title: Court Sentences Hino Motors Ltd., a Toyota Subsidiary, and Imposes Over $1.6B in Penalties for Emissions Fraud Scheme

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Note: View plea agreement here . View criminal information here . Today, U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Goldsmith for the Eastern District of Michigan accepted Hino Motors, Ltd.’s guilty plea to a one-count criminal information charging it with having engaged in a multi-year criminal conspiracy to defraud both the U.S. government and American consumers and illicitly smuggle goods into the country. Judge Goldsmith also sentenced Hino, a Toyota subsidiary, to pay a criminal fine of $521.76 million, serve a five-year term of probation — during which it is prohibited from importing any diesel engines it has manufactured into the United States — and implement a comprehensive compliance and ethics program and reporting structure. The court also entered a $1.087 billion forfeiture money judgment against the company. According to court records, between 2010 and 2019, Hino Motors, Ltd. engineers submitted and caused to be submitted false applications for engine certification approvals in violation of the federal Clean Air Act. Hino Motors, Ltd. engineers regularly altered emission test data, conducted tests improperly and fabricated data without conducting any underlying tests. The engineers also submitted fraudulent carbon dioxide emissions test data, which resulted in false fuel consumption values being calculated for its engines, and failed to disclose software functions that could adversely affect engines’ emission control systems. As a result of the fraud, Hino Motors, Ltd. imported and sold over 105,000 non-conforming engines between 2010 and 2022. These engines were primarily installed in heavy-duty trucks manufactured and sold by Hino nationwide. “Hino unlawfully imported over 105,000 engines that did not comply with U.S. emissions standards and lied about what it was doing. Hino’s criminal conduct gave it an unfair business advantage over other law-abiding companies, including American companies, and generated over $1 billion in gross proceeds,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We are committed to upholding the rule of law by prosecuting fraud and enforcing our Clean Air Act emissions standards.” “Our office is steadfast in its commitment to holding corporate actors accountable when they lie to government regulators, illicitly smuggle goods into our county, and then fraudulently sell those goods to American consumers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Hino falsely certified compliance with the Clean Air Act so that it could profit off Americans by sending illegal, polluting engines into the United States,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Today’s plea and sentencing demonstrates that companies who intentionally evade our nation’s environmental laws, including by fabricating data to feign compliance with those laws, deserve punishment and will be held criminally accountable.” “By pleading guilty, Hino Motors, Ltd. has admitted to orchestrating a deliberate and years-long fraud scheme that put profit over principle,” said Acting Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division “It doesn’t matter how complex the scheme is, the FBI is committed to holding individuals and organizations responsible for their actions.” Special agents of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and FBI’s Detroit Field Office investigated the criminal case. Senior Trial Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind for the Eastern District of Michigan handled the criminal prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gjon Juncaj handled the criminal forfeiture matters.


title: High-Ranking MS-13 Leader Arraigned in Long Island Federal Court on Terrorism and Racketeering Charges After His Arrest in Mexico

