliens at the border in Yuma, Arizona. [Case Number: CR-25-00600-PHX-SMB] United States v. Hakeem Alberto Lucero-Parra : On April 22, 2025, Hakeem Alberto Lucero-Parra, an illegal alien from Mexico, was charged for illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed. According to the criminal complaint, after being arrested on local charges in Phoenix, Arizona, it was determined that Lucero-Parra had been previously deported after a conviction for Aggravated Assault and Attempt to Commit Kidnapping. [Case number: MJ-25-6149-PHX-ASB] United States v. Jacinto Medina-Palacios : On April 22, 2025, Jacinto Medina-Palacios, an illegal alien from Mexico, was charged for illegally reentering the United States after being previously removed. According to the criminal complaint, after being arrested on local charges in Phoenix, Arizona, it was determined that Medina-Palacios had been previously deported after a conviction for Carrying a Loaded Firearm while not the Registered Owner. [Case Number: MJ-25-6152-PHX-ASB] United States v. Teodoro Diaz-Ochoa : On April 23, 2025, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned a 5-count indictment against Teodoro Diaz-Ochoa, 44, of Mexico, for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, Alien in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, and Reentry of a Removed Alien. According to the charging documents in the case, Arizona Game and Fish Officers encountered Diaz-Ochoa in possession of a bolt action rifle while they were conducting a hunting without a license investigation. ATF agents also found a shotgun and ammunition at Diaz-Ochoa’s residence pursuant to a search warrant. Diaz-Ochoa was previously convicted of felony Attempted Sexual Assault and deported from the United States on April 22, 2016. [Case Number: CR-25-01989-TUC-JCH] Criminal complaints and indictments are simply methods by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-063_April 25 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Old Town National City Gang Member Sentenced to 10 years for Distributing Methamphetamine Near School

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Manuel Joseph Mariscal, an Old Town National City criminal street gang member known by the moniker “Pony,” was sentenced today in federal court to 120 months in prison. In June of 2022, task force officers from the East County Regional Gang Task Force conducted two controlled purchases involving the distribution of methamphetamine, a Ruger Mini Thirty CAL. 7.62 x 39 rifle and several rounds of ammunition from Mariscal. The distribution occurred at Mariscal’s residence located just 852 feet away from Zamorano Elementary School in San Diego. On June 21, 2023, a state search warrant was executed on Mariscal’s residence, wherein additional methamphetamine, a firearm, ammunition, a firearm silencer, a firearm laser sign with gun mount parts, heroin and a composition book with pay and own information common in the drug trafficking business were discovered. On that date, Mariscal was arrested on the federal charges stemming from the June 2022 controlled purchases. In addition to the federal charges, Mariscal is currently facing state charges for the additional contraband seized in connection to the search warrant execution on his residence in San Diego County Superior Court, Dkt. No. CD301145, charging Mariscal with child abuse, possession for sale of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a possessor of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a felon, and a prohibited person owning firearm/ammunition. Mariscal, a serial offender marking his fourth conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, entered a guilty plea on this federal case on September 17, 2024. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lyndzie M. Carter. DEFENDANT Case Number 23cr1470-JLS Manuel Jospeh Mariscal Age: 49 San Diego, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Distribution of Methamphetamine Near a School – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1) and 860 Maximum penalty: Eighty years in prison and $10 million fine Felon in Possession of a Firearm – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(g)(1) Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine Felon in Possession of Ammunition– Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(g)(1) Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES East County Regional Gang Task Force Federal Bureau of Investigation San Diego County Sheriff’s Office National City Police Department San Diego County District Attorney’s Office *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes Report

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. In the one-week period ending April 25, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico: • 67 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326) • 10 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324) • 55 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325) Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for alien smuggling, drug trafficking, burglary and fraud. In a significant case, former NM state magistrate judge Jose Luis Cano was charged with tampering with evidence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(1). Cano’s wife, Nancy Ann Cano , was charged with conspiracy to tamper with evidence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(k). Jose Cano is accused of destroying a cellular telephone belonging to Cristhian Ortega-Lopez , a suspected Tren de Aragua member charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. In a post-arrest interview, Cano admitted to destroying the cellular telephone because he believed it contained incriminating photographs of Ortega-Lopez with firearms. Nancy Cano is accused of conspiring with Ortega-Lopez to delete a social media account to conceal incriminating messages and photographs related to his possession of firearms. At the husband and wife’s initial appearances in federal court on April 25, 2025, they were both detained pending detention hearings on April 29, 2025. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. [use if applicable] Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.


title: Schenectady Man Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug Offenses

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Anthony Sindoni, age 37, of Schenectady, New York, pled guilty today to possessing three firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Field Division, made the announcement. Sindoni admitted to possessing a Keltec P-32 .32 caliber pistol, a Polymer 80 PF940C 9mm pistol, and a Mossberg 20-gauge pump shotgun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Sindoni also admitted to possessing with intent to distribute over 754 grams of methamphetamine, 520 grams of fentanyl, 454 grams of cocaine, and 17 grams of heroin. Sindoni faces a prison term of at least 15 years and up to life, a fine of up to $10 million, and a supervised release term of at least 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. DEA is investigating the case with assistance from the Schenectady Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Paulbeck is prosecuting the case.


title: Oswego County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Daniel LaRock, age 21, of Oswego, New York pled guilty today to three counts of possession of child pornography. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement. During his guilty plea hearing, LaRock admitted that he was convicted of Promoting the Sexual Performance by a Child in June 2024 in Oswego County Court and sentenced to 10 years’ probation. Later that same month, he possessed and distributed child pornography on multiple social media accounts, including videos depicting very young children engaged in sex acts with adults. At sentencing scheduled for August 26, 2025, before United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi, LaRock faces an imprisonment term of at least 10 and up to 20 years per count, a term of supervised release of between 5 years and life, forfeiture of the property used to commit the offenses, and an order of restitution to the victims. In addition, LaRock will be required to register as sex offender upon release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. This case was investigated by HSI with the assistance of the New York State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Troy Gang Leader Sentenced to 137 Months in Prison for Possessing Fentanyl, Cocaine, and a Machinegun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Richawn McClain, age 26, of Troy, New York, was sentenced today to 137 months in prison for possessing fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement. McClain previously admitted to possessing a handgun that had been modified to make it into a machinegun to protect the 900 fentanyl pills, 32 grams of cocaine, and $22,770 in drug proceeds that he possessed. United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also imposed 4 years of post-imprisonment supervised release including a special condition to avoid contact with the Young Gunnerz and 380 gangs, in which McClain held leadership roles. McClain also agreed to forfeit the firearm and drug money. The DEA investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner prosecuted.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office secures 2 immigration crimes convictions, charges new defendant

