title: Springville Woman Sent to Federal Prison in Embezzlement Scheme

body_text: A Springville woman who stole over $500,000 from her employer, a veteran-owned small business in Cedar Rapids, was sentenced on May 19, 2026, to more than three years in federal prison. Debra Ann Vaughn, age 67, from Springville, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 1, 2025, guilty plea to one count of bank fraud. In a plea agreement and at her sentencing hearing, Vaughn admitted that she was the bookkeeper for a small, veteran-owned business in Marion, Iowa. By virtue of her position of trust, Vaughn had access to all of the company’s financial records, managed its payroll, and was the point of contact for its employee retirement plan. Between 2013 and 2021, Vaughn stole over $500,000 from her employer’s bank account in a sophisticated embezzlement scheme. Vaughn created false entries in the employer’s books to conceal the fact that she was making physical payroll checks to herself to which she was not entitled and even though she was receiving her own payroll electronically by direct deposit at the same time. Vaughn also used forged signatures and altered her pay rate in her scheme. The company suffered a substantial financial hardship as a result of Vaughn’s long-running fraud. The company’s owner took out a large loan and also infused a significant amount of the owner’s own funds into the business due to the company’s lack of funds. For a time, Vaughn did not ensure that the company’s federal and state taxes, or its employee retirement contributions, were paid, which had negative repercussions for the company. Vaughn was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Vaughn was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $158,135.77 in restitution the company, which took into account a $373,732.27 inheritance that the company was able to seize from Vaughn in a state court civil case after discovering Vaughn’s fraud and firing her. Vaughn must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. In sentencing Vaughn to years in federal prison, Chief Judge Williams characterized Vaughn’s scheme as a “cold and calculated, systemic theft.” Chief Judge Williams found Vaughn’s motive was “base, selfish greed” and that her crime eroded the community’s trust. Vaughn was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on June 15, 2026. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-52. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 6 months in Prison For Immigration Offense

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: HAMMOND – Tomas Hernandez-Orzuna, 40 years old, of Mexico, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to felony reentry of removed alien with a prior felony conviction, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Tomas Hernandez-Orzuna was sentenced to 6 months in prison, followed by 1 year of supervised release, and a $100 Special Assessment. The supervised release term would go into effect should the Defendant remain in, or return to, the United States within that period following expected removal proceedings. According to documents in the case, Hernandez-Orzuna’s criminal history includes felony assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, and misdemeanor malicious destruction of a building. “Tomas Hernandez-Orzuna is a violent sexual predator who should never have been in this country in the first place,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “This conviction sends a message—illegal aliens with a history of sexual violence will be found, tried, punished, and then ejected from this district and this country. My hope is that they hear this message and stay out. If they do not, they will meet the same justice that was doled out to Hernandez-Orzuna. As ever, my thanks go out to HSI, Merrillville Police Department, and U.S. Marshals Service for their exceptional efforts in this case.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Merrillville Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily Morgan.


title: Putnam County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crimes

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Demetrius Fitzgerald Green, also known as “D,” 42, of Scott Depot, pleaded guilty today to three counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 18, 2026, February 27, 2026, and March 18, 2026, Green sold quantities of fentanyl exceeding 40 grams during each transaction in Charleston. Green is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Green is among eight individuals indicted as a result of a federal investigation of fentanyl trafficking in the Charleston area. The indictments against the remaining defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), which is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is 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. 2:26-cr-46. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes NCCPD Officers as “Hometown Heroes”

component: USAO - Delaware

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – On May 19, 2026, U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace presented the District’s Freedom 250 Hometown Hero award to Officers First Class Christopher Hewlett, Nathan Jupiter, and Jay Scerbo of the New Castle County Police Department. Officer Scerbo’s award was presented in his absence. Members of the New Castle County Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Attorney’s Office were present for the ceremony. The Hometown Hero award commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. It honors the enduring ideals of liberty, service, and civic responsibility. Officers Hewlett, Jupiter, and Scerbo were chosen for this award for embodying those ideals and for their steadfast commitment to public service and their exceptional work safeguarding our communities. Officers Hewlett, Jupiter, and Scerbo were on patrol duty on November 24, 2025. Shortly before midnight, they spotted a white Toyota Tacoma in Canby Park West. After lawfully stopping the truck, the officers developed probable cause to order the car’s sole occupant— Luqmaan Khan —out of the truck to search it. During that search, the officers found a loaded handgun, multiple extended magazines, an armored ballistic plate, and a marble composition book. A later search of Khan’s home conducted by the FBI and NCCPD uncovered a handgun equipped with an illegal machinegun conversion device, a rifle with a red dot sight, 11 more extended magazines, hollow point rounds of ammunition, and a tactical vest. The marble composition notebook recovered from the truck discussed additional weapons, how they could be used in an attack, and how law enforcement detection could be avoided once an attack was carried out. The notebook also referenced a member of the University of Delaware’s Police Department by name, and included a layout of a building with entry and exit points under which the words “UD Police Station” were printed. When presenting the awards, U.S. Attorney Wallace said, “The courage and professionalism that these three men showed on November 24, 2025, potentially averted a mass shooting and the slaying of one or more members of the University of Delaware’s campus police department. That is service of the highest order. The State is in these officers’ debt.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office is honored to recognize Officers First Class Hewlett, Jupiter, and Scerbo as our District’s Freedom 250 Hometown Heroes. Credit: New Castle County Police Department ###


title: Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun Crimes

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Justin Dale Graves, 43, of St. Albans, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 30, 2024, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Graves’ residence in St. Albans and seized over 3.3 kilograms of methamphetamine, a loaded Hi-Point model C-9 9mm pistol, a loaded Glock model 19 9mm pistol, 37.69 grams of fentanyl, 17.17 grams of cocaine, 2.29 grams of heroin, two digital scales, various rounds of live ammunition, a drug ledger, and $1,190. As part of his guilty plea, Graves admitted that he possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it, and possessed the seized firearms to protect himself, his drugs, and his drug proceeds. Graves further admitted that he sold approximately 27.21 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in exchange for $225 in St. Albans on October 29, 2024, the day before the execution of the search warrant. Graves is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2026, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,250,000. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum 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. 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. 2:26-cr-19. ###


title: Reidsville man pleads guilty to fraudulent stealing of deceased relative’s disability checks

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Tattnall County man awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to cashing disability payments intended for a deceased relative. Danny Alan Guyton, 53, of Reidsville, pled guilty to Theft of Government Money, Property, or Records, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The guilty plea subjects Guyton to a statutory penalty of up to 10 years in prison, along with substantial fines, restitution and up to three years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Fraud against federal Social Security programs is a direct abuse of taxpayer-funded support intended for those who earned those benefits,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “We are committed to protecting government resources and holding accountable those who would fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits.” As described in the plea agreement, from about June 2021 until April 2025, in Tattnall County, Guyton fraudulently received Social Security disability compensation issued on behalf of his deceased father-in-law, converting the proceeds to his own use through ATM cash withdrawals, retail store purchases and for his own living expenses. Guyton’s scheme resulted in a loss to the U.S. Government of approximately $60,170. “Stealing benefits intended for vulnerable Americans by using the identity of a deceased individual is unacceptable,” said Norman Jenkins, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Atlanta Field Division, SSA Office of the Inspector General. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who fraudulently obtain Social Security funds and to protect the integrity of these vital programs for those who depend on them.” U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall will schedule sentencing for Guyton upon completion of a presentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services. The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara M. Lyons.