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Earlier today, a high-ranking leader of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, was arraigned on a four-count indictment charging him, along with a dozen other high-ranking MS-13 leaders, with directing the transnational criminal organization’s unlawful activities in the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and elsewhere over the past two decades. Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, also known as Veterano de Tribus, 47, of Ahuachapán, El Salvador, and Veracruz, Mexico, had been a fugitive for nearly three years and was added to the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List last month. He was arrested on March 18 at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego, California. Roman-Bardales had been located and arrested by Mexican authorities in Veracruz on March 17, and after it was determined that he was an El Salvadoran citizen with no valid status in Mexico, he was expelled from Mexico. “MS-13 is a terrorist organization and this case reflects the Department of Justice’s ironclad commitment to putting terrorists behind bars,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Members of MS-13 and similar groups should live in fear knowing that we will hunt them down, prosecute them, and deliver swift American justice for their heinous crimes.” “The prosecution in the Eastern District of New York of this international fugitive, who is one of the most senior leaders of the MS-13 in the world, is another momentous step in the dismantling of this evil criminal enterprise, whose bloodshed and reign of terror traverses all boundaries,” stated U.S. Attorney John J. Durham for the Eastern District of New York. “Thanks to the relentless and brave work of U.S. law enforcement, he will soon face reckoning in a courtroom on Long Island where his transnational criminal organization has impacted so many communities.” As set forth in court filings, Roman-Bardales and his co-defendants are part of MS-13’s command and control structure, consisting of the Ranfla Nacional, Ranfla en Las Calles, and Ranfla en Los Penales. They exercise significant leadership roles in the organization’s operations in El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, and throughout the world. Roman-Bardales was himself a founding member of the Ranfla en las Calles, and oversaw the “Western Zone” of MS-13 in El Salvador. In the related case of United States v. Henriquez, et al., a grand jury in the Eastern District of New York previously indicted 14 members of the Ranfla Nacional, who functioned as MS-13’s “Board of Directors.” Formal extradition requests have been submitted by the United States and remain pending for 11 of those defendants who either are or were in custody in El Salvador. As further alleged, the defendants have engaged in a litany of violent terrorist activities aimed at influencing the policies of the government of El Salvador (GOES) and at obtaining benefits and concessions from GOES; targeting GOES law enforcement and military officials; employing terrorist tactics such as the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and grenades; operating military-style training camps for firearms and explosives; using public displays of violence to intimidate civilian populations; using violence to obtain and control territory; and manipulating the electoral process in El Salvador. Further, these defendants authorized and directed violence in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere as part of a concerted effort to expand MS-13’s influence and territorial control. As the leaders of the MS-13 transnational criminal organization, these defendants were an integral part of the leadership chain responsible for supervising MS-13 cliques in the United States that engaged in extreme violence, including countless murders, attempted murders, assaults, and related offenses. For example, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has prosecuted hundreds of MS-13 leaders, members and associates for carrying out more than 80 murders in the Eastern District of New York between 2009 and the present. Several of these defendants, including Roman-Bardales, coordinated MS-13’s expansion into Mexico (the Mexico Program), at the direction of the Ranfla Nacional, which was a coordinated effort to maintain MS-13’s continuity of operations in response to law enforcement pressure previously exerted by the United States and GOES. Additionally, Roman-Bardales and the Mexico Program forged alliances with Mexican cartels, and engaged in narcotics trafficking, immigrant smuggling, extortion, kidnappings, and weapons trafficking. As alleged in the indictment, the MS-13’s Mexico Program murdered some migrants bound for the United States, including suspected members of the rival 18th Street gang and MS-13 members attempting to flee MS-13 in El Salvador without permission. Drug trafficking was an important part of MS-13’s moneymaking operation, especially in Mexico, and the defendants used MS-13’s large membership in the United States to generate financial support for MS-13’s terrorist activities in El Salvador. Roman-Bardales is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to provide and conceal material support and resources to terrorists, narco-terrorism conspiracy and alien smuggling conspiracy. Today’s proceeding was held before U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack. Roman-Bardales was ordered detained pending trial in the Eastern District of New York. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison or the possibility of the death penalty. This case was brought by Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created to combat MS-13 and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Eastern District of New York; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of New York; the District of Massachusetts; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI; HSI; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; the U.S. Bureau of Prisons; and the U.S. Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General have been essential law enforcement partners and spearheaded JTFV’s investigations. This case is part of Operation Take Back America and an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. Operation Take Back America is 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The FBI’s San Diego Field Office is investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Suffolk County Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Diego. The Justice Department thanks its Mexican law enforcement partners. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justina L. Geraci, Paul G. Scotti, and Megan E. Farrell for the Eastern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Kerryanne Ucci and Automated Litigation Specialist Michael Compitello. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: CENTRAL ISLIP, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, also known as “Veterano de Tribus,” a high-ranking leader of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as “MS-13,” was arraigned on a four-count indictment charging him, along with a dozen other high-ranking MS-13 leaders, with directing the transnational criminal organization’s unlawful activities in the United States, El Salvador, Mexico, and elsewhere over the past two decades. Roman-Bardales, who had been a fugitive for nearly three years and was added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List last month, was arrested by the FBI on March 18, 2025 at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego, California. Roman-Bardales had been located and arrested by Mexican authorities in Veracruz on March 17, 2025, and after it was determined that he was an El Salvadoran citizen with no valid status in Mexico, he was expelled from Mexico. Roman-Bardales is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to provide and conceal material support and resources to terrorists, narco-terrorism conspiracy, and alien smuggling conspiracy. Today’s proceeding was held before United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack. Roman-Bardales was ordered detained pending trial in the Eastern District of New York. Pamela Bondi, United States Attorney General, John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Leslie Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, FBI, New York Field Office, announced the arraignment. “MS-13 is a terrorist organization and this case reflects the Department of Justice’s ironclad commitment to putting terrorists behind bars,” stated Attorney General Bondi. “Members of MS-13 and similar groups should live in fear knowing that we will hunt them down, prosecute them, and deliver swift American justice for their heinous crimes.” “The prosecution in the Eastern District of New York of this international fugitive, who is one of the most senior leaders of the MS-13 in the world, is another momentous step in the dismantling of this evil criminal enterprise, whose bloodshed and reign of terror traverses all boundaries,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “Thanks to the relentless and brave work of United States law enforcement, he will soon face reckoning in a courtroom on Long Island where his transnational criminal organization has impacted so many communities.” Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the Suffolk County Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego (HSI), the FBI’s San Diego Field Office and the Government of Mexico for their assistance. “FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive Roman-Bardales has been extradited to the United States to be held accountable for the extreme and depraved violence and terror his leadership of MS-13 allegedly brought to the streets of the United States and across North America,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Backschies. “The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners are committed to eradicating MS-13 and all violent transnational criminal organizations wherever they operate as we protect our nation.” As set forth in court filings, Roman-Bardales and his co-defendants are part of MS-13’s command and control structure, consisting of the Ranfla Nacional , Ranfla en Las Calles , and Ranfla en Los Penales . They exercise significant leadership roles in the organization’s operations in El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, and throughout the world. Roman-Bardales was himself a founding member of the Ranfla en las Calles and oversaw the “Western Zone” of MS-13 in El Salvador. In the related case of United States v. Henriquez, et al. , a grand jury in the Eastern District of New York previously indicted 14 members of the Ranfla Nacional , who functioned as MS-13’s “Board of Directors.” Formal extradition requests have been submitted by the United States and remain pending for 11 of those defendants who either are or were in custody in El Salvador. As further alleged, the defendants have engaged in a litany of violent terrorist activities aimed at influencing the policies of the government of El Salvador (GOES) and at obtaining benefits and concessions from GOES; targeting GOES law enforcement and military officials; employing terrorist tactics such as the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and grenades; operating military-style training camps for firearms and explosives; using public displays of violence to intimidate civilian populations; using violence to obtain and control territory; and manipulating the electoral process in El Salvador. Further, these defendants authorized and directed violence in the United States, Mexico, and elsewhere as part of a concerted effort to expand MS-13’s influence and territorial control. As the leaders of the MS-13 transnational criminal organization, these defendants were an integral part of the leadership chain responsible for supervising MS-13 cliques in the United States that engaged in extreme violence, including countless murders, attempted murders, assaults, and related offenses. For example, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York has prosecuted hundreds of MS-13 leaders, members, and associates for carrying out more than 80 murders in the Eastern District of New York between 2009 and the present. Several of these defendants, including Roman-Bardales, coordinated MS-13’s expansion into Mexico (the Mexico Program), at the direction of the Ranfla Nacional , which was a coordinated effort to maintain MS-13’s continuity of operations in response to law enforcement pressure previously exerted by the United States and GOES. Additionally, Roman-Bardales and the Mexico Program forged alliances with Mexican cartels, and engaged in narcotics trafficking, immigrant smuggling, extortion, kidnappings, and weapons trafficking. As alleged in the indictment, the MS-13’s Mexico Program murdered some migrants bound for the United States, including suspected members of the rival 18 th Street gang and MS-13 members attempting to flee MS-13 in El Salvador without permission. Drug trafficking was an important part of MS-13’s moneymaking operation, especially in Mexico, and the defendants used MS-13’s large membership in the United States to generate financial support for MS-13’s terrorist activities in El Salvador. This case was brought by Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created to combat MS-13 and comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Eastern District of New York; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of New York; the District of Massachusetts; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. Additionally, the FBI; HSI; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the United States Marshals Service; the U.S. Bureau of Prisons; and the United States Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General have been essential law enforcement partners and spearheaded JTFV’s investigations. This case is part of Operation Take Back America and an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. Operation Take Back America is 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charges, Roman-Bardales faces up to life in prison or the possibility of the death penalty. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division and as part of the work of the Office’s Transnational Criminal Organizations Strike Force . Assistant United States Attorneys Justina L. Geraci, Paul G. Scotti, and Megan E. Farrell are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Kerryanne Ucci and Automated Litigation Specialist Michael Compitello. The Defendant : FRANCISCO JAVIER ROMAN-BARDALES (also known as “Veterano de Tribus”) Age: 47 Ahuachapán, El Salvador and Veracruz, Mexico E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-429 (JMA)


title: Eighteen Brazilian Nationals Charged; Over One Hundred Firearms Seized in Federal Crackdown on Firearm Trafficking

