title: February Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments Announced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the January Federal Grand Jury 2025-B Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Marco Demon Campbell; Harold Eddie Davis. Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking Crimes; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition (superseding). Campbell, 43, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. Campbell and Davis, 78, of Tulsa, are charged with maintaining a residence for drug distribution. Additionally, Campbell is charged with possessing firearms while trafficking drugs and knowingly possessing a firearm and ammunition after being convicted of a felony. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Mike Flesher are prosecuting the case. 25-CR-403 Genesis Pinacho Catemaxca. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute (Counts 1 and 3); Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 2); Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime (Count 4). Catemaxca, 30, of Tulsa, is charged with two counts of knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Further, she is charged with carrying a firearm in October 2025 and possessing one in January 2026, while engaging in drug trafficking. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-054 Jacob Lee Crain. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Carrying a Firearm During and in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Crain, 28, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He is additionally charged with carrying a firearm while trafficking drugs, and possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of a felony. The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-053 Juan Martin Guadalupe Flores-Hernandez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Flores-Hernandez, 37, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in August 2006 and 2014. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-062 Gregory Allen Giffin. Arson in Indian Country. Giffin, 43, transient and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with willfully and maliciously setting fire to an occupied hotel room and endangering the lives of the occupants. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies, with the assistance of the Tulsa Fire Department Fire Marshals. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-064 Amber Renee Long. Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Long, 35, of Tulsa, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing she was previously convicted of a felony. The FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Kelly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-063 Steven Roberto Pineda Amaya. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Pineda Amaya, 29, a Honduran national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in August 2019 and February 2020. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Niko Boulieris is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-060 Jose Humberto Sandoval Contreras. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Sandoval Contretas, 39, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been previously removed in December 2024. Homeland Security Investigations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Jolly is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-061 Tearrow Sharnel Scott. Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Scott, 49, of Tulsa, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration Tulsa Resident Office and the Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 26-CR-056


title: Chicago Man Sentenced to Ten Years’ Imprisonment for Armed Robberies

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 19, 2026, Rumeal Campbell, aka “Melo,” (age: 34) was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, by Chief United States District Judge Pamela Pepper. Publicly filed documents reflect that Campbell and his accomplices committed two armed robberies of businesses, little more than an hour apart, on the evening of January 30, 2022. During one robbery, Campbell fired his weapon into the ceiling, jumped across the checkout counter, and placed his firearm into a clerk’s back, while forcing her to open the cash register. During the other robbery, Campbell held his firearm to another clerk’s head to force him to part with the store’s cash. Campbell and his associates ultimately stole over $23,000 that evening. The robberies remained unsolved until December of 2022, when law enforcement determined that the same weapon Campbell fired in January was used during a third robbery. Campbell ultimately pled guilty, only days before his scheduled trial, to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). When imposing sentence, Chief Judge Pepper emphasized the grievous harm Campbell had caused his victims. Chief Judge Pepper noted that Campbell, in his greed, had changed his victims’ lives forever. The judge reflected that “these sorts of robberies constitute a form of torture,” because the victims do not know if they will ever see their families again, and their mental anguish carries on long after the crime itself has ended. Chief Judge Pepper also noted that two robberies less than an hour apart do not represent a mistake, but rather, a “terrible, terrible choice” by Campbell with the power to destroy lives, including his own. “The sentence imposed by the Court reflects the gravity of these offenses and the lasting impact on the victims,” said U.S. Attorney Schimel. “Armed robbery is a violent crime that reverberates far beyond the moment it occurs, leaving emotional scars long after the physical scene is cleared. Through strong partnerships with our law enforcement agencies, we will continue to protect the public by aggressively prosecuting those who threaten the safety and security of our communities.” “Rumeal Campbell and his accomplices terrorized the victims of these robberies and placed innocent lives in danger during his violent crime spree in the Milwaukee area. The FBI is committed to crushing violent crime and holding accountable those who threaten public safety,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Alan Karr. “The FBI will continue working together with our law enforcement partners to ensure justice is served.” “The West Allis Police Department thanks the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for working in partnership with us to hold a violent criminal accountable,” said West Allis Police Chief Patrick Mitchell. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Allis Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Porchia Lewand and Kevin Knight. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: Downey Man Arrested on Federal Complaint Alleging He Groomed Girls into Producing Sexually Explicit Videos that Featured Self-Harm

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Downey man has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging him with coercing, inducing, and enticing minor girls to create and send him sexually explicit videos – one of them he groomed to film herself engage in self-harm and self-humiliation, images he shared with others online, the Justice Department announced today. Bryant Najera Gonzalez, 24, is charged with production of child pornography. He was arrested on Thursday morning and made his initial appearance late Thursday afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. A federal magistrate judge ordered Gonzalez jailed without bond. Gonzalez did not enter a plea, and his arraignment is scheduled for March 10. “The complaint affidavit outlines disturbing behavior that is every parent’s nightmare,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “To the individuals targeting children with sick acts as part of a twisted ideology, you’ve been warned: Your future is a lengthy federal prison sentence.” “Nihilistic violent extremism targeting children is on the rise domestically and internationally,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “The arrest of Mr. Gonzalez this morning in our backyard is just the latest example of the growing nature of this perverse activity that encourages children toward sexual compromise and self-mutilation, then further victimizes them with extortion demands.” According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, from at least April 2025 to June 2025, through social media platforms, direct messaging, and other means of communication, Gonzalez coerced, induced, and enticed children to create and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In communications with other online users, Gonzalez also discussed extorting his minor victims by, among other things, threatening to send sexually explicit images to the victims’ families. Based on Gonzalez’s online activities, his coercion and enticement of minors to create CSAM and self-harm videos, law enforcement believes Gonzalez is associated with nihilistic violent extremist ideology such as “764.” The complaint details the nature of the 764, which is known to the FBI as a Nihilistic Violent Extremism (NVE) group whose members engage in criminal conduct within the United States and abroad, in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society at large and a desire to bring about its collapse by sowing indiscriminate chaos, destruction, and social instability. NVEs oftentimes target vulnerable individuals, including minors, frequently using social media platforms to share CSAM are gore material, or grooming victims toward committing acts of violence. Victims can be blackmailed into complying with NVE demands, which vary, but may include self-mutilation, online and in-person sexual acts, harm to animals, sexual exploitation of siblings and others, acts of violence, threats of violence, suicide, and murder. For example, at Gonzalez’s urging, one victim – then an 11-year-old girl – produced and sent to Gonzalez at least one CSAM video. Gonzalez possessed at least six CSAM videos and one CSAM image of this victim. After obtaining the sexually explicit videos and images of this victim, Gonzalez on multiple occasions shared the CSAM with other people via the internet. At Gonzalez’s urging, another victim – then a 15-year-old girl – produced and sent to him at least four sexually explicit images of herself and several videos in which she engaged in self-harm and self-humiliation. A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court. If convicted, Gonzalez would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. The FBI is investigating this matter with assistance from the Downey Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph S. Guzman of the National Security Division and Kelsey A. Stimson of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Woodland Hills Film Production Accountant Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Money from Indie Films That Employed Him

