title: THIRTY-FOUR ILLEGAL ALIENS CONVICTED OF IMMIGRATION, FALSE DOCUMENT OFFENSES

body_text: GAINESVILLE, PENSACOLA, & TALLAHASSEE – United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced today that thirty-four illegal aliens were recently convicted of federal crimes, including thirty-one previously deported aliens convicted for illegal reentry into the United States. One of those previously deported illegal aliens was also convicted of false document crimes. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “We are a nation of laws, and my office is firmly committed to enforcing those laws by aggressively prosecuting violations. The Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America delivers on the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will not tolerate those who violate our nation’s laws, and we will deploy the full resources of the federal government to keep our borders secure and our communities safe.” According to court records, thirty-one defendants had each been previously removed due to being unlawfully present in the country and thereafter illegally reentered without seeking the necessary permission or approval from the United States. The illegal aliens convicted since September 2025 include: Jose Victor Aguilar Zelaya, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in July 2010. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on March 5, 2025. Elin Itay Martinez-Lemus a/k/a Carlos Mauricio Arita-Lemus, a citizen of Honduras, who was previously removed in December 2011 and August 2012. He was encountered in Escambia County on March 15, 2025. Joel Nahum Sanchez Montoya, a citizen of Honduras, who was previously removed in October 2006. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on May 6, 2025. Omar Jimenez-Salinas, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in June 2014. He was encountered in Escambia County on May 29, 2025. Narciso Oswaldo Moreno-Zepeda, a citizen of Honduras, who was previously removed in June 2014. He was encountered in Escambia County on June 26, 2025. Eusebio Lizardi-Bautista, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in February 2014. He was encountered in Escambia County on July 7, 2025. Ivan Reyes-Andrade, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in August 2011 and April 2015. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on August 1, 2025. Orlando Raudales-Banegas, a citizen of Honduras, who was previously removed in August 2010. He was encountered in Okaloosa County in August of 2025. Salvador Rodriguez-Rojas, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in October 2015 and November 2016. He was encountered in Escambia County on August 23, 2025. Denis Arnaldo Mendoz-Martinez, a citizen of Honduras, who was previously removed in April 2012, February 2016, December 2018, and October 2019. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on September 2, 2025. Marin Mendez Vasquez, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in September 2007, November 2008, and July 2010. He was encountered in Alachua County on September 5, 2025. Pedro Lopez Calderon, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in January 2010, March 2017, and March 2018 and November 2016. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on September 16, 2025. Darwin Noe Ramirez-Guillen, a citizen of Honduras, who was previously removed in October 2014. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on September 23, 2025. Jonathan Callejas-Callejas, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in July 2018. He was encountered in Escambia County on September 25, 2025. Jose Bernardino Varillas-Morales, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in December 2019 and January 2020. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on September 26, 2025. Mateo Linares-Aparicio, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in September 2014. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on September 29, 2025. Selvin Ramos Vasquez, a citizen of Honduras, who was previously removed in April 2015 and July 2015. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on October 3, 2025. Jose Gilberto Vasquez Martinez, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in December 2010, November 2011, and February 2024. He was encountered in Leon County on October 8, 2025. Agustin Bello Rodriguez, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in April 2021. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on October 8, 2025. Marvin Arenas-Beltran, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in February 2017. He was encountered in Leon County on October 9, 2025. Bulfrano Tamayo-Rodriguez, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in August 2006 and April 2015. He was encountered in Leon County on October 9, 2025. German Aleman, a citizen of El Salvador, who was previously removed in September 2009, August 2011, and January 2013. He was encountered in Leon County on October 9, 2025. Jose Del Carmen Perez-Gomez, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in May 2022. He was encountered in Escambia County on October 14, 2025. Eduardo Ramirez-Francisco, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in March 2019. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on October 16, 2025. Edin Francisco Trinidad-Moradel, a citizen of Honduras, who was previously removed in February 2019. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on October 16, 2025. Yunior Johel Vasquez-Garcia, a citizen of Honduras, who was previously removed in January 2016. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on October 25, 2025. Alberto Reyes-Monroy, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in October 2016. He was encountered in Bay County on October 29, 2025. Jose Alvarado Lopez, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in June and August 2019. He was encountered in Bay County on October 29, 2025. Basilio Coxcahua-Arohua, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in January 2015 and twice in March 2018. He was encountered in Okaloosa County on October 29, 2025. Roberto Rios-Narvaez, a Mexican national, who was previously removed in December 2010. He was encountered in Santa Rosa County on November 6, 2025. Four aliens were also convicted of false document crimes. They included: Celso Javier Melgar, a citizen of Panama. Luis Maldonado, a citizen of Guatemala. Gustavo Adolfo Ramirez-Guillen, a citizen of Honduras. Flavio Bernardo-Padilla, a Mexican national. Bernardo-Padilla was also convicted of illegal reentry based on his unlawful return after his prior removal in November 2018. “The enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws is essential to maintaining the integrity of our borders and the rule of law,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations acting Field Office Director Kelei Walker. “Illegal aliens can take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right, legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.” “Bringing to justice those who not only reenter the United States illegally after they have been previously deported, but also commit document fraud, is critical to protecting the integrity of our nation’s legal and financial systems,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “The enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws relies on thorough investigation and strong partnerships, and these convictions demonstrate our commitment to holding accountable those who take their violations to the next level by attempting to deceive authorities with false documents.” The cases were investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, with assistance from several state and local partners. Assistant United States Attorneys Brooke A. DiSalvo, Jessica S. Etherton, Alicia H. Forbes, Adam Hapner, Eric Mountin, Walter Narramore, Christopher C. Patterson, Joseph Ravelo, Jeffrey M. Tharp, and Former Assistant United States Attorneys Harley W. Ferguson and Jenna H. Callahan prosecuted the cases. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: FBI Disrupts Alleged New Year's Even Attack, Man Charged With Attempting To Provide Material Support To ISIS