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced the results of a year-long federal investigation into illegal firearm sales across Massachusetts. According to the charging documents, the investigation identified Brazilian nationals in several communities in Massachusetts who have allegedly been involved in the sale of various types of firearms. It is further alleged that some of the firearms were tied to gang-related activities involving a large transnational criminal organization, Primeiro Comando da Capital, as well as smaller, local street gangs, specifically the “Tropa de Sete” and “Trem Bala” street gangs. Primeiro Comando da Capital, originally founded in the prison systems in São Paulo, Brazil, is one of the largest criminal organizations in Brazil and Latin America. It is alleged that Primeiro Comando da Capital members and their associates are known to commit violent offenses in furtherance of the organization, to include murders, armed robberies, kidnappings and the coordination of a transnational drug trafficking operation. To date, approximately 110 firearms, trafficking quantities of fentanyl and ammunition have been seized over the course of the investigation which began in 2024. The firearms allegedly recovered include, but are not limited to, handguns, rifles, short-barreled rifles and shotguns that were primarily trafficked from areas in Florida and South Carolina into Massachusetts. Eighteen Brazilian nationals have been charged separately with federal firearms offenses over the course of the investigation. The majority of the defendants have no legal status in the United States and are in the United States illegally: Guilherme Fernandes Tavares, 31, illegal, resided in Marlborough, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Lucas Henrique Moreira De Paiva, 22, illegal, resided in Malden, Weymouth and Chelsea, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Victor Eduardo Santos De Souza, 21, illegal, resided in Framingham and Revere, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Rafaell Martins Ferreira, 27, illegal, resided in Boston, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Riquelme Henrique De Aguilar Ferreira, 21, illegal, resided in Framingham and Revere, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Lucas Ferreira-Da Silva, 27, of Malden, charged with engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license; Floriano De Souza, 50, illegal, resided in Yarmouth, charged with conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Israel Yurisson Dos Santos, 24, illegal, resided in Marlborough, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Alason Ferreira-Peixoto, 22, of West Yarmouth, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Gideoni De Oliveira Moutinho, 32, illegal, resided in Malden, Weymouth and Chelsea, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Lucas Nascimento-Siva, 27, of West Yarmouth, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Vanderson Rocha Oliveira, 31, illegal, resided in Boston, charged with charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Joao Vitor Dos Santos Goncalves Pimenta, 20, illegal, resided in Malden, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Talles Provette De Faria, 34, of Barnstable and Plymouth, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and distribution of fentanyl; Patrick Rodrigues De Oliveira, 34, of Framingham, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Marcos Paulo Silva, 24, illegal, resided in Boston, charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license; Joao Victor Da Silva Soares, 21, of Everett, charged with conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license; and Kessi Jhonny Firmino Sales, 23, illegal, resided in West Yarmouth, charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. “As alleged, these defendants – most of whom have no legal status in the United States – played a role in bringing deadly weapons into Massachusetts, some as traffickers and others as unlawful possessors. This kind of lawlessness fuels violent crime and empowers transnational criminal organizations that profit from chaos and fear. It puts American lives at risk,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This case is a testament to the strength of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships in keeping our communities safe and upholding the rule of law.” “This case involved the trafficking of well over 100 illegal firearms and included 18 defendants, many of whom are illegal aliens allegedly engaged in the unlawful possession and distribution of deadly weapons. The combination of illegal firearms and individuals unlawfully in our country presents a grave threat to public safety. ATF will not stand by – we will continue to work aggressively with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate and dismantle those who arm criminals and endanger our communities,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division. “Not only are many of these individuals in the country illegally, these defendants also allegedly trafficked dangerous firearms in connection with transnational gangs, posing a serious threat to our communities in Massachusetts. This investigation is the result of collaboration with our partners, each leveraging our unique expertise and authorities to work towards our shared public safety goals,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “Many of these 18 Brazilian aliens illegally settled in our Massachusetts communities apparently with the intention of causing harm to our residents,” said Patricia H. Hyde, Acting Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. “Not only were they allegedly members or associates of dangerous transnational criminal organizations, but they were also allegedly involved in trafficking significant amounts of illegal firearms, ammunition, and fentanyl. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize the safety of our public by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from our New England neighborhoods.” The charges of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license and conspiracy provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendants are subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. U.S. Attorney Foley; ATF SAC Ferguson; HSI SAC Krol; and ICE ERO Director Hyde made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; United States Postal Inspection Service; Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office; United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Fraud Detection & National Security Directorate; and the Barnstable, Yarmouth, Plymouth, Chelsea, Milford, Malden, Marlborough, Weymouth, Framingham, New Bedford and Worcester Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Crowley, Deputy Chief of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III are prosecuting the cases. 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: Miami Bank Employee Guilty of Embezzling Deceased Customer’s Money

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Miami man who used his position as an employee at an international financial institution to embezzle over $190,000 from a deceased customer’s accounts pled guilty to a federal information yesterday in the Southern District of Florida. Billy Gedeon, 34, admitted the following: After learning that one of the bank’s regular customers had died, Gedeon went into the deceased customer’s accounts several times without authorization. In 2023, Gedeon stole over $19ok from one of the accounts by forging the deceased customer’s signature on a bank form (which closed the account), withdrawing all the money, and depositing it into Gedeon’s personal account at another bank. Senior U.S. District Judge Federico Moreno set Gedeon’s sentencing for June, 10 at 10:00AM Eastern Time. Gedeon faces a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison. Judge Moreno will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors when arriving at a sentence. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida; Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge Rafael Barros of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker, Eastern Region, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-OIG) made the announcement. U.S. Secret Service and FRB-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Latoya C. Brown of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea R. Rooney of the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-20067. ###


title: St. Louis County Man Caught Sharing Child Pornography with Police

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted being caught sharing child sexual abuse material with an undercover police officer James C. Astorian, 40, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession of child pornography. He admitted sharing multiple images and videos containing child sexual abuse material with a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officer in January of 2020 via a peer-to-peer network. St. Louis County police conducted a court-approved search of Astorian’s home and recovered electronic devices containing 6,110 images and 728 videos containing child pornography. Astorian told investigators that he has been searching for and downloading child pornography for about two years. Astorian is scheduled to be sentenced on August 13. The crime carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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.justice.gov/psc .


title: California Couple Sentenced to Prison for Mail Order Drug Trafficking

body_text: MIAMI – A federal district judge in Ft. Pierce sentenced a husband and wife to federal prison yesterday for working with a foreign drug trafficking organization to distribute methamphetamine, opioids, and other controlled drugs purchased by customers from an online pharmacy. U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon sentenced Vanessa Vanly Kaiser, 50, to six years’ imprisonment and Ronald Robert Kaiser, 61, to almost four years’ imprisonment after each pled guilty on December 19, 2024, to conspiring to distribute a controlled substance, including methamphetamine. The Kaisers are from Sacramento, California. For about six months in 2023, the scheme operated as follows: Customers throughout the United States purchased narcotics without prescriptions from an online pharmacy. The foreign drug trafficking organization provided the Kaisers with drugs which were mailed to the organization’s customers throughout the United States (including ones in South Florida). The Kaisers also collected payments on the organization’s behalf. The drugs included Schedule II opioids and pills (appearing to be Adderall) containing methamphetamine. Over the six months, the Kaisers possessed or mailed more than 169,000 pills and funneled more than $500,000 from customers to the foreign drug traffickers using online money transfer applications and bank accounts. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Miami Field Division (DEA), Acting Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of FBI Miami, Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami, Acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphy of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit, and Acting Inspector in Charge Steven L. Hodges of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, made the announcement. DEA Miami Field Division, FBI Miami, HSI Fort Pierce, HSI Detroit, and USPIS Miami Division investigated the case with assistance from the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigation (FDA-OCI), and United States Marshal Service (USMS). Assistant United States Attorney Daniel E. Funk prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-80069. ###


