title: U.S. Soldier Charged With Using Classified Information To Profit From Prediction Market Bets

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Attorney General for the United States, Todd Blanche, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Kash Patel, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging GANNON KEN VAN DYKE, a U.S. Army Soldier, with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction. The charges arise from an alleged scheme in which VAN DYKE used sensitive classified information to make wagers on Polymarket, a prediction marketplace. As alleged in the Indictment, VAN DYKE participated in the planning and execution of the U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, called “Operation Absolute Resolve,” and VAN DYKE used his access to classified information about that operation to personally profit. VAN DYKE will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian S. Meyers in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett in the Southern District of New York. “Prediction markets are not a haven for using misappropriated confidential or classified information for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The defendant allegedly violated the trust placed in him by the United States Government by using classified information about a sensitive military operation to place bets on the timing and outcome of that very operation, all to turn a profit. That is clear insider trading and is illegal under federal law. Those entrusted to safeguard our nation’s secrets have a duty to protect them and our armed service members, and not to use that information for personal financial gain. Our Office will continue to hold accountable those who misuse confidential or classified information in a way that undermines and exploits our national security.” “Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible, and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Widespread access to prediction markets is a relatively new phenomenon, but federal laws protecting national security information fully apply.” “Today’s announcement makes clear no one is above the law, and this FBI will do whatever it takes to defend the homeland and safeguard our nation’s secrets,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Any clearance holders thinking of cashing in their access and knowledge for personal gain will be held accountable.” “Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly betrayed his fellow soldiers by utilizing classified information for his own financial gain,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Van Dyke profited more than $400,000 by trading various outcomes related to Venezuela after learning of the operation because of his role as a U.S. Army soldier. The FBI will continue to investigate threats to our nation's security especially from those entrusted to safeguard sensitive classified information and military operations.” As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: [1] VAN DYKE has been an active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Bragg, a military base located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In connection with his work, VAN DYKE signed nondisclosure agreements in which he promised to “never divulge, publish, or reveal by writing, words, conduct, or otherwise . . . any classified or sensitive information” relating to military operations. Starting around December 8, 2025, and continuing through at least January 6, 2026, VAN DYKE was involved in the planning and execution of Operation Absolute Resolve, a military operation to capture Maduro, and had access to sensitive, nonpublic, classified information about that operation. In 2025, Polymarket, a prediction marketplace operated by Blockratize, Inc., began offering binary event contracts related to whether certain events involving Venezuela and/or Maduro would, or would not, occur. Those event contracts included the future likelihood of “US forces in Venezuela by” certain dates, the future likelihood of Maduro being “out” of or removed from power by certain dates, the future likelihood of the U.S. invading Venezuela by on or before January 31, 2026, and the future likelihood of President Trump “invokeing War Powers against Venezuela” by a certain date. As alleged, on or about December 26, 2025, VAN DYKE created a Polymarket account, funded it, and began trading on Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets. In total, VAN DYKE made approximately 13 bets from December 27, 2025, through the evening of January 2, 2026. Those bets all took the “YES” position on “U.S. Forces in Venezuela . . . by January 31, 2026”; “Maduro out by . . . January 31, 2026”; “Will the U.S. invade Venezuela by . . . January 31,”; or “Trump invokes War Powers against Venezuela by . . . January 31.” VAN DYKE bet a total of approximately $33,034 on those outcomes while in possession of classified nonpublic information about Operation Absolute Resolve. In the predawn hours of January 3, 2026, U.S. special forces apprehended Maduro and his wife at a residence in Caracas, Venezuela, and hours later the President of the United States announced the successful operation. Following the President’s public announcement, Polymarket resolved several Maduro- and Venezuela-related contracts to “YES,” including the markets “Maduro out by . . . January 31, 2026,” and “US forces in Venezuela by . . . January 31, 2026.” As a result, VAN DYKE won his wagers on those contracts. In total, VAN DYKE allegedly profited approximately $409,881. Following his successful trading relating to Maduro- and Venezuela-related contracts, VAN DYKE allegedly sent most of his proceeds to a