title: Convicted Felon On Federal Supervision Is Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Firearm Possession

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Juve Markie Lequan McAlpin, 24, of Asheville, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release today for possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Alicia Jones, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Michael Lamb of the Asheville Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. According to court records, on August 4, 2022, McAlpin was convicted in federal court of illegal firearm possession and sentenced to prison. Following his release he was placed under federal supervision. On April 24, 2024, while serving his term of supervised release, McAlpin was arrested at a Shell gas station in Hendersonville, N.C. During the arrest, law enforcement searched the vehicle in which McAlpin was a passenger and recovered a loaded Taurus model 65 .357 caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number from the passenger-side floorboard. Officers also seized a distinctive black hoodie from the vehicle. Court records show that McAlpin had been wearing that same hoodie on April 20, 2024, when he fired two rounds into a moving vehicle at an apartment complex in Asheville, striking a passenger in the leg. The victim was treated at the hospital for a gunshot wound. McAlpin is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the ATF and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Methamphetamine Distributor Is Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Today, Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger ordered Michael Lindsey Jones, 39, of Hendersonville, N.C., to serve 10 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Jones’s supplier, Zachery Micah Rice, was sentenced previously to more than 28 years in prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine. According to court records, from 2021 to 2023, Jones conspired with Rice to distribute significant quantities of methamphetamine in Buncombe, Henderson, and Transylvania Counties. During the investigation into Jones and Rice’s trafficking activities, law enforcement used a confidential informant to purchase pound quantities of methamphetamine from Rice that Jones coordinated. Court records show that Jones arranged the drug deals, set the meeting times and locations with the confidential informant, and handled the drug-for-cash exchanges. From February to April 2023, Jones was responsible for distributing nearly 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine. Jones pleaded guilty on December 30, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. Jones remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending placement by the federal Bureau of Prisons. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina, the Asheville Police Department, the Waynesville Police Department, the Cherokee Indian Police Department, the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, the Transylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville handled the prosecution. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Cabell County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Henry Rogers, 66, of Barboursville, was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 17, 2023, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Rogers on U.S. Route 19 in the Birch River area of Nicholas County. As part of his guilty plea, Rogers admitted that he possessed a controlled substance containing methamphetamine seized by officers during the traffic stop. Rogers further admitted that officers executed a search warrant of his vehicle following that seizure and found an additional quantity of methamphetamine and a .380-caliber pistol in the trunk. A total of 205.2 grams of methamphetamine was seized from the vehicle. Rogers has a criminal history that includes a prior felony conviction for conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney D. Keith Randolph prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-80. ###


title: Asheville Dealer On Federal Supervised Release Is Sentenced To Prison On Drug Charges

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Asa Shaquille Holloway, 32, of Asheville, was sentenced today to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine base, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Holloway’s sentence will run at the expiration of the 18 months he is serving for violating his federal supervised release. Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Chief Michael Lamb of the Asheville Police Department, join U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. According to court records, in December 2023, Holloway was under court supervision for a prior federal firearms conviction. On December 19, 2023, federal probation officers conducted a search of Holloway’s residence, seizing 21.37 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, clear plastic baggies, and a .45 caliber magazine. The Court issued an arrest warrant for Holloway for violating the terms of his federal supervised release. On January 30, 2024, officers with the Asheville Police Department located Holloway and arrested him on the outstanding warrant. The officers also searched Holloway and his vehicle and recovered over 14 grams of crack and 3.34 grams of methamphetamine. Holloway is in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the DEA and the Asheville Police Department for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher S. Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville handled the prosecution. # # #


title: Chesapeake man sentenced to over 10 in prison for federal drug trafficking and firearms charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to 10 years and 10 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, on Oct. 9, 2024, law enforcement intercepted a parcel containing approximately one kilogram of cocaine that was destined for a fictitious name at the residence of Jamey Andre Bennett, 50, in Chesapeake. Law enforcement substituted counterfeit cocaine in the parcel and conducted a controlled delivery of the parcel. After delivery, Bennett retrieved and opened the parcel. Investigators took Bennett into custody and conducted a search of the residence. During the search, investigators recovered the counterfeit cocaine, an additional kilogram of cocaine, 5,000 fentanyl pills, 1.605 grams of crack cocaine, two loaded firearms, a firearm magazine containing 10 rounds of ammunition, two scales, packaging material, and two cellphones. The fentanyl pills were stamped to appear to be Percocet. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Christopher C. Goumenis, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; Col. Matthew D. Hanley, Superintendent of Virginia State Police; Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police; and Mark Talbot, Chief of Norfolk Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Luke Bresnahan prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-13.


title: Mercer County Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Sex Trafficking Children

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Harrodsburg, Ky., man, Larry Coffman, 42, was sentenced on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to 40 years in prison, for two counts of sex trafficking of children and committing a felony involving a minor while being required to register as a sex offender. Coffman was convicted of the charges in April 2025. According to testimony at trial, in February 2023, Coffman solicited, recruited, and enticed two minor victims to engage in a sex act in exchange for something of value. At the time of the offenses, Coffman had been convicted of a prior sex offense and, as a result, was required to register as a sex offender. Under federal law, Coffman must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Chief Scott Elder, Harrodsburg Police Department; and Sheriff Mike Coyle, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by HSI, Harrodsburg Police Department, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . – END –


title: Boone County Man Sentenced for Armed Cocaine Trafficking

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A Florence, Ky., man, Osvaldo Pardo, 33, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 144 months in prison, for possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to his plea agreement, in February 2025, law enforcement used a confidential source to conduct controlled purchases of cocaine from Pardo, who was known to be selling drugs out of a motel in Florence. Later that month, law enforcement searched Pardo’s motel room and found 807.4 grams of cocaine and $1,440. In addition to the cocaine and cash, officers found 2,973 grams of marijuana, a pistol, digital scale, and a money counter. Pardo admitted to possessing these items, including the cocaine and the firearm, and he further admitted that he possessed the firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activity. Under federal law, Pardo must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; and Chief Jeff Mallery, Florence Police Department, jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Florence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Cincinnati Man Sentenced for Multiple Drug Trafficking Charges