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Mint Hill man that allegedly planned to use knives and hammers to execute a deadly New Year’s Eve attack at a grocery store and a fast food restaurant in support of the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The criminal complaint was filed on December 31, 2025, and was unsealed today after Christian Sturdivant, 18, appeared in federal court in Charlotte. James C. Barnacle, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making the announcement. “This successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers — anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law.” “The accused allegedly wanted to be a soldier for ISIS and made plans to commit a violent attack on New Year’s Eve in support of that terrorist group, but the FBI and our partners put a stop to that,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “It is essential to work closely with our law enforcement partners and to quickly share information about potential threats, as demonstrated in this case. The message from the FBI is clear—anyone who supports ISIS or other terrorist groups cannot hide and will be held accountable in our justice system.” "As alleged, Sturdivant aspired to become a ‘martyr’ for ISIS and was in the final stages of planning a mass-casualty attack on New Year’s Eve. Notes recovered from his home appear to reflect intent to harm as many people as possible and terrorize the Nation,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. “We commend the extraordinary work of our partners in neutralizing this threat.” “Americans deserve to celebrate New Year’s Eve without worrying about their personal safety,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “That is why we worked non-stop to thwart this alleged violent terrorist attack. I am proud of the work done here and thankful for the time spent by law enforcement away from their families during the holidays to ensure public safety.” “The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people, and this case demonstrates our dedication to do everything we can to protect the residents of North Carolina. We worked closely with the Department of Justice, NYPD, Mint Hill Police Department, and our FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force partners to investigate and disrupt this serious threat of a violent attack. We will never stop working to hold people accountable who seek to harm and terrorize our community,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Barnacle. “Christian Sturdivant allegedly swore allegiance to an international terrorist organization and plotted deadly attacks in its name,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “But the New York City Police Department has a long reach, and our undercover cybersecurity investigators once again identified threats of extremist behavior and thwarted them before they could be carried out. Public safety knows no borders, and we will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue and hold accountable anyone who seeks to spread fear and violence.” “Now more than ever, partnerships between law enforcement agencies are paramount,” said Chief Joseph Hatley of the Mint Hill Police Department. “This disruption is a testament to all involved, working as one to thwart an attack and hold accountable anyone planning such a horrific act of violence against our community.” According to allegations in the arrest affidavit, on December 18, 2025, the FBI in Charlotte received information that an individual later identified as Sturdivant was making multiple social media posts in support of ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. In early December 2025, Sturdivant posted an image depicting two miniature figurines of Jesus with the on-screen text that read, “May Allah curse the cross worshipers.” The post is allegedly consistent with ISIS’s rhetoric calling for the extermination of all non-believers, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims who do not agree with ISIS’s extreme ideology. Sturdivant’s social media post in early December 2025 The criminal complaint alleges that on or about December 12, 2025, Sturdivant began communicating with an online covert employee, or “OC,” whom Sturdivant thought was an ISIS member. Sturdivant told the OC, “I will do jihad soon,” and proclaimed he was “a soldier of the state,” meaning ISIS. On December 14, 2025, Sturdivant allegedly sent an online message to the OC with an image of two hammers and a knife. This is significant because an article in the 2016 issue of ISIS’s propaganda magazine promoted the use of knives to conduct terror attacks in western countries. The same article inspired actual attacks in other countries. Later, Sturdivant told the OC that he planned to attack a specific grocery store in North Carolina. Sturdivant also told the OC about his plans to purchase a firearm to use along with the knives during the attack, according to the arrest affidavit. December 14, 2025, Sturdivant’s online message to undercover law enforcement with image of two hammers and a knife In addition, on December 19, 2025, Sturdivant allegedly sent the OC a voice recording of Sturdivant pledging “Bayat,” a loyalty oath to ISIS. On December 29, 2025, law enforcement conducted a search warrant at Sturdivant’s residence, where they discovered handwritten documents, one of which was titled “New Years Attack 2026.” The document listed items such as a vest, mask, tactical gloves, and two knives allegedly to be used in the attack. It also described a goal of stabbing as many civilians as possible, with the total number of victims to be as high as 20 to 21. The note also included a section labeled as “martyrdom op,” that described a plan to attack police responding to the site of the attack so Sturdivant would die a martyr. Handwritten document titled “New Years Attack 2026” The complaints alleges that Sturdivant lived with a relative, who secured knives and hammers away so Sturdivant could not use them for harm. Yet, law enforcement seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom a blue hammer, a wooden handled hammer, and two butcher knives which appeared hidden underneath the defendant’s bed. These items appear to be the same as the ones depicted in the online message Sturdivant previously sent to the OC. Items seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom on December 29, 2025, pursuant to a federal search warrant Law enforcement also seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom a list of targets, as well as tactical gloves and a vest, acquired as part of the defendant’s planned attack. Additional items seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom acquired for the alleged planned attack Sturdivant remains in federal custody. If convicted, Sturdivant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Matthews Police Department, the Monroe Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Air Marshal Service, the Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the assistance of the NYPD, additional FBI Field Offices, the FBI Counterterrorism Division, and the Mint Hill Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Gleason for the Western District of North Carolina and DOJ Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat with the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The charges against the defendant are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: FBI Disrupts Alleged New Year’s Eve Attack, Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Today, the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced that a Mint Hill, North Carolina man that allegedly planned to use knives and hammers to execute a deadly New Year’s Eve attack at a grocery store and a fast food restaurant in support of the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. The criminal complaint was filed on Dec. 31, 2025, and was unsealed today after Christian Sturdivant, 18, appeared in federal court in Charlotte. “This successful collaboration between federal and local law enforcement saved American lives from a horrific terrorist attack on New Year’s Eve,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice remains vigilant in our pursuit of evil ISIS sympathizers — anyone plotting to commit such depraved attacks will face the full force of the law.” “The accused allegedly wanted to be a soldier for ISIS and made plans to commit a violent attack on New Year’s Eve in support of that terrorist group, but the FBI and our partners put a stop to that,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “It is essential to work closely with our law enforcement partners and to quickly share information about potential threats, as demonstrated in this case. The message from the FBI is clear — anyone who supports ISIS or other terrorist groups cannot hide and will be held accountable in our justice system.” “As alleged, Sturdivant aspired to become a ‘martyr’ for ISIS and was in the final stages of planning a mass-casualty attack on New Year’s Eve. Notes recovered from his home appear to reflect intent to harm as many people as possible and terrorize the Nation,” said Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg of the Justice Department's National Security Division. “We commend the extraordinary work of our partners in neutralizing this threat.” “Americans deserve to celebrate New Year’s Eve without worrying about their personal safety,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson for the Western District of North Carolina. “That is why we worked non-stop to thwart this alleged violent terrorist attack. I am proud of the work done here and thankful for the time spent by law enforcement away from their families during the holidays to ensure public safety.” “The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people, and this case demonstrates our dedication to do everything we can to protect the residents of North Carolina,” said Special Agent in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “We worked closely with the Department of Justice, NYPD, Mint Hill Police Department, and our FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force partners to investigate and disrupt this serious threat of a violent attack. We will never stop working to hold people accountable who seek to harm and terrorize our community.” “Christian Sturdivant allegedly swore allegiance to an international terrorist organization and plotted deadly attacks in its name,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “But the New York City Police Department has a long reach, and our undercover cybersecurity investigators once again identified threats of extremist behavior and thwarted them before they could be carried out. Public safety knows no borders, and we will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to pursue and hold accountable anyone who seeks to spread fear and violence.” “Now more than ever, partnerships between law enforcement agencies are paramount,” said Chief Joseph Hatley of the Mint Hill Police Department. “This disruption is a testament to all involved, working as one to thwart an attack and hold accountable anyone planning such a horrific act of violence against our community.” According to allegations in the arrest affidavit, on Dec. 18, 2025, the FBI in Charlotte received information that an individual later identified as Sturdivant was making multiple social media posts in support of ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. In early December 2025, Sturdivant posted an image depicting two miniature figurines of Jesus with the on-screen text that read, “May Allah curse the cross worshipers.” The post is allegedly consistent with ISIS’s rhetoric calling for the extermination of all non-believers, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims who do not agree with ISIS’s extreme ideology. Sturdivant’s social media post in early December 2025 The criminal complaint alleges that on or about Dec. 12, 2025, Sturdivant began communicating with an online covert employee, or “OC,” whom Sturdivant thought was an ISIS member. Sturdivant told the OC, “I will do jihad soon,” and proclaimed he was “a soldier of the state,” meaning ISIS. On Dec. 14, 2025, Sturdivant allegedly sent an online message to the OC with an image of two hammers and a knife. This is significant because an article in the 2016 issue of ISIS’s propaganda magazine promoted the use of knives to conduct terror attacks in western countries. The same article inspired actual attacks in other countries. Later, Sturdivant told the OC that he planned to attack a specific grocery store in North Carolina. Sturdivant also told the OC about his plans to purchase a firearm to use along with the knives during the attack, according to the arrest affidavit. Dec. 14, 2025, Sturdivant’s online message to undercover law enforcement with image of two hammers and a knife In addition, on Dec. 19, 2025, Sturdivant allegedly sent the OC a voice recording of Sturdivant pledging “Bayat,” a loyalty oath to ISIS. On Dec. 29, 2025, law enforcement conducted a search warrant at Sturdivant’s residence, where they discovered handwritten documents, one of which was titled “New Years Attack 2026.” The document listed items such as a vest, mask, tactical gloves, and two knives allegedly to be used in the attack. It also described a goal of stabbing as many civilians as possible, with the total number of victims to be as high as 20 to 21. The note also included a section labeled as “martyrdom op,” that described a plan to attack police responding to the site of the attack so Sturdivant would die a martyr. Handwritten document titled “New Years Attack 2026” The complaint alleges that Sturdivant lived with a relative, who secured knives and hammers away so Sturdivant could not use them for harm. Yet, law enforcement seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom a blue hammer, a wooden handled hammer, and two butcher knives which appeared hidden underneath the defendant’s bed. These items appear to be the same as the ones depicted in the online message Sturdivant previously sent to the OC. Items seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom on Dec. 29, 2025, pursuant to a federal search warrant Law enforcement also seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom a list of targets, as well as tactical gloves and a vest, acquired as part of the defendant’s planned attack. Additional items seized from Sturdivant’s bedroom acquired for the alleged planned attack Sturdivant remains in federal custody. If convicted, Sturdivant faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine the ultimate sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the Matthews Police Department, the Monroe Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Air Marshal Service, the Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the assistance of the NYPD, additional FBI Field Offices, and the Mint Hill Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Gleason for the Western District of North Carolina and DOJ Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat with the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. The charges against the defendant are merely allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Final weeks of 2025 bring another 401 individuals facing charges in border security-related matters