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A film production accountant from the San Fernando Valley pleaded guilty today to embezzling money from the independent film productions that employed him, moving the illicitly obtained funds into an account he called “Fun Fun Fun.” Joshua Mandel, 48, of Woodland Hills, pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud. According to court documents, Mandel owned the Woodland Hills-based company First J Productions Inc., where he served as both its CEO and chief financial officer. He also worked as a film production accountant who specialized in accounting services for independent films. As a production accountant, Mandel oversaw cash flow, payroll, and expenses for the film productions. He also was an authorized user for bank accounts belonging to the production companies and added funds to prepaid debit cards issued by CASHét Card, which are commonly used in the film industry. From 2019 to 2023, Mandel misappropriated funds belonging to the film productions by writing unauthorized checks, making unauthorized wire transfers, and moving funds into a CASHét Card account he controlled called “Fun Fun Fun.” To hide his scheme, Mandel used funds from one production company to pay expenses incurred by another. Law enforcement believes the total amount Mandel embezzled approached $2 million and that he used the embezzled money to maintain his lifestyle, including paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to various young women, including pornographic actresses, and more than $129,000 to a woman he met through a “sugar daddy” website; spending more than $24,000 at Las Vegas hotels, clubs, and shows; and purchasing more than $12,000 in luxury items from Louis Vuitton. United States District Judge John F. Walter scheduled a May 4 sentencing hearing, at which time Mandel will face up to 20 years in federal prison for each count. Mandel remains free on $25,000 bond. The FBI is investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander B. Schwab, Acting Chief of the Criminal Division, and Lauren E. Border of the General Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Romanian National Pleads Guilty to Selling Access to Networks of Oregon State Government Office and Other U.S. Victims

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Romanian national pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with an online intrusion into an Oregon state government office, along with multiple cyber attacks on other U.S. victims. Catalin Dragomir, 45, formerly of Constanta, Romania, pleaded guilty to obtaining information from a protected computer and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, Dragomir sold access to a computer on the network of an Oregon state government office after obtaining unauthorized access to it in June 2021. During the sale of access to the computer, Dragomir provided the prospective buyer with samples of personal identifying information from the computer to prove he had actual access to the network. Dragomir also sold access to the computer networks of numerous other victims in the U.S., causing losses of at least $250,000. On May 21, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a five-count indictment charging Dragomir with obtaining information from a protected computer, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. Dragomir was arrested in Romania in November 2024 and extradited to the United States in January 2025. Dragomir faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release for obtaining information from a protected computer and a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison, a fine not to exceed $250,000, and one year of supervised release for aggravated identity theft. He will be sentenced on May 26, 2026, before a U.S. District Court Judge. As part of the plea agreement, Dragomir has agreed to pay restitution in full to the victims and forfeited cryptocurrency. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine A. Rykken for the District of Oregon and Trial Attorneys Benjamin A. Bleiberg and Alison M. Zitron of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Romanian Ministry of Justice, Directorate for International Law and Judicial Cooperation, and the Romanian judiciary to secure the arrest and extradition of Dragomir. The Department of Justice also thanks Darkweb IQ for its assistance with the investigation. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds.


title: Eleven Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Racketeering, Attempted Murder, Murder Conspiracy and Drug Trafficking Charges

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, FL - A four-count indictment was unsealed in the Middle District of Florida charging 11 defendants – all alleged Sex Money Murder-24K (SMM-24K) gang members and associates – with crimes including racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, attempted and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, and drug conspiracy crimes. The gang was active inside and outside of the prison system in the State of Florida. According to court documents and statements in court, SMM-24K members and associates allegedly engaged in extreme violence to retaliate against fellow members for perceived violations of gang rules. For example, SMM-24K members conspired to kill one fellow member for lying about not knowing the location of family members of a rival gang member, resulting in the stabbing and attempted murder of the SMM-24K member in the DeSoto Correctional Institution. SMM-24K conspired to kill a different SMM member, who they accused of lying to and stealing from the gang, by stabbing him around the neck. SMM-24K members also profited from trafficking large amounts of deadly drugs inside Florida Department of Corrections Institutions, by using associates to smuggle the drugs, including methamphetamine, into the prisons. “The crimes alleged in this indictment demonstrate the callousness and determination of the SMM-24K gang to perpetuate heinous acts in Florida’s prison system,” stated U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. “Even from behind bars, this gang sought to expand their criminal enterprise through violence and illegal activities. Thanks to the diligent investigation and cooperation by our federal, state, and local partners, a major drug trafficking operation was disrupted, and its members will be forced to account for their crimes.” “The FBI’s goal in crushing violent crime is to surge resources and partnerships, to build cases that cut into the capabilities of violent criminal networks, like Sex, Money, Murder 24K.” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Fodor of the FBI’s Tampa Field Office. “When we maximize impact, we disrupt the violence, and ultimately ensure our communities are safer.” According to court documents, SMM-24K created a “hit list” that included identifying and location information of their victims and intended targets, and the accusations against each. As alleged in the indictment, on January 17, 2023, defendant Tyrone Conaway, 37, formerly of Fort Lauderdale, FL, directed multiple SMM-24K members at the DeSoto Correctional Institution to murder an SMM-24K member who allegedly had lied to and stolen from the gang. Less than two weeks later, that SMM-24K member was stabbed inside the correctional facility. On February 23, 2023, defendant Terry Tillman, 38, Orlando, FL, attempted to kill a different SMM member by stabbing that person around the neck while defendant Charlie Martin, 28, Deland, FL, acted as a lookout. Information about both victims was included on the “hit list.” In April 2023, defendants Hernando Thompson, 40, Orlando, FL and Alvin James, 30, Orlando, FL exchanged text messages coordinating the murder of a rival gang member. That rival gang member was attacked, and his face was slashed in Apalachee East Correctional Institution. Less than a month later, that same rival gang member was repeatedly stabbed by two inmates on May 24, 2023, after having been moved to Liberty Correctional Institution. According to court documents and statements made in court, SMM-24K is a subset of the Bloods gang, which originated in Los Angeles in the early 1970s. The SMM subset has spread from the Bronx and New York to areas across the East Coast, including Florida, where it operates inside and outside prisons and jails. The indictment alleges an extensive criminal enterprise in which SMM-24K members, including inmates within the Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC), orchestrated numerous crimes, including conspiracies to commit murder and drug trafficking within FDOC facilities. If convicted, the defendants face penalties including up to life in prison life in prison for racketeering conspiracy and drug conspiracy; and up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case, with valuable assistance from the Florida Department of Corrections, the Florida Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Ruddy and Robert Sowell for the Middle District of Florida and Trial Attorney Christopher Matthews of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Indictment


title: 200 Federal Immigration Cases Filed in the Western District of Texas This Week