title: McLaughlin Man Sentenced to 20 Months in Federal Prison  for Failing to Register as Sex Offender

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a South Dakota man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 18, 2026. Jeremy David Red Bear, 33, was sentenced to one year and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Red Bear was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pleaded guilty on September 29, 2025. Red Bear is required to register as a sex offender, which entails periodic in-person registration. On October 23, 2024, his compliance officer directed Red Bear to verify his registration in person by October 30, 2024. Red Bear did not do so until his arrest on January 27, 2025. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act Compliance Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. Red Bear was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his federal sentence. This case was brought as a 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 the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Former High School Teacher Sentenced to  12 Years and 7 Months in Federal Prison for Child Pornography Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Jefferson County, KY –A former high school teacher from Jefferson County was sentenced today to more than 12 years in federal prison for three counts of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement. Brian Hinds, 52, was sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in federal prison, followed by a 15-year term of supervised release, for distributing child pornography to an undercover agent and possessing child pornography on his cellular phone. Hinds was ordered to pay $26,500 in restitution to the victims of his crimes. A review of Hinds’ phone revealed he possessed 3,326 images and 65 videos of child pornography. During an interview conducted on October 9, 2025, Hinds admitted to both sending and receiving child sexual abuse material through online messaging applications. Hinds was previously employed as a theater teacher at DuPont Manual High School’s Youth Performing Arts School. The investigation did not reveal any Manual students in any of the 3,326 images or the 65 videos of child pornography possessed by Hinds. United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner stated, “Distribution of child pornography is always a heinous crime, but Hinds’ actions are particularly disturbing. Outwardly, Hinds appeared to dedicate his life to educating and helping children but under the cloak of darkness and perceived anonymity he was disgustingly betraying his profession and the public’s trust by distributing disgusting child sexual abuse materials. Hinds has earned every last minute of his 151 month sentence.” There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Spencer McKiness prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” ###


title: Department of Justice’s Grant Program Awards Colorado Department Of Public Safety $1.3 Million To Support Victims Of Evergreen High School Shooting

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs has awarded the Colorado Department of Public Safety $1.3 million to support the victims and community of the 2025 Evergreen High School shooting. On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, there was a school shooting at Evergreen High School. During the incident, two students were shot and critically injured but survived. A teacher was also injured. The funds awarded in this grant will be used to support recovery in several ways, including: providing counseling services to the victims of the shooting, including students and staff; creation of the Evergreen Resiliency Center which will help support victims of crime and other trauma; reimburse the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for overtime pay incurred while supporting victims in the immediate aftermath of the shooting; provide a trauma recovery coordinator, an additional counselor at Evergreen High School, and a half-time counselor at Wilmot Elementary where some victims sought shelter during the shooting; and support for the Colorado Department of Public Safety’s Office for Victims Programs, which provides ongoing support and victim compensation, of which some 400 claims have been filed to date in relation to this incident. “My thoughts and prayers remain with the Evergreen High School community and those both injured and affected by this heinous act,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “I know nothing can change what happened that day, but I hope the Evergreen Community knows that the Department of Justice stands with them and remains their partner today and in the future.” The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is the largest grantmaking component of the Department of Justice and houses the Department’s criminal and juvenile justice-related science, statistics, and programmatic agencies. OJP is committed to advancing work that furthers DOJ’s mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and protect civil rights. OJP provides federal leadership, funding, and other critical resources to directly support law enforcement, combat violent crime, protect American children, provide services to American crime victims, and address public safety challenges, including human trafficking and the opioid crisis.


title: U.S. Attorney Gives Hometown Hero Award to Benzie County Deputy

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: Deputy Matt McKinley recognized for his work with “McKinley’s Kids” GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that the Justice Department gave its Hometown Hero Award to Benzie County Deputy Sheriff Matt McKinley. The award ceremony was held at Benzie Central High School in Benzonia, Michigan and attended by the students, friends and family of Deputy McKinley, the school’s Student Resource Officer and area law enforcement. The Hometown Hero Award is part of the Freedom 250 celebration, marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. At the request of the White House, the United States Attorney’s Offices in each of the 93 districts were asked to present the award to honor an outstanding member of its law enforcement community – a true “hometown hero” – during the week leading up to Memorial Day. Only 93 people nationwide were selected to receive this award, and Deputy McKinley is one of only two people in Michigan to receive it. Deputy McKinley was selected from a large number of nominees submitted from all over the Western District of Michigan. All the nominees were worthy, but Deputy McKinley was selected because of his work with underprivileged kids in Benzie County, where he serves as the student resource officer for the Benzie County School system. Although McKinley’s job was formally limited to student safety, he soon saw other ways he could help the students under his care. For example, when he saw that some students did not appear to have enough to eat, McKinley set up an in-school food pantry where hungry students can get a healthy snack. When he learned that some students suffered over having to attend school with tattered or dirty clothes, he organized a community-wide effort to stock new clothing. These aid efforts, now affectionately known as “McKinley’s Kids” drives, have brought the Benzie County community together. U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey said, “Deputy McKinley deserves this award because he is a great example of what it means to be an American. When he sees a problem he can fix, he rolls up his sleeves and sets out to fix it rather than waiting for someone else to do it. And when his neighbors saw his idea, they enthusiastically pitched in. People like him make the rest of us proud to be Americans and make us want to do our part too. Our great country turns 250 this year; as long as there are people like Matt McKinley out there, the next 250 years are going to be the best yet.”


title: Individuals From Pennsylvania And California Charged With Firearm Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that David Eliezer Pagan, age 39, of Vallejo, California; Ramon Antonio Pagan-Acosta, age 30, of York, Pennsylvania; and, Florivette Santiago-Rivera, age 29, of York, Pennsylvania, were charged by indictment with firearm offenses. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that between on or about October 26, 2023, and April 9, 2025, the defendants conspired to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, transfer firearms to an out-of-state resident, and make false statements during the purchase of firearms. The Indictment further alleges that Pagan made at least 29 Cash App transfers to Pagan-Acosta and Santiago-Rivera’s Cash App accounts. The Cash App transfers allegedly ranged in amounts from $120 to $2,000 and totaled approximately $19,024. In turn, Pagan-Acosta allegedly purchased approximately 33 firearms from licensed firearms dealers in Pennsylvania counties, including Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, and York. And Santago-Rivera allegedly purchased six firearms. When purchasing the firearms, the indictment alleges that Pagan-Acosta and Santiago-Rivera falsely identified themselves on ATF Forms 4473 as the true buyers or transferees. Moreover, Pagan-Acosta allegedly shipped at least five packages of varying weights from Pennsylvania to Pagan, in California, under the name of a person who did not reside at the same address. Pagan and Pagan-Acosta are additionally charged in the indictment with conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, conspiracy to traffic firearms, and engaging in business of dealing in firearms without a license. Finally, all defendants are charged in the indictment with making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley Mishoe is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalties for Pagan and Pagan-Acosta are 50 years imprisonment, as well as a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and the imposition of a special assessment. The maximum penalties for Santiago-Rivera are 15 years’ imprisonment, as well as a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and the imposition of a special assessment. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by a court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments only contain allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Former CEO of Non-Profit Nursing Home Sentenced for Misapplication of Property