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 399 cases have been filed related to border enforcement efforts in the Southern District of Texas from Dec. 19 - Jan 2, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. The cases include 19 people allegedly engaged in human smuggling. Charges were also filed against 146 individuals accused of illegal entry and 230 others who allegedly reentered the country after prior removal. Many already have felony convictions for narcotics, violent crime, immigration crimes and more. Other cases include allegations regarding firearms and other immigration crimes. Several of those charged with felony reentry include men from the countries of Mexico, Honduras and Cuba - two that authorities had just allegedly removed from the United States less than one month before their apprehension. Charges allege Cuban national Armando David Naranjo-Alemany and Melvin Antonio Ramos-Avila, a Honduran national, had been removed Nov. 28, and Nov. 25, 2025, respectively. However, according to their criminal complaints, authorities discovered both men unlawfully in the South Texas area in the final weeks of December. Other individuals allegedly found in the country illegally were Ruben Jimenez-Garcia, Jose Raul Sotelo and German Garza-Velez, all of Mexico. Even though all had allegedly been previously removed from the United States, criminal complaints indicate they were back in the country illegally. Each man has a criminal history that includes convictions either related to controlled substances, such as methamphetamine or cocaine, burglary or illegal reentry, according to the charges. Similarly, authorities also allegedly discovered a Mexican female in the Donna area with no permission to be there. Charges allege Eva Aidee Rodriguez-Rivera had been removed previously and was sentenced to 75 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the illegal reentry charges, all face up to 20 years in federal prison. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than nine million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 72 Border-Related Cases This Week

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 72 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city). In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here . A sample of border-related arrests this week: On December 29, Kara Elizabeth Pasco, a United States citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found 35 packages of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl concealed in the quarter panels, floors and back driver seat of her vehicle as she tried to cross into the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. On December 27, Carlos Mata, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, Border Patrol agents found Mata hiding in the bushes in an area north of the border near Otay Mesa. The defendant was previously deported in November 2025. On December 28, Francisco Javier Hernandez, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. According to a complaint, Border Patrol agents encountered Hernandez and other undocumented immigrants hiding in thick brush near the border to evade the agents. The agents determined that Hernandez was guiding the others. The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Federal Judge Sentences Elizabeth City Career Offender After Trial Conviction