body_text: COVINGTON, Ky. – A Cincinnati, Ohio, man, Devante Garrett, 30, was sentenced on Thursday, by Chief U.S. District Judge David Bunning to 360 months in prison, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue with intent to distribute, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Garrett was convicted of the charges in May 2025 at the conclusion of a four-day trial. Evidence at trial showed that Garrett led a conspiracy to distribute more than 275 grams of a substance containing a fentanyl analogue, more than 40 grams of fentanyl, and cocaine. He was arrested in Kenton County on October 14, 2023, with these drugs hidden behind the panel of the driver’s door of the vehicle he was operating. Garrett was previously arrested in Boone County on August 17, 2023, while in possession of $6,440 in cash and a scale containing residue of fentanyl and cocaine. Additional witness testimony showed that Garrett and James Waller, another Cincinnati resident, regularly traveled to Lexington, Kentucky, to distribute fentanyl and cocaine from May 2023 through October 2023. Four other members of the conspiracy pled guilty and have already been sentenced to prison terms. James Waller received a sentence of 132 months. Quintus Jones received a sentence of 60 months. Kasey Allen received a sentence of 54 months. Christopher Scull received a sentence of 6 months. Under federal law, Garrett must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; Chief Brian Valenti, Covington Police Department; Chief Bill Birkenhauer, Highland Heights Police Department; and Sheriff Michael Helmig, Boone County Sheriff’s Office, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by DEA, KSP, Covington Police Department, Highland Heights Police Department, and Boone County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Spievack and Tony Bracke. – END –


title: Suburban Chicago Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Covid-Relief Fraud

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a suburban Chicago man to nearly six years in prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $550,000 in small business loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In 2020 and 2021, CHRISTOPHER SCOTT engaged in fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL)—two sources of relief under the CARES Act. Scott submitted to lenders and the U.S. Small Business Administration numerous applications on behalf of non-existent or non-operating businesses. The applications contained false statements and misrepresentations concerning, among other things, the purported businesses’ revenues, payrolls, and operating expenses. The fraud scheme caused lenders and the SBA to disburse more than $550,000 in loans to Scott. Scott and others used the loan proceeds on personal expenses, including numerous purchases at luxury retailers Tiffany & Co., Jared Jewelers, Von Maur, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Scott, 46, of Hazel Crest, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal wire fraud charge. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo sentenced Scott to five years and ten months in federal prison and ordered him to pay $567,333 in restitution. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Dai Tran, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Chicago Field Office. Substantial assistance was provided by the SBA Office of Inspector General. “Put simply, Scott’s crime was motivated by greed,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Alejandro G. Ortega argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “This offense was not a simple lapse in judgment, or a crime born out of economic poverty or necessity. It was, at least, a year-long scheme to fraudulently obtain free money from the government.” “The government programs exploited in this case were intended to help struggling small businesses stay afloat during the pandemic,” Secret Service SAIC Tran said. “Instead, this man pilfered more than half a million dollars from these programs—and by extension, taxpayers—to go on an outrageous high-end spending spree to benefit himself. I’m proud of the work the Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Illinois did to bring justice in this case.”


title: Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Violent Threats, Cyberstalking, Civil Rights Violations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Mark Tucci, 44, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Gerald A. McHugh to multiple charges arising from racist, violent threats made by phone, email, text message, and in person, that targeted African Americans. The defendant was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant in January of this year and charged by information in March with one count each of a threat to use a dangerous weapon, interfering with federally protected activities, cyberstalking, interstate communication of threats, and threats interfering with federally protected activities. Tucci pleaded guilty to all the charges. As detailed in the information and other court filings, the defendant repeatedly called and sent text messages and emails that consisted of racial epithets and violent threats to harm an employee (Victim 1) of an agency of the City of Philadelphia (Philadelphia Agency 1), and Victim 1’s colleagues. Between about April 18, 2024, and June 2, 2024, Tucci emailed Victim 1 multiple times regarding a records request he had made to the agency. This escalated on June 3, 2024, when he repeatedly called Philadelphia Agency 1, and during two of those calls, he spoke with Victim 1, identified himself by name, and screamed at Victim 1, who asked him to stop screaming. He continued to do so, causing Victim 1 to hang up each time. During subsequent calls on June 3 with Philadelphia Agency 1, Tucci spoke with two of Victim 1’s colleagues, using racial epithets and making threats. Specifically, the defendant said that he was going to come down to Philadelphia Agency 1 the next day and hurt everyone, and that he had Victim 1’s home address and was going to hurt Victim 1. Tucci sent multiple emails to Victim 1 the same day, using similar racial epithets and threats. He also texted Victim 1 on their personal cell phone, a phone number that Victim 1 had never provided to the defendant. The text messages from Tucci to Victim 1 mentioned Victim 1 by name, and the name of the street on which Victim 1 resided at the time. The messages included a warning that “This is personal now,” and additional threatening language. Tucci’s communications caused Victim 1 severe emotional distress, and fear that Tucci would find Victim 1 and seriously injure or kill them or their family members. Tucci willfully intimidated and interfered, and attempted to intimidate and interfere, with Victim 1 because of Victim 1’s race and color, and because Victim 1 was enjoying employment by, and all perquisites of, an agency of the City of Philadelphia, a subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Also detailed in court filings, on the morning of February 1, 2024, Tucci pulled up next to another car in heavy traffic on I-95 southbound, lowered his windows, and repeatedly screamed racial epithets and threats to kill and shoot the other car’s driver (Victim 2), who is African American. Tucci then reached down into his car, pulled out a glass mug containing coffee, and threw it at Victim 2’s vehicle, terrifying Victim 2 and damaging their car. The incident occurred while Victim 2 was enjoying a facility provided and administered by a State and a subdivision thereof, that is, driving on I-95. This case was investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang and Trial Attorney Samuel Kuhn of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.


title: Final Defendant Sentenced in Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Pontiac, Michigan, man, Marvin Hunter, Jr., 32, was sentenced on Thursday by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to 132 months, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. According to his plea agreement, between August 2021 and March 7, 2024, Hunter regularly imported methamphetamine and fentanyl from Michigan into Magoffin County. Hunter had local associates in Magoffin County who assisted him in distributing the drugs to other dealers and users there. During a search of the Magoffin County residence that was their operational base in April of 2023, law enforcement located over a kilogram of methamphetamine, over 40 grams of fentanyl, and three firearms. Law enforcement subsequently used a confidential informant to make controlled purchases of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Hunter. Hunter’s co-defendants were previously sentenced for their role in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Jennifer Fletcher, 45, and Minnie Johnson, 60, both of Salyersville, Ky., each received 84 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Under federal law, Hunter must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. Paul McCaffrey, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Sheriff William “Bill” Meade, Magoffin County Sheriff, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and the Magoffin County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Federal grand jury returns superseding indictment against Buffalo Police detective for attempted purchases on illicit online marketplace