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas filed 200 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from Feb. 13 to Feb. 19, announced U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons. Charges were brought against human smugglers and illegal aliens with past convictions for sex crimes, violent crimes, drug trafficking, DWIs, and multiple prior removals. Among the new cases, U.S. citizens Arturo Reyes and Anthony Joseph Scalza were arrested west of Tornillo on Tuesday. U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered three illegal aliens, identified as citizens of Guatemala and El Salvador, hiding in a pecan orchard. A criminal complaint alleges that the agents obtained consent to search the subjects’ cell phones, which led to direct communication with a driver arranging to pick up and transport the three aliens. The complaint alleges Reyes and Scalza arrived in two separate vehicles at an agreed upon location to pick up the aliens but were instead met by USBP. Reyes and Scalza are each charged with one count of alien smuggling. Guatemalan national and felon Julio Lucas Santos-Santos was found nearly 11 miles west of the Tornillo Port of Entry on Tuesday. On Feb. 28, 2023, Santos-Santos was convicted of rape in the first degree in Queens, New York. He was removed from the U.S. to Guatemala through Louisiana in July 2025. Guatemalan national Edgar Gutierrez-Perez , who was deported for the fourth time in August 2025, is again facing an illegal re-entry charge after being found east of the Fort Hancock Port of Entry. In 2024, Gutierrez-Perez was convicted in Georgia for one count of battery family violence and one count of aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 114 days in federal prison following his illegal re-entry conviction last year in the District of New Mexico. Mexican national Angel Eduardo Zamora-Yanez was found and arrested approximately a quarter of a mile west of the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry, having been previously deported for the eighth time in September 2025. In 2023, Zamora-Yanez was convicted of assaulting a peace officer and was sentenced to three years in jail. He has also been convicted once for improper entry and thrice for illegal re-entry. In Austin, Honduran national Isman Manuel Garcia-Ozorto was found to be a previously removed alien whose most recent deportation was in August 2017. Garcia-Ozorto was convicted of evading arrest in 2012, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault causing bodily injury in 2013, possession of a controlled substance in 2016, and improper entry by an alien in 2017. He is now charged with one count of illegal re-entry. Ever Rivera-Molina , also a Honduran national, was encountered at the Bexar County Adult Detention Center in San Antonio following his arrest for a DWI on Feb. 8. He was turned over to the custody of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations after it was found that his immigration records indicated he was previously removed from the U.S. in October 2022. In 2019, Rivera-Molina was convicted and sentenced for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On Monday, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Mexican national Jose Octavio Medrano-Adame near Maverick. Medrano-Adame was deported for the second time in December 2025. In 2013, he was convicted of deadly conduct discharge of a firearm and sentenced to four years confinement. Cuban national Rolando Portales-Zambrano was arrested near Maverick for illegal re-entry after just being removed from the U.S. to Mexico through Harlingen on Jan. 28. Portales-Zambrano has multiple convictions in his criminal record, including two separate felony convictions for smuggling of persons, assault causing bodily injury to a family member, and failure to give ID or intent to give false information as a fugitive. Mexican national Audelio Salmeron-Gomez , who has been convicted of four DWIs including one with a child under 15 years old, was arrested for illegal re-entry near Terrell. His most recent DWI conviction came in June 2024 and resulted in an eight-year prison sentence. That case also included a conviction for assault causing bodily injury to a family member. He was subsequently deported from the U.S. to Mexico approximately one year later, in August 2025. Mexican national and convicted felon German Ceniceros-Briones was arrested near Maverick for illegal re-entry, having been previously deported for the second time in March 2017. Ceniceros-Briones was convicted in 2004 for one count of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession of a controlled substance. For those charges, he was sentenced to 10 years confinement. In 2015, he was convicted of illegal re-entry and served 27 months of confinement. Isaac Sanchez-Enriquez , also a felon, was arrested for illegal re-entry near Maverick. The Mexican national was deported for the fourth time in September 2023. He has been convicted of two drug trafficking felonies, one improper entry by an alien for his first immigration conviction and was convicted on two separate occasions for illegal re-entry. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico. 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. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Richland County Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun Charge

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

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Terrance Lopez Mayo, 33, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Nov. 13, 2023, officers were called after a witness reported seeing a male passenger in a vehicle point a gun at him. Officers saw the vehicle parked. When they approached, Mayo ran from the vehicle. During the chase, Mayo threw a 9mm pistol to the ground. Investigators later determined the firearm had been reported stolen. Mayo has a prior conviction for attempted armed robbery which prevents him from possessing a firearm under federal law. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Mayo to 31 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. 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 was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major prosecuted the case. ###


title: USAO-Kansas: Threats or interference with federal agents is a felony offense

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser of the District of Kansas is concerned about incidents of persons threatening federal agents and/or persons using their vehicles to aggressively chase or interfere with federal agents engaged in their official duties. As a result, USAO-KS is spreading public awareness on the difference between legal protest and criminal behavior. U.S. Attorney Kriegshauser issued the following statement: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Kansas strongly supports and seeks to protect freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest. We also believe it is imperative that protests be carried out in a responsible and legal manner to reduce the chance of injury to either law enforcement or to the public. Interfering with federal agents who are carrying out their duties can be charged by our office, depending on the conduct. Making threats against federal officials can be charged by our office, depending on the conduct. Individuals engaged in these activities should be aware that they are subject to prosecution in federal court. Recently, in the District of Kansas we have charged these types of crimes as federal felonies. We at the U.S. Attorney’s Office- District of Kansas are actively following reports on interactions between federal agents and the general public in our state. Our commitment is to review allegations with an impartial lens that scrutinizes the actions of everyone involved, law enforcement and the public, to determine if those actions are in accordance with the law. We are aware that on February 14, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were in Olathe conducting a targeted search for an identified individual. During that time, ICE agents had an encounter with two other local residents who were involved in tracking and following ICE agents while using their vehicle in an exceedingly aggressive manner. The license plate of the vehicle was determined to be associated with a previously deported individual for whom a Warrant for the Arrest of an Alien was issued, and the vehicle was stopped. The 19-year-old driver of the vehicle was ultimately determined to be a United States citizen. After reviewing the arrest for interference, we determined that the individual involved admitted to following federal agents in his vehicle while screaming at them, and he admitted to driving recklessly to where he almost struck the agent with his vehicle. Our office has decided not to pursue charges at this time given the specific circumstances. However, that decision may change if additional information is obtained. This is just one instance of an increasing number of reports we have seen lately of the public following agents while using their vehicles in an aggressive manner. Increasingly, some of those following agents in potential reckless or criminal manner are young people, an age group that is generally more impressionable and more likely than older adults to act rashly when swept up with emotions. We encourage parents to have discussions with their children about what forms of conduct are appropriate as they exercise their constitutional right to freedom of speech so that they do not commit federal crimes. Federal agents enforcing immigration law can arrest United States citizens who commit federal offenses in their presence such as threats or interference inhibiting their duties. Again, we support the right to peacefully protest. However, we will not allow illegal conduct that endangers the safety of law enforcement and other members of the public.” ###


title: Anchorage man arrested in Juneau, charged with sex trafficking and other child exploitation offenses

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The FBI arrested an Anchorage man today in Juneau after a federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging him with sex trafficking children, sexual exploitation of children-production of child pornography, coercion and enticement of children and receipt of child pornography. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Alaska According to public court documents, Craig Scott Valdez, 36, used the popular social media application Snapchat to identify, groom and entice juvenile females in Alaska for the purposes of sexual exploitation. The indictment charges this conduct in relation to one minor victim from an incident occurring in October 2025, but Valdez is believed to have victimized or attempted to victimize other juveniles in Anchorage and Juneau. Valdez is a current state employee working in Anchorage and Juneau. Valdez is charged with one count of Sex Trafficking of Children in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1591; one count of Sexual Exploitation of Children (Production of Child Pornography) in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251; one count of Coercion and Enticement of Children in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2242(b); and one count of Receipt of Child Pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on Feb. 23, 2026, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle F. Reardon of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces between 15 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Anchorage Police Department are investigating this case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. If anyone has information concerning Valdez’s alleged actions or may have encountered someone using the name “Craig Scott Valdez” or usernames “NONAME20233132” or “DOCHANK” in person or online, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov . Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC . ###


title: Joseph Payne Pabón Sentenced to Life in Prison for Carjacking Resulting in Death