title: Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to  Over Twenty Years Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who worked with others to distribute a significant amount of methamphetamine was sentenced March 17, 2025, to more than 24 years in federal prison. Candace Sue Thein, age 42, from Dike, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 3, 2024 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Evidence disclosed at sentencing showed that, from December 2023 through May 22, 2024, Thein worked with others to receive numerous packages of ice methamphetamine and marijuana from a source of supply in California. In total, the group received over 50 pounds of methamphetamine from the source of supply in California, which the group then redistributed to individuals in Waterloo, Dike, Reinbeck, and Hudson, Iowa. Law enforcement searched several of the residences of individuals receiving these packages, including Thein’s residence in Dike, on May 22, 2024. In the early morning hours of June 15, 2024, Thein and two other individuals went to the residence of one of Thein’s drug customers, demanding money. The two other individuals threatened to kill Thein’s drug customer, while Thein broke into the drug customer’s residence and stole his cellphone. Thein was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Thein was sentenced to 292 months’ imprisonment, and she must also serve a three‑year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Thein is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dillan Edwards and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; United States Postal Service; the Tri‑County Drug Enforcement Task Force, consisting of the Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Department, Evansdale Police Department, Waverly Police Department, Hudson Police Department, La Porte City Police Department, and the Bremer County Sheriff’s Department; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; the Mid‑Iowa Drug Trask Force; the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office; the Iowa State Patrol; and the Santa Ana, California Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-00052-CJW. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: New Braunfels Man who Planned Mass Murder Attacks Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A New Braunfels man was sentenced in federal court today to 78 months in prison for a charge related to his planned mass murder attacks that were thwarted by federal and local law enforcement. According to court documents, Cameron Darrick Peterson, 20, began planning mass shootings since November 2022. On Jan. 4, 2024, Peterson attempted to purchase a 12-gauge shotgun from a New Braunfels pawn shop. He completed the required background check and was denied due to his age and the type of firearm he was attempting to purchase. On May 31, he attempted to purchase an assault weapon-style 12-gauge shotgun from the pawn shop and was denied a second time. FBI agents obtained an arrest warrant on June 5, and Peterson was immediately taken into custody by the New Braunfels Police Department. During a search of his home, FBI agents found and seized an altered .22 caliber long rifle with a sawed-off buttstock and six magazines loaded with 60 rounds. On June 6, as part of a federal search warrant, agents reviewed Peterson’s Instagram account, revealing statements Peterson had made about plans to attack a gas station. Also on June 6, Peterson was recorded from jail instructing a witness to hide or destroy a videotape he had made in which he surveilled a grocery store to plan a future attack. On June 10, another search of Peterson’s home revealed a box that contained 11 aerosol containers and other ingredients to manufacture destructive devices. One of the containers was determined that it could be readily made operational and was categorized as an Improvised Explosive Device. The IED was not registered in the National Firearms Registry, nor could it be due to Peterson’s age. Peterson was indicted in June 2024 for three counts related to firearm and explosive offenses. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 30, 2024, to one count of attempt to receive firearm to use to commit a felony. “This case is demonstrative of how our law enforcement and the systems in place to prevent certain firearm purchases by those under the legal age work in tandem to successfully prevent mass murder events like this defendant had planned,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Due to the fine investigative efforts and teamwork of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the New Braunfels Police, and other local and federal partners, Peterson’s plans to detonate explosives and slaughter innocents in multiple locations in our district were deterred.” “Americans should be able to live free from fear of becoming a victim of a mass shooter. Thankfully, Peterson’s plans were thwarted when vigilant citizens saw something and said something,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI San Antonio Field Office. “We are grateful to our partners on the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force - especially the San Antonio Fire Department, the New Braunfels Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Attorney's Office for their continued assistance in keeping our communities safe. Cases like this are a priority for the FBI and we encourage anyone who observes something suspicious, potential indicators of violence, or threats against our community to report them at tips.fbi.gov. Together we can prevent acts of mass violence.” The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, San Antonio Fire Department, New Braunfels Police Department, and ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and Eric Yuen prosecuted the case. ###


title: Topsham Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms Charges Stemming from Burglary at Brunswick Residence

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Topsham man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a stolen firearm. According to court records, in May 2024, officers from the Brunswick Police Department responded to a citizen’s report of suspicious activity at a nearby residence. The responding officers found that the door of the residence’s garage was open and cabinets inside appeared to have been pried open, with ammunition scattered on the floor. The owner informed the officers that multiple firearms were stored in the locked cabinets. Officers located a vehicle matching the description the reporting witness had provided. Christopher Tucker , 34, the owner and only occupant of the vehicle, fled on foot before being secured and placed into custody. Officers recovered a total of 20 firearms from inside the vehicle. Tucker was prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple past felony convictions. Tucker faces up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 to be followed by up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Brunswick Police Department and Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. ###


title: Leader of Multi-Year ‘Operation Fox Hunt’ Repatriation Campaign Directed by the People’s Republic of China Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, defendant Quanzhong An, 58, of Roslyn Heights, New York, was sentenced to 20 months in prison for acting as an illegal agent of the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), for his participation in a scheme to cause the coerced repatriation of a U.S. resident (the U.S. Resident) to the PRC as part of the PRC government’s international extralegal repatriation effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt.” In addition to the term of imprisonment, An was ordered to pay a financial penalty of approximately $5 million, including approximately $1.3 million in restitution to the U.S. Resident and his family, as well as a $50,000 fine. An pleaded guilty in May 2024 and was charged in October 2022. As set forth in the government’s sentencing memoranda and other court filings, An was a leading member of an international campaign to threaten, harass, and intimidate the U.S. Resident and his family members, with the goal of coercing the U.S. Resident to repatriate to the PRC. An participated in the multi-year scheme to elevate his status within the PRC government as a means of furthering his own economic interests. An’s involvement in the repatriation scheme began in 2017, when he attempted to locate the U.S. Resident by visiting the home of the U.S. Resident’s adult son, without notice or invitation. The following year, An sent his daughter, as well as two PRC government officials, to the home of the U.S. Resident’s son. An subsequently met with the U.S. Resident’s son on numerous occasions, during which time An served as a mouthpiece for the PRC by conveying threatening messages on behalf of the PRC government. For example, An said he did not want to pronounce “ruthless words” from the PRC government but stated that PRC officials would “keep pestering [the U.S. Resident’s son], [and] make [his] daily life uncomfortable” if the son was unable to convince his father to repatriate to the PRC. An’s harassment continued unabated from 2017 until his arrest in 2022. An’s conduct intimidated individuals living in the United States and their loved ones in the PRC – just as it was intended to do – for the benefit of the PRC government. At sentencing, Judge Matsumoto considered that An participated in additional criminal conduct. Specifically, he perpetrated a bank fraud and money laundering scheme to defraud U.S. financial institutions so that he could enjoy continued access to U.S.-based bank accounts. As part of this scheme, he moved millions of dollars from the PRC into the United States, deliberately deceiving U.S. financial institutions regarding the source and purpose of the funds. The FBI has created a website for victims to report efforts by foreign governments to stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States. If you believe that you are or have been a victim of transnational repression, please visit the FBI’s website . Supervisory Official Sue Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney John J. Durham for the Eastern District of New York, and Acting Assistant Director in Charge Leslie R. Backshies of the FBI New York Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander Solomon, Meredith A. Arfa, and Antoinette N. Rangel for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. Claire S. Kedeshian of the Eastern District of New York’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters and Madeline O’Connor and Daniel Saavedra of the Eastern District of New York’s Financial Litigation Program are assisting with restitution matters.