foreign cryptocurrency vault before depositing them into a newly created online brokerage account. The same day of the operation, VAN DYKE withdrew the majority of his allegedly unlawful proceeds from his Polymarket account. Shortly after the announcement of Operation Absolute Resolve, reports of unusual trading in Maduro-related contracts on Polymarket appeared in the press and on social media. VAN DYKE then took steps to conceal his identity as the trader in the Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets. On or about January 6, 2026, for example, VAN DYKE asked Polymarket to delete his Polymarket account, falsely claiming that he had lost access to the email address to which the account had been associated. That same day, VAN DYKE changed the email registered to his cryptocurrency exchange account to an email address that was not subscribed to in his name, and which he had created on or about December 14, 2025. * * * VAN DYKE, 38, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is charged with three counts of violating the Commodity Exchange Act, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of an unlawful monetary transaction, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Clayton also thanked the United States Department of War, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Mr. Clayton also acknowledged Polymarket’s cooperation in this investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force and National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas W. Chiuchiolo, Ryan B. Finkel, and Juliana N. Murray are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Acting Deputy Chief Tanner Kroeger and Trial Attorney Eli Ross of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence & Export Control Section. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Billings man sentenced to over 13 years in prison for trafficking methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings man who distributed significant amounts of methamphetamine was sentenced today to 168 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. Vincent Lee Bell, 33, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that in August of 2025, law enforcement learned from a confidential source that Bell was distributing pound quantities of methamphetamine in Billings. On August 28, 2024, utilizing a confidential source, law enforcement arranged a purchase of methamphetamine from Bell. Bell sold the confidential source 154.1 grams of actual methamphetamine. On September 20, 2024, law enforcement conducted a second controlled purchase using a confidential source. Bell sold the source 102.3 grams of actual methamphetamine. After his arrest, law enforcement searched Bell’s vehicle and seized an additional 582.4 grams of actual methamphetamine. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The DEA and Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Browning man sentenced to over 15 years in prison for multiple assaults

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Browning man who over a three-year period separately assaulted 2 different individuals and sexually abused a woman was sentenced today to 188 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. A jury found Kevin James Trombley, 28, guilty of one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in October 2025. A separate jury found him guilty of one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence in March 2026. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The government alleged in court documents and at trial in October 2025 that in June 2022, Trombley and Jane Doe were both at a house party outside Browning at the home of mutual family members. Late that night as the rest of the house slept, and while Doe was trying to make her way to bed, she encountered Trombley in the kitchen. There, he used force against Doe, pushed her into the bathroom, and engaged in non-consensual sex. Doe escaped the bathroom and immediately reported the assault. Law enforcement officers responded to the scene and interviewed Trombley. He denied having any contact with Jane Doe, then recanted and admitted being in the bathroom with her but only for a moment. He denied having any sexual contact with her. In July 2023, Jane Doe’s father saw Trombley at a rodeo in Browning, Montana. He approached him and told him something to the effect that he was going to prison for what he did. Trombley assaulted Jane Doe’s father, hitting him so hard he sustained a head injury and required a medical procedure to repair the injuries to his face. The government alleged in court documents and at trial in March 2026 that John Doe was drinking with friends and family in the late hours of March 22, 2024, and early hours of March 23. Early in the morning on March 23, Trombley and some friends entered the same residence without permission. Once inside, a fight broke out between Doe, Trombley, and others. After the fight caused damage, the homeowner ordered everyone to leave and grabbed a pellet gun to make her point. The fight migrated outside into the driveway that abuts the house. Trombley retreated to his truck that was parked on the street. Doe, meanwhile, stood in the driveway. According to witnesses, Doe was unarmed and had his hands up, saying something to the effect of, “What are we going to do?” At that point, Trombley—who was seated in the driver’s seat of his truck—leaned across the passenger seat and fired a gun through the truck’s window. The shot hit Doe in the abdomen, and he fell to the ground. Trombley fled in his truck. Doe was taken to Blackfeet Community Hospital before he was transferred to Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, where he underwent surgery for injuries to his internal organs. Law enforcement spoke with several witnesses who identified Trombley as the shooter. Law enforcement went to a residence in search of Trombley. They found him sleeping in a back bedroom, and they found a Smith & Wesson 40 caliber pistol—later confirmed to have been purchased by Trombley—between the box spring and the mattress on which he slept. When Trombley’s truck was later searched, officers found a spent shell casing on the passenger side floorboard. When law enforcement interviewed Trombley, he did not deny being at the party but denied knowing how Doe was shot. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the cases. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Jury Convicts Mexican National of Federal Immigration Violation