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico –On February 19, 2026, United States District Court Judge Aida M. Delgado-Colón sentenced Joseph Payne Pabón to life in prison for a federal crime that arose from the carjacking-murder of Eulalia Combas-Sancho, an 82-year-old retired professor, on January 7, 2020, in the municipality of San Juan. On June 20, 2025, a jury determined, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial, that Joseph Payne Pabón, a 33-year-old homeless man, entered the home of Eulalia Combas Sancho with the intent to take her Hyundai Sonata vehicle. The defendant found the victim in her backyard weeding. In order to take her vehicle, Payne-Pabón hit her the back of the head with a cement block causing multiple injuries that resulted in her death. Payne-Pabón had an extensive criminal history and had been in prison multiple times. “This life sentence rightly holds the defendant responsible for the pain and suffering he inflicted on his victim and her family,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “Anyone who commits cold-blooded crimes of violence in violation of federal law will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law by the Justice Department and this office. I commend the agents and officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, the Puerto Rico Police Department, and federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the tireless efforts and outstanding work, from the beginning of the investigation of the carjacking and murder of the victim to the sentencing.” “Yesterday’s life sentence imposed on violent criminal and murderer Joseph Payne-Pabón represents the only just outcome and brings a measure of closure to the victim’s family and loved ones. ATF Puerto Rico remains steadfast in its commitment to investigating violent crime throughout Puerto Rico & the U.S. Virgin Islands and has a long and distinguished record of bringing dangerous offenders like Payne-Pabón to justice in federal court,” said Jason Stankiewicz, Special Agent in Charge of ATF Miami Field Division. “I commend the dedicated ATF Special Agents and Task Force Officers, including our partners from the Puerto Rico Police Department, as well as the prosecutors from the United States Attorney’s Office, for their outstanding work over the course of several years. Their unwavering commitment and tireless efforts were instrumental in securing this conviction. In 2025, following extensive trial proceedings, a jury of Payne-Pabon’s peers returned a guilty verdict, leading to yesterday’s sentence and ensuring accountability under the law.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with the assistance of the Puerto Rico Police Department, the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, and the Puerto Rico Institute of Forensic Sciences. The FBI also collaborated in the analysis of phone location data, and the citizens of Puerto Rico provided information that secured the conviction and sentence of this individual. Assistant United States Attorney Jeanette Collazo, Chief of the Violent Crimes and National Security Section at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney César Rivera-Díaz prosecuted the case. ###


title: Waterloo Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Buying Gun for Boyfriend

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Waterloo woman who bought guns for her boyfriend was sentenced February 19, 2026, to one year in federal prison. Arryel Skye Waters, age 24, of Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison sentence after a September 4, 2025, guilty plea to one count of false statement during purchase of a firearm. Evidence at the sentencing and plea hearings showed that in July 2023, Waters attempted to purchase a gun from a business in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Waters’ boyfriend, who was 17 at the time, went with her to the store. Employees at the store felt Waters was not being truthful about who she was buying the gun for, so they denied the purchase of the gun. Waters then left the business and travelled to another business in Cedar Falls. This time, her boyfriend stayed in the car. Waters went inside and purchased a Glock firearm. When she filled out the paperwork to purchase the gun, she noted she was buying the gun for herself. In reality, Waters was buying the gun for her boyfriend. Waters and her boyfriend were also both marijuana users at the time. In November 2023, Waters was working as a delivery driver. Employees at one of the businesses she delivered to made comments to her that Waters relayed to her boyfriend. Waters’ boyfriend confronted employees with the gun Waters had purchased for him. The boyfriend was later arrested and charged with multiple counts, including felon in possession of a firearm. Waters boyfriend had a prior felony conviction for burglary which prevented him from possessing firearms. Waters was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Waters was sentenced to 12 months’ and one day imprisonment. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment fee. Waters must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley L. Corkery and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives, the Cedar Falls Police Department, and the Waterloo Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-2043. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Over $35.5 Million in Fiscal Year 2025

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office collected more than $35.5 million in Fiscal Year 2025. Of this amount, $4,309,149.70 was collected in criminal actions and $31,208.840.42 in civil actions. Additionally, the Office worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $6,012.405.23 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $57,235.63 was collected in criminal actions and $5,995,169.60 was collected in civil actions. “These exceptional recoveries reflect our Office’s unwavering commitment to victims of crime,” said U.S. Attorney Bumgarner. “I am proud of our team’s determination to deliver meaningful results in both criminal and civil proceedings. This Office will continue to aggressively pursue the collection of every dollar owed to crime victims, victims of fraud, and federal agencies.” Notable recoveries in the past fiscal year include $800,000 paid in United States v. Robert Hunt , Case No. 1:25-cr-10 and $340,000 in United States v. James Worthington , Case No. 3:24-cr-104. The Office recovered more than $16 million for violations of the False Claims Act and $9.5 million for unpaid taxes owed by a debtor in bankruptcy. The office also collected more than $1 million in state foreclosure actions involving federal liens. In addition to the criminal and civil collections, last fiscal year the Office worked with partner agencies and divisions to collect $1,148,244 in asset forfeiture actions. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. ###


title: Cameroonian National Sentenced for Unemployment Insurance Benefits Fraud

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A Cameroonian National, who committed crimes against the United States from abroad, received a federal prison term today, in connection with an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme. U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow sentenced Anais Thalia Ossele Massaba, 34, to 54 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Inspector General Anthony P. D’Esposito, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland. According to court documents, from June 2020 through September 2021, Massaba conspired with co-conspirators to defraud the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) and other state workforce agencies of more than $1.7 million in UI benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Massaba and her co-conspirators transmitted and caused the transmission of wire comminutions, in interstate commerce, from the United Kingdom to Maryland. The co-conspirators conspired to submit and cause the submission of numerous UI claims using the stolen identities of United States citizens. Co-conspirator 1 and Co-conspirator 2 were U.S. fugitives. Co-conspirator 1 was residing in the UK under a false identity after fleeing the United States in 2015. Massaba and Co-conspirator 2 were married and fled to the UK, in September 2019, to avoid arrest and prosecution. The co-conspirators executed the sophisticated scheme while residing in the UK. Beginning in June 2020, Co-conspirator 1 organized a group of individuals in the U.S. and the UK to participate in the wide-ranging conspiracy to fraudulently obtain UI benefits from multiple state workforce agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Massaba and Co-conspirator 2 were part of the UK group responsible for filing false UI claims with the MD-DOL and other state workforce agencies. While in the UK, Massaba used a computer to file fraudulent UI claims with the MD-DOL. Massaba and others used and controlled two anonymous email addresses, allowing her and the co-conspirators to create linked, disposable email addresses for the fraudulent UI applications. This allowed the conspirators to file numerous fraudulent UI claims and aggregate information in discrete accounts. In total, Massaba submitted and caused the submission of at least 196 fraudulent UI claims to the MD-DOL using these anonymous email addresses, resulting in approximately $1,708,256 in losses. The two email addresses and the UI claims that she filed represent only a small fraction of the fraudulent UI claims filed by the co-conspirators. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG, IRS-CI, and HSI Maryland for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared M. Beim and Bijon A. Mostoufi who are prosecuting the case. The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the CARES Act. Strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts that use prosecutor-led and data-analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: D.C. Driver Who Tore Up National Mall Lawn and Menaced Pedestrians Gets 18 Months in Prison