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The former CEO of the non-profit Edgar P. Benjamin Health Center (EPBHC) was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for charges arising from his improper use of EPBHC funds. Tony Francis, 60, of Needham, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In February 2026 , Francis pleaded guilty to two counts of intentional misapplication of money from a program receiving federal funds. Francis was Administrator, President, and Chief Executive Officer of EPBHC, a non-profit entity that operated Benjamin Healthcare, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility located in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston. In and around 2023 and 2024, EPBHC faced significant financial deficiencies that included a shortage of cash and inability to make payroll. In April 2024 the Massachusetts Superior Court ordered the appointment of a receiver to operate EPBHC. Francis abused his position of trust with EPBHC by intentionally misapplying funds belonging to EPBHC. Specifically, in 2020, Francis used close to $160,000 in Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds, that had been provided to EPBHC by the U.S. Small Business Administration, as a deposit for a personal real estate investment. In addition, in 2023 and 2024, Francis arranged for EPBHC to make payments of principal, interest and late fees on a $100,000 personal loan without having approval of the EPBHC Board of Directors to do so. Finally, at various times between 2022 and 2024, Francis drew on an EPBHC line of credit to transfer funds to his own personal checking account so that he would have sufficient funds account to pay his mortgage and personal credit card bills. In total, Francis misappropriated more than $190,000 from EPBHC, although Francis later returned most of these funds. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Abely, Chief of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case along with Massachusetts Assistant Attorney General Kevin Lownds, who was sworn in as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney. On March 26, 2026 , United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621). On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: New Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Charge

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTIAN LOPEZ, also known as “Face,” 42, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to a fentanyl distribution offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2021, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force learned that Luis Salaman, also known as “Bebe,” was distributing large quantities of narcotics throughout New Haven. Between November 2021 and March 2022, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Salaman and his associates, including Lopez. In December 2021, Lopez was involved in two fentanyl transactions totaling approximately 300 grams. Lopez pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for August 20. Lopez has been detained since his arrest on April 10, 2023. Salaman was convicted after trial and, on March 11, 2026, was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment. This investigation was conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, including members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang.


title: Federal Grand Jury in Chicago Returns Indictment Against Operation Midway Blitz Defendant for Alleged Vehicle-Ramming Attack on Federal Immigration Agent

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO – A federal grand jury in Chicago has returned an indictment charging a man with using a deadly or dangerous weapon, specifically, his vehicle, to assault a federal immigration agent during Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. DIEGO EMMANUEL REYES, 21, of Chicago, is charged with assaulting impeding, intimidating, and interfering with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer using a deadly and dangerous weapon, namely, his vehicle, according to an indictment returned on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. On Oct. 4, 2025, Reyes allegedly rammed his sport utility vehicle into the rear of a vehicle driven by the ICE agent, who was engaged in the performance of his official duties on the Southwest Side of Chicago, and upon doing so, accelerated his SUV forward pushing the agent’s vehicle. Video of the incident can be viewed here . Given the enhanced penalty for using a deadly or dangerous weapon, the charge in the indictment is punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Arraignment in federal court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled. The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn McCarthy. “What this defendant did on October 4, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois, during Operation Midway Blitz was a dangerous and brazen act of violence against a federal agent as well as an attack on the rule of law," said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “Federal agents perform risky, essential work every single day to enforce our federal laws and keep our communities safe. The Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will never tolerate such conduct and will continue to hold accountable those who seek to assault, impede, intimidate, or interfere with lawful federal operations. I applaud our federal prosecutors and the federal agents and supervisors with the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for having the fortitude, determination, and grit to see this important case through the grand jury where it can now be adjudicated to its fullest in a court of law.” “The Chicago Field Office has zero tolerance for anyone impeding federal officers engaged in their lawful functions," said FBI SAC DePodesta. "The people of Chicago deserve to be safe and free from harm. The FBI is committed to using every available resource against those who undermine the rule of law and jeopardize the peace in our community.” The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. reyes_indictment.pdf


title: Detroit Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Richard Mathis, 31, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced today to nine years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 3, 2024, Mathis possessed over 90 grams of methamphetamine and over 20 grams of fentanyl in or near Dunbar, West Virginia, that he intended to distribute. On January 5, 2026, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Mathis was a passenger after he retrieved a package delivered in Charleston that investigators had identified as suspicious. Officers found more than a half-pound of methamphetamine and over 3 ounces of a mixture containing fentanyl in the vehicle. Investigators determined that Mathis had coordinated the shipment of the package from California in exchange for $2,600 and that it had contained 1 pound of methamphetamine, including the quantity found during the traffic stop. Later that day, officers executed a search warrant at the Charleston residence where Mathis was staying and seized nearly an additional pound of methamphetamine and quantities of cocaine and cocaine base, also known as “crack.” Mathis has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for unlawful wounding and controlled substances offenses. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the West Virginia State Police, and the South Charleston Police Department. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department, and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney JC MacCallum prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-87. ###


title: Chesapeake man sentenced to over seven years in prison for trafficking guns and cocaine

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

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced yesterday to seven years and six months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, from Oct. 17, 2023, to Nov. 14, 2023, Deionte Deard Bratton, 44, sold cocaine, fentanyl, and four firearms in a series of four controlled purchases conducted by law enforcement. During the Nov. 14 transaction, Bratton received fentanyl from Kenyon Thomas, 43, of Norfolk, which Bratton then sold. Following the Nov. 14 transaction, in December 2023 and November 2024 law enforcement conducted four controlled purchases of a total of over 56 grams of fentanyl and the purchase of one firearm from Thomas. On Jan. 13, Thomas pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On April 15, Thomas was sentenced to eight years and seven months in prison. Bratton and Thomas have previous felony convictions and cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case with assistance from the Norfolk Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nikolas Nelson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Darryl J. Mitchell prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-132.