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An illegal alien has been convicted of illegally reentering the United States. According to evidence introduced at trial, Jaime Cruz-Hernandez, 37, was stopped and arrested on Jan. 6, 2026, by the Grandview, Mo. Police Department for driving while intoxicated. It was then determined that Cruz-Hernandez is a citizen of Mexico and in the United States illegally, after having been previously deported to Mexico in 2019. Under federal statutes, Cruz-Hernandez is subject to a sentence of up to two years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., deliberated for about 90 minutes before returning a guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark, ending a trial that began on April 22, 2026. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Viet Le. It was investigated by Grandview, Missouri Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Homeland Security Investigation. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department announced today the unsealing of an indictment charging Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a U.S. Army soldier, with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction. The charges arise from an alleged scheme in which Van Dyke used sensitive classified information to make wagers on Polymarket, a prediction marketplace. As alleged in the indictment, Van Dyke participated in the planning and execution of the U.S. military operation to capture Nicolás Maduro, called “Operation Absolute Resolve,” and Van Dyke used his access to classified information about that operation to personally profit. Van Dyke will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian S. Meyers in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Margaret M. Garnett in the Southern District of New York. “Our men and women in uniform are trusted with classified information in order to accomplish their mission as safely and effectively as possible, and are prohibited from using this highly sensitive information for personal financial gain,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Widespread access to prediction markets is a relatively new phenomenon, but federal laws protecting national security information fully apply.” “Today’s announcement makes clear no one is above the law, and this FBI will do whatever it takes to defend the homeland and safeguard our nation’s secrets,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Any clearance holders thinking of cashing in their access and knowledge for personal gain will be held accountable.” “Prediction markets are not a haven for using misappropriated confidential or classified information for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. “The defendant allegedly violated the trust placed in him by the United States Government by using classified information about a sensitive military operation to place bets on the timing and outcome of that very operation, all to turn a profit. That is clear insider trading and is illegal under federal law. Those entrusted to safeguard our nation’s secrets have a duty to protect them and our armed service members, and not to use that information for personal financial gain. Our Office will continue to hold accountable those who misuse confidential or classified information in a way that undermines and exploits our national security.” “Gannon Ken Van Dyke allegedly betrayed his fellow soldiers by utilizing classified information for his own financial gain,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle Jr. “Van Dyke profited more than $400,000 by trading various outcomes related to Venezuela after learning of the operation because of his role as a U.S. Army soldier. The FBI will continue to investigate threats to our nation's security especially from those entrusted to safeguard sensitive classified information and military operations.” As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court, Van Dyke has been an active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Bragg, a military base located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In connection with his work, Van Dyke signed nondisclosure agreements in which he promised to “never divulge, publish, or reveal by writing, words, conduct, or otherwise . . . any classified or sensitive information” relating to military operations. Starting around Dec. 8, 2025, and continuing through at least Jan. 6, Van Dyke was involved in the planning and execution of Operation Absolute Resolve, a military operation to capture Maduro, and had access to sensitive, nonpublic, classified information about that operation. In 2025, Polymarket, a prediction marketplace operated by Blockratize Inc., began offering binary event contracts related to whether certain events involving Venezuela and/or Maduro would, or would not, occur. Those event contracts