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Curtis Lear, 30, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to 18 months of incarceration in connection with driving an SUV recklessly at high speed on the National Mall as hundreds of visitors were present, causing over $9,000 in damage to the lawn, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Lear pleaded guilty on October 10, 2025, before Judge Carl J. Nichols to one count of destruction of government property and to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon. In addition, Judge Nichols ordered Lear to serve three years of supervised release and pay $9,165 in restitution. On June 21, 2025, at 8:45 p.m., Lear, operating a black Jeep Patriot, drove onto the National Mall near 7th Street, SW, between Jefferson and Madison Drives. Lear raced at high speeds, making sharp turns on the grass and accelerating uncontrollably, according to witnesses. At the time, hundreds of pedestrians occupied the National Mall and surrounding areas for the “33rd Annual Giant Barbecue Battle.” At one point, Lear drove towards two individuals, putting them in fear of immediate injury. The incident was captured on video by surveillance and private cellular phone cameras. When a U.S. Capitol Police officer approached Lear’s vehicle on foot, Lear rolled down the driver’s side window and stated, “It’s just a joke.” Another officer reported that Lear stood outside of his vehicle and yelled at pedestrians while flexing his arms. Police attempted to stop Lear, but he fled the area. At approximately 3:00 a.m. the following morning, officers located the Jeep and conducted a traffic stop. Lear was behind the wheel. Joining the U.S. Attorney in the announcement was Chief Scott Brecht of the U.S. Park Police. This case was investigated by the U.S. Park Police and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Green and Michael C. Lee. Lear drove his Jeep SUV (circled in red) erratically on the National Mall. Lear’s joyride on the National Mall caused more than $9,000 in damage. 25cr198


title: Montgomery County Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Insider Trading Linked to CVS’s 2023 Acquisition of Oak Street Health

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Carlos Sacanell, 59, of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 24 months’ imprisonment and a $5000 fine by United States District Judge Wendy Beetlestone for insider trading. The defendant was charged by indictment in October 2024. In September of last year, he pleaded guilty to one count of securities fraud (insider trading) and one count of making a false statement to a federal agency. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, Sacanell obtained material nonpublic information from his domestic partner, who was an executive at Oak Street Health, about CVS Health Corporation’s acquisition of Oak Street Health in 2023. At all times relevant to this matter, both CVS and Oak Street Health were publicly traded companies on the New York Stock Exchange, with ticker symbols CVS and OSH, respectively. Sacanell used the material nonpublic information obtained from his domestic partner to trade stock and options in Oak Street Health before the transaction was publicly announced on February 8, 2023, resulting in him obtaining profits of approximately $617,000. When the defendant was interviewed by the FBI in April 2024, he falsely told agents that he did not obtain from his domestic partner information regarding CVS’s planned acquisition of Oak Street Health before the acquisition was publicly announced on February 8, 2023. This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Francis A. Weber. The Securities and Exchange Commission also charged Sacanell, in a parallel matter.


title: Baltimore Man Indicted for Alleged Child Sex Trafficking Crimes

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury indicted a Baltimore man for child sex trafficking crimes. Antoine “Tony” Miles, 57, is charged with sex trafficking of a child and coercion and enticement. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI – Baltimore Field Office, Scott Shellenberger, State’s Attorney for Baltimore County, and Acting Superintendent Michael A. Jackson, Maryland State Police (MSP). According to the indictment, throughout September 2025, Miles reserved and paid for a hotel room for a minor victim to engage in a commercial sex act. He also allegedly persuaded, induced, and enticed the minor victim to engage in prostitution and commercial sex act with him. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. An indictment is not a finding of guilt. Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. If convicted, Miles faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, as well as lifetime registration as a sex offender. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office, and MSP for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Resident of Cyprus Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Money Laundering

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Geoffrey Magistrate, 61, a current resident of Limassol, Cyprus, and a prior resident of Pennsylvania, [1] was sentenced this week to 18 months in prison by United States District Judge Gerald J. Pappert for money laundering. The defendant was arrested on a criminal complaint in August of last year. He was charged by information in October and pleaded guilty in November to one count of money laundering, waiving prosecution by indictment. As detailed in court filings, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”) Global Illicit Financial Team (“GIFT”) identified Magistrate as a corporate service provider in Cyprus potentially involved in concealing and laundering funds obtained from illicit enterprises. Based upon this information, an IRS undercover agent (the “Undercover Broker”) proceeded to contact Magistrate by phone and explained that the Undercover Broker had clients looking to shield their identities and move money. Magistrate immediately probed the Undercover Broker for more information about what services the Undercover Broker’s clients needed, and provided detailed suggestions of how to achieve the supposed clients’ goals of laundering money. As further detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, after meeting the Undercover Broker’s “client” (the “Undercover Client,” another IRS agent) in person, Magistrate developed a scheme to launder what he believed to be proceeds of bank fraud through a bank account he controlled in Cyprus. The scheme consisted of claiming that a U.S. company was investing in Magistrate’s Cypriot company, which would then, in turn, send money back to the United States to purchase real estate property in the Philadelphia area. In fact, the money would be sent back to a company that Magistrate believed was controlled by the Undercover Client. In furtherance of the scheme, Magistrate created a false paper trail to document the bogus purpose of the transfers of purported bank fraud proceeds to Cyprus, sent misleading emails purporting to document and describe a phony real estate investment, concocted a story to facilitate the transfer of purported bank fraud proceeds from Cyprus back to the United States, created fake documents showing that Magistrate’s company would invest in real estate properties in the Philadelphia area, and advised the Undercover Broker on how to shield the Undercover Client’s identity from banks and regulators by having someone else pose as the ultimate beneficial owner of the U.S. company to which the funds would be returned. From January 2025 to July 2025, in multiple transactions, the defendant laundered a total of $800,000, keeping a $60,000 commission for himself. This case was investigated by IRS-CI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ruth Mandelbaum. [1] The defendant is a dual citizen of the United States and Cyprus.


title: Grand jury indicts Columbus man for defrauding the U.S. through GI Bill, student aid & disabled veteran loan forgiveness programs