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced today two new immigration convictions and charges filed against an additional defendant. Two of the three defendants have a criminal history of domestic violence. Eduardo Hernandez-Lopez, 37, is an illegal alien from Mexico who was previously arrested by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for domestic violence, assault and violating a protection order. He pleaded guilty in federal court in Columbus on Wednesday to illegally reentering the United States after deportation. In Dayton, Gustavo Rodriguez-Piedra, 45, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to illegally reentering the United States after deportation. The defendant was previously deported from Texas in 2010. Rodriguez-Piedra was also sentenced on Tuesday to time served and will face deportation. Luis Callejas-Rosas, 54, of Mexico, was arrested in Shelby County for domestic violence and strangulation. He was then taken into federal custody and charged with illegally reentering the United States after deportation. Illegally reentering the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to two years in prison. If the offender has a prior felony conviction (or multiple prior misdemeanor convictions of certain types), the penalty is increased to 10 years in prison, and if the offender has been previously convicted of an aggravated felony, the defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. Transporting illegal aliens is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Possessing a firearm as an illegal alien is a federal crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; Robert Lynch, Field Office Director, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Detroit Field Office; and Andrew Lawton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Detroit Field Division; announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorneys Tyler J. Aagard, Elizabeth Geraghty and Erica Lunderman are representing the United States in these cases. Charging documents merely contain allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. These cases were investigated and prosecuted by the Southern District of Ohio Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America . HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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: Washington Jury Finds Spokane Valley Couple Guilty of Fraud Charges in Connection to COVID-19 Relief Loan

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict in the trial of a Raymond Joe and Jennifer Lynn Hilderbrand, both age 54, of Spokane Valley, Washington. The Hilderbrands were found guilty on multiple fraud charges. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice presided over the trial, which began April 21, 2025. At sentencing, which is set for July 23, 2025, the Hilderbrands face a maximum term of 20 years in prison as well as restitution for fraudulently-obtained funds. On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low interest loans that could be deferred until the conclusion of the pandemic to provide “bridge” funding for small businesses to maintain their operations during shutdowns and other economic circumstances caused by the pandemic. The EIDL program have provided billions of dollars in aid, the vast majority of which have not been paid back, including hundreds of millions of dollars disbursed within Eastern Washington. The evidence presented at trial established that the Hilderbrands engaged in elaborate scheme to obtain money from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to spend on their entertainment business called Poweline Enterprise LLC (Powerline), even though in September of 2021, the SBA had declined to fund a loan for the company. To execute this scheme, in January of 2022, Raymond Hilderbrand completed a EIDL application in the name of Hilderbrand Auto Services, which was an automotive repair business, owned by the Raymond Hilderbrand, located at 10423 E. Trent Avenue, Spokane Valley. In the application he told the SBA the EIDL funds would be used as working capital for Hilderbrand Auto Services, and would not be used for another company. However, in February 2022, when SBA sent $320,000 to Hilderbrand Auto to be used by that business to alleviate economic injury caused by the pandemic, the Hilderbrands immediately transferred $311,000 to Powerline. The Hilderbrands then used $295,000 of the EIDL funds to purchase the Trent Avenue property in the name of Powerline, with Jennifer Hilderbrand as the only owner. The Hilderbrands continued to attempt to obtain additional EIDL funds in the name of Powerline by making false representations about the company’s revenue on their EIDL application. The SBA declined the reconsideration of the Powerline EIDL application in early May of 2022. Shortly thereafter, the Hilderbrands requested a modification for the EIDL loan for Hilderbrand Auto. The SBA approved the request, and Raymond Hilderbrand again promised to use the money solely for Hilderbrand Auto. On May 17, 2022, the SBA disbursed an additional $43,000 in EIDL funds to the Hilderbrand Auto bank account, $35,000 of which was immediately withdrawn by check and transferred to Powerline. In May 2022, the Hilderbrands submitted an application on behalf of Powerline for a license to sell alcohol and food at the Trent Avenue Property. Then, in the summer of 2022, the Hilderbrands began to host concerts at the Trent Avenue property. The advertisements billed the property as “The YARD, A New Upcoming Outdoor Venue in Spokane WA!” that included beer gardens and food vendors. The advertisement also indicated the concert was “brought to you by” “Powerline Enterprises” along with other companies. In September 2022, the Hilderbrands applied for a new application for a snack bar license on behalf of Powerline for the Trent Avenue Property. During an interview with a license investigator, Raymond Hilderbrand stated the company’s hope was to host swap meets and multiple activities, with a snack bar inside a building with outside seating. Mr. Hilderbrand was asked if Powerline shared the property with any other businesses and he responded, “No,” even though the property was shared with Hilderbrand Auto. Mr. Hilderbrand also acknowledged that Powerline had bought the property for $295,000. The investigator asked if any of the funds for the purchase were “gifted or loaned from a business source,” to which Hilderbrand falsely responded “no.” “I am grateful for the prosecutors and investigators that worked together to seek justice in this case,” stated Acting United States Attorney Rich Barker. “Our incredible trial team worked closely with the SBA to present a compelling case, establishing that both Raymond and Jennifer Hilderbrand were held accountable for the lies they told to obtain funding that was designed for small businesses in need of a lifeline. As a result of the Hilderbrands’ fraud, other small businesses were unable to obtain the help they needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.” "These guilty verdicts demonstrate the commitment of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to investigate and bring to justice those who victimize the American taxpayer," said Daniel Dahl, TIGTA Acting Special Agent-in-Charge. “Fraudulently applying for loans through a federal program meant to assist Americans in need will be met with aggressive investigation and prosecution. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office for their commitment to this goal." “Today’s verdict is a testament to the OIG’s unwavering commitment to bringing fraudsters targeting SBA’s programs to justice,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Assistant Special Agent in Charge Wil Barras. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our law enforcement partners for their diligence and pursuit of justice.” This case was investigated by the Eastern District of Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force and by TIGTA, SBA OIG, and IRS-CI. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Frieda K. Zimmerman, Jeremy J. Kelley, and Jacob Brooks. 2:23-cr-00114-TOR