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that a federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging Terrance Michael Ciszek a/k/a DrMonster, 35, of Buffalo, NY, with affecting transactions with access devices issued to other persons and aggravated identity theft, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Ciszek was previously indicted on charges of possession of unauthorized access devices with intent to defraud and making a false statement to an agency of the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that since August 2018, the FBI has been investigating an illicit online marketplace known as Genesis Market, whose operators compile stolen data, such as computer and mobile device identifiers, email addresses, usernames, and passwords, from malware-infected computers around the globe and package it for sale on the market. Purchases made through Genesis Market are conducted using virtual currency, such as bitcoin. According to the superseding indictment and a previously filed complaint, between March and August 2020, Ciszek, a Buffalo Police Detective, purchased 11 packages on Genesis Market that included 194 stolen account credentials. In March and April 2020, Ciszek is accused of attempting to use the stolen credit cards to make purchases. In addition, on April 15, 2020, Ciszek is accused of possessing and using the identification, including name, address and credit card, of another person. On April 4, 2023, Ciszek is accused of making false statements to the FBI, claiming that he had not purchased stolen credentials from the internet, and further stating that his nephew may have been responsible for the online purchase of stolen credentials. The superseding indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Allentown Man Sentenced to Fifteen Years for March 2023 Armed Robbery Spree in Lehigh County

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Rubiel Perez, 31, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release for carrying out an armed robbery spree in Lehigh County, Pa., in March of 2023. Perez was charged by indictment in November 2023 and pleaded guilty in March of this year to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. As detailed in the indictment and admitted to by the defendant, on March 28, 2023, Perez entered a 7-Eleven convenience store on Union Boulevard in Allentown, pointed a handgun at a store employee, and stole $937 before fleeing. The next night, the defendant targeted a 7-Eleven convenience store on South 4th Street in Allentown. He pointed a handgun at a store employee and threatened him, before stealing $150 from the store. Later that same night, the defendant entered a 7-Eleven on West Tilghman Street in South Whitehall Township and attempted to rob the store by pointing a firearm at the store employee and threatening him. “Three times in two days, Rubiel Perez pointed his gun at store clerks and made them fear for their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Prosecuting violent offenders is a priority for my office. We will not permit criminals to prey on the people in our communities.” “In 25 hours, Rubiel Perez robbed three 7-Eleven stores, threatening the employees’ lives at gunpoint,” said Shannon Hamm, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “Stopping violent criminals who terrorize our communities like Perez is a primary ATF mission. Thanks to our agents’, detectives’, and prosecutors’ combined efforts, he is now going to federal prison where he will no longer endanger this town. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to make Pennsylvania’s communities safer for all.” The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Allentown Police Department, and the South Whitehall Township Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Schopf.


title: Roofing Contractor Admits Tax Evasion Scheme

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that on August 19, 2025, ANTHONY DELMARO, 48, of Woodbridge, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to tax evasion. According to court documents and statements made in court, since at least 2012, Delmaro has owned and operated a commercial roofing businesses in Connecticut, most frequently doing business as “Kings Roofing.” The business also provided paving services. Until Delmaro was notified of this investigation, Kings Roofing was not registered with the Connecticut Secretary of State and did not have a federal Taxpayer Identification Number. From 2012 to 2022, Kings Roofing earned approximately $20.9 million in customer receipts, but Delmaro paid his workers in cash, never filed income or payroll tax returns for himself or the business, and took several steps to conceal income and operating expenses from the IRS. As part of his tax evasion scheme, Delmaro and others associated with his business cashed checks from customers at various check cashing businesses instead of depositing them into bank accounts. Delmaro provided the check cashers with addresses associated with UPS mailboxes rather than his home address. When the check cashers filed Currency Transaction Reports (“CTRs”), the IRS only had a UPS mailbox location to try to identify source of income. When not using a check casher, Delmaro made business-related deposits into his personal bank account. Delmaro also had customers file false Forms 1099 made out to a family member, rather than his business, or made out to Delmaro himself, making income attribution more difficult. Delmaro sometimes provided customers with an alias, “Sonny Rubino,” which they used on the 1099. If a customer refused to pay unless Delmaro provided a Form W-9 identifying his taxpayer identification number and address, Delmaro often provided a W-9 completed with his father’s name and Social Security number and an address associated with a UPS mailbox. Delmaro’s father used an alias, which differed from the name and information Delmaro provided to the customer. For the 2022 tax year, Delmaro cashed $3,710,628 in checks made payable to Kings Roofing at check cashing businesses, received $439,700 in business-related deposits into his personal bank account, and caused 24 Forms 1099-NEC totaling $1,908,095 to be filed with false information. The investigation also revealed that from 2019 to April 2025, Delmaro received more than $500,000 in Husky Health Low Income Medical benefits. Husky Health is a Connecticut Medicaid program, jointly funded by the federal government and by the State of Connecticut and administered by the Connecticut Department of Social Services. Delmaro has agreed to pay restitution of $1,129,669 to the IRS, and $578,259 to the Connecticut Medicaid program. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for December 17. Delmaro is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division and the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.


title: Ohio Siblings Sentenced for Laundering $784,045 in Drug Proceeds

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An Ohio brother and sister were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in collecting drug proceeds in the United States and laundering those funds, or their equivalent value, back to Mexico on behalf of a cartel. According to court documents, Christopher Grover Reynolds, 52, of Toledo, Ohio, was sentenced to over six years in prison, and his sister, Claudette Reynolds, 51, of Toledo, was sentenced to two years in prison for their participation in a money laundering conspiracy. They were both sentenced to three years of supervised release. “The defendants helped Mexican drug traffickers collect and disguise the profits from selling methamphetamine and fentanyl in Toledo,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their money laundering activities fueled the importation of dangerous drugs into the Midwest. This prosecution reflects the Criminal Division’s commitment to staunch the flow of cash to cartels and protect communities from the devastating consequences of drug trafficking.” “Money launderers like the Reynolds are critical links in the cartel’s drug trafficking chain,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Paul McCaffrey. “We are grateful for the tireless efforts of our law enforcement partners in working to disrupt and dismantle that chain.” “Every dollar they laundered was done so on the backs of overdose victims and their families,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Division. “By acting as the cartel’s bankers, these siblings helped fuel the fentanyl and meth crisis tearing through Ohio. DEA will hunt down anyone who dares to wash cartel money — because if you launder blood money for drug traffickers, you will face justice alongside them.” According to court documents, Christopher Reynolds collected proceeds from the sale of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana in Toledo and notified a Mexico-based cartel that the funds were ready for laundering and transfer to Mexico. On six occasions, Reynolds personally delivered the money – totaling $784,045 – or enlisted his sister to do so. The money was later transferred to Mexico via cryptocurrency. A search of Christopher Reynolds’s residence and a traffic stop of Claudette Reynolds led to a seizure of $184,415 in bulk cash, several pounds of marijuana, counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl, two firearms (a .40 caliber pistol and an AR-15 rifle), and a money counting machine. The DEA Lexington Resident Office investigated the case, working closely with the Detroit Field Division and Rocky Mountain Field Division and assisted by DEA offices in Mexico, Toledo, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Birmingham, Chicago, Cincinnati, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Louisville, Baltimore, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Portland, Columbia, and Rapid City, with the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. Trial Attorney Elizabeth R. Rabe of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Deputy Criminal Chief Gary Todd Bradbury of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted this case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and other transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.