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

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A U.S. Federal Judge sentenced Charles Lamont Gregory, III, a 36-year-old man from Elizabeth City to 14 years in prison after a jury convicted him on all counts related to an August 2022 traffic stop. Officers found a bag of crack and a gun hidden in his car, just four months after his release from a 12-year state prison sentence for armed robbery. The federal jury found him guilty on June 10, 2025. “Career criminals will not escape justice when federal prosecutors team up with local police departments such as the fine men and women of the Elizabeth City Police Department,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Let me be clear: if you continue committing crimes, especially after being punished repeatedly by the State with no deterrent effect, we will find you, we will convict you at trial, we will lock you up, and we will keep our cities safe from unrepentant repeat offenders like Gregory.” “We will continue to arrest individuals who insist on selling poison in our community. We want to put you on notice: if you choose to commit crimes in Elizabeth City, we will arrest you and collaborate with our federal partners to prosecute you at the federal level,” said Elizabeth City Police Chief Eddie Graham, Jr. “There is an absolute connection between drug dealing and gun violence in our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “A firearm in the hands of a drug dealer and felon is a serious danger, and ATF and our law enforcement partners will continue to do everything possible to apprehend those that pose these threats to our communities.” According to court documents and evidence presented in court, Gregory was driving a car with expired tags in the early morning hours of August 7, 2022. An Elizabeth City Police Officer on patrol spotted the car and stopped it. Gregory delayed stopping, making several turns, the last of which was into a gas station parking lot. As Gregory finally turned into the gas station, the officer saw him throw a yellow bag out of the window. Officers retrieved the bag and discovered eight individually wrapped baggies of lab-confirmed crack cocaine. Each baggie containing about 1.5 grams and packaged for easy distribution. Officers also located a loaded gun in the vehicle's glove compartment. After a two-day trial, a federal jury convicted Gregory of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with the intent to distribute crack, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phil Aubart and Jermaine Sellers prosecuted the case. The Elizabeth City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-CR-00014.


title: Investiture Ceremony Held for U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Federal, state, and local leaders gathered on December 12, 2025, at the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Miami to mark the formal investiture of Jason A. Reding Quiñones as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida. The ceremony marked his ceremonial assumption of office as the chief federal law enforcement officer for one of the nation’s busiest, most complex, and most diverse judicial districts. The ceremony opened with welcoming remarks by the Honorable Cecilia M. Altonaga, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Additional remarks were delivered by Major General David P. Garfield of the United States Air Force; the Honorable Christine Hernandez, Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida; and the Honorable James Uthmeier, Attorney General of Florida. Chief Judge Altonaga then administered the oath of office to U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones. During the ceremony, the Honorable Ariana Fajardo Orshan, Chief Judge of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, presented the state flag in recognition of U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones’s service on the state bench. City of Miami Commissioner Rafael “Ralph” Rosado also presented a city proclamation honoring the occasion. In his remarks, U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones reflected on his Miami upbringing, his family’s journey to the United States, and more than two decades of military service in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. He expressed gratitude to President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pamela Bondi for their trust and confidence, and to the United States Senate for its confirmation. He reaffirmed his commitment to public service and to the mission of the Office. “Our mission is simple,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones. “Protect Americans. Restore impartial justice. Defend the rule of law. That mission demands leadership, discipline, and the will to act with clarity and courage. The Southern District of Florida will meet this moment, working shoulder to shoulder with our federal, state, and local partners, and pursuing justice the right way: professionally, with integrity, and without fear or favor.” U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones emphasized the Office’s focus on violent crime, fentanyl trafficking, human smuggling, child exploitation, public corruption, cybercrime, and threats to national security. He also highlighted recent organizational reforms designed to modernize operations, strengthen training, and ensure mission-focused prosecution aligned with the realities of South Florida. Jason A. Reding Quiñones was sworn in as U.S. Attorney on August 13, 2025, following his nomination by President Trump and confirmation by the United States Senate. He is the first U.S. Attorney confirmed during President Trump’s second administration, and his oath of office was administered by Attorney General Bondi. As U.S. Attorney, Reding Quiñones leads more than 500 attorneys and professional staff across offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Pierce, and Key West. The Office prosecutes federal criminal offenses, represents the United States in civil litigation, and enforces federal civil laws throughout the Southern District of Florida. ###


title: 2025 Year in Review

body_text: MIAMI – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida (USAO-SDFL) closes 2025 having delivered decisive results across the full spectrum of federal enforcement — disrupting transnational drug trafficking organizations, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars through fraud prosecutions and civil resolutions, dismantling corruption schemes, and protecting the public from violent crime, exploitation, and national security threats. Under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones, the Office pursued complex, high-impact cases that safeguarded communities, protected vulnerable victims, preserved the integrity of public institutions, and reinforced the rule of law. These outcomes were made possible through close coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners throughout South Florida and across the nation. “2025 was a year of results,” said U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones. “Our Office focused on the cases that mattered most — those that threatened public safety, exploited the vulnerable, corrupted our systems, or undermined trust in the rule of law. Together with our law enforcement partners, we delivered accountability and made South Florida safer. That momentum will continue.” Key Accomplishments in 2025 Disrupting Drug Trafficking and Transnational Criminal Organizations USAO-SDFL led and supported major prosecutions targeting international narcotics trafficking networks operating throughout South Florida. These efforts included large-scale conspiracy indictments involving cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and emerging synthetic opioids; maritime drug trafficking prosecutions; and cases involving firearms trafficking tied to narcotics operations. Numerous defendants received lengthy federal prison sentences, and substantial quantities of drugs, weapons, and illicit proceeds were seized. Combating Health Care Fraud and Pharmaceutical Crimes The Office played a central role in nationwide and district-level health care fraud enforcement, charging dozens of defendants responsible for billions in intended losses to Medicare and other federal programs. Prosecutors secured convictions and significant civil resolutions involving fraudulent billing, kickbacks, diverted and adulterated pharmaceuticals, and schemes that endangered patient safety. Millions of dollars in criminal forfeiture and restitution were ordered to recover funds for taxpayers and victims. Tackling Financial Crime, Corruption, and International Bribery USAO-SDFL aggressively pursued complex financial crimes, including Ponzi schemes, investment fraud, money laundering conspiracies, and public corruption. The Office brought and litigated high-profile cases involving domestic and international defendants, including enforcement actions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), resulting in substantial penalties, forfeitures, and corporate accountability. These prosecutions reinforced that financial crime — whether local or global — will be met with sustained federal enforcement. Protecting the Public from Violence, Extremism, and Exploitation The Office secured convictions and sentences in cases involving violent offenders, hate-motivated threats, firearms crimes, human smuggling, sex trafficking, and child exploitation. Prosecutors obtained life sentences and decades-long prison terms for defendants who preyed on children, trafficked human beings, or posed credible threats to public safety. USAO-SDFL also worked closely with law enforcement partners to locate and apprehend dangerous fugitives and escapees. Safeguarding National Security and Immigration Integrity USAO-SDFL pursued cases involving immigration fraud, identity theft, sanctions evasion, and illicit foreign revenue generation. These prosecutions protected the integrity of U.S. borders, national security interests, and lawful immigration processes. Community Engagement and Interagency Leadership Beyond the courtroom, the Office strengthened partnerships with local governments, law enforcement agencies, and community stakeholders on issues ranging from public safety and environmental protection to airport and port security. The year also marked significant leadership milestones, including the investiture of U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and continued collaboration with courts and partner agencies throughout the district. Looking Ahead As 2026 approaches, the USAO-SDFL remains committed to its mission: to protect Americans, restore impartial justice, and defend the rule of law — without fear or favor. ###


title: Oklahoma Woman Charged with Sexual Abuse Crimes Against a Northeast Wisconsin Minor