title: Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced the federal Grand Jury for the District of Nebraska has returned 22 unsealed Indictments charging 24 defendants. Indictments are charging documents that contain one or more individual counts that are merely accusations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Julius Phillips , age 40, of Lincoln, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Phillips with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine on or about November 21, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Phillips with being a felon in possession of a firearm on or about November 21, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release not more than 3 years, and a $100 special assessment. Jason Vorse , age 50, of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, is charged with possession of child pornography on or about October 28, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Jonnathan Ernesto Santos-Fuentes , age 29, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Santos-Fuentes with false representation of a social security number with intent to deceive on or about September 25, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Santos-Fuentes with use of false identification documents on or about September 25, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Santos-Fuentes with false claim to U.S. citizenship to obtain employment on or about September 25, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Pedro David Jaimes-Diaz , age 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Jaimes-Diaz with false representation of a social security number on or about June 5, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Jaimes-Diaz with use of immigration documents not lawfully issued on or about June 5, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Jaimes-Diaz with false claim to U.S. citizenship on or about June 5, 2024. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 3 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Walter Agustin Navarro-Santa Cruz , age 48, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Navarro-Santa Cruz with false representation of a social security number with intent to deceive on or about November 30, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Navarro-Santa Cruz with use of false identification documents on or about November 30, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Navarro-Santa Cruz with illegal reentry of a previously removed alien on or about March 21, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Edwin Abraham Navarro-Santacruz , age 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a two-count Indictment. Count I charges Navarro-Santacruz with false representation of a social security number on or about September 14, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Navarro-Santacruz with use of false claim to U.S. citizenship on or about September 14, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 3 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Patrick Campbell , age 41, of North Platte, Nebraska, is charged with acquiring a controlled substance by fraud beginning on or about March 1, 2023, to April 5, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 4 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Ricardo Gutierrez-Castillo , age 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, Heleodoro Luviano-Cabrera , age 37, of Cypress, Texas, and Eric Luviano-Cabrera , age 40, of Cypress, Texas, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine beginning on or about December 28, 2024, and continuing to on or about January 3, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, a term of supervised release of not less than 5 years and up to life, and a $100 special assessment. Nelson Geovani Santos-Parada , age 25, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged in a three-count Indictment. Count I charges Santos-Parada with use of a false identification document on or about June 23, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count II charges Santos-Parada with false representation of a social security number with intent to deceive on or about June 23, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Count III charges Santos-Parada with false claim to U.S. citizenship on or about June 23, 2023. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 3 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 1-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Jose Dimas Escobar, age 45, of Fremont, Nebraska, is charged with false representation of a social security number on or about December 1, 2021. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not more than 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Jose Guadalupe De La Torre , age 28, of Omaha, Nebraska, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine beginning on or about February 20, 2025, and continuing to on or about April 3, 2025. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is not less than 10 years’ and up to life imprisonment, a $10,000,000 fine, not less than 5-years and up to life term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Jorge Leonardo Hernandez-Romero , age 35, of Gretna, Nebraska, is charged with money laundering conspiracy from on or about May 7, 2022, and continuing to on or about December 14, 2022. The maximum possible penalty if convicted is up to 20 years’ imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or her designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: Paul Randolfo Gutierrez Gamez, age 40 Eliseo Israel Escobar Marroquin, age 32 Jorge Luis Mejia Narciso , age 23 Maximiliano Rolando Perez-Gomez, age 30 The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 2 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a one-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following a felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or her designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: Martin Silva Bravo , age 35 Ever Roberto Sauceda Castillo , age 37 Marcos Eliseo Tercero-Bautista , age 27 The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. The following individuals were charged with being an alien, who previously had been excluded, deported and removed from the United States following an aggravated felony conviction and were found in the United States, without the Attorney General of the United States or her designated successor having expressly consented to the defendant’s reapplication for admission into the United States: Alfredo Hernandez Lopez , age 48 Roberto Lamadrid Campuzano , age 36 Luis Edgardo Herrera-Ramos , age 61 The maximum possible penalty if convicted is 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a 3-year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Contact Amy Donato at 402-661-3700 for further information.


title: Choctaw County Resident Sentenced For Federal Drug And Firearm Crimes

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joe Clay Harris, age 40, of Boswell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 56 months in prison for one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and one count of Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. The terms were ordered to be served concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hugo Police Department. On December 2, 2024, Harris pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on April 6, 2024, law enforcement serving a search warrant on Harris’s residence discovered Harris in possession of methamphetamine, digital scales, and several small plastic baggies commonly used to package illegal narcotics for distribution. Law enforcement also seized one .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle and five rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Harris was previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Harris will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard J. Lorenz represented the United States.


title: Cherokee County Resident Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder In Indian Country

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven DeWayne Beard, age 51, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life imprisonment for First Degree Murder in Indian Country and to a consecutive sentence of 120 months for Discharging a Firearm During a Crime of Violence. On September 14, 2024, a federal jury convicted Beard on both counts. According to investigators, on March 29, 2023, Beard, who was a romantic rival for a woman’s affections, became angry and ordered the woman to remove her property from his residence while he was away. Knowing that the victim was the woman’s only ride and would accompany her to remove her items, Beard hid his vehicle from view, then waited inside his residence for the pair to arrive. When the woman arrived with Beard’s intended target, Beard shot the victim in the chest with a shotgun. The victim fell to the ground and Beard shot the victim in the chest again at pointblank range. The crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Beard will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Gross and T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Retired Police Officer Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison for Obstructing Justice

body_text: Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant, John T. Mantanona, age 67, was sentenced by designated Senior District Judge John C. Coughenour in the District Court of Guam to 60 months imprisonment for Obstructing Justice by Endeavoring to Influence a Juror, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1503. The Court also ordered two years of supervised release, a $30,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. From October 12, 2018, through November 13, 2018, Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood conducted a federal jury trial in the criminal case of United States v. Raymond Martinez and Juanita Moser , 15-CR-00031. Mantanona was retired from the Guam Police Department, including work as an FBI task force officer. Martinez and Moser hired him as an investigator during the trial. Mantanona tried to influence Gregorio Tyquiengco while Tyquiengco served as a juror in the case. During the trial, and prior to jury deliberations, Mantanona contacted Tyquiengco to discuss what verdict Tyquiengco would render and to influence him to vote “NG” (not guilty) despite the evidence against Martinez and Moser. Mantanona also wanted Tyquiengco to persuade other jurors to do the same, with the intent to cause a hung jury and mistrial. A mistrial was declared on November 13, 2018. Mantanona met with Tyquiengco and gave him $1,000, in addition to $100 afterward. Tyquiengco pled guilty to Contempt of Court, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 401(3). He was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment and one year of supervised release. Tyquiengco was also ordered to reimburse the district court for any money he received for serving as a federal juror. William Topasna Mantanona pled guilty to False Statement to Government Agent, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2). During a wiretapped telephone conversation, he communicated with his brother, John T. Mantanona, to facilitate the above-described scheme. He later falsely denied this conduct during an investigative interview with a special agent from Homeland Security Investigations. On August 26, 2021, the district court sentenced William Topasna Mantanona to six months imprisonment, two years of supervised release, and a mandatory $5,000 fine. “The public should have faith in our justice system, which includes fair and impartial court proceedings. Mantanona violated this fundamental concept of trial by jury. The Department of Justice will hold accountable those who obstruct justice," stated United States Attorney Anderson. "I applaud our law enforcement partners for pursuing an investigation beyond the initial crimes by Martinez and Moser.” "Great trust is placed in those who call law enforcement their mission," said Homeland Security Investigations Hawaii Special Agent in Charge Lucy Cabral-DeArmas. "Violating that trust by working to dilute the integrity of our judicial process is a complete betrayal of that mission and brings down every person who seeks to serve the public. This sentence sends a clear message to those currently in or retired from law enforcement that if you break that trust, there will be consequences." “The FBI’s anti-corruption work remains one of our highest priorities. Those who criminally influence jurors and their deliberations through bribery strike at the very foundation of our criminal justice system,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Mr. Mantanona tampered with the integrity of our legal process, and in so doing, attempted to deny our community the justice it deserves. As reflected by this investigation, the FBI is committed to protecting our legal system and will bring to justice those who act to corrupt it.” “While this conviction is for obstructing justice, this is a direct result of a firearms trafficking case from a number of years ago in which we seized more than $1.2 million in cash, $2 million more in additional seizures, and 67 firearms,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “It’s discouraging to see that a retired law enforcement officer was involved in these illegal actions, but we are glad to see the passing of this sentence.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Rosetta L. San Nicolas prosecuted the case in the District of Guam. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for SNAP Fraud, Drugs and Illegal Firearms Possession