component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: Mark Tucci, 44, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before U.S. District Judge Gerald A. McHugh to multiple charges arising from racist, violent threats made by phone, email, text message, and in person, that targeted African Americans. The defendant was arrested on a criminal complaint and warrant in January of this year and charged by information in March with one count each of a threat to use a dangerous weapon, interfering with federally protected activities, cyberstalking, interstate communication of threats, and threats interfering with federally protected activities. Tucci pleaded guilty to all the charges. As detailed in the information and other court filings, the defendant repeatedly called and sent text messages and emails that consisted of racial epithets and violent threats to harm an employee (Victim 1) of an agency of the City of Philadelphia (Philadelphia Agency 1), and Victim 1’s colleagues. Between about April 18, 2024, and June 2, 2024, Tucci emailed Victim 1 multiple times regarding a records request he had made to the agency. This escalated on June 3, 2024, when he repeatedly called Philadelphia Agency 1, and during two of those calls, he spoke with Victim 1, identified himself by name, and screamed at Victim 1, who asked him to stop screaming. He continued to do so, causing Victim 1 to hang up each time. During subsequent calls on June 3 with Philadelphia Agency 1, Tucci spoke with two of Victim 1’s colleagues, using racial epithets and making threats. Specifically, the defendant said that he was going to come down to Philadelphia Agency 1 the next day and hurt everyone, and that he had Victim 1’s home address and was going to hurt Victim 1. Tucci sent multiple emails to Victim 1 the same day, using similar racial epithets and threats. He also texted Victim 1 on their personal cell phone, a phone number that Victim 1 had never provided to the defendant. The text messages from Tucci to Victim 1 mentioned Victim 1 by name, and the name of the street on which Victim 1 resided at the time. The messages included a warning that “This is personal now,” and additional threatening language. Tucci’s communications caused Victim 1 severe emotional distress, and fear that Tucci would find Victim 1 and seriously injure or kill them or their family members. Tucci willfully intimidated and interfered, and attempted to intimidate and interfere, with Victim 1 because of Victim 1’s race and color, and because Victim 1 was enjoying employment by, and all perquisites of, an agency of the City of Philadelphia, a subdivision of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Also detailed in court filings, on the morning of Feb. 1, 2024, Tucci pulled up next to another car in heavy traffic on I-95 southbound, lowered his windows, and repeatedly screamed racial epithets and threats to kill and shoot the other car’s driver (Victim 2), who is African American. Tucci then reached down into his car, pulled out a glass mug containing coffee, and threw it at Victim 2’s vehicle, terrifying Victim 2 and damaging their car. The defendant will be sentenced in December of 2025 and faces a maximum penalty of 21 years in prison. This case was investigated by the FBI, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Philadelphia Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Jeanette Kang for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Samuel Kuhn of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.


title: Bridgeville Resident Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 15 years of imprisonment, to be followed by 10 years of federal supervised release, on his conviction of producing child sexual abuse material, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Matthew A. Trax, 25. According to information presented to the Court, Trax enticed a 14-year-old female to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct. Trax then sent the minor images and a video of himself engaged in sexual intercourse with the female, which Trax had recorded on his phone. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Hardy stated that Trax’s federal offense was extremely serious and noted how such conduct victimizes the most vulnerable members of our community—children. Judge Hardy further stated that the imposed federal sentence serves to not only punish the defendant for his conduct and to protect the community, but to also deter Trax and other individuals who may seek to exploit children from engaging in such conduct. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mt. Lebanon Police Department, South Fayette Police Department, and Allegheny County Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Trax. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: KC Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearms Trafficking

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo. man was sentenced to five and a half years of imprisonment in federal court today for conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons. Fedo A. Manning, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 66 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. On April 17, 2025, Fedo Manning admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to sell firearms to individuals who were prohibited from possessing them under federal law. According to the plea agreement, the conspirators trafficked at least 22 firearms to persons who were known felons or they sold firearms that were converted into unregistered machineguns in violation of federal law. Fedo Manning agreed that his role in the conspiracy was to serve as a straw purchaser. He bought federal firearms from federal firearms licensed dealers so that they could later be sold by co-conspirators to individuals who were prohibited from possessing firearms. Between Jan. 13, 2023, and May 11, 2022, investigators discovered that Fedo Manning purchased at least 40 firearms from federal firearms licensees. Of those, 33 were Anderson Manufacturing, Model AM-15 firearms. In the plea agreement, Fedo Manning acknowledged that at least seven of the firearms that he purchased were recovered during investigations of crimes in the Kansas City metropolitan area. One of the recovered firearms purchased by Fedo Manning was discovered at the scene of the shooting that occurred during the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory on Feb. 14, 2024. The recovered firearm was an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15, .223-caliber pistol. The loaded pistol was found along the wall with a backpack next to two AR-15-style firearms and backpacks. Because the pistol was in “fire” position and there were 26 live rounds in the magazine, which is capable of holding 30 rounds, it may have fired several rounds before it was discarded. On April 14, 2025, co-defendant Antonio Manning, Sr., 23, a brother of Fedo Manning, admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to sell firearms to individuals who were prohibited from possessing them under federal law. According to the plea agreement, the defendants trafficked at least 22 firearms to persons who were known felons or they sold firearms that were converted into unregistered machineguns in violation of federal law. Pursuant to the plea agreement, Antonio Manning admitted that he was personally involved in illegally selling at least nine firearms and one of those firearms was an unregistered machinegun. On Aug. 7, 2025, Antonio Manning was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 48 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. The court also ordered the defendant to pay a criminal forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $11,260. On Jan. 22, 2025, co-defendant Sheron Manning, another brother of Fedo Manning, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and to one count of illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into an unregistered machinegun. On May 21, 2025, Sheron Manning, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 57 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. On Feb. 21, 2024, co-defendant Dejohuan Mietz Huntley, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons, to one count of possessing an unregistered machinegun, and one count of knowingly being a felon in possession of a firearm. On June 26, 2024, Dejohuan Mietz Huntley, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 70 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Pekin Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor