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Brad D. Schimel, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on December 23, 2025, Randi L. Cook (age: 24) of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, was charged in a criminal complaint with interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, production of child pornography, and coercing or enticing a minor for unlawful sexual activity, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a), 2422(b), and 2423(b). According to the criminal complaint, between November 7, 2025, and December 16, 2025, Cook began communicating with a Northeast Wisconsin minor and convinced the child to send sexually explicit images of the minor’s genitalia via the internet. Cook also travelled to the Eastern District of Wisconsin on more than one occasion and sexually abused the minor at a hotel and a short-term rental property. If convicted of interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, Cook faces up to 30 years of imprisonment. If Cook is convicted of the production of child pornography charge, she faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years of imprisonment. If convicted of coercion and enticement, Cook will face a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life of imprisonment. Each charge also carries up to a $250,000 fine and a minimum of 5 years and up to life of supervised release. A conviction of any of the three charges would also require Cook to register as a sexual offender. This case was investigated by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble. A criminal complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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. # # # For further information contact: Public Affairs Officer Steve Caballero (414) 297-1700 Follow us on X


title: GAINESVILLE MAN CHARGED FOR POSSESSION OF A FIREARM WITH A REMOVED SERIAL NUMBER

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Devon Oliver, 18, of Gainesville, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with possession of a firearm with a removed serial number. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today. Oliver appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry on December 23, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for January 28, 2026, at 8:30 a.m., before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor. If convicted, Oliver faces up to five years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: APOPKA WOMAN INDICTED FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT WIRE FRAUD BY DEFRAUDING ELDERLY VICTIM BY PHONE AND EMAIL

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Xin Liu, 40, of Apopka, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging her with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today. Liu appeared for her arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry on December 23, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for January 28, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor. If convicted, Liu faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations and the Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Lowcountry Firefighter Arraigned Following Child Sexual Exploitation Indictment

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — A Lowcountry firefighter accused of the sexual exploitation of a child has been arraigned in federal court. A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against John Lewis Cottrell III, 46, of Johns Island, for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material. According to the unsealed complaint affidavit, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Cottrell’s residence on Oct. 3. During the execution of that warrant, law enforcement located child sexual abuse material as well as hidden cameras that had been used to create child sexual abuse material of minor victims. Cottrell faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on Dec. 30 and remains detained at this time. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice 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, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc . The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Attorney General Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Orville is prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ### * The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”


title: Massachusetts Men Sentenced to 60 Months for Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on December 29, 2025, Geison Reynoso, 27, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 60 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. His co-conspirator Davon Lee, 26, also of Springfield, was previously given the same sentence by Judge Reiss on October 16, 2025. Both men previously pleaded guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to court records, from 2023 until April 25, 2024, Reynoso and Lee engaged in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base in Rutland County, Vermont. In February 2024, law enforcement seized two backpacks belonging to the pair containing two firearms, U.S. currency, and a large quantity of cocaine and cocaine base. On April 25, 2024, Reynoso and Lee were arrested after a traffic stop and search of their vehicle resulted in the seizure of three more firearms, U.S. currency, and a large quantity of controlled substances. Reynoso and Lee both admitted to conspiring to traffic controlled substances and possessing firearms in furtherance of that conspiracy in their plea agreements. In addition to the sentences imposed against Reynoso and Lee, Judge Reiss ordered the forfeiture of $17,147 and five handguns. First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the Vermont State Police, the Rutland City Police Department, the Rutland Town Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wendy Fuller and David Golubock. Geison Reynoso was represented by Matthew Hart, Esq. Davon Lee was represented by Peter Langrock, Esq.


title: Brunswick County Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Material Crimes

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NCDPS WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Shallotte man was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment followed by 10 years of supervised release for receipt of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). “These child predators hurt our children, causing lifelong damage to our communities. This case highlights the critical partnership between federal, state, and local agencies in protecting children,” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We will continue to work together to bring child sex offenders to justice and prevent further harm.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Department of Homeland Security and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office investigated Scott Anthony Lewis, 65. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a Cyber Tip from Dropbox, reporting that one of its users had uploaded child sexual abuse material to their platform. Law enforcement traced the IP address from that DropBox account to Lewis. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Lewis’ residence, and seized digital devices being seized that contained child sexual abuse materials. Lewis had previously served in the U.S. Navy but had left the service in 2018. Since then, he had been working as a self-employed licensed electrician. Lewis, a previously registered sex offender, was on supervised probation for incest at the time of his arrest. At the time he downloaded some of the images located on his device he was out on bond for the incest charge to which he later entered a guilty plea. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case, and the Department of Homeland Security and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case no. 7:24-CR-100-M-BM.


title: Ecuadorian National Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, P.J. O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Stamford Police Chief Timothy Shaw today announced that JOSE ISRAEL TENESACA MEJIA, 21, a citizen of Ecuador residing in West Haven, has been charged with federal child exploitation offenses. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on April 29, 2025, the Stamford Police Department secured an arrest warrant charging Tenesaca Mejia with felony risk of injury and interfering with an officer. Tenesaca Mejia subsequently fled Connecticut with a 14-year-old girl (the “minor victim”). On October 28, 2025, the FBI in New Haven contacted the FBI in Minneapolis and relayed information about Tenesaca Mejia’s active arrest warrant, and that his iPhone had been tracked to a specific location in Minneapolis. Investigators surveilled the vicinity of the location, identified both Tenesaca Mejia and the minor victim, and arrested Tenesaca Mejia. It is further alleged that preliminary analysis of Tenesaca Mejia’s iPhone revealed videos and images of Tenesaca Mejia engaged in sexual conduct with the minor victim. Investigators also identified numerous images and videos of suspected child pornography that Tenesaca Mejia had downloaded using the Telegram app. On December 5, 2025, Tenesaca Mejia was charged by federal criminal complaint with sexual exploitation of children, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and with possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Tenesaca Mejia has been detained since his arrest. He appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert A. Richardson in Hartford. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by FBI New Haven, FBI Minneapolis, the Stamford Police Department, and the Hennepin County (Minn.) Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings. U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Minnesota and the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Stamford/Norwalk for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Seven Unlawful Entrants Apprehended on Northern Border, Including Smuggler of Minor Child