body_text: Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that the following defendants pled guilty and were sentenced in the District Court of Guam on April 23, 2025: Antonio J. Toves, age 48, from Chalan Pago, Guam was sentenced to 12 months and one day for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Unauthorized Use, Transfer, Acquisition, Alteration, or Possession of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and 7 U.S.C. § 2024. He was also sentenced to serve 36 months imprisonment for Possession of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(l), and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A). The terms of imprisonment were also ordered to run consecutive. The Court also ordered four years of supervised release, $40,869 in restitution, and $400 in mandatory special assessment fees. Toves also forfeited several firearms and a Lexus vehicle. Defendants convicted of SNAP fraud are barred from further participation in the program. Christina J. Toves, age 47, from Chalan Pago, Guam was sentenced to 12 months and one day for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1349; Unauthorized Use, Transfer, Acquisition, Alteration, or Possession of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP") Benefits, in violation of 7 U.S.C. § 2024(b)(1); and Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). The Court also ordered three years of supervised release, $40,869 in restitution, and $300 in mandatory special assessment fees. Toves was also ordered to forfeit several firearms, ammunition, and a Lexus vehicle. From September 2015 to September 2020, Antonio and Christina Toves defrauded the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) to obtain SNAP benefits to which they were not entitled. The couple made false statements about their household size and income. They also failed to disclose to DPHSS that Christina Toves was employed as a social worker with the Guam Department of Corrections - information on which DPHSS relies in making benefits determinations. As a result of this deceit, they received $40,846.00 in fraudulently obtained SNAP benefits. Following his arrest, Antonio Toves was found in possession of over five grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, two pistols, an AR-15 rifle, and over 800 rounds of ammunition. Christina Toves was found in possession of a concealed handgun. “Citizens with low income rely on SNAP benefits to meet their nutritional needs,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Unfortunately, some people seek to obtain these benefits through fraud and other abuse of the program. Taxpayers deserve justice for this criminal conduct. We will continue to pursue these prosecutions to ensure that federal funds are appropriately used. As this case demonstrates, those who engage in this type of fraud, in addition to drug trafficking, risk significant federal penalties.” “Fraud, drugs and firearms are a dangerous mixture for failure,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “The Tove’s actions not only cost them prison time and restitution, but also cost the taxpayers of Guam because of their fraudulent claim and receipt of SNAP benefits. This sentence is well deserved and should serve as a warning against anyone that illegal actions will be investigated and prosecuted.” This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Guam DPHSS Investigation & Recovery Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin K. Petersburg prosecuted these cases in the District of Guam.


title: Acting U.S. Attorney Promotes DEA Drug Take Back Day

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Law enforcement from across the Northern District of West Virginia will participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard encourages residents to use this opportunity to rid their homes of unused and unneeded prescription medications, reducing the risk of misuse. “The Drug Take Back program is an excellent opportunity to take inventory of the leftover and outdated prescription drugs that are stored in your home,” stated Bernard. “Providing the unused drugs to the DEA as part of the program is a great way to make your home a safe place for those you love. It safeguards our children and prevents abuse of the drugs by others. It also keeps the discarded drugs out of landfills and our water.” Law enforcement will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids, such as cough syrups, must remain tightly sealed in their original containers. Take Back Day locations will accept vaping devices and cartridges if the lithium batteries are removed. Syringes, sharps, and illicit substances will not be collected. There are 4,500 collection sites nationwide. To find one near you, go to https://www.dea.gov/takebackday


title: Mississippi Man Guilty of Possession of Machine Guns

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JAMES HARRIS (“HARRIS”), age 33, of Mississippi, pled guilty on April 23, 2025, before United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance, to being in possession of machine guns, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o)() and 924(a)(2), announced Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson. According to court documents, special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) identified individuals involved in trafficking firearms in New Orleans. Between September 2023 and November 2023, agents communicated with HARRIS about purchasing machine guns and firearms. On November 15, 2023, HARRIS sold machine guns and firearms to undercover ATF agents in the eastern District of Louisiana. HARRIS is scheduled for sentencing on August 13, 2025. HARRIS faces up to ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three (3) years of supervised release following imprisonment and, a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution is being handed by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Final Defendant Sentenced in Organized Retail Crime Scheme