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury has indicted a Columbus man, charging him with defrauding the United States through fraudulent GI Bill educational assistance, Federal Student Aid and military loan discharge. Adam L. Steinberger, 36, of Columbus, allegedly recruited several co-conspirators, including a family member and friends who served in the military, to enroll in college courses to fraudulently obtain financial assistance. According to the indictment, from 2018 until 2024, Steinberger and others enrolled in college courses and applied for and received GI Bill-33 funds for tuition, monthly housing allowances and stipends for books and supplies. In addition, Steinberger and others also allegedly obtained Federal Student Aid while enrolled. Once enrolled, Steinberger allegedly paid an individual in Africa to complete course assignments for the co-conspirators. The defendant also allegedly caused fraudulent federal student loan discharge or forgiveness based on alleged Total and Permanent Disability status for veterans. Finally, part of the fraudulently obtained government benefits and student loan discharge proceeds would allegedly be paid to Steinberger from co-conspirators through money apps. The indictment details a series of payments sent to Steinberger totaling nearly $15,000, with approximately $6,000 of the proceeds then going to the person in Africa completing the college coursework. Conspiring to defraud the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to five years in prison. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the case, which is being investigated by the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and Department of Education Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Kenneth F. Affeldt and Assistant Deputy Criminal Chief Noah R. Litton are representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Arsonist Who Set Fire to Two Minnesota Mosques Sentenced to Seventy Months in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Daniel N. Rosen announced today that Jackie Rahm Little, age 38, was sentenced yesterday to 70 months in federal prison for setting fire in April of 2023 to the Masjid Al-Rahma Mosque in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the Masjid Omar Islamic Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Little had previously entered guilty pleas to one count of arson and one count of damage to religious property in September of 2025. “In the United States, the desecration of places of worship will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. “All Minnesotans should feel safe freely exercising their religion. Little attempted to burn down two mosques. He will now sit in federal prison for his heinous crime.” According to information provided in court documents and federal court hearings, on April 23, 2023, Little started a fire in the bathroom of the Masjid Omar Islamic Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, also a public place of worship. Little lit a cardboard box on fire inside of a bathroom stall and intended to leave it there for the rest of the building to ignite. Fortunately, Little was interrupted by an employee and the defendant fled, leaving partially burned cardboard and a gas cannister behind. The following day, Little traveled to the Masjid Al-Rahma Mosque (also known as the Mercy Islamic Center) in Bloomington, Minnesota, a public place of worship. Little carried with him a container of gasoline or other ignitable liquid, and after he entered the mosque, he used it to set fire to the mosque’s third floor hallway and stairwell. At the time Little set the fire, community leaders were meeting at the mosque to address the fire set the day before. The mosque had to be evacuated, including the evacuation of children who were attending daycare. The resulting damage to the mosque totaled more than $378,000. Judge Ann Montgomery’s 70-month sentence represented an upward departure from the Sentencing Guidelines recommendation as sought by the government, which she held was justified by the serious nature of the crime, the high number of potential victims, and the multiple acts of arson involved. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead prosecuted the case.


title: PacifiCorp Agrees to Pay $575 Million to Settle Claims for Damage Caused by Six Wildfires in California and Oregon

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: PacifiCorp has agreed to pay $575 million to resolve the United States’ claims for damages resulting from six wildfires in California and Oregon. The two California fires are: The “Slater Fire,” which began on Sept. 8, 2020, on Slater Butte National Forest lands within the Klamath National Forest and burned 157,229 acres of federal land within the Klamath, Six River, and Rogue River Siskiyou National Forests; and The “McKinney Fire,” which began on July 29, 2022, on land next to the Klamath National Forest and burned 39,000 acres of federal land. The four Oregon fires are: The “242 Fire,” which began on Sept. 7, 2020, near Chiloquin and burned 8,916 acres of federal land; The “Archie Creek Fire,” which began on Sept. 8, 2020, near French Creek in the Umpqua National Forest and burned 67,000 acres of federal land; The “Echo Mountain Complex Fire,” which began on Sept. 7, 2020, near Otis and burned approximately 2,500 acres, including federal land; and The “South Obenchain Fire,” which began on Sept. 8, 2020, east of Eagle Point and burned 14,780 acres of federal land. The settlement resolves the United States’ claims that PacifiCorp’s electrical lines negligently started all six fires. The settlement monies will help repay the United States for the substantial costs it incurred fighting the fires, which is critical because the U.S. Forest Service now spends more than half of its budget on wildfire suppression annually. Settlement funds will also be distributed to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to restore some of the 290,000 acres of public land that were burned. These recoveries, including nearly $240 million related to California fires, are among the largest federal wildfire recoveries to date. “The United States and PacifiCorp have reached a settlement that ensures fair compensation to the American taxpayer for fire-related damages,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This agreement strikes a balance by addressing the government’s significant fire-suppression costs and loss of natural resources without preventing PacifiCorp from offering electricity at fair prices.” “This settlement served the Department’s longstanding policy of holding individuals and corporations responsible for damages caused by wildfires. Every fire impacting federal lands, no matter the size, is a priority,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant of the Eastern District of California. “Wildfires remain a recurring threat to our natural resources, the safety of our communities, and their economic well-being. The costs of land losses and fire responses are substantial,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “Recouping the costs associated with these wildfires is a priority for our office, and this settlement achieves that.” This settlement is the result of a joint effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of California and Oregon, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Department of the Interior. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara Amin and Kelli L. Taylor of the Eastern District of California and Alexis Lien of the District of Oregon handled the cases for the U.S. Attorney’s Offices. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. PacifiCorp continues to deny liability for these fires.


title: Last of Three Memphis Women Who Defrauded Tennessee and Federal Programs of Over $580,000 Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A Memphis woman has been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding state and federal programs out of over $560,000 intended to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. Karen Guevara, 38 , was sentenced on February 13, 2026 by Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman to one year and a day of incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false claims against the United States government. According to information presented in court, Guevara and her co-conspirators defrauded the United States government out of over $560,000 by filing fraudulent applications for unemployment benefits in over 20 different states during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tabor and her co-conspirators also defrauded the federally funded Tennessee Emergency Cash Assistance (ECA) program of approximately $20,000 by creating fake employment termination notices for themselves and others. The ECA program was intended to provide financial assistance to individuals who had been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic because of lost employment. Guevara was the third Memphis woman to be convicted and sentenced to federal prison for these schemes. Deashley Tabor, 37, was previously sentenced to 41 months. Rochelle Turner, 32, was previously sentenced to five months in prison to be followed by five months of home detention. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Fraudulent schemes and crimes of dishonesty will be exposed and punished. This case represents our commitment to expose COVID-19 benefit fraud well beyond the pandemic, protect the integrity of the ECA program, hold offenders accountable for their dishonest criminal conduct, and to recover ill-gotten proceeds on behalf of victimized agencies." “Karen Guevara enriched herself at taxpayers’ expense by defrauding a program intended to aid American workers during a global pandemic when millions were displaced and out of work,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “My office remains committed to relentlessly protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance program and will continue to pursue accountability.” “HHS-OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, is committed to safeguarding state and federal programs that are essential to helping those in need due to public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This sentence sends a clear message that fraudsters who exploit these programs for personal gain will be held accountable.” “The Tennessee Department of Human Services works to provide essential services while safeguarding program integrity. In 2020, we launched emergency cash assistance during the pandemic and monitored closely to prevent fraud, waste and abuse. This is an example of our efforts, and we appreciate the partnership with HHS/OIG to pursue those who abused the program.” –Todd McKinney, Inspector General, Tennessee Department of Human Services The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Tennessee Department of Human Services. The case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony R. Arvin. ### 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: Management Company For Saginaw-Based Auto Dealer To Pay Over $1.5 Million To Settle Fraud Allegations Regarding Paycheck Protection Program Loan