included the future likelihood of “US forces in Venezuela by” certain dates, the future likelihood of Maduro being “out” of or removed from power by certain dates, the future likelihood of the U.S. invading Venezuela by on or before Jan. 31, and the future likelihood of President Trump “invoking War Powers against Venezuela” by a certain date. As alleged, on or about Dec. 26, 2025, Van Dyke created a Polymarket account, funded it, and began trading on Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets. In total, Van Dyke made approximately 13 bets from Dec. 27, 2025, through the evening of Jan. 26. Those bets all took the “YES” position on “U.S. Forces in Venezuela . . . by January 31, 2026”; “Maduro out by . . . January 31, 2026”; “Will the U.S. invade Venezuela by . . . January 31,”; or “Trump invokes War Powers against Venezuela by . . . January 31.” Van Dyke bet a total of approximately $33,034 on those outcomes while in possession of classified nonpublic information about Operation Absolute Resolve. In the predawn hours of Jan. 3, the U.S. apprehended Maduro and his wife at a residence in Caracas, Venezuela, and hours later the President of the United States announced the successful operation. Following the President’s public announcement, Polymarket resolved several Maduro- and Venezuela-related contracts to “YES,” including the markets “Maduro out by . . . January 31, 2026,” and “US forces in Venezuela by . . . January 31, 2026.” As a result, Van Dyke won his wagers on those contracts. In total, Van Dyke allegedly profited approximately $409,881. Following his successful trading relating to Maduro- and Venezuela-related contracts, Van Dyke allegedly sent most of his proceeds to a foreign cryptocurrency vault before depositing them into a newly created online brokerage account. The same day of the operation, Van Dyke withdrew the majority of his allegedly unlawful proceeds from his Polymarket account. Shortly after the announcement of Operation Absolute Resolve, reports of unusual trading in Maduro-related contracts on Polymarket appeared in the press and on social media. Van Dyke then took steps to conceal his identity as the trader in the Maduro- and Venezuela-related markets. On or about January 6, 2026, for example, Van Dyke asked Polymarket to delete his Polymarket account, falsely claiming that he had lost access to the email address to which the account had been associated. That same day, Van Dyke changed the email registered to his cryptocurrency exchange account to an email address that was not subscribed to in his name, and which he had created on or about Dec. 14, 2025. Van Dyke, 38, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, is charged with three counts of violating the Commodity Exchange Act, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of an unlawful monetary transaction, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force and National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas W. Chiuchiolo, Ryan B. Finkel, and Juliana N. Murray for the Southern District of New York are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Acting Deputy Chief Tanner Kroeger and Trial Attorney Eli Ross of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence & Export Control Section.


title: Leader of Gun Dealing Ring Sentenced to over 17 Years in Prison for Selling More Than 500 Guns in California

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jerrell Lawson, 35, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to 17 years and five months in prison for his convictions for conspiracy to unlawfully deal in firearms, unlawfully dealing in firearms, transferring a firearm to an out-of-state resident, unlawful mailing of a firearm, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, between November 2019 and March 2022, Lawson arranged to buy more than 500 firearms in Georgia and ship them into California, where his sub-distributors sold them on the streets. In total, Lawson and his co-conspirators paid more than $300,000 to purchase those firearms. Lawson would broker firearms transactions in Georgia over the internet, and co-defendant Malek Williams, a Georgia resident with a license to carry a concealed firearm, would pick up firearms in person and mail the firearms to various locations in California at Lawson’s direction. Some of the firearms went to individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. Some of the guns were also particularly dangerous: machine guns and guns with “drums” designed to hold dozens of rounds of ammunition. The investigation began when a firearm used in a violent shooting in California was traced to Georgia, then to Lawson’s organization. Law enforcement learned Lawson and his co-conspirators used coded language to traffic firearms and moved money using a variety of financial institutions. During the investigation, interdicted packages destined for Lawson and other co-conspirators were found to contain firearms, ammunition, knives, and brass knuckles, among other things. In August 2023, a grand jury charged Lawson and nine co-defendants with various firearms offenses relating to this interstate firearm dealing ring. All of Lawson’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty and been sentenced. This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the San Francisco Bay Area/Sacramento Region Cross-Jurisdictional Firearms Trafficking Strike Force Initiative and a number of other state, local, and federal agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ross Pearson and Justin Lee are prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Sacramento is composed of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.