title: Bozeman woman sentenced to prison for bank fraud and money laundering

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA – A Bozeman woman who obtained federal COVID relief funds through fraud was sentenced yesterday to 30 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. Alaina Marie Garcia, 41, previously pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division ('Fraud Division'). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The government alleged in court documents that on May 5, 2020, Garcia, as an authorized representative of Bluebird Property Rentals LLC, an entity she controlled, applied for and was approved for a Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan through Celtic Bank in the amount of $613,000. In the PPP application, Garcia falsely stated Bluebird Property Rentals LLC had paid payroll taxes and had 32 employees with an average monthly payroll expense of $245,533. None of these statements were true. In reality, Garcia and Bluebird Property Rentals LLC had no employees and had never paid payroll taxes. Both of these fraudulent statements were material as they affected Garcia’s eligibility to receive the loan and the amount she received. Without these fraudulent statements, the loan would not have been issued. In the loan application, Garcia also agreed the funds “will be used to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments, as specified under the Paycheck Protection Program Rule.” Instead, Garcia spent the funds on personal expenses for her private benefit. Most of the funds were used to purchase a large piece of property in the Bozeman area. On May 11, 2020, Garcia transferred $548,000 of the loan proceeds to Axilon Law Group as a part of this real estate transaction. On July 25, 2020, Garcia applied for and was granted forgiveness of the loan. To obtain forgiveness, Garcia falsely claimed to have used the funds for qualified expenses including payroll and business mortgage interest payments. None of these statements were true. “While business owners and families were struggling during the COVID pandemic, Garcia was scheming to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program for personal gain,” said Amanda Prestegard, Special Agent in Charge of IRS‑CI’s Denver Field Office. “IRS‑CI has dedicated significant resources to investigating and uncovering COVID‑relief fraud and holding those who stole from these programs accountable continues to be a top priority.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Rubich prosecuted the case. The Internal Revenue Service and Small Business Administration conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown Results in Charges Against 15 Defendants for Over $90M in Fraud

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department today announced the Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 15 defendants, including owners of child care centers and various Medicaid providers, for their alleged participation in various fraud schemes involving over $90 million in intended loss, including the two largest Medicaid fraud cases ever charged in the District and first-of-their kind charges involving additional Medicaid programs. The Justice Department also announced a major investment in combatting Medicaid fraud through a significant expansion of the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section, allocating funding to permit the hiring of 15 new Trial Attorney positions to combat Medicaid fraud across the United States. “Today, we are holding scammers accountable who ripped off the American taxpayer and harmed those deserving legitimate assistance from these programs,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “These alleged con artists stole taxpayer dollars while providing substandard care for children and abandoning at least one Medicaid recipient as they passed away. The DOJ Fraud Division, along with the White House’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, will dismantle illegal schemes from coast-to-coast, just as they did today in Minnesota. This is just the tip of the iceberg.” “Driven by data showing a significant increase in Medicaid fraud across the country, the 15 additional prosecutors will serve as a force multiplier for our existing Strike Forces to combat this critical new threat,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s Fraud Division. “The Fraud Division is committed to supercharging the Health Care Fraud Strike Force program with the resources it needs to tackle the pervasive fraud in the health care industry and protect the vulnerable beneficiaries of these programs, including children and those suffering from chronic ailments.” “Today’s arrests mark the largest autism fraud bust in American history,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Under the leadership of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, this Administration is carrying out the most aggressive anti-fraud effort in modern American history. These criminals exploited vulnerable children, stole taxpayer dollars, and diverted critical autism care and resources away from families who truly need support, and we will continue rooting out fraud to protect children and restore integrity to America’s public health programs.” “As alleged, the defendants in this case not only attempted to steal public healthcare funds paid for by hardworking American taxpayers – but stole critical resources from families who truly needed them,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This FBI and our interagency partners have a mandate to investigate and systematically dismantle this exact kind of public fraud in America, which grossly abuses and mismanages money from working Americans, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. Today’s indictment is a massive moment in this effort and we’re not slowing down.” Autism Fraud In the largest Medicaid autism fraud case ever charged by the Department, two defendants were charged in connection with an approximately $46.6 million scheme to defraud the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program, a publicly funded Minnesota Health Care Program that offers medically necessary services to people under the age of 21 with autism spectrum disorder. In 2017, Minnesota became one of the first states to offer Medicaid coverage for EIDBI services. EIDBI claims skyrocketed from over $600,000 in 2018 to over $400 million by 2025. As alleged, the defendants paid kickbacks to parents who brought their children to autism centers, diagnosed children with autism regardless of medical necessity, and billed for autism services that were not actually provided, depriving children who did need assistance of needed care. "We continue to accelerate the pace at which we are identifying, investigating, and prosecuting those that stole billions of dollars from under the nose of Minnesota's government, said U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota Daniel Rosen.” We have more fraud prosecutors and law enforcement officers on the task than ever before. Stay tuned." Integrated Community Supports Fraud In the first criminal prosecution involving fraud in Minnesota’s Integrated Community Supports (ICS) program, one defendant was charged with a $1.4 million scheme to bill for services that were not provided as represented. ICS is a Minnesota Medicaid benefit designed to fill a gap in the service continuum between a person living in their own home and more restrictive settings such as group homes and assisted living. ICS was designed to help people live more independently in the community—as opposed to an institutionalized setting—with daily one-on-one help with health, safety, and household tasks so that qualifying individuals can live in the community. The defendant in the prosecution announced today submitted claims for vulnerable recipients who required 24-hour care, one of whom was found deceased a day after being billed for services he did not receive. After paying out a total of approximately $4.2 million when the ICS program began in 2021, the cost has grown to more than $183 million in 2025. In all, claims data shows that the Medicaid system has paid out more than $460 million for ICS services since 2021. A failure to provide ICS services to vulnerable Medicaid recipients who are dependent on the care to live can have deadly consequences, like those described in the charging document. “Medicaid dollars are meant to support vulnerable Americans—not bankroll luxury cars and real estate empires for fraudulent providers who exploit people with disabilities,” said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “These prosecutions put Medicaid fraudsters on notice—the gravy train is over. We will cut you off, shut you down, and lock you up. They also send a clear message to the patients who depend on Medicaid and the taxpayers who fund it—this administration has your back.” “The scope of the frauds alleged in the charges announced today is staggering, not only in the amount of loss, but in the reach of the impacted programs,” said FBI Co-Deputy Director Christopher Raia. “These programs, funded by the American taxpayer, were designed to help some of the most vulnerable members of our society. As alleged in these charges, instead of helping those in need of support, the defendants took millions of dollars for their own benefit. These frauds were uncovered thanks to dedicated work by the FBI and our law enforcement partners, and we look forward to continuing to partner with the United States Attorney's Office to reign in the rampant fraud in these programs.” “Today’s takedown underscores a simple truth: Medicaid is a lifeline for vulnerable individuals, and we will not allow criminals to exploit it for personal gain. These schemes did more than steal taxpayer dollars — they robbed children with autism, adults with disabilities, and other at‑risk citizens of the essential care they rely on,” said Inspector General T. March Bell of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “HHS‑OIG, working shoulder‑to‑shoulder with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who prey on these critical programs. We will use every tool available to uncover fraud, hold offenders accountable, and safeguard the integrity of the benefits millions of families depend on.” Individualized Home Supports Fraud In the first criminal prosecution involving fraud in Minnesota’s Individualized Home Supports (IHS) program, two defendants were charged in connection with an over $22 million scheme in which they acquired over 20 separate residences and concealed their ownership interest from Medicaid. IHS was designed to help adults with disabilities such as brain injury to live independently in their own homes. Despite Medicaid prohibiting program providers from having direct or indirect financial interest in the beneficiaries’ housing, the defendants offered housing that they owned to vulnerable Medicaid beneficiaries in order to obtain Medicaid beneficiary information that they used to bill for services that were not provided as represented. Defendants used the proceeds of the scheme to acquire more real estate and further the fraud, as well as purchasing luxury automobiles and expensive jewelry. After paying out over $100 million in 2018, the IHS program grew to cost more than $700 million in 2025. Housing Stabilization Services Fraud Charges were brought against eight defendants for defrauding Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) of approximately $15.7 million. Some defendants were residents of Pennsylvania who engaged in fraud tourism, traveling to Minnesota for lucrative opportunities to commit fraud. In July 2020, Minnesota became the first state in the country to offer Medicaid coverage for HSS. The HSS Program was a Medical Assistance (that is, Medicaid) benefit designed to help people with disabilities, including seniors and people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders, find and maintain housing. By design, the HSS Program had low barriers to entry and minimal records requirements for reimbursement that combined to make the Program susceptible to fraud. Before the HSS Program’s inaugural year, DHS predicted the HSS Program would cost about $2.6 million annually. In 2021 alone, the HSS Program paid out more than $26 million in claims. That figure ballooned in the following years to over $104 million in 2024. On October 31, 2025, Minnesota shuttered HSS due to fraud, illustrating how fraudulent schemes can result in the cessation of necessary programs and deprive beneficiaries of needed care. "Today's law enforcement actions make it clear that IRS-CI is prioritizing investigations of fraud that permeate public service programs intended to serve the most vulnerable." said IRS-CI Acting Chief Gary Shapley. Child Care Fraud The Department announced charges against two defendants in connection with defrauding state and federal programs designed to subsidize child care. One defendant was charged with a $425,000 fraud on the state-funded Great Start Compensation Support Payment Program (GSCSPP), which reimburses for in-classroom hours provided by teachers in staff. Another defendant was charged with a $4.6 million fraud on the federally funded Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), which reimburses child care centers for actual child care provided. “The scale of fraud uncovered in Minnesota is alarming. HSI is fully committed to dismantling these criminal schemes and holding offenders accountable,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Minnesota. “These cases demonstrate our unwavering resolve to work with federal and state partners to root out fraud and protect those in need.” Medicaid Fraud Enhancement and Expansion of the Health Care Fraud Strike Force In connection with the Takedown, the Department announced the funding of 15 new prosecutors and associated support staff to combat Medicaid fraud across the country. Data show that Medicaid is a vital government benefit program increasingly targeted by criminals. The exposure of widespread fraud in Minnesota’s Medicaid program illustrates the insufficient nature of state enforcement alone, and the necessity of a whole-of-government approach. In the past year, the Health Care Fraud Section has surged prosecutors not only to Minnesota, but also to prosecute an over $650 million Medicaid fraud scheme in Arizona and over $270 million Medicaid fraud scheme in California . These new prosecutors will be deployed by Acting Health Care Fraud Chief Jacob Foster and Acting Principal Assistant Chief Rebecca Yuan to districts where the threat of Medicaid fraud is the greatest, including existing Strike Forces in California, Florida, New York, and Texas, as well as deployed across the country through participation in the National Rapid Response Strike Force. In addition, the Department, along with its partners from HHS-OIG and FBI, announced today the expansion of the Midwest Strike Force to include the District of Minnesota. The Midwest Strike Force previously was based in Detroit and Chicago. Health Care Fraud Assistant Chief Shankar Ramamurthy and Trial Attorney Sara Porter, along with Fraud Chief Rebecca Kline and Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Murphy for the District of Minnesota, led and coordinated the cases charged in today’s Takedown, together with the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, HHS-OIG, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, as well as state and local law enforcement partners. Trial Attorneys Matthew Belz, Brant Cook, Jody King, Benjamin Smith, Charles Strauss, and Sara Woodward from multiple Strike Forces are prosecuting the cases charged in the Takedown. The Health Care Fraud Section’s Data Fusion Center used cutting-edge data analytics to identify and support the cases charged today. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit . An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The following material related to today’s announcement are available on the Health Care Fraud Unit website through this link . On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.The Justice Department today announced the Minnesota Health Care Fraud Takedown, which resulted in criminal charges against 15 defendants, including owners of child care centers and various Medicaid providers, for their alleged participation in various fraud schemes involving over $90 million in intended loss, including the two largest Medicaid fraud cases ever charged in the District and first-of-their kind charges involving additional Medicaid programs. The Justice Department also announced a major investment in combatting Medicaid fraud through a significant expansion of the Division’s Health Care Fraud Section, allocating funding to permit the hiring of 15 new Trial Attorney positions to combat Medicaid fraud across the United States.