title: Putnam County Nurse Practitioner Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud

component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Shawn R. Blankenship, 54, of Winfield, pleaded guilty today to four counts of health care fraud. According to court documents and statements made in court, Blankenship is a licensed nurse practitioner and owner of Holistic Inc., a medical clinic in St. Albans. Blankenship admitted that he knowingly and willfully caused the submission of materially false claims to Medicaid and its Managed Care Organizations for medical services that were not provided and not medically necessary. Holistic provided multiple services to patients during the time period in question, primarily office-based opioid treatment and weight loss counseling as well as smoking and tobacco use cessation counseling. The investigation revealed that claims submitted to Medicaid for smoking cessation counseling, office visits, and weight loss counseling required a licensed provider to be present. Blankenship admitted that four materially false claims were filed during the time period. Three were for smoking cessation services and one was for a 15-minute office outpatient visit, all purportedly conducted on October 29, 2020. Blankenship admitted that he knew such services were not provided because he and Holistic’s other licensed nurse practitioners were in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and not at Holistic from on or about October 28, 2020, through on or about October 30, 2020. Investigators concluded the losses from Blankenship’s criminal conduct is approximately $600,000. Blankenship is scheduled to be sentenced on July 21, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Blankenship also owes restitution in an amount to be determined by the Court. Today’s guilty pleas result from a multi-year investigation of fraudulent medical billing practices in the Southern District of West Virginia. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Trial Attorney Jody King of the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division-Fraud Section and Assistant United States Attorney Owen Reynolds are prosecuting 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-37. ###


title: Littleton Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For False Tax Return Preparation

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces Thuan Bui, 60, of Littleton, Colorado, was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 36 months in federal prison, one year of supervised release, and a $50,000 fine, after pleading guilty to one count of aiding or assisting in preparation of false documents. According to the plea agreement, from about 2016 to 2021, Bui operated a tax preparation business that operated under several names. Bui falsely told his clients he was a certified public accountant. During that time, and on hundreds of tax returns, Bui understated his clients’ tax liability by overstating or falsely creating expenses on the Schedule C form which is used to report income or loss on a business. “This defendant willfully and repeatedly abused his clients’ trust when his job was to help them accurately file their annual tax returns,” said Acting United States Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “I encourage all taxpayers to be vigilant during the ongoing tax season to make sure their information is captured and reported accurately.” “Tax preparers are entrusted to file accurate and truthful tax returns on behalf of their clients to ensure they are meeting their tax obligations,” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigations Denver Field Office. “Bui violated that trust and federal tax laws in the process. Identifying these fraudulent preparers remains a top priority for IRS-CI and we will continue holding them accountable.” United States District Court Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over the sentencing. The case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Weber handled the prosecution.


title: Leader of Multi-Year "Operation Fox Hunt" Repatriation Campaign Directed by the People’s Republic of China Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, defendant Quanzhong An was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 20 months in prison for acting as an illegal agent of the government of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”), for his participation in a scheme to cause the coerced repatriation of a U.S. resident (the “U.S. Resident”) to the PRC as part of its international extralegal repatriation effort known as “Operation Fox Hunt.” In addition to the term of imprisonment, Judge Matsumoto ordered An to pay a financial penalty of approximately $5 million, including approximately $1.3 million in restitution to the U.S. Resident and his family, as well as a $50,000 fine. An pleaded guilty in May 2024 and was charged in October 2022 . John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Sue Bai, Supervisory Official and head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and Leslie R. Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (“FBI”) announced the sentences. “Quanzhong An acted at the direction of the PRC government to harass and intimidate individuals living on U.S. soil as part of a pernicious scheme to force their repatriation to the PRC,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “Thanks to our collective efforts, the scheme failed, and the defendant has been brought to justice. Our Office remains steadfast in its efforts to protect both U.S. national security interests and individuals living in our District from transnational repression schemes perpetrated by hostile foreign powers.” Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations for its work on the case. “For years, Quanzhong An threatened, harassed, and attempted to intimidate a U.S. resident and his family at the behest of the People’s Republic of China, with the ultimate goal of strong-arming the individual into leaving the United States and returning to China to face an unknown fate. Today’s sentencing represents justice for this victim and his family, and demonstrates to others that the FBI is committed to protecting all victims of transnational repression,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Backschies. “Threats, harassment, and intimidation – whether perpetrated by individuals or nation states – will not be tolerated in this country, and the FBI will continue to lead the charge to protect all individuals who are threatened and harassed on U.S. soil.” As set forth in the government’s sentencing memoranda and other court filings, An was a leading member of an international campaign to threaten, harass, and intimidate the U.S. Resident and his family members, with the goal of coercing the U.S. Resident to repatriate to the PRC. An participated in the multi-year scheme to elevate his status within the PRC government as a means of furthering his own economic interests. An’s involvement in the repatriation scheme began in 2017, when he attempted to locate the U.S. Resident by visiting the home of the U.S. Resident’s adult son, without notice or invitation. The following year, An sent his daughter, as well as two PRC government officials, to the home of the U.S. Resident’s son. An subsequently met with the U.S. Resident’s son on numerous occasions, during which time An served as a mouthpiece for the PRC by conveying threatening messages on behalf of the PRC government. For example, An said he did not want to pronounce “ruthless words” from the PRC government but stated that PRC officials would “keep pestering [the U.S. Resident’s son], [and] make [his] daily life uncomfortable” if the son was unable to convince his father to repatriate to the PRC. An’s harassment continued unabated from 2017 until his arrest in 2022. An’s conduct intimidated individuals living in the United States and their loved ones in the PRC – just as it was intended to do – for the benefit of the PRC government. At sentencing, Judge Matsumoto considered that An participated in additional criminal conduct. Specifically, he perpetrated a bank fraud and money laundering scheme to defraud U.S. financial institutions so that he could enjoy continued access to U.S.-based bank accounts. As part of this scheme, he moved millions of dollars from the PRC into the United States, deliberately deceiving U.S. financial institutions regarding the source and purpose of the funds. The FBI has created a website for victims to report efforts by foreign governments to stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States. If you believe that you are or have been a victim of transnational repression, please visit https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/counterintelligence/transnational-repression . The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander Solomon, Meredith A. Arfa, and Antoinette N. Rangel are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. Assistant United States Attorney Claire S. Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters and Assistant United States Attorneys Madeline O’Connor and Daniel Saavedra of the Office’s Financial Litigation Program are assisting with restitution matters. The Defendant : QUANZHONG AN Age: 58 Roslyn Heights, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-460 (KAM)


title: Lewiston Woman Sentenced, Ordered to Repay $90,674 for Defrauding Social Security Administration