component: Department of Justice

body_text: PEORIA, Ill. – A Pekin, Illinois, man, Joseph D. Perkins, 32, was sentenced today to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by seven years of supervised release, for attempted enticement of a minor. He also is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm, the court considered evidence from Perkins’s April 2025 jury trial showing that from January 2023 until March 2024, he engaged in conversation with a person he believed to be a fourteen-year-old female. Throughout the 14-month conversation, Perkins made multiple attempts to obtain nude photos and repeatedly attempted to meet the individual to engage in sexual activities. He arrived at a planned meet-up in late March 2024 and was arrested by federal law enforcement officers. A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Perkins in April 2024. The case went to trial in April 2025, and a jury found Perkins guilty. Perkins has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest in March 2024 on a federal criminal complaint. The statutory penalties for attempted enticement of a minor include a mandatory minimum of ten years to life imprisonment, followed by a supervised release term of five years to life. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melissa P. Ortiz and Douglas F. McMeyer represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Perkins was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov


title: Independence Elementary School Teacher Charged With Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Independence, Mo., elementary school teacher has been charged in federal court for child pornography offenses. Dennis Adlai Hernandez, 28, was charged in a three-count federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. today. Hernandez is charged with transportation of child pornography, production and attempted production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Hernandez was arrested at his home yesterday during the execution of a federal search warrant. He remains in custody and is scheduled for his initial appearance today before a federal magistrate. The complaint affidavit alleges that on Aug. 19, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigations received 19 CyberTipline Reports (“Cybertips”) from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”). NCMEC made the referral after it received disclosures from Google on August 18 th indicating that multiple files of apparent child sexual abuse material had been uploaded to google photos by a particular account that had identifying information consistent with/to Hernandez. The affidavit further alleges that based upon the Cybertips, agents with the FBI sought and obtained a federal search warrant which was executed on the morning of August 20 th . Under federal statutes, transportation of child pornography carries a minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, production and attempted production of child pornography carries a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment, and possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. The FBI is seeking to identify potential victims of Hernandez. If you or your child believes they were a victim of Hernandez, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI. If you are under the age of 18, please have your parent/guardian call on your behalf. Your responses are voluntary. Based on your responses, you may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information. The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law. The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Dunning. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. A redacted copy of the publicly filed complaint and affidavit is attached. hernandez_complaint_affidavit_redacted_0.pdf hernandez_complaint_redacted_0.pdf Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' 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 www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced for Possession of a Forged Immigration Document and Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Guatemalan national unlawfully residing in West Springfield, Mass. was sentenced in federal court in Springfield for possessing a forged immigration document and unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Prior to these charges, the defendant reentered the United States unlawfully four times; was previously convicted in Arizona of human smuggling; was charged in Illinois with domestic battery/bodily harm; and was twice charged with assault on a police officer in Massachusetts. Jose Martinez-Lopez, a/k/a “Amalio Mendez-Molina,” 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to time served (163 days in prison). Martinez-Lopez is now subject to deportation. In June 2025 , Martinez-Lopez pleaded guilty to one count each of possession of a forged immigration document and unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Martinez-Lopez was arrested in March 2025 . On Aug. 28, 2009, Martinez-Lopez was removed from the United States to Guatemala after he entered the United States illegally on an unknown date. Sometime after his removal, Martinez-Lopez unlawfully reentered the United States and was subsequently deported on May 10, 2011. After his deportation, Martinez-Lopez re-entered the United States illegally for a third time. On Aug. 8, 2011, he was found guilty in Phoenix, Ariz. of human smuggling conspiracy and sentenced to a one-year probationary period. On Aug. 23, 2011, Martinez-Lopez was again removed from the United States. Sometime after his removal, Martinez-Lopez re-entered the United States illegally for a fourth time. On Nov. 25, 2022 and June 17, 2023, Martinez-Lopez was twice arrested in Cook County, Ill. for domestic battery/bodily harm. Both times, immigration authorities lodged detainers, but Martinez-Lopez was released from state court custody before any removal action could be taken. On March 10, 2025, Martinez-Lopez was arrested in West Springfield, Mass. for assault and battery on a police officer, which led to his apprehension by immigration authorities. At the time of the arrest, Martinez-Lopez possessed a forged permanent resident card in the name of “Amalio Mendez-Molina.” On March 11, 2025, Martinez-Lopez admitted to immigration authorities that he was unlawfully present in the United States and had re-entered the United States illegally in 2021. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Chinese National Who Deployed "Kill Switch" Code on  Employer's Network Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