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. announced today that Garber Management Group, Inc. which is affiliated with the network of auto dealerships and other related entities in Michigan known as the Garber Automotive Group, has agreed to pay $1,513,281 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by making false statements to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to obtain a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which Garber Management was ineligible. Congress created the PPP in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to American businesses suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the SBA. Regulations imposed various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of employees and restrictions for certain types of businesses operating as franchises, such as auto dealerships. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify the truthfulness and accuracy of all information provided in their loan applications. In May 2020, Garber Management obtained a first draw PPP loan for $864,732. The United States alleged that Garber Management falsely certified it was eligible for its first draw loan and loan forgiveness, even though, aggregated with its affiliates, it had more than 500 employees, in violation of the PPP rules. Garber Management was not exempt from the aggregation rules as the management company did not qualify as a franchise with a franchise identifier code from SBA. Garber Management has cooperated with the government investigation from its onset. This civil settlement resolved a sealed lawsuit originally filed under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. The qui tam lawsuit has been unsealed and is captioned U.S. ex rel. David Reed v. Garber Management, Inc. , Case No. 24-cv-13126. The whistleblower will receive 10% of the settlement amount. This matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Wizner from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.


title: D.C. Man Sentenced in Shooting Death of 17-Year-Old

body_text: WASHINGTON – Carlton Simon, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today on charges stemming from the shooting death of 17-year-old Angel Dominguez in Northwest D.C. this spring, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Simon entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder while armed before Superior Court Associate Judge Todd Edelman on December 17, 2025. Simon confirmed that, in shooting the victim, he was acting voluntarily, and that he was not acting in self-defense. Judge Edelman sentenced Simon to 18 years of incarceration, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Edelman noted the complex history between Simon and Dominguez, and the substantial impact this crime had on both families. According to court documents on May 29, 2025, around 3:00 p.m., Simon, a classmate of the victim, approached Dominguez in the 900 block oof Florida Avenue NW, with a loaded firearm. As Dominguez walked away from him, Simon pointed a gun at Dominguez’s back, before restraining him and ultimately shooting him in the chest. Dominguez died as a result of his injuries shortly thereafter. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi. 2025 CF1 011682


title: Frederick Man Charged With Violating National Defense Airspace

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A 66-year-old Maryland man made his initial appearance in federal court today, in connection with flying an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) in restricted airspace. Stuart Bennett, of Frederick, Maryland, is charged with violating national defense airspace. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the criminal complaint with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Hanna Porterfield, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) – Washington, D.C. Field Office. On September 8, 2025, a military official reported that a YouTube channel, titled “Area 82 Surveillance911,” posted drone footage of an identified sensitive U.S. national defense facility. In response, the NCIS conducted a preliminary review of the YouTube channel. Through the investigation, authorities identified videos depicting several identified national defense facilities, including Raven Rock Mountain Complex (RRMC), that appeared to have been taken from an UAS. A joint FBI and NCIS investigation of the YouTube channel revealed videos that appeared to depict DOD facilities and critical infrastructure to national security. Additionally, the YouTube channel displayed video titles that claimed to identify locations as “classified” or “Top Secret.” This included a folder titled, “Classified Secret Sites” that contained approximately seven videos taken by an UAS flying over U.S. Government facilities. The FBI investigated the Internet Protocol address overlap of email accounts, a recovery phone number, and email addresses registered with the United States Postal Service. As a result of its findings, the FBI focused on Bennett as the owner of the YouTube channel. Then the FBI executed a search warrant for Bennett’s residence where they seized a Potensic Atom drone, four micro-SD cards, and a Hewlett-Packard Z240 Tower Workstation. Agents also took Bennett’s computer monitor, which displayed the Area82 Surveillance911 YouTube channel logged in. A review of one of the micro-SD cards seized from Bennett’s residence revealed a video depicting a UAS flight over RRMC. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and NCIS for their work in the investigation, and the Department of War's Pentagon Force Protection Agency for its valuable assistance. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Member of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Involving Murder and Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston area man pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang. Takari Elliott, a/k/a “T-Paper,” 34, of Boston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving murder. U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick scheduled sentencing for May 27, 2026. Elliott was among 22 defendants charged in May 2023 . Elliott was identified as a member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston. Cameron Street members use firearms to murder and assault gang rivals as well as protect narcotics and drug proceeds. Members of Cameron Street have tattoos and wear clothing signifying their membership in the gang. They also post videos and use social media applications to promote the gang, celebrate murders and other violent crimes committed by the gang. Elliott engaged in several acts that supported the Cameron Street enterprise. Most significantly, Elliott participated in the October 2020 murder in Brockton of Manuel Duarte, also known as “Brava.” Throughout the day of the murder, Elliott had been communicating with Duarte over Snapchat urging Duarte to meet him at a home address in Brockton to conduct a drug deal. Another member of Cameron Street, who is now deceased, rented a car in Boston and drove to Brockton, where he picked up Elliott and the pair met up with Duarte at a home in Brockton. Once there, the fellow Cameron Street member emerged from the backyard and shot Duarte 10 times, killing him. The fellow Cameron Street member took the rental car and fled to Boston, while Elliott was picked up by others near the scene of the murder. Further evidence revealed that Elliott and his fellow Cameron Street member were paid $60,000 to murder Duarte and that they spilt the proceeds. Elliott’s Cameron Street-related conduct goes back as far as January 2011, when Elliott was arrested in possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and masks in a car near Cameron Street with other Cameron Street members. Elliott was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for that offense: In 2017, Elliott was convicted in federal court in Boston for cocaine distribution, for which he was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Following his prison sentence, while on federal supervised release, Elliott was arrested during a traffic stop in possession of a baseball-sized quantity of cocaine and with the Duarte murder. Elliott is the 21st defendant to be convicted in the case. The remaining defendant, Clayton Rodrigues, is a fugitive and remains at large. “This defendant and his fellow Carmeron Street gang members terrorized communities for years. Despite previous arrests, and while on federal supervised release, Elliott continued to sell drugs, carry guns and commit a murder for hire. He has no regard for the law and it appears that he is incapable of learning a lesson. Enough is enough. He is facing a harsh sentence which is more than warranted,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Cameron Street waged a gang war among the residents of Dorchester, terrorizing their community and causing untold grief to countless families and loved ones of their victims. Takari Elliott was a willing participant in the Cameron Street racketeering enterprise, celebrating these killings and dealing drugs across Massachusetts. Elliott then accepted his cut of $60,000 to commit a murder-for-hire. ATF’s primary mission is to target and disrupt violent entities like Cameron Street. Takari Elliott’s plea places an exclamation point on ATF’s long-running investigation into the retaliatory violence,” said Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division. “Violent gang members who flood our communities with deadly drugs and commit acts of brutal violence will be held accountable,” said Jared A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division. “This defendant was not only responsible for trafficking dangerous narcotics, but also for participating in racketeering activity that included murder. With two prior convictions, he had multiple opportunities to change course and instead chose to escalate his criminal conduct. DEA and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in our commitment to dismantling violent criminal enterprises and protecting the public from those who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.” The charge of RICO conspiracy involving murder provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. U.S. Attorney Foley, ATF SAC Greco, DEA SAC Forget and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth, Pawtucket (R.I.) and Nashville Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl and Brian A. Fogerty of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Child Pornographer Sentenced to 29 Years for Producing  International Child Porn