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for Social Security fraud. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Donna Desrosiers , 62, to one year of probation and ordered her to pay $90,674 in restitution. Desrosiers pleaded guilty on October 21, 2024. According to court records, Desrosiers began receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in 2003. At that time, she was informed that she was required to report any changes in her household composition, income, or resources. In a 2012 eligibility review, Desrosiers was reminded of her reporting responsibilities yet did not indicate that her husband was part of her household or that he contributed any income. She received additional reminders of her reporting responsibilities over the years. In 2022, she acknowledged being married to her husband but claimed they had not lived together since 2003, the year she became eligible for SSI. The investigation showed that the couple deposited their funds into a joint bank account. During an October 2022 interview with investigators, Desrosiers admitted that her husband lived with her and stayed at her apartment at least part of each month for the previous 11 years. When investigators asked what would have happened if she had reported the presence of her husband in her household, she responded, “They would probably take my check.” From 2011 to 2022, Desrosiers fraudulently collected approximately $90,674 in SSI benefits. SSA’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. ###


title: Pascagoula Man Sentenced to 260 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

component: Department of Justice

body_text: Gulfport, MS – A Pascagoula man was sentenced today to 260 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, Terry Lynn McNeal, Jr., 35, sold fentanyl on three occasions between February and April 2024. After those sales, a search warrant was executed at McNeal’s residence where agents discovered over a 100 grams of fentanyl, and over 500 grams of methamphetamine. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration and South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter McCreight prosecuted the case.


title: Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution and Loan Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A Michigan man pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to a conspiracy to import and sell illegal pharmaceuticals, including opioids, and to fund the operation of the scheme by fraudulently obtaining a COVID-19 pandemic relief loan. Donald Nchamukong, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, to commit loan fraud and to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for June 25, 2025. Starting in 2019 and continuing to 2022, Nchamukong and a co-conspirator, Doyal Kalita, conspired to distribute drugs to persons in the United States over the internet and using call centers in India. Nchamukong used shell companies, including a purported dietary supplements company and an auto parts supplier, and associated bank and merchant accounts to process sales of illegal foreign drugs, including the Schedule IV opioid, tramadol. Nchamukong and Kalita also received shipments of tramadol from India and reshipped the drug to customers across the United States, including in Massachusetts. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Nchamukong and Kalita fraudulently obtained a $200,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan to fund their illegal drug scheme. Kalita was convicted in 2024 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for orchestrating the online drug distribution scheme and a technical support fraud scheme and related money laundering. The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the monetary gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Fernando P. McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in New York, Small Business Administration and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial, and Cyber Fraud Unit, is prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form .


title: Gulfport Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Machinegun

body_text: Gulfport, MS – A Gulfport man was sentenced today to 46 months in prison for the illegal possession of a machinegun. According to court documents, Elijah Antonio Porter, 23, was found in possession of an illegal machine gun during a traffic stop in Gautier, Mississippi. During the traffic stop, law enforcement located a Glock pistol inside the vehicle, and a machine gun device, also known as a switch, was attached to the pistol. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Gautier Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter McCreight prosecuted the case.


title: Biloxi Man Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

body_text: Gulfport, MS – A Biloxi man was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Bradlee James Harrison, 22, was found in possession of a firearm by the Biloxi Police Department during a Mardi Gras parade on February 13, 2024. Harrison had a previous felony conviction for Failure to Stop Motor Vehicle and was on bond at the time of his arrest. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi; and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and Biloxi Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hunter McCreight prosecuted the case.


title: Robbery at Busboys and Poets Nets a Maryland Man a 84-Month Federal Prison Sentence

body_text: WASHINGTON – Isaiah Chase, 27, of Silver Spring, MD, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 84 months in federal prison for participating in a gunpoint robbery at Busboys and Poets, a café and bookstore, in the 400 block of K Street, NW. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Chase pleaded guilty on August 5, 2024, to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence before U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton, who in addition to the 84-month sentence, ordered Chase to serve five years of supervised release. According to court documents, Chase was one of multiple conspirators who worked with an employee at Busboys and Poets to rob the business on February 6, 2022. The employee instructed Chase to come to the establishment at around 9:30 p.m. and to enter when a specific person was visible at the front of the establishment. Chase and two of the other conspirators, wearing dark clothing, masks, and hoodies, entered the establishment as the staff was cleaning up for the night. Inside, each of the three individuals brandished firearms and pointed them at employees. The conspirators demanded money but received none. Instead they took keys to the business and fled in a vehicle. On November 4, 2022, law enforcement arrested Chase at his apartment in Silver Spring, MD. During a search of his residence, agents recovered a loaded Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun with a magazine and 24 rounds of ammunition; a loaded .556 caliber machine gun capable of being fired fully automatically with a magazine containing 49 rounds of ammunition; a loaded .556 caliber AM-15 rifle with a magazine containing 25 rounds of ammunition; a .40 caliber magazine containing 9 rounds of ammunition; and 2 bags of marijuana intended for distribution. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force and MPD's Carjacking Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon Eppel and Matthew Kinskey. 22cr349


title: Federal Jury Convicts Florida Resident for Operating Mass Mailing Fraud Scheme Targeting Elderly and Vulnerable Victims

component: Civil Division

body_text: A federal jury in Central Islip, New York, convicted Hallandale Beach, Florida resident Phillip Priolo, 61, of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and four counts of mail fraud. In November 2021, Priolo was charged with operating a mass mailing fraud scheme that tricked thousands of victims, many of whom were elderly, into providing the defendants with money by falsely promising prizes. Evidence presented at trial showed that, from March 2015 to December 2016, Priolo and his co-conspirators mailed millions of prize notices that falsely represented that the victims had been specifically chosen to receive a large cash prize and would receive the prize if they paid a fee. Victims who paid the requested fee, however, did not receive the promised cash prize. Although the notices appeared to be personalized correspondence, they were merely mass-produced, boilerplate documents that were bulk mailed to recipients whose names and addresses were on mailing lists. “The Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch is committed to pursuing criminals who prey upon our elder citizens through fraudulent schemes like fake prize scams,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Yaakov Roth of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “I thank the Postal Inspection Service for their partnership in this matter and for conducting a thorough and successful investigation.” “Here, the defendant targeted and defrauded older individuals, the most vulnerable of populations, through a mass-mailing scheme,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is deeply committed to protecting older Americans from fraudulent schemes. This conviction underscores the Postal Inspection Service’s and the Department of Justice’s dedication and determination to keep susceptible communities safe from financial exploitation and bring criminals to justice.” Priolo will be scheduled for sentencing later this year, in Central Islip before U.S. District Judge Nusrat Jahan Choudhury of the Eastern District of New York. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of conviction. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The trial resulted from a multi-year investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by trial attorneys Charles Dunn, Ann Entwistle, and Jason Feldman of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch. The department’s extensive and broad-based efforts to combat elder fraud seeks to halt the widespread losses seniors suffer from fraud schemes. The best method for prevention, however, is by sharing information about the various types of elder fraud schemes with relatives, friends, neighbors and other seniors who can use that information to protect themselves. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov . The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov .