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United States as an Aggravated Felon

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who illegally reentered the United States from Mexico after having been convicted of an aggravated felony and twice being convicted of illegal reentry as an aggravated felon pled guilty today in federal court in Sioux City. Jesus Gamboa-Brambila, age 51, from Mexico but residing in Sheldon, Iowa, was convicted of illegal reentry as an aggravated felon. At the plea hearing, Gamboa-Brambila admitted he illegally reentered the United States without permission after having been previously removed from the United States on August 4, 2018, and after having been convicted of at least one aggravated felony offense. That offense was a conviction in 1991 for Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling in the Superior Court of Los Angeles, California. Gamboa-Brambila had been federally convicted in the Northern District of Iowa in 2004 and 2014 of illegal reentry as an aggravated felon. Most recently, Gamboa-Brambila was found in O’Brien County on March 21, 2026, after he was arrested for domestic abuse assault – first offense, and criminal mischief. While in custody, immigration officials confirmed his identity and that he was a citizen of Mexico and had previously been deported from the United States to Mexico four times. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Gamboa-Brambila remains in custody pending sentencing. He faces a possible sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 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. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 26-CR-04012. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: 4,000 Videos and 17,000 Images of CSAM Sends Booneville man to federal prison and paying over $100,000.00 to the Victims

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: OXFORD, Miss. – A Booneville, Mississippi man was sentenced today to four years in prison for possessing images and videos of children under 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, he was sentenced to ten years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender where he lives, where he works, and where he is a student. United States District Judge Michael Mills also ordered $107,000 as restitution to this man’s victims. According to court documents, Joshua Honeycutt, 42, was found with over 4,000 videos and 17,000 images of child sexual abuse material. Many of the images portrayed children between 5 and 10 years old. The FBI, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department were all involved in the investigation of the case. United States Attorney Scott Leary stated, “All children are safer now that this person has been locked up. Not only will he have to serve time in a federal prison, but he will also be forced to register as a sex offender everywhere he goes. While money does not begin to make up for the victimization of these children, the restitution in this case will help the victims get the assistance they need. I am thankful for the partnership our office continues to have with our Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” “Every video viewed and image produced contributes to the ongoing harm and victimization of vulnerable children,” stated Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office, Robert Eikhoff. “Honeycutt exploited the innocence of our youth, and such conduct will not be tolerated. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain dedicated to aggressively combating child sexual exploitation and protecting children from further abuse.” “Child sexual abuse is a horrific crime that does extraordinary physical, mental, and emotional damage to the victim. And when it is recorded or photographed, that child’s trauma occurs over and over again,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I appreciate the strong partnership our office has with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI. Together, we are dedicated to serving justice for the victims and making Mississippi a safer place for every child.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Federal authorities warn public of fraudsters impersonating prosecutors