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Jeffrey Bryant Champion, age 37, to 29 years in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material. Champion pleaded guilty to the charges. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Champion met a minor victim in Thailand and began sexually abusing her when she was only fourteen years old. For two years, he traveled to Thailand and repeatedly sexually abused her, producing many child sexual abuse material videos. He also emotionally abused her, belittling her, and calling her cruel names. In November 2024, he wired money to her in Thailand for her to fly to the United States and stay with him. This prompted an international rescue in early December 2024. “We will not tolerate this type of depraved behavior. While this is the specific conduct proved in court, a disgusting predator like this should never be allowed to hurt another child.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. "Jeffrey Champion thought he could avoid detection by leaving the country, kidnapping a young girl, and bringing her to North Carolina to commit his egregious offenses. Our investigation and prosecution team displayed the global reach of federal law to bring him to justice, and his prison sentence serves as a reminder of the FBI’s commitment to protect children and crush violent crime," said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The FBI, Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lynchburg (VA) Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin C. Blondel prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. Click or tap here to enter text..


title: Pacificorp Agrees to Pay $575 Million to Settle Claims for Damage Caused by Six Wildfires in Oregon and California

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— PacifiCorp has agreed to pay $575 million to resolve the United States’ claims for damages resulting from six wildfires in Oregon and California. The four Oregon fires are: The “242 Fire,” which began on Sept. 7, 2020, near Chiloquin and burned 8,916 acres of federal land; The “Archie Creek Fire,” which began on Sept. 8, 2020, near French Creek in the Umpqua National Forest and burned 67,000 acres of federal land; The “Echo Mountain Complex Fire,” which began on Sept. 7, 2020, near Otis and burned approximately 2,500 acres, including federal land; and The “South Obenchain Fire,” which began on Sept. 8, 2020, east of Eagle Point and burned 14,780 acres of federal land. The two California fires are: The “Slater Fire,” which began on Sept. 8, 2020, on Slater Butte National Forest lands within the Klamath National Forest and burned 157,229 acres of federal land within the Klamath, Six River, and Rogue River Siskiyou National Forests; and The “McKinney Fire,” which began on July 29, 2022, on land next to the Klamath National Forest and burned 39,000 acres of federal land. The settlement resolves the United States’ claims that PacifiCorp’s electrical lines negligently started all six fires. The settlement monies will help repay the United States for the substantial costs it incurred fighting the fires, which is critical because the U.S. Forest Service now spends more than half of its budget on wildfire suppression annually. Settlement funds will also be distributed to the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to restore some of the 290,000 acres of public land that were burned. These recoveries are among the largest federal wildfire recoveries to date. “The United States and PacifiCorp have reached a settlement that ensures fair compensation to the American taxpayer for fire-related damages,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This agreement strikes a balance by addressing the government’s significant fire-suppression costs and loss of natural resources without preventing PacifiCorp from offering electricity at fair prices.” “Wildfires remain a recurring threat to our natural resources, the safety of our communities, and their economic well-being. The costs of land losses and fire responses are substantial,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott E. Bradford. “Recouping the costs associated with these wildfires is a priority for our office, and this settlement achieves that.” “This settlement served the Department’s longstanding policy of holding individuals and corporations responsible for damages caused by wildfires. Every fire impacting federal lands, no matter the size, is a priority,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Grant of the Eastern District of California. This settlement is the result of a joint effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for Oregon and the Eastern District of California, the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Lien of the District of Oregon and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara Amin and Kelli L. Taylor of the Eastern District of California handled the cases for the U.S. Attorney’s Offices. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. PacifiCorp continues to deny liability for these fires.


title: SDTX charges another 363 individuals in third week of February for crimes related to continued border-security enforcement efforts

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 361 cases have been filed in immigration and related matters from Feb. 13-19, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. A total of 23 people are charged with human smuggling crimes. Another 141 criminal complaints were filed for illegal entry, while 193 people face charges of felony reentry after prior removal. Most of those individuals have prior felonies such as narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. The remaining cases involve firearms charges and other immigration crimes. Some of those charged with felony reentry after removal are several Mexican nationals who had just been removed recently. Two of those complaints allege Jorge Luis Gonzalez-Garcia and Cesar Eduardo Sanchez-Rodriguez, who were discovered in the McAllen area with no authorization to be in the country. Both men have prior convictions for illegal reentry and were previously removed in November 2025 and January 2026, respectively. Additional complaints allege four other felons had also illegally reentered the country and have prior drug convictions. Law enforcement discovered Cesar David Ramirez-Rodriguez and Irwin Francisco Ruiz-Gallegos near Mission, while Jesus Torres-Gomez and Arturo Saenz-Valle were located near Weslaco and Rio Grande City, respectively, according to their charges. All six men face up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted. In addition to the new cases, Wilson Antonio Vargas Argueta was ordered to serve a 24-month sentence for unlawfully reentering the country. He has multiple prior convictions for assault, driving while intoxicated, and fleeing from law enforcement. In 2020, he bit a police officer while resisting arrest and was removed from the United States, before illegally returning. Also announced this week was the sentencing of four-time DUI offender, Odon Chavez-Esquivel . He was first removed from the United States in May 2003 and later returned illegally in 2011 and 2012. Authorities discovered him again in August 2022 following his fourth conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol. He has now been ordered to serve a 21-month federal sentence. Mexican national Juan Ignacio Miranda-Arente was ordered to serve a 21-month sentence. He has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2008 with convictions for illegal reentry, assault, and indecency with a child. Honduran national Danilo Nunez-Avila pleaded guilty to unlawfully reentering the United States without permission for a ninth time. Law enforcement discovered him Oct. 29, 2024, after responding to a reported assault involving a family member. According to court records, he has multiple previous convictions for illegal reentry. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Several others also received federal sentences in Houston for illegal reentry, including Salvadoran national Santos Alexis Parada Garcia. He has multiple convictions for domestic violence, driving while intoxicated, and felony possession of cocaine. Two others – Guatemalan national Manual Isais Sohom Tambriz and Mexican national Jose Apolinar Hernandez-Melo – have also now been sentenced. Hernandez-Melo has a criminal history including driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of a controlled substance and had been previously removed from the United States. He was discovered again in 2025 following a conviction for deadly conduct. Tambriz was first removed in 2016 and returned illegally three times. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Salem Man Sentenced to Over 21 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Children

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Salem, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison yesterday for ordering live-streamed child sexual abuse material from child sex traffickers in the Philippines in exchange for money. Steven Daniel Griswold, 44, was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $12,000 special assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. According to court documents, from 2018 through 2019, Griswold paid for and received livestreamed “shows” featuring the sexual abuse and exploitation of children as young as three years old in the Philippines. During the livestreams, Griswold gave child sex traffickers in the Philippines specific instructions on how to abuse the children and received child sexual abuse material from the traffickers. Griswold typically paid traffickers between $20 to $40 for the livestreams. Griswold left the United States for the Philippines in 2020 after learning he was under investigation for uploading child pornography to Snapchat in an unrelated case. On November 14, 2023, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a four-count indictment charging Griswold with sexual exploitation of children, attempted sexual exploitation of children, and receiving child pornography. Griswold was arrested in the United States in March 2024 after being deported from the Philippines. He was transported to Portland, Oregon, for his arraignment on May 9, 2024. On November 5, 2025, Griswold pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eliza Carmen Rodriguez and Charlotte Kelley prosecuted the case. This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . If you or someone you know are victims of human trafficking or have information about a potential human trafficking situation, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website .