title: Utah County Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison After Running a $1.6M Affinity Fraud Scheme

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Jacob Welch Dalton, 28, of Saratoga Springs, Utah, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, and ordered by the court to pay $1,553,806 in restitution. Dalton defrauded approximately 45 investors in a securities fraud scheme by obtaining investments from people that he knew personally or through social media. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jill N. Parrish, comes after Dalton pleaded guilty to securities fraud on September 30, 2024. According to court documents and statement made at Dalton’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, from October 2022 to December 2023, Dalton lied to investors to unlawfully obtain money and property by selling securities, that is investments in his company, Rogue Liquidity, LLC. As part of the scheme, Dalton provided falsified documents and fictitious information to investors electronically and by telephone. Dalton lied to investors about Rogue Liquidity, LLC, and its success by claiming it operated as an investment liquidity fund that pooled investor funds for guaranteed risk free return on principal and investment of up to 60%. Rather, the company had no liquidity pool and investors’ funds were used almost entirely for his own use. He also lied and created fictitious investor track records to obtain investor funds. Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case was investigated jointly by the Utah Division of Securities and the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, Provo Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Woolf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.


title: Rioter Federally Sentenced for Damaging U.S. Government Property at Union Station Following Rally

body_text: WASHINGTON – Isabella Giordano, 21, of Towson, Maryland, was sentenced today in federal court to six months of probation for spray painting graffiti on several pieces of federal property at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station in Washington, D.C., following a protest on July 24, 2024. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Courtland Rae of the Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division, and Chief Jessica M. E. Taylor of the U.S. Park Police (USPP). Giordano pleaded guilty to destruction of government property before U.S. District Court Chief Judge James E. Boasberg, who in addition to probation, ordered Giordano to pay $500 in restitution to the National Park Service. According to court documents, on July 24, 2024, an organization was granted a permit to demonstrate near Columbus Circle, located at Massachusetts Ave. NE, and E St. NE, directly in front of Union Station. From about 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., demonstrators who had gathered in Columbus Circle pulled down flags affixed to the flagpoles; burned flags and objects; sprayed graffiti on multiple statutes and structures; and interfered with law enforcement’s ability to place individuals under arrest. Footage obtained from a review of open-source videos posted to X (formerly Twitter) showed Giordano using red spray paint to write “Gaza” on the Columbus Fountain. She also spray-painted the base of two of the flagpoles in Columbus Circle. On July 30, 2024, the U.S. Park Police posted a bulletin with multiple photos and coordinated with the FBI in seeking information on five individuals who engaged in criminal activity on July 24, 2024. On August 1, 2024, USPP received two tips identifying Giordano. The flags pulled down from the flag poles, and the statutes and structures in Columbus Circle, are all property of the federal government. The National Park Service estimated that the cost to clean and repair the site at about $11,282.23. This case was investigated by the USPP’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit with assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Horan. 24cr441


title: Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Re-Entry and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine

body_text: BOSTON – A Dominican national residing in Methuen pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to unlawfully re-entering the United States after deportation and possessing narcotics intended for distribution. Raul Fernando Lora, 44, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of unlawful reentry of deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for July 16, 2025. Lora was charged in November 2023. Lora was previously removed from the United States on July 2, 2013 and June 5, 2018. Before his first removal, Lora was convicted for aggravated identity theft for fraudulently using the identity of a Puerto Rican citizen. Additionally, Lora has prior convictions for possession with intent to distribute heroin, firearms offenses and assault and battery that were under the name of the identity Lora had stolen. In 2023, federal immigration authorities became aware of Lora’s presence in the United States after being notified that the defendant’s fingerprints were taken in connection with criminal charges in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Lora had default warrants outstanding for both cases. Lora was arrested on Oct. 3, 2023, at which time he was found in possession of a sock that contained over 200 grams of fentanyl and over 30 grams of cocaine in multiple plastic bags. The charge of unlawful reentry of a deported alien provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentenced imposed. 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 and Patricia H. Hyde, Field Office Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Brockport woman awaiting sentencing for committing fraud, charged once again with bank fraud and making false statements

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Patricia Hutchins, 53, of Brockport, NY, was charged by criminal complaint with making a false statement and bank fraud, which carry a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan K. McGuire, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in July 2021, U.S. Postal Inspectors executed a search warrant at Hutchins’ Rochester and seized documents, cash, and electronic devices that were either used in or derived from various wire fraud schemes, including Unemployment Insurance fraud, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud, and elder fraud. In October 2022, Hutchins was arrested on charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. On May 1, 2024, she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and is awaiting sentencing on that charge, which is scheduled for April 15, 2025. As part of her plea agreement, Hutchins must pay restitution to two victims: $20,052.00 to reimburse a financial institution for a fraudulent PPP loan disbursement $25,100.00 to an elderly individual who had been duped into “paying off a debt for a friend” by sending that money to Hutchins. On October 16, 2024, Hutchins appeared in federal court for sentencing. At that time, she stated that she had invested the entire proceeds of her home sale in a retirement account and did not have any money for restitution. As a result, her sentencing was delayed. On December 4, 2024, Hutchins appeared once again for sentencing. This time, she advised the court that she had given all of her money to an individual whom she believed to be country music recording artist Kenny Chesney, who had agreed to invest it for her. Hutchins had already used this excuse—that she was scammed by a person whom she believed was Kenny Chesney—twice before. Hutchins ultimately pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud with the individual whom she claimed to believe was Kenny Chesney. According to the latest complaint against Hutchins, the proceeds from the sale of her residence were deposited into her bank account, approximately one month before her scheduled sentencing on October 16, 2024. In the month leading up to the sentencing, she pulled approximately $15,000.00 out of the account, making numerous $250.00 gift card purchases at merchants such as Walgreens, Tops, Wegman’s, Lowe’s, and Home Depot. After the original sentencing was adjourned, and she was directed by the Court to gather funds to pay restitution, Hutchins continued to make regular gift card purchases totaling approximately $8,500.00. As of November 29, 2024, there was approximately $1,000 left in her account. In addition, Hutchins is accused of fraud involving two credit card accounts. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward, Boston Division. 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: Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to receipt of child pornography