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Federal authorities are warning citizens of a scammer or group of scammers—potentially outside of the United States—contacting American citizens around the country, posing as prosecutors or other federal law enforcement officials and attempting to defraud people of money. According to the FBI, the perpetrators reach out via text message, email or phone call, impersonating federal prosecutors or agents and claiming you have been a victim of fraud or are a suspect in a fraud investigation. There are typically several contacts before personal information is requested, including credit cards, banking and other information. Scammers often provide details like actual law enforcement titles, badge numbers, names, and addresses to increase their credibility. They may even “spoof” phone numbers to make calls appear to come from legitimate government agencies, further deceiving victims. In this specific scheme, callers are identifying themselves as “Prosecutor Dominick Gerace.” “The Department of Justice and the FBI will never direct you to wire money,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “If you receive calls or messages of this sort, do not provide any personal information, credit card numbers, prepaid cards or money. Federal authorities do not call victims of crimes or suspects of crimes and ask for money or personal identifying information over the telephone.” “Government impersonation scams are on the rise and scammers are getting more sophisticated,” stated FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie. “If someone contacts you claiming to be from the government and pressures you to send money, it’s a scam. Report this activity to ic3.gov and protect your hard-earned savings by never sending money.” Here are some tips to avoid becoming the victim of this type of scam: Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, text messages and emails. Never give money or personal information to someone with whom you don’t have ties and did not initiate contact. Trust your instincts: if an unknown caller pressures you or says things that don’t sound right, hang up. If concerns remain about the caller’s claims, verify the information with the appropriate law enforcement agency or court officials. If you believe you have been a victim of a fraudulent scheme, you are encouraged to file a report, including a description of the caller and any available caller ID information, with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov . # # #


title: Third Defendant Pleads Guilty in Scheme that Embezzled Thousands of Dollars from Funds Intended to Provide Relief During the COVID Pandemic

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: An Amarillo woman pleaded guilty on May 11, 2026, to embezzling funds from a federal program, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Selene Varela, 41, pleaded guilty Monday to a felony information charging Theft Concerning a Program Receiving Federal Funds. “We rely on our public officials to ensure that our laws our faithfully and dutifully executed,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould “Instead, the defendants planned and executed a scheme to use their public positions to line their own pockets at the expense of folks in Amarillo who are homeless—the intended beneficiaries of the pandemic program. I’d encourage the public across North Texas to reach out to my office if they witness or have information regarding public officials engaging in any corruption.” “Selene Varela abused her position of trust by embezzling federal funds intended to help individuals experiencing homelessness secure stable housing,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Aaron McCullough with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue and hold accountable those who misuse public funds and exploit positions of trust for personal gain.” In plea papers, Varela admitted that she previously worked for the City of Amarillo in the Community Development Department. From 2020 through 2022, Varela managed the intake process for homeless, or soon-to-be homeless, members of the Amarillo community who needed financial assistance to maintain housing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government funded these initiatives through the CARES Act. Varela used her role as a city employee to create fictitious applications for this funding. In one instance, she fraudulently applied to have her own rent paid for six months—a fraudulent payment of $6,600. Varela also created accounts for fictitious landlords and tenants. She would submit false applications for payment and then cash the checks, keeping the proceeds. In total, Varela admitted to receiving approximately $41,350 in fraudulent distributions processed by the City of Amarillo. Varela now faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Her sentencing date has not been set. This case is related to the prosecution of two other former City of Amarillo employees who carried out similar schemes. In June 2024, Amy Dixon pleaded guilty to embezzling $465,511.65 while working in the Community Development Department. On October 23, 2024, United States District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk sentenced Dixon to 24 months in federal prison. In March 2025, Vanessa Robinson pleaded guilty to embezzling $121,325.21 while working in the same department. Robinson was sentenced by Judge Kacsmaryk to 18 months in federal prison on July 22, 2025. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Long is prosecuting the case and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Frausto prosecuted Dixon and Robinson.


title: Canadian man arrested by international authorities, charged with administrating KimWolf DDoS botnet

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A criminal complaint was unsealed in the District of Alaska today charging a Canadian man with operating the KimWolf Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Internet of Things (IoT) botnet. The U.S. complaint was unsealed following the defendant’s arrest in Canada by Canadian authorities. According to court documents, on April 10, 2026, U.S. authorities criminally charged Jacob Butler, aka “Dort,” 23, of Ottawa, Canada, with offenses related to the development and operation of the KimWolf botnet. KimWolf was a DDoS-for-hire service which infected over a million devices worldwide, including devices located in Alaska. The complaint remained sealed pending Butler’s arrest. Following coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Butler was taken into custody yesterday in Ottawa, Canada, pursuant to an extradition warrant. In March 2026, U.S. authorities, in partnership with international law enforcement partners, conducted a court-authorized law enforcement operation to seize Command and Control (C2) infrastructure used by the Aisuru, KimWolf, JackSkid and Mossad IoT botnets. According to court documents, KimWolf targeted infected devices which were traditionally “firewalled” from the rest of the internet, such as digital photo frames and web cameras. The infected devices were enslaved by the botnet operators. The operators then used a “cybercrime as a service” model to sell access to the infected devices to other cybercriminals. The operators and their customers forced the victim devices to participate in DDoS attacks, targeting computers and servers located throughout the world, including Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN) IP addresses. KimWolf was tied to DDoS attacks which were measured at nearly 30 Terabits per second, a record in recorded DDoS attack volume. These attacks resulted in financial losses which, for some victims, exceeded one million dollars. The KimWolf botnet is alleged to have issued over 25,000 attack commands. Law enforcement allegedly connected Butler to the administration of the KimWolf botnet through IP address, online account information, transaction records, and online messaging application records obtained through the issuance of legal process. In addition to Butler’s arrest, the Central District of California unsealed seizure warrants which targeted online services supporting 45 DDoS-for-hire platforms. These seizures broadly disrupted the DDoS platforms, including at least one that collaborated with Butler’s KimWolf botnet. U.S. authorities also seized domain records associated with many of these services, redirecting them to an authorized “splash page,” which displays a warning to potential visitors that DDoS services are illegal. Butler is charged with one count of aiding and abetting computer intrusion. If convicted, Butler faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Michael J. Heyman for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the DCIS Cyber Field Office made the announcement. DCIS is investigating the case, with assistance from the FBI Anchorage Field Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California handled the recent infrastructure seizures. International partners in this investigation included the Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and German Bundeskriminalamt (BKA). Additionally, the U.S. Justice Department thanks Akamai, Amazon Web Services, Cloudflare, DigitalOcean, Epieos, Google, Hydrolix, Lumen, Nokia, Oracle, PayPal, Registrar of Last Resort, Salesforce Counter-Threat Ops, The Shadowserver Foundation, Sony Interactive Entertainment, SpyCloud, Synthient, Team Cymru, Unit 221B, XLAB and EUROPOL’s PowerOFF team for their assistance provided during this investigation and operation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander is prosecuting the case. If anyone has information on the alleged threats or other DDoS threats, please contact U.S. authorities at DCIS-PowerOff@DoDIG.mil . A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Child Sexual Exploitation and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident pleaded guilty Wednesday to exploiting children and possessing hundreds of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, between December 2024 and January 2026, Mohammad Shoaib Taraki sexually exploited two children in his care by producing sexually explicit visual depictions of each child. From about December 2024 and continuing to about January 2026, Taraki also possessed over 600 images and videos of CSAM depicting sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence, infants and toddlers, and minors under the age of 12. Taraki admitted that he sent 53 videos of CSAM using his two Snapchat accounts, and that he received 21 videos and one image of CSAM from other users on Snapchat. Taraki pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon set sentencing for August 26, 2026. The statutory maximum penalty for each count of sexual exploitation of children is 30 years in prison and the statutory maximum penalty for possession of child pornography is 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement. The FBI and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Afroza Yeasmin is prosecuting this case. This case is a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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: Elkhart Cocaine Distributors Sentenced For Firearms and Controlled Substance Offenses