body_text: A Chinese national was sentenced today to four years in prison and three years of supervised release for writing and deploying malicious code on his then-employer’s network. “The defendant breached his employer’s trust by using his access and technical knowledge to sabotage company networks, wreaking havoc and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses for a U.S. company,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “However, the defendant’s technical savvy and subterfuge did not save him from the consequences of his actions. The Criminal Division is committed to identifying and prosecuting those who attack U.S. companies, whether from within or without, to hold them responsible for their actions.” "The FBI works relentlessly every day to ensure that cyber actors who deploy malicious code and harm American businesses face the consequences of their actions,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “I am proud of the FBI cyber team’s work which led to today’s sentencing and hope it sends a strong message to others who may consider engaging in similar unlawful activities. This case also underscores the importance of identifying insider threats early and highlights the need for proactive engagement with your local FBI field office to mitigate risks and prevent further harm.” In March, a jury convicted Davis Lu, 55, legally residing in Houston, of causing intentional damage to protected computers. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Lu was employed as a software developer for the victim company headquartered in Beachwood, Ohio, from November 2007 to October 2019. Following a 2018 corporate realignment that reduced his responsibilities and system access, Lu began sabotaging his employer’s systems. By Aug. 4, 2019, he introduced malicious code that caused system crashes and prevented user logins. Specifically, he created “infinite loops” (in this case, code designed to exhaust Java threads by repeatedly creating new threads without proper termination, resulting in server crashes or hangs), deleted coworker profile files, and implemented a “kill switch” that would lock out all users if his credentials in the company’s active directory were disabled. The “kill switch” code — which Lu named “IsDLEnabledinAD”, abbreviating “Is Davis Lu enabled in Active Directory” — was automatically activated when he was placed on leave and asked to surrender his laptop on Sept. 9, 2019, and impacted thousands of company users globally. Additionally, on the day he was directed to turn in his company laptop, Lu deleted encrypted data. His internet search history revealed he had researched methods to escalate privileges, hide processes, and rapidly delete files, indicating an intent to obstruct the efforts of his co-workers to resolve the system disruptions. Lu’s employer suffered hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses as a result of his actions. The FBI Cleveland Field Office investigated the case. Senior Counsel Candina S. Heath of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel J. Riedl and Brian S. Deckert for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case. 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: Palm Coast Hacker Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced Noah Michael Urban (20, Palm Coast), a/k/a “King Bob,” “Sosa,” “Elijah,” and “Gustavo Fring,” to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The court also ordered Urban to forfeit approximately $4.8 million in assets, which includes cryptocurrency and other property. Urban was also ordered to pay $13 million in restitution. Urban entered a guilty plea on April 4, 2025. According to court documents, from August 2022 through March of 2023, Urban was involved in stealing cryptocurrency from at least 59 victims across the United States. Urban and others conducted targeted attacks called “SIM swaps,” to obtain victims’ personal identification information (PII). Once Urban obtained victims’ PII, he hacked into their cryptocurrency accounts online and stole their cryptocurrency. During this same timeframe, Urban was also part of a group that targeted employees of companies nationwide with phishing text messages. The harvested employee credentials were then used to log in and steal non-public company data and information. The group also used stolen information obtained from victim company intrusions, leaked data sets, and other sources to gain unauthorized access to numerous individuals’ cryptocurrency accounts and wallets and steal millions of dollars of virtual currency. The FBI served a search warrant on Urban’s residence and found evidence on Urban’s computer linking him to the victims’ email accounts and cryptocurrency wallets. In addition, cryptocurrency totaling approximately $4.8 million from the victims’ stolen accounts was found on Urban’s devices. The total loss to the victims was over $13 million. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro of the Middle District of Florida and Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Restrepo of the Central District of California.


title: KC Man Indicted for Illegal Firearms

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for being a felon in possession of firearms and possessing a machine gun. Maurquis D. Jennings, 29, of Kansas City, Mo. was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.The initial appearance was held today. Jennings was charged with one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and one count possessing a machine gun. The indictment alleges that on June 8, 2025, Jennings possessed a Glock, Model 20 Gen5, 10mm fully automatic pistol and a Glock, Model 30 Gen5, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. The indictment alleges that the Glock, Model 20 Gen5 contained a machine gun conversion device that made the Glock firearm a fully automatic pistol. Machine gun conversion devices, also known as “switches” or “auto sears,” are used to convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns that fire multiple shots automatically through a single pull of the trigger, enabling more rapid and often less accurate gunfire. Whether or not they are attached to a firearm, these devices constitute machine guns under federal law. It is therefore illegal to possess, sell, or use machine gun conversion devices. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jennings has a prior felony conviction for robbery. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lee’s Summit, Missouri Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: 23 in custody on immigration charges after bust of Hidalgo County alien smuggling ring

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – Four people, two of whom are illegal aliens themselves, have been charged for their alleged involvement in an alien smuggling ring, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Enrique Gonzalez, 57, of Weslaco, and Mexican national Erick Vallejo-Zapata, 21, are set for their initial appearances Aug. 22 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis. Rigoberto Esteban Perez-Cruz, 37, of Edinburg, and Mexican national Mirza Garcia-Zapata, 37, have already made their appearances, remain in custody and are set for detention hearings Aug. 26 at 2 p.m. The criminal complaint alleges all four harbored illegal aliens at residences throughout Hidalgo County. Gonzalez, Vallejo-Zapata and Garcia-Zapata are also alleged to have transported aliens. On Aug. 20, Perez-Cruz left a residence in Edinburg and committed a traffic violation, according to the charges. During the subsequent traffic stop, authorities allegedly discovered an illegal alien in the passenger seat. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement executed search warrants at that residence and another in Donna, and found an additional 24 illegal aliens, two of whom were unaccompanied minors, according to the charges. The complaint alleges Garcia-Zapata and Perez-Cruz were the caretakers of the stash houses. According to the charges, the illegal aliens had been previously held at Gonzalez’s house, where Vallejo-Zapata had photographed them. Gonzalez also allegedly took their phones. Court documents indicate Gonzalez and Vallejo-Zapata then transported them to the various stash houses across Hidalgo County. The illegal aliens discovered at the locations are from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Ecuador and India, according to the charges. As part of the investigation, nine of these aliens are now also charged with felony illegal reentry after removal and face up to 10 years in federal prison. Criminal complaints also charge 10 others with illegal entry into the United States. If convicted, Gonzalez, Vallejo-Zapata, Garcia-Zapata and Perez-Cruz face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood . A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Fort Dodge, Iowa, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced to ten years in federal prison. Christopher Lee Caquelin, age 41, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 26, 2025, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. At the guilty plea, Caquelin admitted that from January 1, 2023, to about October 31, 2024, Caquelin was part of an ongoing drug conspiracy based in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine. Caquelin and others sold methamphetamine to people in the Fort Dodge area. Caquelin was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Caquelin was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Caquelin is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Fletcher and Jack Lammers and was investigated by Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Dodge Police Department, and Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-03049. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Waterbury Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Violent Carjacking, Drug Trafficking