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Anthony Wilson, 42, of Florence, has been sentenced to 36 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to his role in defrauding a chain of home improvement stores. The investigation revealed that Wilson, and a known coconspirator, Caleb Hood, would steal items from a home improvement chain store located within the District of South Carolina, and elsewhere, and would then take the items to the counter, claim he wanted to return the item but did not have a receipt and would accept store credit on a merchandise card. The investigation further revealed that Wilson and his known coconspirators would use fraudulent means of identification during the return process. Once Wilson and coconspirators had received the merchandise cards, he would either sell the cards to others or make in-store purchases with the fraudulently obtained cards. As for Wilson’s role in the conspiracy, the evidence revealed that he fraudulently obtained $122,828 in merchandise cards. The investigation into Wilson and Hood led to the discovery of three more co-conspirators who would purchase the merchandise cards from Wilson and Hood. Those three men have pleaded guilty and received the following sentences: James Hoffman, 48, of McBee, was sentenced to five years of probation and restitution in the amount of $80,000. Donovan Young, 60, of Hartsville, was sentenced to five years of probation. He was also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $75,000, and restitution in the amount of $75,000. Aaron Young, 35, of Florence, was sentenced to four months in federal prison . He was also ordered to pay a fine in the amount of $75,000, and restitution in the amount of $75,000. “We’re grateful for the several law enforcement agencies that worked with this home improvement store to unravel this organized retail fraud scheme,” said Brook Andrews, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The defendants clearly believed they had everyone fooled. Turns out it’s pretty hard to fool the Secret Service.” “This investigation highlights the value of cooperation between the U.S. Secret Service, local law enforcement, and the private sector. These sentencings serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences faced by those who defraud businesses and individuals in our state,” said Charles Leopard, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service Columbia Field Office. “I appreciate the commitment our South Carolina partners, especially the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Charleston Police Department, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, and the home improvement’s stores investigations team.” United States District Richard M. Gergel sentenced Wilson to 36 months imprisonment and ordered to pay the loss amount of $122,828 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system. Hood received a 48-month sentence in May 2023 and was ordered to pay $202,659 in restitution. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, Charleston Police Department, and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Houston man pleads guilty to "jugging" robbery of ATM technician in Midlothian

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A Houston, Texas man pleaded guilty to the “jugging” robbery of an ATM technician that occurred on July 3, 2024, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham. A “jugging” robbery is a type of theft where thieves follow a victim as they service or withdraw cash from ATMs or banks and then rob them. In December 2024, Houston residents Johnny Juwan Clark, 32, Corey Dashun Holloway, Tierra Toneisha Brandyberg, and Roosevelt Ford Valentine were charged in a superseding indictment for their roles in a jugging robbery in Midlothian, Texas. On April 22, 2025, Clark pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery before Senior United States District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn. Clark, Brandyberg, Holloway, and Roosevelt have been linked to a Houston-based criminal organization called the “Hiram Clarke Money Team.” HCMT members are known to routinely travel to areas outside of Houston and engage in “jugging” style robberies and other forms of theft. Clark admitted that at approximately 5:35 p.m. on July 3, 2024, he approached the ATM technician as he was servicing an ATM at a Chase Bank located in Midlothian, Texas. Clark was wearing a hoodie and face covering to disguise his appearance. Clark approached the technician from behind and forced him to the ground. Clark kept his fist to the back of the victim’s head as cannisters containing United States currency were removed from the ATM by codefendants. Approximately $247,000 in United States currency was taken during the robbery. According to court documents, Clark admitted that he was the individual forcing the technician to the ground, captured in a security photo. After the robbery, Clark and two of his codefendants fled from the Chase Bank in the rental car and met a fourth accomplice at an apartment complex in close proximity to the bank. The stolen money was loaded into a Range Rover and driven back to Houston, Texas. Clark’s sentencing is scheduled for July 28, 2025. He faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Codefendant Tierra Toneisha Brandyberg has filed documents advising the court of her intention to plead guilty. A rearraignment date for Brandyberg has not been set. Codefendants Holloway and Valentine are set for jury trial in September 2025. The FBI (Dallas Division) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert is prosecuting the case.


title: Hillsville Man Arrested for Sexual Exploitation of Children

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – Michael Tibbs, 24, of Carroll County, Virginia, was arrested by FBI agents last week on a criminal complaint charging him with sexual exploitation of children. Earlier this week, Tibbs appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge who ordered him detained without bond. Based on evidence presented at Tibbs’ detention hearing, in April 2023, a then-15-year-old minor victim submitted a tip to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center, reporting that a man had been grooming her for approximately one year and continually requesting nude images. FBI agents identified Tibbs as the victim’s groomer and obtained records of his Discord messages. The Discord records revealed that beginning as early as November 2022, Tibbs engaged in sexual chats with several minor girls and paid them to record and send him sexually explicit images and videos. Agents were able to identify and interview some of the minor victims, who confirmed that Tibbs paid them to record sexually explicit content for him. On July 18, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at Tibbs’ home and seized his phone, which contained many sexually explicit images and videos of women with indeterminate ages. Agents were able to identify one of the minor victims, 13 years old, depicted in two of those videos. Tibbs’ phone also held hundreds of computer-generated and animated images of children, including toddlers, being graphically, sexually abused. Agents interviewed Tibbs, who admitted to using Discord to purchase sexual content from minors. He estimated that he purchased from 10 to 15 underage girls. Tibbs explained that he developed an interest in purchasing sexual content from minors after viewing child pornography on TikTok. Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division, made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Inman is prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identity and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/ . A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: York County Man Sentenced To 46 Months In Prison For Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Glenn Jerome Bradley, age 61, of New Park, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on April 22, 2025, to 46 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for possession with intent to distribute powder and crack cocaine. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, on February 27, 2020, police officers observed Bradley travel from his home in Pennsylvania to a location in Maryland and conduct a drug transaction. Upon stopping Bradley’s vehicle, officers recovered distribution quantities of crack and powder cocaine from Bradley’s person. Officers subsequently executed a search warrant on Bradley’s home; from Bradley’s master bedroom closet, officers recovered additional distribution quantities of powder and crack cocaine, more than $20,000 in cash, a loaded handgun, and drug distribution paraphernalia. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Baltimore County Drug Task Force, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Williams prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: Two Men Accused of Involvement in Impostor Scam Targeting Missouri Residents

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Two men from Wisconsin have been accused of acting as couriers for an impostor scam that targeted a Missouri resident. Srinivas Putta, 42, and Ankurkumar Patel, 43, were indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on February 26 on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of wire fraud. Putta was arrested in Wisconsin on April 14. He appeared in court Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Patel was arrested March 27 and has also pleaded not guilty. The indictment accuses the men of involvement in a conspiracy that defrauded victims by pretending to contact them on behalf of financial institutions, law enforcement organizations and government agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Treasury and the Federal Trade Commission. One victim was told that his identity had been stolen and that he would be deported if he didn’t act, the indictment says. The indictment also alleges that the victim had been told that his money had been converted to “black money” through identity theft and that he needed to give cards or prepaid debit cards to couriers to transfer the money into an uncontaminated account that the government set up. On Sept. 25, 2023, Putta and Patel tried to collect $144,000 from the victim, who had been told to meet them in a Target parking lot in Missouri, the indictment says. The indictment also alleges that other couriers collected $125,000 from that victim. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The conspiracy and wire fraud charges each are punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the O’Fallon (Missouri) Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry is prosecuting the case.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robberies