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that the United States Border Patrol apprehended seven unlawful entrants on the Canadian Border between December 23 and December 25, 2025. Joneyker Rafael Ramos Guillen, 20, of Venezuela, has been charged by criminal complaint with bringing aliens to the United States who lacked official authorization to enter, including Byron Guillermo Gonzabay Giron, 47, of Ecuador, Lixia Nong, 23, of China, Zhongyue Xiang, 62, of Portugal, and a 17-year-old unaccompanied minor from Brazil. Gonzabay Giron, Nong, and Xiang were all charged by criminal complaint with illegal entry into the United States. According to court records, Border Patrol detected an unlawful entry at approximately 7:00 am on December 23, 2025. A Border Patrol agent responded to the area, and from signs in the snow, determined approximately 5 people had traveled southbound. The responding agent followed the trail and discovered a group of people in the trees walking toward the village of North Troy. When directed to stop, the group instead scattered and fled. Over the next hour, Border Patrol agents tracked and pursued the five people, apprehending Ramos Guillen, Gonzabay Giron, Nong, Xiang, and the unaccompanied minor. Two additional unlawful crossings occurred on December 25, 2025. Shortly after midnight on December 25, 2025, Benjamin Paul Sheldon Schooner, 35, of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada crossed the international border on foot in front of the Haskell Library in Derby Line, Vermont. At approximately 6:45 pm, Abelardo Gamboa-Penaloza, 30, of Mexico, crossed the international border on foot near Lee Street in Derby Line, Vermont. Both Schooner and Gamboa-Penaloza were charged by criminal complaint with illegal entry into the United States. On December 29, 2025, defendants Guillen and Schooner appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that both defendants be held pending detention hearings. Defendants Gonzabay Giron and Gamboa-Penaloza appeared before Judge Doyle on December 30, 2025, pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to time-served. Nong and Xiang are scheduled for initial appearances on December 31, 2025. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Nong, Xiang, and Schooner all face up to 6 months in prison if convicted. Ramos Guillen faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison if convicted. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol and Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecutors are Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan A. Ophardt, Katherine H. Flynn, and David H. Golubock. Ramos Guillen, Schooner, and Gamboa-Penaloza are all represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. Xiang is represented by Mark Oettinger, Esq. Nong is represented by Karen Shingler, Esq. 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.


title: Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Fraud Conspiracy for Alleged $4.8 Million in Unfinished Custom Home Projects

body_text: A Fort Worth business owner who received nearly $5 million from local customers for unfinished custom home building and remodeling projects pled guilty to a wire fraud conspiracy charge yesterday, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. Court records reflect that Christopher Judge and his wife, Raquelle Judge, both of Fort Worth, Texas, were managing members of Judge DFW LLC (“Judge DFW”), a Texas limited liability company. Each defendant admitted that from approximately August 2020 to January 2023, through Judge DFW, they conspired to defraud consumers by purporting to offer custom architecture, construction, and interior design/décor services that they never completed. They also falsely represented that Christopher Judge was an architect. As part of the fraud scheme, victims received below-market bids from Judge DFW and executed design and build contracts for the work. The defendants then started construction projects and accepted multiple installment payments from victims but never completed those projects, often leaving victims without a completed residence. Plea documents reflect that the defendants defrauded over 40 victims residing in six Northern District of Texas counties, involving at least 24 different construction projects. Court records also show that the defendants commingled victims’ installment payments in the primary Judge DFW operating account, frequently using individual victim installment payments for unrelated construction projects. The alleged loss amount totaled approximately $4.8 million. Yesterday, Christopher Judge pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces up to twenty years in federal prison. Raquelle Judge pled guilty on December 17, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud that subjects her to a maximum of five years in federal prison. They also face monetary penalties, restitution, and terms of supervised release. Sentencing for Raquelle Judge is scheduled for April 14, 2026. Sentencing for Christopher Judge is scheduled for May 12, 2026. Both sentencing hearings will occur before United States District Judge Terry R. Means. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Fort Worth Resident Agency and the Euless Police Department conducted the investigation, with the assistance of the U.S. Secret Service Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark McDonald and Laura Montes prosecuted the case.


title: 16-Year-Old Arrested on First Degree Murder Charge

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Keyonte Johnson, 16, of Washington, D.C., was arrested yesterday and charged as an adult with premeditated first-degree murder while armed for shooting and killing 20-year-old D.C. resident Roy Bennett, Jr., on the evening of December 5, 2025, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Johnson made his initial court appearance in the District of Columbia before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Renee Raymond, who found probable cause that Johnson committed the offense of premeditated first-degree murder while armed and ordered that Johnson be held without bond pending trial. “This is yet another example of the out-of-control underage crime plaguing the district” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “President Trump is right – it is time to put an end to this predictable violence and time to lower the age of accountability so that I can start prosecuting these young criminals before they commit murder.” According to court documents, on December 5, 2025, Johnson, the victim, and several other people were present in an apartment near Union Market in Northeast D.C. that was being used as a recording studio. As the victim was standing at the microphone, Johnson, who was seated behind him on a sofa, began shooting Bennett, striking him seven times, including twice in the back of the head and twice in the chest. As Johnson fled the scene, he threatened to kill a potential witness if they said anything about the murder. During the execution of a Maryland search warrant where Johnson was arrested, investigators recovered five magazines, one fully loaded, a box of 10mm ammunition, several iron rifle sights, rifle ammunition, an empty red dot sight box and various clothing items consistent with what was worn by Johnson during the murder. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi. Johnson will next appear on January 14, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in courtroom 203 before Judge Michael Ryan for a preliminary hearing. These charges are merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Felon to Federal Prison for Carrying Stolen Firearm in a Rideshare Car