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Dylan C. Irvin, 26, of Bradford, PA, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum of 20 years. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who is handling the case, stated that sometime in June or July 2023, Irvin engaged in sexual activity with a 13-year-old female (victim). Irvin used his cellular telephone to record the sexual activity and then received the video on a Snapchat account he controlled. On March 5, 2024, Irvin was arrested on state charges related to the sexual contact, at which time his cell phone was seized. A search of the phone recovered the video of Irvin and the victim. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Eric Butler. Sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. before Judge Arcara. # # # #


title: Buffalo woman going to prison for filing false tax return

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Maureen Holleran, 62, of Buffalo, who was convicted of filing a false tax return, was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas A.C. Penrose, who handled the case, stated that between September 2015 and October 2023, Holleran worked remotely as a worker’s compensation claims handler for Insurance Company 1, which is headquartered in Canada. In this role, Holleran evaluated and, if appropriate, paid workers compensation claims for policies issued by Insurance Company 1. If a claim was determined to be eligible, Holleran had authority to send payment to the claimant. She had the authority to send payments of up to $2,000 without further approval by her supervisor. Between July 2020 and June 2023, Holleran submitted more than 1,200 fraudulent claims in Insurance Company 1’s claim processing system, with each claim below the $2,000 threshold. Claims were then paid into bank accounts controlled by Holleran. Holleran created fictitious expenses, such as claims for lost wages and reimbursements for medical supplies and copays, to justify the fraudulent payments. In total, she submitted approximately $2,370,848.24 in fraudulent claims. To carry out the scheme, she created fictitious email accounts that superficially appeared to be associated with the policy claimant. Holleran then used these email addresses to sign up for Insurance Company 1’s client portal. She would then input her own banking information into the portal. For the tax years 2020 through 2022, Holleran embezzled approximately $1,592,095 from Insurance Company 1 that she did not report on her income tax returns for those years. The Internal Revenue Service estimates tax due and owing for these tax years is $545,792. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Harry Chavis. # # # #


title: Jury: Defendant is Guilty of Hostage Taking and Murdering U.S. Citizen in Tijuana

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Brian Alexis Patron Lopez was found guilty by a federal jury today for his role in the kidnapping, hostage taking, torture, and murder of 18-year-old M.A.R., a U.S. citizen whose death was punishment for a dispute over a stolen load of methamphetamine that was supposed to have been smuggled into the United States. The jury deliberated for less than a full day at the end of a seven-day trial. The jury found Patron guilty on all counts, including Intentional Killing While Engaged in Drug Trafficking, Hostage Taking Resulting in Death, and Conspiracy to Commit Hostage Taking Resulting in Death. “This is a heartbreaking tragedy, where a young man lost his life, leaving his family shattered,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden. “Drug traffickers are ruthless and will stop at nothing. But their resolve pales in comparison to the commitment of the United States to the safety of its citizens wherever they may be. This kidnapping and murder of a U.S. citizen happened in the dark corners and remote ravines of Tijuana, at the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the incredible assistance of FBI San Diego and our Mexican counterparts, our prosecution team did not rest until justice was served for the victims of this heinous senseless cruelty.” “Today’s verdict is an impactful outcome to a ruthless, vicious, and violent hostage taking and murder, and brings justice to the victim’s family,” said San Diego FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “FBI San Diego will continue to be a formidable force against drug cartels and cartel violence, which threaten the safety and security of Americans both here and abroad and devastate our communities.” Patron is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2025, before U.S. District Judge William Q. Hayes. The victim was abducted from a hotel in Tijuana, Mexico on May 29, 2020. He was then beaten, tortured, and finally shot to death, all while his attackers sought a ransom from his family. His body was recovered on a hillside in Tijuana six days later. According to evidence presented at trial, on May 29, 2020, at approximately 11:57 p.m., Patron and others forcibly removed the victim from his hotel room. Patron and others punched, kicked, and pistol-whipped M.A.R. Once subdued, the attackers put M.A.R. in a waiting car and drove away. Patron and his co-conspirators then drove M.A.R. to Patron’s neighborhood, where they continued to beat and torture M.A.R. At around the same time, Patron and his co-conspirators began to make ransom demands on M.A.R.’s family over texts and calls, with the demand ranging from $2,000 to $3,000 to methamphetamine in exchange for M.A.R.’s release. In the afternoon of May 30, 2020, Patron and his co-conspirators brought M.A.R. to a different motel and then to an apartment before bringing him to a deserted hillside on the night of May 30, 2020. There, Patron fatally shot M.A.R., even as his family attempted to pay his ransom. During the trial, the government presented evidence connecting Patron to the crimes, including Facebook messages between Patron and co-conspirators about the crimes, plus surveillance video that captured the kidnapping outside a Tijuana hotel. In that video, Patron wore a jacket that matched the one he wore earlier in the night. Patron’s bracelet was left behind at the kidnapping and was later recovered by law enforcement. Patron was wearing the same bracelet in Facebook photos posted before the murder. Jurors were also presented with the call logs and WhatsApp messages with the ransom demands and proof-of-life evidence. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Mario Peia and Alexandra F. Foster prosecuted this case. DEFENDANT Case Number 21CR1683-WQH Brian Alexis Patron Lopez Age: 23 Tijuana AKA Leobardo Garcia SUMMARY OF CHARGE Intentional Killing While Engaged in Drug Trafficking, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §848(e)(1)(A) Maximum Penalty: Life in Prison Minimum Penalty: Twenty years in Prison Hostage Taking Resulting in Death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1203 Maximum Penalty: Life in Prison Minimum Penalty: Life in Prison Conspiracy to Take Hostages Resulting in Death, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1203. Maximum Penalty: Life in Prison Minimum Penalty: Life in Prison INVESTIGATING AGENCY Federal Bureau of Investigation This case is the result of ongoing efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership that brings together the combined expertise and unique abilities of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, dismantle and prosecute high-level members of drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations and enterprises. 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. [use if applicable] 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: Ohio man going to prison for his role in Jamestown drug conspiracy

body_text: BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Justin Whitfield, 25, of Cincinnati, OH, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 77 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that since April 2019, the DEA has investigated the drug trafficking activities, including heroin/fentanyl and methamphetamine, of Rocco Beardsley in the Jamestown, NY area. During the investigation, Whitfield was identified as an associate and co-conspirator of Beardsley, who is also his cousin. Beardsley utilized a source of supply for methamphetamine in the Cincinnati area, and Whitfield was responsible for introducing Beardsley to the source. Whitfield utilized social media to conduct drug related conversations and facilitate his drug trafficking activities. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Jamestown Police Department and the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division; and the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone. # # # #


title: Colombian National Indicted After Agents Seize Approximately 10,000 Fentanyl Pills and a Firearm

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A Colombian national was indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City today for drug and firearm and immigration crimes after law enforcement seized approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills and a firearm during the execution of a search warrant. Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force David Estiven Alvear Carcamo, 20, of Kearns, Utah, was initially charged by complaint on March 5, 2025. According to court documents, beginning in January 2025, the Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking organization suspected of distributing large quantities of narcotics into Utah. During the investigation, on March 4, 2025, agents executed search warrants on a residence in Sandy, Utah, and a vehicle. During the execution of the search warrant on the vehicle, Carcamo, who was the registered owner of the vehicle, was its sole occupant. Agents seized approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills weighing 2.35 pounds, and a handgun from the vehicle. Carcamo is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition. His initial appearance on the indictment is March 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in courtroom 7.1 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement. Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force The case is being investigated by the Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force (WMDTF), consisting of the FBI and the Davis Metro Narcotic Strike Force (DMNSF). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.