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Richard G. Frohling, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on April 23, 2025, Jamal White (age 34) was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for his role in five armed robberies in southeastern Wisconsin. According to court records, White robbed five commercial businesses between May 19 and May 21, 2023. During each robbery, White brandished a firearm and demanded money from the store cashiers. White robbed a West Allis Speedway gas station, a West Allis BP gas station, a Milwaukee Walgreens, a Greenfield Speedway gas station, and a Kenosha Kwik Trip. At his sentencing hearing, Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper also considered White’s role in two uncharged robberies in northern Illinois on May 21, 2023, which occurred at a Waukegan Walgreens and a Chicago Walgreens. At the time of the robberies, White was on parole with the Illinois Department of Corrections after serving approximately six years in Illinois state prison for armed robbery. White also had outstanding warrants for armed robbery in Indiana. Following his term of imprisonment, White will spend three years on supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force, Milwaukee Police Department, Greenfield Police Department, West Allis Police Department, Kenosha Police Department, Waukegan Police Department, and Chicago Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Abbey M. Marzick and Michael C. Schindhelm. # # # # # For additional information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth Gales (414) 297‑1700


title: Man Charged with Armed Robbery of Westfarms Mall Store

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging WILLIE WHITE, 58, formerly residing in Bristol, New Britain, and Hartford, with offenses stemming from an armed robbery at the Westfarms Mall. The indictment was returned on April 16, 2025. White appeared yesterday in New Haven federal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on July 15, 2024. The indictment alleges that, on July 15, 2024, White robbed the Sunglass Hut at the Westfarms Mall in West Hartford. He stole multiple pairs of designer sunglasses and brandished a Glock pistol during the robbery. It is further alleged that White’s criminal history includes more than 15 felony convictions for drug, robbery, burglary, and other offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. White was on state supervision, including GPS monitoring, at the time of the offense. The indictment charges White with one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery), which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of seven years and maximum term of imprisonment of life; and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the assistance of the West Hartford Police Department and the New Britain Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shan Patel. 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 Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Federal Firearm and Narcotics Trafficking Offenses

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Hugh Emerson Berry, Jr., 41, of Hagerstown, Maryland, to 78 months in federal prison for his role in a narcotics and firearm trafficking network. In January 2025, Berry pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine along with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Frederick; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon Wood, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) – Washington Division; Roland L. Butler, Jr. Superintendent, Maryland State Police (MSP); and Colonel Paul Joey Kifer, Chief of Police, Hagerstown Police Department (HPD). In May 2023, the ATF, HSI, and MSP began investigating a drug and firearm trafficking network spanning the mid-Atlantic of the United States. During the investigation, ATF, HSI, and MSP investigators discovered that Berry and his co-conspirators were selling both illegal narcotics and firearms throughout Maryland. Additionally, the ATF used an undercover investigator to participate in multiple controlled drug purchases. The drugs included heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine aka “crystal meth.” Berry, a convicted felon who cannot possess firearms or ammunition, also offered firearms and a machine-gun conversion device. Between May and October 2023 — over the course of approximately 10 meetings — Berry sold an undercover detective heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. The defendant also sold an undercover detective numerous firearms, including eight polymer 80 firearms aka “Ghost Guns,” three firearm magazines, and a machine-gun conversion device. 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. This case is part of a Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Baltimore Strike Force is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle violent drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations to reduce drug-related and/or gang violence in the Baltimore metropolitan and surrounding areas. The Baltimore Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Maryland State Police, the Baltimore Police Department, the Baltimore Sheriff’s Office, the Baltimore County Police Department, the Maryland Transportation Authority, and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the ATF, HSI, USPIS, MSP Criminal Enforcement Division, and HPD for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Simpkins who prosecuted the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Romanian National Arrested For Possession Of A Firearm By An Alien Unlawfully In The United States

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the arrest and filing of a criminal complaint charging Andrei Saplacan (35, Tampa) with possessing a firearm as an alien unlawfully in the United States. If convicted, Saplacan faces up to 15 years in federal prison. According to the complaint, earlier this month, Saplacan attempted to purchase a firearm from a local Federal Firearms Licensee. Saplacan incorrectly answered one of the questions on the form regarding his immigration status, failing to disclose that he had been admitted to United States under a non-immigrant visa. Saplacan’s application to purchase the firearm was denied. Further investigation revealed that Saplacan entered the United States in September of 2014 on an H2B visa with authorization to remain in the United States until June 10, 2015, and has overstayed for nearly 10 years. As such, he is prohibited from legally purchasing or possessing a firearm or ammunition. A search warrant was executed at Saplacan’s home on April 21, 2025. In Saplacan’s bedroom, law enforcement located five firearms, various rounds of ammunition, a gas mask, and bullet proof vest. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).


title: Convicted Sex Offender Pleads Guilty To Enticing A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Delta Henry Rushing, II (29, Orlando) today pleaded guilty to enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender. Rushing faces a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison for the enticement charge and an additional consecutive 10 years’ imprisonment for committing a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, between November 3 and December 5, 2022, Rushing, a prior convicted sex offender, enticed an individual who Rushing knew was under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Winter Garden Man Sentenced To 3 Years In Federal Prison For Conducting Series Of Cyber Intrusions Against Former Employer

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed has sentenced Michael Scheuer (40, Winter Garden) to three years in federal prison for knowingly transmitting a program, code, or command to a protected computer and intentionally causing damage and for committing aggravated identity theft. The court also ordered Scheuer to forfeit his computer, which was used to commit the offenses, and to pay $687,776.50 in restitution to the victims of his crimes. Scheuer pleaded guilty on January 29, 2025. According to court documents, Scheuer conducted a series of computer intrusions or attacks directed at his former employer following his termination. These intrusions included manipulating allergen information in restaurant menus to indicate that food items were safe for customers with certain allergies, when they were not. Scheuer also altered menu information related to wine regions to reflect locations of recent mass shootings. Additionally, Scheuer launched denial-of-service attacks designed to lock certain company employees out of their accounts. “Formidable relationships with the private sector are a pillar of the FBI’s Cyber Strategy. Through the strength in our partnerships, our Cyber Task Force swiftly identified Mr. Scheuer and disrupted his ability to continue threatening the public,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor. “We are committed to safeguarding a robust Cyber Strategy to unmask malicious cyber actors to ensure justice is served.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Tampa Division Orlando Resident Agency Criminal Intrusion Cyber Squad. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert D. Sowell.