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who was previously sentenced in state court for obstruction of justice based on his involvement with a murder was sentenced on December 29, 2025, to more than three years in federal prison. Marshawn Ladarius Jeffries, age 22, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 5, 2025, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon. Information from the plea and sentencing showed that on February 28, 2025, Jeffries was a passenger in a rideshare car when the driver was pulled over for a nonworking taillight. Officers smelled marijuana coming from the car and had Jeffries step out. Officers patted Jeffries down after noticing that he seemed nervous and as if he was trying to conceal his waistband. An officer located a 9mm pistol equipped with a high-capacity magazine in Jeffries’s waistband. The firearm had been previously reported stolen. Earlier that month, on February 2, 2025, Jeffries led police officers on a high-speed chase before he crashed his car into the wall of an apartment building. In sentencing Jeffries, Chief Judge C.J. Williams noted that this was Jeffries’s fifth criminal involvement with a gun and that he was a real and present danger to the community. Jeffries was previously convicted of obstruction of justice for his involvement in a murder that took place at a home in Cedar Rapids in June 2020. Jeffries’s associate shot and killed the victim. Jeffries was also carrying a gun on the night of the murder. After Jeffries’s associate killed the victim, Jeffries fled with the murderer, disposed of clothing, and made false denials to police officers. Jeffries was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Jeffries was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Jeffries is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results This case is part of 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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Iowa State Patrol. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-0038. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Convicted Felon from Mexico Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Reentering the United States

body_text: A twice convicted felon who was previously deported eight times from the United States was sentenced on December 30, 2025, to more than a year in federal prison. Odilon Fuentes-Avila, age 43, from Mexico City, Mexico, received the prison term after a September 18, 2025, guilty plea to illegal reentry into the United States. Information from the plea and sentencing hearings showed that Fuentes-Avila, a Mexican citizen, was removed from the United States after a 2009 conviction for illegally entering the country. At some point, he reentered the country without permission. In 2020, he was convicted of two drug-related felony offenses and two driving while impaired offenses in Minnesota. He was then removed again in January 2020. Overall, he has been ordered removed from the country eight times. At some point after January 2020, he again reentered the United States without permission. On August 1, 2025, ICE agents found Fuentes-Avila in a county jail in Iowa after he was arrested on a warrant from Minnesota. Fuentes-Avila was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. White was sentenced to 14 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Fuentes-Avila is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. 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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-1037.


title: Federally Convicted Felon Sentenced to Additional Prison for Escaping from Custody

body_text: A previously convicted drug trafficker who escaped from a halfway house was sentenced on December 30, 2025, to a year in federal prison. Paul Dean White, age 35, from Center Point, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 16, 2025, guilty plea to escape from custody. Information from the plea and sentencing hearings showed that White was convicted in August 2019 for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Overall, White was involved in trafficking more than 18 kilograms of ice methamphetamine. White was eventually sentenced to 126 months in federal prison. In August 2025, White was completing his prison sentence at a halfway house in Waterloo, Iowa. White left the facility with permission, but did not return at the scheduled time. Staff contacted White. White told staff that he was not coming back and would rather go back to prison than be in the halfway house. A week later, the United States Marshals Service arrested White. White was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. White was sentenced to 12 months and one day of imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. White is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-2049.


title: Two-Time Felon Sentenced to Two Decades in Federal Prison for Firearms Offenses

body_text: A man who formerly operated a used appliance business in Marion, Iowa, was sentenced on December 30, 2025, to 20 years in federal prison. Cordell Maleec Mayfield, age 28, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 15, 2025, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. The evidence at trial showed that Mayfield had a gun with an obliterated serial number in his Marion business on September 19, 2024, when Marion police arrived late in the evening to perform a welfare check. The welfare check came after a 911 call to Marion Police to have officers check on a child who was with Mayfield at his business. Officers saw the gun in Mayfield’s hand and later found it in a search. Evidence further showed that a few months before the firearm seizure, Mayfield stated in a recording that he preferred guns with obliterated serial numbers. At sentencing, the evidence showed Mayfield’s very lengthy criminal history started at age 10 and continued into adulthood with numerous drug-related and violent offenses. The sentencing judge noted that Mayfield’s criminal conduct occurred while he was under supervision and while incarcerated, including within the last month while awaiting sentencing by possessing weapons and fighting. Mayfield was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Mayfield was sentenced to 240 months’ imprisonment, fined $2,000, and ordered to forfeit the firearm seized from him. He must also pay special assessments of $200 and serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Mayfield is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick J. Reinert and Ashley Corkery and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Marion Iowa Police Department, Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-00094. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: A convicted felon who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced December 30, 2025, to more than four years in federal prison. Brandon Hentz, age 37, from Galena, Illinois, received the prison term after a July 25, 2025, guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. On January 12, 2025, an officer with the Dubuque Police Department stopped a car that Hentz was driving for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, officers located marijuana, pills, and a loaded gun in the car. Hentz was prohibited from possessing firearms based on two prior felony convictions. Hentz was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Hentz was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case 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. Hentz is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-1026. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Felon Sentenced to Prison for Possessing a Gun

body_text: A felon who possessed a gun was sentenced today to more than three years in federal prison. Nathan Lee Armstrong, age 42, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 13, 2025, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon. In October 2024, police searched Armstrong’s home in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, during a theft investigation. While searching his bedroom, officers found a gun with a loaded magazine. Armstrong admitted to using methamphetamine the day before police searched his home. Armstrong was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction for intent to manufacture/deliver methamphetamine. Armstrong was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Armstrong was sentenced to 37 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Armstrong is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-CR-00021.


title: Two Americans Plead Guilty to Targeting  Multiple U.S. Victims Using ALPHV BlackCat Ransomware