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RICARDO VERDEJO, also known as “Rick” and “Ricky,” 27, of Waterbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 156 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in both a violent carjacking and a Waterbury narcotics trafficking ring. According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of June 18, 2023, two all-terrain vehicles (“ATVs”) were stolen from Emily Rodriguez’s Waterbury residence. At the time, Rodriguez was living with Verdejo. After the theft, Verdejo, Rodriguez, and others posted messages on Facebook seeking to identify the individuals responsible for the theft and offering money for information about the location of the stolen vehicles. Verdejo and others then mistakenly identified an individual (“Victim 1”), who they incorrectly believed was involved in the theft. Later that night, Victim 1’s friend, (“Victim 2”), picked up Victim 1 from work and drove him home. As they arrived at Victim 1’s residence, three vehicles followed them and surrounded the victims. Verdejo, who carried an assault-style rifle, and others exited the vehicles and approached the victims. Verdejo and his associates demanded the return of the stolen ATVs, threatened to kill the victims, and physically assaulted them. Verdejo smacked one victim in the head and then used the barrel of the rifle to strike both victims in the face. Verdejo and his associates then stole Victim 2’s vehicle, which was owned by Victim 2’s relative, and other items and cash belonging to the victims. Verdejo and his associates continued to harass the victims in the following days. Also, Verdejo and 16 others were charged with federal offenses stemming from an investigation into two drug trafficking organizations based in the city of Waterbury. One organization operated in the area of William Street and the other operated in the area of Maple Avenue. Verdejo was involved in the William Street organization. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, video surveillance, GPS tracking of vehicles, and numerous controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that the two organizations distributed cocaine, crack, and fentanyl through a network of sellers. The organizations shared sources of supply and worked together to further their operations. Verdejo and several of his drug associates were arrested on November 29, 2023. In association with the arrests, investigators executed multiple search warrants and seized approximately 700 grams of crack cocaine, more than 900 vials (“caps”) of crack, approximately 200 grams of loose fentanyl, more than 1,600 dose bags of fentanyl/heroin, two stolen firearms, numerous rounds of ammunition, and more than $39,000 in cash. Verdejo has been detained since his arrest. On April 15, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and on May 21, 2025, he pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Rodriguez pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing. These investigations were led by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and Waterbury Safe Streets Gang Task Force, and the Waterbury Police Department. The carjacking case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan J. Guevremont and David T. Huang, and the narcotics trafficking case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Shan Patel through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Man Sentenced for Over $11M COVID-19 Relief Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

body_text: A Nevada man was sentenced today to over 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release for fraudulently obtaining more than $11 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and then laundering the funds through real estate transactions, gambling activity, and luxury purchases. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,793,064.15, forfeiture in the amount of $11,231,186.52, and to forfeit two vehicles and five properties. “This defendant stole more than $11 million in taxpayer funds that he used to finance luxury purchases and gambling,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Prosecuting schemes like this is critical to protecting the contributions of hard-working Americans, preserving confidence in government relief programs, and ensuring that aid reaches those who truly need it. This sentence demonstrates the Criminal Division’s continuing commitment to protecting the public’s money from thieves and fraudsters.” “The consequences of the defendant’s PPP loan fraud scheme have caught up with him and now he will be incarcerated for exploiting more than $11.2 million from a taxpayer-funded program,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Thanks to the diligent work of our law enforcement partners, the defendant is being held accountable for defrauding the government.” “This lengthy sentence shows how seriously the American government takes PPP loan fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Phoenix Field Office. “This loan program was created to support small businesses and their employees during a once in a lifetime pandemic. When Mr. Dezfooli fraudulently obtained these loans, he not only stole from the Small Business Administration, but also from American taxpayers to the tune of $11.2 million. This sentencing is a testament to IRS-CI’s dedication to protecting American taxpayers and ensuring the integrity of our tax system.” “Today’s sentencing holds accountable and brings to justice a fraudster who stole millions of taxpayer dollars intended to help small business owners,” said Special Agent in Charge Jon Ellwanger of the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Western Region. “We are proud to have worked with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to achieve this result.” “Mr. Dezfooli falsified loan applications to fraudulently obtain PPP loan proceeds that he used to enrich himself to the detriment of legitimate business struggling during the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG). “The defendant’s actions not only defrauded the PPP loan program but also disadvantaged business owners who were actually entitled to the benefits. FDIC OIG is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the Nation’s Financial System and hold accountable those individuals, like Mr. Dezfooli, who steal benefits designated to help those in need.” According to evidence presented at trial, Meelad Dezfooli, of Henderson, Nevada, submitted three fraudulent applications on behalf of entities he controlled, obtaining more than $11 million. Dezfooli supported these applications with false documents, including fabricated tax records and a utility bill, and grossly inflated the number of employees and payroll expenses of each entity. After receiving the PPP funds, Dezfooli laundered the money by purchasing approximately 25 properties in Nevada, often using the alias “James Dez” or a fictitious entity called “Holdings Trust.” Even after he was indicted, Dezfooli continued laundering money, including selling property purchased with the illegally obtained PPP funds. He also used criminal proceeds to fund his personal investment account, buy luxury cars, and gamble extensively throughout Las Vegas. As part of this investigation, five homes were seized by law enforcement. On Sept. 4, 2024, a jury found Dezfooli guilty of three counts of bank fraud, three counts of money laundering, and four counts of conducting transactions using criminally derived property. One of those violations related to a transaction that Dezfooli conducted after he had already been charged. The IRS-CI, FRB-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and SBA-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Taylor G. Stout of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Schiess for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. Legal Assistant Alexa Stiles and Paralegal Holly Butler of MLARS provided substantial assistance throughout the investigation and trial. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Arthur, Iowa, Man Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: A man who received child pornography pled guilty August 20, 2025, in federal court in Sioux City. Wesley Ham, 32, from Arthur, Iowa, was convicted of receipt of child pornography. At the plea hearing, evidence showed that between March 2022, and September 2023, Ham received and possessed more than 94 images and 79 videos of child pornography. A forensic review of Ham’s computer and phone showed he possessed 370 images and 3 videos of child pornography, some of which included infants and toddlers as well as sadistic and masochistic conduct. Ham admitted to receiving and possessing child pornography but not distributing it, although Ham did admit to distributing child pornography in a state of Iowa case in 2022. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Ham remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Ham faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release following any imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ 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 www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” The case was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (Cyber Crime Bureau) and the Ida County Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-3017. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Trinitarios Gang Member Charged with Possession of Machinegun

body_text: BOSTON – A Lawrence man appeared in federal court yesterday in connection with a criminal complaint charging him with possessing an UZI machinegun. Derek Mercado, 20, is charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession of a machinegun. Mercado is currently in state custody for domestic violence offenses. Mercado is alleged to be a member of the Trinitarios gang, a violent criminal enterprise responsible for numerous murders and acts of violence across Massachusetts. According to charging documents, an alert to arrest Mercado was broadcast by law enforcement on the morning of May 6, 2025, following a report of a domestic violence incident. The victim reported that the defendant was allegedly in possession of a firearm in a green duffel bag. At the time, Mercado was in warrant status on two unrelated matters. Mercado was later observed exiting a residence while allegedly possessing a green duffel bag. Mercado was taken into custody and an Israel Military Industries UZI model submachinegun containing an extended magazine loaded with 24 rounds was recovered in the green bag. The UZI was later test-fired and determined to be a functional machinegun. In August 2024 , three members of the Lawrence Chapter of the Trinitarios were charged with an armed robbery. In February 2025 , nearly two dozen members of the Lynn Chapter of the Trinitarios were charged with committing six murders in Lynn and Lawrence. In June 2025 , two Trinitarios members were charged with committing a kidnapping in Andover. The charge of possessing a machinegun provides for a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Haverhill Police Chief Robert Pistone made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Nevada Man Sentenced For Over $11M COVID-19 Relief Fraud And Money Laundering Scheme