title: Six Individuals Indicted on Charges of Criminal Conspiracy  Involving Illegal Drugs and Firearms

body_text: Yakima, Washington – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington announced today that six people are in federal custody following the return of an indictment alleging 20 criminal counts involving drug trafficking and firearms. On April 22, 2025, the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations, and the Moses Lake Police Department executed a number of federal search warrants at several locations, seizing nine firearms. The guns were seized as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation into a drug trafficking network operating in Eastern Washington. According to unsealed charging documents, the following individuals have been charged in connection to the investigation. In addition, the names of others indicted in connection with this investigation will be unsealed upon the arrest of those individuals. Jose Luis Martinez-Parra, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine, Distribution of Fentanyl, Distribution of 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl Alexander Martinez-Mendoza, 18, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, Distribution of 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl Luis Martin Navarro-Ceballos, 29, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, Distribution of 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine, Carrying Firearm During Drug Trafficking, Alien in Possession of a Firearm Maria Zamora-Cuevas, 33, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Rosa Zamora, 41, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Triston David Duplichan, 29, Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl The individuals were arraigned at the Yakima Federal Courthouse on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Moses Lake Police Department investigated this case. Additional assistance was provided by the Yakima Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Indians Affairs. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin D. Seal. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 1:25-CR-2049-SAB


title: Felon with Stolen Firearm Sentenced to More Than Six Years in  Federal Prison

body_text: Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced today that United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Damian Iniguez, 31, of Yakima, Washington, to 75 months in prison on one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Judge Dimke also imposed 3 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on September 8, 2023, a Zillah Police Officer noticed a suspicious vehicle parked at a gas station. It had been parked at the gas station for two hours and the vehicle was running. When the officer approached the vehicle, the officer saw Iniguez slumped over in the driver’s seat. The vehicle’s gear shift was in “drive” and Iniguez’ foot was on the brake. When Iniguez woke up, he was uncompliant with commands of law enforcement to put the vehicle in park and turn the car off. Iniguez ultimately was placed under arrest, and during a subsequent pat down, the officer located a firearm in Iniguez’s sweatshirt pocket. The firearm was a loaded Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine. Further investigation showed the firearm had been stolen from Oregon in 2021. Iniguez had been convicted of a crime previously and was not allowed to possess a firearm. “The unlawful possession of firearms by convicted felons poses a threat to the safety of our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “Mr. Iniguez’s case highlights the critical work of our local and federal law enforcement partners in removing firearms from the hands of those who are prohibited from having them. We will continue to pursue accountability for those who disregard federal firearm laws and endanger public safety.” “Felons know they should not possess firearms,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “Yet, Mr. Iniguez chose to possess a firearm – a stolen one, even worse. This sentence should serve to show that ATF will investigate, and the U.S. Attorney will prosecute, those who violate federal firearms laws in Washington.” This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Zillah Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin D. Seal and Courtney R. Pratten. 1:23-cr-02068-MKD


title: Five People Indicted for Trafficking Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Marijuana in Western Tennessee

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – Five people have been indicted in the Western District of Tennessee and are facing federal charges for their involvement in an organized drug trafficking scheme in the Western District of Tennessee according to recently unsealed indictments. The charges are the culmination of a two-year long investigation by FBI’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration in conjunction with the Selmer Police Department, McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, Adamsville Police Department, Bolivar Police Department, and Jackson Police Department. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the unsealing of the indictments today. According to court documents, between April 2023 and March 2025, the defendants worked together and with others to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana throughout West Tennessee. The investigation revealed the drug trafficking organization is linked to and worked in conjunction with the Sinaloa cartel in furtherance of the distribution efforts within McNairy County and Memphis, Tennessee. The Sinaloa cartel, also known as Cártel de Sinaloa, is a transnational organization based in Sinaloa, Mexico and was designated on February 20, 2025 as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Cártel de Sinaloa is one of the world’s most powerful drug cartels and is one of the largest producers and traffickers of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States. During the investigation, agents seized 10 kilograms of cocaine, over 16 pounds of methamphetamine, 30,000 fentanyl pills, approximately 40 pounds of marijuana, approximately $21,000 in cash, and a firearm. The indictment is in conjunction with the initiative “Operation Take Back America.” On March 20, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging all five individuals with Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms of cocaine; four of the individuals with Conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine; and three of the individuals with conspiracy to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana. Two of the defendants were charged with multiple individual counts of distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. One defendant was charged with being an illegal alien and unlawfully in the United States and knowing possession of a firearm. Those individuals named in the indictment are: Juan Palomino, 36, of Selmer, TN Joaquin Elizalde, 44, of Selmer, TN Javier Varela, 41, of Byhalia, MS Luis Lizarraga, 36, of Memphis, TN David Asua, 46, of Memphis, TN “These defendants took part in a conspiracy that exposed our communities to significant amounts of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Marijuana,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling any criminal enterprise that risks the wellbeing of our citizens." McNairy County Sheriff Guy Buck stated “We are extremely proud of the outcomes of this investigation and would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Federal, State, and Local Agencies that played a vital role in its success. This case highlights how even small, tight-knit communities are directly impacted by the influence of drug cartels and the international drug trade. As Sheriff, I want to emphasize that no one is above the law, and we will ensure that every individual involved is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christie Hopper and Greg Allen. It was investigated by FBI’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Selmer Police Department, the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, the Adamsville Police Department, the Bolivar Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department. The investigation was furthered by assistance from the FBI – Denver Division. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. ### For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Marion County Man Admits to Methamphetamine, Firearms Charges

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Vincent Irving Jones, 33, of Fairmont, West Virginia, has admitted to the possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to the court documents, Jones possessed a quantity of methamphetamine in Marion County which he intended to unlawfully distribute, as well as a firearm. Jones is prohibited from having firearms because of prior felony convictions. Jones faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the drug charge and faces up to 15 years for the firearms charge. A federal district court judge would determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Rhee is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fairmont Police Department. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.


title: Former Owner Of York Pain Management Practice Sentenced To 42 Months For Health Care Fraud, Money Laundering, And Theft Of Public Money