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Two men have been sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to various cocaine drug and gun related charges, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Derrick Glass, 40 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Glass was sentenced to 130 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. Shawn Pettis, 35 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Pettis was sentenced to 130 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. “Two armed Defendants teamed up and conspired to peddle cocaine and did so while armed with a firearm. They will spend nearly 13 years in prison because they ran into a much better team of the ATF, the Elkhart County Intelligence and Covert Enhancement Unit, and Assistant United States Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle, with the support of Elkhart County Prosecutor Vicki Becker and her office. Our communities and nation are safer because of their efforts,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Mildred. “ATF and our partners are out on the streets of Northern Indiana everyday investigating violent crimes including armed drug trafficking. The sentence imposed today reflects the serious consequences for those who use firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. ATF and our partners remain united in investigating and disrupting this violent criminal activity and working with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute this conduct,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. According to documents in the case, in February and March of 2025, Glass distributed firearms, ketamine, and cocaine to another person. During that time, Pettis assisted Glass with the distribution and stored cocaine and firearms at his home. Police found additional cocaine and firearms when they executed a search warrant at Pettis's home in March of 2025. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Elkhart County Intelligence & Covert Enforcement Unit and the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Manufacturing Companies Agree to Pay $2.5 Million to Resolve Improper Paycheck Protection Program Loans

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – Erlanger-based manufacturing companies, Post Glover Lifelink, Inc. and Post Glover Resistors, Inc., agreed to pay $2,500,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act, a federal law that prohibits the submission of false or fraudulent claims. Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to provide emergency financial assistance to small American businesses struggling to pay employees and other expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible small businesses could receive forgivable loans guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Borrowers were required to certify in their applications that they were eligible for the requested loans and that the information they provided was true and accurate. Regulations provided various eligibility requirements for the PPP, including limitations on the number of employees. The settlement resolves allegations that Post Glover Lifelink, Inc. and Post Glover Resistors, Inc. falsely certified they were eligible to apply for and receive forgiveness of their second-draw PPP loans. The Government contends that, together with their foreign affiliates, Post Glover Lifelink, Inc. and Post Glover Resistors, Inc. collectively had more than 300 employees and were therefore ineligible for their second-draw PPP loans. Post Glover Lifelink, Inc. and Post Glover Resistors, Inc. fully cooperated in the investigation and resolution of this matter. The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by a private citizen under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file a civil action on behalf of the United States, thereby bringing allegations of fraud to the Government’s attention, and share in any financial recovery. As part of this resolution, the individual who filed the qui tam complaint is eligible to receive a portion of the settlement proceeds. The civil case is captioned United States ex rel. Aidan Forsyth, v. Post Glover Lifelink, Inc. and Post Glover Resistors, Inc. , Case No. 2:25-cv-29-DLB-CJS. This matter was handled by the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the SBA’s Office of General Counsel. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. – END –


title: Homeland Security Task Force Wrapped Up the Prosecution of Seven Illegal Aliens from Guatemala that Smuggled Aliens into the United States

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – The last of seven illegal aliens from Guatemala was sentenced for working together and being paid to smuggle illegal aliens into the United States from Guatemala, Mexico, and other countries in Central or South America, including Asia. From October 2021 through April 2025, the ringleader, Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez (Cidia), conspired with the defendants and other individuals throughout the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico to conceal, harbor, and transport unlawful aliens in the United States. Those aliens were from various countries in Central America, South America, and Asia. Court documents show that Cidia used a social media application to coordinate payment to conspirators in Guatemala in exchange for transportation. The aliens were transported from Guatemala and housed in Mexico until they could cross the United States-Mexico border unlawfully. Once inside the United States, drivers and stash house operators in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas would conceal the alien. Cidia admitted that the drivers would collect payment at her direction and transport the aliens to various stash houses in Oklahoma, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington. The indictment filed in April 2025 alleged that each alien would pay roughly $5,000 to be smuggled into the United States. All money collected from the aliens being transported was deposited into bank accounts accessible to Cidia and others. She then admitted to using those funds to purchase vehicles and real estate property. Court records show that Cidia forfeited three trucks and two ATVs that were seized during the execution of a search warrant in Oklahoma City on April 24, 2025. Additionally, Cidia is forfeiting all interest and property contained in two separate homes in Oklahoma City and three different properties in Sequoyah County. The following defendants were sentenced for Conspiracy to Bring and Transport Aliens in the United States Illegally for Private Financial Gain : Cidia Marleny Lima Lopez , 40, living in Charlotte, North Carolina, was ordered to serve 33 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Cidia Lima Lopez forfeited her interest in the $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States. Ottoniel Castro Argueta , 33, the husband of Cidia, also living in Charlotte, North Carolina, was ordered to serve 51 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, Castro Argueta forfeited his interest in the vehicles and properties listed above. Veronica Maribel Lima Lopez , 34, living in Oklahoma City, was ordered to serve 12 months and one day imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release. Additionally, Veronica Lima Lopez forfeited her interest in the vehicles listed above and $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States. Ariz Obdulio Argueta , 30, living in Clarksville, Arkansas, was arrested in April 2025 and released in March 2026 after being ordered to time served. Obdulio Argueta was additionally ordered to three years of supervised release and forfeited his interest in the $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States. Pedro Cucul Gualna , 26, living in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, was arrested in April 2025 and released in April 2026 after being ordered to time served. He was additionally ordered to one year of supervised release. Carlos Enrique Ramos Caal , 31, living in Flagstaff, Arizona, was arrested in April 2025 and released in March 2026 after being ordered to time served. Ramos Caal was additionally ordered to two years of supervised release Additionally, Cesar Rodolfo Garcia Argueta , 21, living in Clarksville, Arkansas, was sentenced for Attempt to Bring an Alien to the United States Illegally from Private Financial Gain . He was arrested in April 2025 and released in March 2026 after being ordered to time served. Garcia Argueta was additionally ordered to three years of supervised release and forfeited his interest in the $5,000 obtained from smuggling aliens into the United States. Charges against Esvin Alexander Rodriguez Luis , 27, living in Oklahoma City, were dismissed in October 2025. All of the defendants were unlawfully present in the United States. They are expected to be deported after removal proceedings following their sentences. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Flagstaff, and Charlotte offices comprise of agents and officers from the Tulsa, McAlester and Greensboro, North Carolina Drug Enforcement Administration field offices; the Tulsa and Oklahoma City IRS field offices; the Tulsa and Oklahoma City U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations field offices; and the U.S. Marshals offices in the Northern District of Oklahoma, with the assistance of several state law enforcement agencies. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Nasar from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma, Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam McConney from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, with assistance from the Western District of Oklahoma, the Eastern District of Oklahoma, the Middle District of North Carolina, and the Western District of Arkansas.