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Yesterday, a federal district court in the Southern District of Florida accepted the guilty pleas of two men to conspiring to obstruct, delay or affect commerce through extortion in connection with ransomware attacks occurring in 2023. “These defendants used their sophisticated cybersecurity training and experience to commit ransomware attacks — the very type of crime that they should have been working to stop,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Extortion via the internet victimizes innocent citizens every bit as much as taking money directly out of their pockets. The Department of Justice is committed to using all tools available to identify and arrest perpetrators of ransomware attacks wherever we have jurisdiction.” “Ransomware is not just a foreign threat — it can come from inside our own borders,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Goldberg and Martin used trusted access and technical skill to extort American victims and profit from digital coercion. Their guilty pleas make clear that cybercriminals operating from within the United States will be found, prosecuted, and held to account.” “Malware like ALPHV (BlackCat) ransomware is used by bad actors to steal, extort, and launder proceeds from victim businesses and organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to working alongside its law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises involved in ransomware attacks and to hold accountable not only the perpetrators but also anyone who knowingly enables or profits from them. We will continue to leverage our intelligence, law enforcement tools, global presence, and partnerships to counter cybercriminals who seek to harm the American public through these insidious attacks. We strongly encourage businesses to exercise due diligence when engaging third parties for ransomware incident response, report suspicious or unethical behavior, and to expeditiously report any ransomware attack to the FBI and our law enforcement partners to safeguard their security and privacy.” According to court documents, Ryan Goldberg, 40, of Georgia, Kevin Martin, 36, of Texas, and another co-conspirator successfully deployed the ransomware known as ALPHV BlackCat between April 2023 and December 2023 against multiple victims located throughout the United States. The three men agreed to pay the ALPHV BlackCat administrators a 20% share of any ransoms received in exchange for access to the ransomware and ALPHV BlackCat’s extortion platform. All three men worked in the cybersecurity industry — meaning that they had special skills and experience in securing computer systems against harm, including the type of harm they themselves were committing against the victims in this case. After successfully extorting one victim for approximately $1.2 million in Bitcoin, the men split their 80% share of this ransom three ways and laundered the funds through various means. According to court documents, ALPHV BlackCat targeted the computer networks of more than 1,000 victims around the world. The group used a ransomware-as-a-service model in which developers were responsible for creating and updating ransomware and for maintaining the illicit internet infrastructure. Affiliates were responsible for identifying and attacking high-value victim institutions with the ransomware. After a victim paid, developers and affiliates shared the ransom. Today’s announcement follows the Justice Department’s prior actions in December 2023 to disrupt ALPHV BlackCat ransomware, in which the FBI developed a decryption tool that allowed FBI field offices across the country and law enforcement partners around the world to offer hundreds of victims the capability of restoring their systems, saving victims approximately $99 million in ransom payments. At that time, the FBI also seized several websites operated by ALPHV BlackCat. Goldberg and Martin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by extortion in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2026, and face a maximum penalty of 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 Miami Field Office is leading the investigation, with assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service. Trial Attorneys Christen Gallagher and Jorge Gonzalez of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Haggerty and Quinshawna Landon for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. Significant assistance in this investigation was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul B. Morris for the Eastern District of Texas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W.A. Peach for the Middle District of Georgia. Additional assistance was provided by the Policía de Investigación of the Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México. Private sector organizations can report any suspicious activities and threats to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), visiting www.tips.fbi.gov or contacting their local FBI field office. If you are a victim of ransomware, contact your local FBI field office or file a report at ic3.gov. If you have information about ALPHV BlackCat, their affiliates or activities, you may be eligible for a reward through the Department of State’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards program or Rewards for Justice program . Information can be submitted through the following Tor-based tip line (Tor browser required): he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion.


title: ILLEGAL ALIEN INDICTED FOR UNLAWFULLY POSSESSING A FIREARM

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Robinson Abrahan Esparragoza Regalado, 26, a Venezuelan national, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with possession of a firearm by an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today. Regalado appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry on December 23, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for January 28, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor. If convicted, Regalado faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florida Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Adam Hapner is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Two Americans Plead Guilty to Targeting Multiple U.S. Victims Using ALPHV BlackCat Ransomware

body_text: MIAMI – Yesterday a federal district court in Miami accepted the guilty pleas of two men who conspired to obstruct, delay or affect commerce through extortion in connection with ransomware attacks occurring in 2023. “These defendants used their sophisticated cybersecurity training and experience to commit ransomware attacks — the very type of crime that they should have been working to stop,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Extortion via the internet victimizes innocent citizens every bit as much as taking money directly out of their pockets. The Department of Justice is committed to using all tools available to identify and arrest perpetrators of ransomware attacks wherever we have jurisdiction.” “Ransomware is not just a foreign threat — it can come from inside our own borders,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Goldberg and Martin used trusted access and technical skill to extort American victims and profit from digital coercion. Their guilty pleas make clear that cybercriminals operating from within the United States will be found, prosecuted, and held to account.” “Malware like ALPHV (BlackCat) ransomware is used by bad actors to steal, extort, and launder proceeds from victim businesses and organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office. “The FBI remains committed to working alongside its law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises involved in ransomware attacks and to hold accountable not only the perpetrators but also anyone who knowingly enables or profits from them. We will continue to leverage our intelligence, law enforcement tools, global presence, and partnerships to counter cybercriminals who seek to harm the American public through these insidious attacks. We strongly encourage businesses to exercise due diligence when engaging third parties for ransomware incident response, report suspicious or unethical behavior, and to expeditiously report any ransomware attack to the FBI and our law enforcement partners to safeguard their security and privacy.” According to court documents, Ryan Goldberg, 40, of Georgia, Kevin Martin, 36, of Texas, and another co-conspirator successfully deployed the ransomware known as ALPHV BlackCat between April 2023 and December 2023 against multiple victims located throughout the United States. The three men agreed to pay the ALPHV BlackCat administrators a 20% share of any ransoms received in exchange for access to the ransomware and ALPHV BlackCat’s extortion platform. All three men worked in the cybersecurity industry — meaning that they had special skills and experience in securing computer systems against harm, including the type of harm they themselves were committing against the victims in this case. After successfully extorting one victim for approximately $1.2 million in Bitcoin, the men split their 80% share of this ransom three ways and laundered the funds through various means. According to court documents, ALPHV BlackCat targeted the computer networks of more than 1,000 victims around the world. The group used a ransomware-as-a-service model in which developers were responsible for creating and updating ransomware and for maintaining the illicit internet infrastructure. Affiliates were responsible for identifying and attacking high-value victim institutions with the ransomware. After a victim paid, developers and affiliates shared the ransom. Today’s announcement follows the Justice Department’s prior actions in December 2023 to disrupt ALPHV BlackCat ransomware, in which the FBI developed a decryption tool that allowed FBI field offices across the country and law enforcement partners around the world to offer hundreds of victims the capability of restoring their systems, saving victims approximately $99 million in ransom payments. At that time, the FBI also seized several websites operated by ALPHV BlackCat. Goldberg and Martin each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct, delay or affect commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce by extortion in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a). The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2026, and face a maximum penalty of 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 Miami Field Office is leading the investigation, with assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service. Trial Attorneys Christen Gallagher and Jorge Gonzalez of the Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Haggerty and Quinshawna Landon for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. Significant assistance in this investigation was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul B. Morris for the Eastern District of Texas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W.A. Peach for the Middle District of Georgia. Additional assistance was provided by the Policía de Investigación of the Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México. Private sector organizations can report any suspicious activities and threats to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), visiting www.tips.fbi.gov or contacting their local FBI field office. If you are a victim of ransomware, contact your local FBI field office or file a report at ic3.gov. If you have information about ALPHV BlackCat, their affiliates or activities, you may be eligible for a reward through the Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program. Information can be submitted through the following Tor-based tip line (Tor browser required): he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.mdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.mdfl.uscourts.gov , under case number 25-cr-20443. ###