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rodney L. Yentzer, age 55, formerly of Carlisle, Pennsylvania and currently in Chuluota, Florida, was sentenced to 42 months imprisonment on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and theft of public money. He was also ordered to pay an additional $2,993,386.19 in restitution after having paid $900,000 toward a civil settlement with the United States in 2022. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Yentzer previously admitted to defrauding Medicare and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services between 2016 and 2020 and pleaded guilty to the three offenses for which he was sentenced. Yentzer agreed with others to defraud Medicare by submitting medically unnecessary urine drug tests for chronic opioid patients at medical clinics he controlled, including a group of clinics known as Pain Medicine of York or “PMY” (also known as All Better Wellness). “This defendant’s only interest was in his own wealth, and he exploited patients and defrauded a state healthcare system designed to promote wellness for vulnerable residents in order to line his pockets,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “I commend our federal partners for collaborating with our team on a comprehensive investigation that culminated in a significant prison sentence.” Yentzer assumed control of various medical practices between 2014 and 2018, including the original PMY location, which he acquired in 2014. The medical practices he later took control of included a group of clinics run by John H. Johnson, who was referred to as “Physician 1” in the February 2022 charges against Yentzer. In July 2015, John H. Johnson was indicted for various tax offenses in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. In September 2016, John H. Johnson was charged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud in connection with a separate health care fraud scheme. Johnson was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison on June 30, 2017 for accepting kickbacks in exchange for referring patients for medically unnecessary tests and for failing to pay employment taxes. He was also ordered to repay to the U.S. Government over $3 million restitution payments for fraudulent health care billing and unpaid taxes. Johnson surrendered to federal custody that same day. Following Johnson’s incarceration, the operation of his medical clinics was transitioned to PMY, which was also under Yentzer’s control. Prior to Johnson’s incarceration, Yentzer took direction from Johnson on various issues, including clinical issues at PMY. In 2016, Johnson advised Yentzer to put in place the practice of ordering multiple urine drug tests for each patient at every PMY office visit, and Yentzer agreed. Yentzer understood that this practice did not constitute individualized care, as required by Medicare, and was subsequently confronted repeatedly with information about the unlawful nature of the billing practices for urine drug tests. Nonetheless, Yentzer decided to keep this practice in place until PMY was shut down in late 2019, following a law enforcement raid. PMY billed Medicare for more than $10 million in urine drug tests from mid-2017 through the end of 2019, and Medicare paid out over $4 million for these urine drug tests. Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program was also billed for urine drug tests during this same time period. The urine drug tests ordered by PMY were sent to an in-house laboratory at PMY whenever possible. As a result, when medically unnecessary tests were billed to Medicare, Medicaid, or, in some cases, private insurance companies, the proceeds from them went to PMY itself. The proceeds from the health care fraud scheme were then used for the benefit of Yentzer, Johnson, Johnson’s wife, and Florentina Mayko, the former CEO of PMY. Yentzer bought a number of luxury items with those funds, such as a Rolex Submariner with a retail price of almost $37,000 for himself and a four-carat diamond ring worth over $40,000 for his wife, in addition to a set of approximately $7,000 Rolex watches for himself, John H. Johnson, and another friend and business associate. Yentzer also bought luxury vehicles for himself and his family members, such as a Porsche Boxster, a custom-built car trailer for almost $290,000, and an RV for approximately half a million dollars. Yentzer also made substantial upgrades to his home in Carlisle, PA, which he sold for approximately $1.3 million in 2022 to make restitution and civil settlement payments to the United States. Before reporting to prison, Johnson asked Yentzer to place his wife, Paula Z. Johnson— known as “Physician 2” in the charges against Yentzer—on the PMY payroll. In order to make it appear that she was performing legitimate work—even though she had not practiced medicine in years—Yentzer and John H. Johnson agreed that Paula Z. Johnson would periodically send Yentzer an email containing summaries and excerpts of medical literature. She received a large salary and also had a PMY employee come to her home once a week to perform yardwork and other household duties. This financial arrangement allowed John H. Johnson to share in PMY’s financial success without his assets being seized by the federal government for purposes of restitution payments. John H. Johnson, Paula Z. Johnson, and Rodney L. Yentzer devised various other ways to funnel money to the Johnsons so that they could benefit from this wealth without the money being captured for John H. Johnson’s restitution payments. Among other things, Yentzer purchased a car for the Johnsons’ son and leased an Audi Q5 for Paula Z. Johnson, at her request. Yentzer also made $28,000 in contributions to their children’s 529 college savings accounts, paid over $40,000 in legal bills for “asset and estate planning,” made over $40,000 in payments toward personal loans, and covered other large bills, all with the knowledge of both John H. Johnson and Paula Z. Johnson. On a number of occasions, Paula Z. Johnson requested these payments directly from Yentzer or his assistant. PMY shut down abruptly in November 2019 after search warrants were executed because it was no longer able to retain medical providers to see patients. In April 2020, Yentzer received over $191,000 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stimulus money that was intended for health care providers who had health care related expenses and lost revenues attributable to COVID19. Yentzer obtained these funds even though after he had resigned from PMY the prior month and PMY had been closed since late 2019. Yentzer allegedly used these funds on various things unrelated to COVID19 relief, including personal expenses. In December 2023, Florentina Mayko, the former CEO of PMY, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for her role in the same health care fraud scheme. Mayko was also ordered to pay $1,408,976.48 in restitution and to forfeit to the United States several properties located in Ocean City, Maryland and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that she had purchased used proceeds of the health care fraud scheme. In September 2024, John H. Johnson was sentenced to 97 months in federal prison and ordered to pay an additional $2.3 million in restitution on top of the restitution that he was ordered to pay in 2017. Paula Z. Johnson was sentenced to three years of probation, including six months of home detention with location monitoring, and was ordered to immediately pay $249,301.36 in restitution, fines, and assessments. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration Diversion Control Program, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Smultkis prosecuted the case. # # #


title: St. Louis County Men Sentenced for the Armed Robbery of Dollar Stores

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Two men who robbed two dollar stores at gunpoint have both been sentenced to more than 11 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Wednesday sentenced Deon Walker, 27, to 11 years and nine months in prison. Samuel Nance, 33, of Black Jack, Missouri, was sentenced in July to 14 years in prison. Both men pleaded guilty to three felonies: two counts of robbery and one count of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. On Oct. 9, 2022, just after 6 p.m., Walker and Nance robbed a dollar store in Berkeley, Missouri. Both men entered the store wearing clothing with hoods and black ski masks. When an employee asked them to remove their hoods, Walker pointed a black handgun at the employees and customers, demanded money and ordered everyone to get on the floor. One customer was able to escape out of the rear of the store with two children. An employee opened one cash register, which Nance emptied. Walker grabbed a customer and escorted her to the front of the store at gunpoint before forcing her to the floor. He and Nance then took money from another cash register and then stole about 18 packs of Newport cigarettes along with about $481 in cash. About 90 minutes later, the two men robbed a dollar store in Ferguson, Missouri. Walker and Nance walked behind the checkout counter and Walker pointed a handgun at a cashier before demanding money. Nance jumped over the checkout counter to stop a customer who was trying to leave the store. Walker then took the entire cash drawer and both Nance and Walker ran out of the store. Walker and Nance stole about $486. The FBI and the Berkeley Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Linda Lane prosecuted the case.