title: Troy Men Arrested, Federally Charged in Relation to Robbery Resulting in Death

body_text: WACO, Texas – Two Troy men were arrested on criminal charges related to their alleged Hobbs Act violations, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Colton Carter, 20, and Donivan Bynum, 18, are alleged to have been involved in an armed robbery that resulted in the death of a Salado man on May 5. A criminal complaint alleges that Carter’s phone, obtained as part of the investigation, contained implicating messages and phone calls that led detectives to believe he had set up the robbery. The complaint further alleges Bynum was with Carter as the look out. Carter and Bynum were arrested and charged with one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI is investigating the case with assistance from the Temple Police Department, Milam County Sheriff’s Office, and Belton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Blanton is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Felon Who Crashed ATV into a Car, Fled Police, Sentenced to 48-Months for Possession of ‘Ghost Gun’

body_text: WASHINGTON - Sidney Rogers, 35, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 48 months in prison in connection with the unlawful possession of a ghost gun while fleeing police on an all-terrain vehicle through a busy Southeast Washington neighborhood, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Rogers pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2025, to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In addition to the 48-month prison term, Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered Rogers to serve three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 57-month prison term. According to court papers, on June 4, 2025, at about 5:56 p.m., a Metropolitan Police Department officer observed Rogers operating a black and neon yellow ATV through the intersection of Morris Road SE and Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE in violation of traffic laws. When the officer approached, Rogers accelerated the ATV forward, crashing it into a parked vehicle before fleeing on foot with a firearm in his waistband. Image of Rogers running from officers with a firearm in his waistband. During the foot chase, Rogers dropped a loaded magazine containing 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, which scattered across the street near a bus stop at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and W Street SE. Officers apprehended Rogers and recovered a loaded ghost gun, a privately manufactured firearm bearing no serial number and untraceable by law enforcement. Police recovered this “ghost gun” from Rogers. Rogers was on supervised release for a prior firearms offense at the time of the incident. In 2022, he was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of unlawful possession of a firearm after a similar flight from police in which he drove a vehicle into a cement barrier and discarded a firearm out the window. Rogers dropped a loaded magazine containing 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition, which scattered across the street near a bus stop. This case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative. Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful is a law enforcement initiative in support of President Trump's Executive Order to crack down on gun violence, prioritize federal firearms violations, pursue tougher penalties, and seek detention for federal firearms violators. The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Office. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Caelainn Carney. 25cr188 U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube Or at https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc


title: Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Devin Adams, a multi-convicted felon, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge D. P. Marshall, Jr. A federal grand jury indicted Adams, 32, of Alexander, in a one-count Superseding Indictment for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On October 29, 2025, Adams pleaded guilty to the charge in the Superseding Indictment. Judge Marshall also sentenced Adams to two years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. An investigation revealed that officers with the Little Rock Police Department observed a vehicle driven by Adams speeding and conducted a traffic stop. Officers learned during the traffic stop that Adams was on probation and had a search waiver on file. When asked by officers to exit the vehicle, Adams complied and advised officers he had two hydrocodone pills in his pocket. Upon a search of Adams’ person, officers located the two hydrocodone pills, an oxycodone pill, and a loaded Kel Tec, model P11 9mm firearm in his pants. Adams has at least three prior convictions for a felony drug offense and is therefore classified as an armed career criminal. His criminal history includes one conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and five convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Little Rock Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Reese Lancaster. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Hobart Man Sentenced to 168 Months in Prison For Controlled Substance and Firearm Offenses

body_text: SOUTH BEND –Justin Ring, 37 years old, of Hobart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, and possessing a firearm as convicted felon, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Ring was sentenced to168 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in the fall of 2024, law enforcement identified Ring as a methamphetamine distributor operating in the Michigan City area. On three occasions between October 2024 and December 2024, Ring sold high purity methamphetamine to another person. In January of 2025, Ring was driving his car, and law enforcement performed a traffic stop on him. Ring had 439 grams of methamphetamine, 4 grams of cocaine, and 15 grams of fentanyl inside of the car with him, which he intended to distribute to another person. Ring also had a 9-millimeter pistol hidden in a compartment area behind the radio. On the same day of the traffic stop, law enforcement searched the hotel room where Ring was residing at the time. Officers found additional methamphetamine, another 9-millimenter firearm, and plastic bags and a digital scale used for packaging and weighing drugs. Ring has prior felony convictions for dealing a counterfeit substance and possession of paraphernalia, either of which prohibited him from possessing a firearm. “Justin Ring’s business plan was simple—he sold high-test poisons to users who needed a fix and had the means to buy it,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “As he well knew, there is money to be made on other people’s addictions. But he should have remembered that, in northern Indiana, anyone who deals in the narcotics that feed those addictions will face a swift and devastating justice. He will now have plenty of time to commit the lesson to memory while residing in the Bureau of Prisons. My thanks go out to the DEA, ATF, La Porte County Drug Task Force, Michigan City Police Department, and La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney Sean Fagan’s team at the La Porte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for the work they contributed to achieving this conviction and sentence.” “The primary role of law enforcement is to serve and protect the community. Through the arrest and successful prosecution of Mr. Ring, northern Indiana is most certainly a safer and better community for everyone. In the world of drug law enforcement, little is worse than a violent drug trafficker, which is a perfect description of Mr. Ring. Not only did Mr. Ring deal a plethora of drugs, all leading to addiction and death, but he did so while possessing a firearm. He was a danger and a nuisance to Hoosiers, but he is no longer. The Drug Enforcement Administration, in collaboration with its law enforcement partners, will forever identify, investigate, and stop those who choose to destroy our communities through their evil actions,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke. “The combination of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and engaging in drug trafficking presents a grave threat to public safety. ATF and our law enforcement partners remain steadfast in combining our resources towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting armed drug traffickers,” said ATF Chicago Field Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with assistance from the DEA North Central Laboratory, La Porte County Drug Task Force, Michigan City Police Department, and the La Porte County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.