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: LAS VEGAS — A Nevada man was sentenced today to over 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release for fraudulently obtaining more than $11 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and then laundering the funds through real estate transactions, gambling activity, and luxury purchases. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,793,064.15, forfeiture in the amount of $11,231,186.52, and to forfeit two vehicles and five properties. “This defendant stole more than $11 million in taxpayer funds that he used to finance luxury purchases and gambling,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Prosecuting schemes like this is critical to protecting the contributions of hard-working Americans, preserving confidence in government relief programs, and ensuring that aid reaches those who truly need it. This sentence demonstrates the Criminal Division’s continuing commitment to protecting the public’s money from thieves and fraudsters.” “The consequences of the defendant’s PPP loan fraud scheme have caught up with him and now he will be incarcerated for exploiting more than $11.2 million from a taxpayer-funded program,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Thanks to the diligent work of our law enforcement partners, the defendant is being held accountable for defrauding the government.” “This lengthy sentence shows how seriously the American government takes PPP loan fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (IRS-CI) Phoenix Field Office. “This loan program was created to support small businesses and their employees during a once in a lifetime pandemic. When Mr. Dezfooli fraudulently obtained these loans, he not only stole from the Small Business Administration, but also from American taxpayers to the tune of $11.2 million. This sentencing is a testament to IRS-CI’s dedication to protecting American taxpayers and ensuring the integrity of our tax system.” “Today’s sentencing holds accountable and brings to justice a fraudster who stole millions of taxpayer dollars intended to help small business owners,” said Special Agent in Charge Jon Ellwanger of the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Western Region. “We are proud to have worked with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to achieve this result.” “Mr. Dezfooli falsified loan applications to fraudulently obtain PPP loan proceeds that he used to enrich himself to the detriment of legitimate business struggling during the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Ryan Korner of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG). “The defendant’s actions not only defrauded the PPP loan program but also disadvantaged business owners who were actually entitled to the benefits. FDIC OIG is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the Nation’s Financial System and hold accountable those individuals, like Mr. Dezfooli, who steal benefits designated to help those in need.” According to evidence presented at trial, Meelad Dezfooli, of Henderson, Nevada, submitted three fraudulent applications on behalf of entities he controlled, obtaining more than $11 million. Dezfooli supported these applications with false documents, including fabricated tax records and a utility bill, and grossly inflated the number of employees and payroll expenses of each entity. After receiving the PPP funds, Dezfooli laundered the money by purchasing approximately 25 properties in Nevada, often using the alias “James Dez” or a fictitious entity called “Holdings Trust.” Even after he was indicted, Dezfooli continued laundering money, including selling property purchased with the illegally obtained PPP funds. He also used criminal proceeds to fund his personal investment account, buy luxury cars, and gamble extensively throughout Las Vegas. As part of this investigation, five homes were seized by law enforcement. On Sept. 4, 2024, a jury found Dezfooli guilty of three counts of bank fraud, three counts of money laundering, and four counts of conducting transactions using criminally derived property. One of those violations related to a transaction that Dezfooli conducted after he had already been charged. The IRS-CI, FRB-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and SBA-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Taylor G. Stout of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel R. Schiess for the District of Nevada prosecuted the case. Legal Assistant Alexa Stiles and Paralegal Holly Butler of MLARS provided substantial assistance throughout the investigation and trial. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form ###


title: Owner of Taco Restaurants Pleads Guilty to Firearms Charge and Employing Unauthorized Aliens

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Blademir Angulo Audeves, 42, of Mexico, pleaded guilty on August 20, to one count of Alien in Possession of a Firearm and one count of Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens. Sentencing is scheduled for October 28, 2025, before United States District Judge Humetewa. In his plea, Audeves admitted that he owned and operated El Taqueria El Taco Loko LLC, which included a brick-and-mortar restaurant and two mobile restaurants in the Phoenix-metro area. As the owner and operator of the restaurants, Audeves knowingly hired and employed at least twelve unauthorized aliens, who were either not lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States or were not authorized to be employed in the United States. Audeves, a Mexican citizen without legal authority to be in the United States, also admitted to knowingly possessing three firearms in July 2025, along with ammunition, all of which was prohibited because of his immigration status. A conviction for Alien in Possession of a Firearm carries a maximum penalty of fifteen years of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. A conviction for Knowingly Employing Unauthorized Aliens carries a maximum penalty of six months of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $3,000 for each unauthorized alien with respect to whom such a violation occurs. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Homeland Security Investigations is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-25-01029 RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-138_Audeves # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Felon Sentenced in Crack Distribution and Illegal Possession of a Glock and a ‘Ghost Gun’ While on Pre-Trial Release

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Melvin Johnson, 27, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today to a total of 66 months in federal prison in connection with trafficking crack cocaine and illegally possessing a loaded Glock semi-automatic pistol and a “Ghost Gun” semi-automatic pistol equipped with a laser pointer, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Johnson pleaded guilty on April 8, 2025, to unlawful possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and to being a felon in possession of two firearms and ammunition. In addition to the 66-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Richard J. Leon ordered Johnson to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on Aug.17, 2021, at 4:15 p.m., Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the 3500 block of 14th Street NW, to investigate a report of drug trafficking. The officers encountered Melvin Johnson nearby on a scooter and asked him if he had anything illegal on him. Johnson said he only had personal items. One of the officers noticed that Johnson’s bag appeared to have an extended magazine protruding from it and was weighted down by an additional heavy object. After cuffing Johnson, officers recovered a Glock 29 semi-automatic pistol from the bag. The pistol was loaded with one round in the chamber and equipped with an extended magazine containing 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition. In addition, the bag contained an additional Glock magazine loaded with 16 rounds. During a search, officers recovered $1,203 in cash and 26 grams of a white rock substance from inside the Johnson’s spandex pants. Officers field tested a portion of the substance which returned a positive result for cocaine base. Previously, on Feb. 28, 2020, at about 4:15 p.m., MPD officers recovered a loaded “ghost gun” from Johnson on the 1500 block of Meridian Place NW. The firearm was equipped with a laser pointer. At the time of his arrest on the drug trafficking charge and possession of the Glock, Johnson was on pre-trial release on the charge for carrying a loaded pistol without a license. This case was investigated by the MPD. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emory V. Cole. 21cr535