title: Tuolumne County Man Convicted for Receiving and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Following a three-day jury trial, Stephen Tyler Prock, 58, of Jamestown, was found guilty today of receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, as well as testimony and evidence presented at trial, between May 2018 and March 2020, Prock used his desktop computer to receive and distribute over a hundred videos depicting children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Prock used the peer-to-peer file sharing network Shareaza to download and share the CSAM with others. Additional CSAM was in the process of being downloaded to Prock’s computer when agents arrived at his residence to execute a search warrant. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittany M. Gunter and Calvin Lee are prosecuting the case. Prock is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on July 27, 2026. Prock faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: Harvey Man Guilty of Coercing Three Minors into Sending Him Sexually Explicit Images and Distributing and Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – LANCE ROTOLO, JR. (“ROTOLO”) , age 20, a resident of Harvey, Louisiana, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, this investigation began when the Federal Bureau of Investigation learned of an online chat on a social media platform that an online covert employee had with an individual, subsequently determined to be ROTOLO . In the chat, ROTOLO sent images that appeared to constitute child sexual abuse material and made a series of concerning statements. Thereafter, agents executed a search warrant on ROTOLO’s residence. During the execution of the search warrant, agents seized numerous electronic items, including an iPhone belonging to ROTOLO . A subsequent forensic review of ROTOLO’s iPhone revealed that ROTOLO used the iPhone on multiple occasions between in or around December 2024 and in or around March 2025, to take approximately three (3) photos and two (2) videos of Victim 1, a minor female, while Victim 1 was unclothed in a bathroom. ROTOLO took the pictures surreptitiously, without Victim 1’s knowledge or authorization. The review of ROTOLO’s iPhone also determined that between January 2025 and February 2025, ROTOLO met Victim 2, a minor female, though a social media service. ROTOLO pretended to be a minor-aged male. During their correspondence, at ROTOLO’s request, ROTOLO and Victim 2 engaged in sexually explicit conduct via video calls. On numerous dates, ROTOLO demanded that Victim 2 engage and continue to engage in sexually explicit conduct while on video calls with him, at least some of which he recorded without Victim 2’s consent. When Victim 2 expressed reluctance and explained to ROTOLO that Victim 2 had previously been the victim of sexual assault, which ROTOLO was “making [] worse,” ROTOLO threatened Victim 2 by stating he would send sexually explicit photos and videos he had obtained of Victim 2 to Victim 2’s social media friends and contacts. ROTOLO’s iPhone also contained evidence that between December 2024 and January 2025, ROTOLO engaged in a similar extortionate scheme to obtain sexually explicit depictions of Victim 3, a minor female born in February 2010. Finally, ROTOLO’s iPhone revealed that ROTOLO knowingly used his cellular phone to search for, download, save, and distribute at least fifty (50) images and twenty-three (23) videos depicting the sexual victimization of children on numerous dates between November 2024 and April 2025. Some of the children depicted in the digital files were as young as approximately less than one (1) year old at the time the child sexual abuse material was created. ROTOLO faces a mandatory minimum of ten (10) years in prison and a maximum term of life imprisonment. ROTOLO further faces at least five years, and up to a lifetime, of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine. He may also be required to register as a sex offender. Sentencing before Judge Fallon has been scheduled for July 23, 2026, at 2:00 pm. 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to 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. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Criminal Division, is in charge of the prosecution. * * *


title: Homeland Security Task Force Investigation Leads to Lengthy Prison Sentences for Two Mexican Nationals Convicted of Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced that a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation has resulted in lengthy prison sentences for two Mexican nationals for trafficking illicit drugs into Charlotte and elsewhere. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that the defendants were members of a drug trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. Leonardo Sandoval-Ocampo, 26, of Mexico, who is illegally present in the United States, was sentenced to 150 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, and distribution of methamphetamine. Gerardo Agustin Salinas-Isais, 43, who was a non-citizen legally residing in the United States, was sentenced to 135 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Both defendants will also be removed from the United States after they complete their respective prison sentences. “We talk about cartels all the time – this case is an example of how real the threat is,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “This case shows that cartels like Sinaloa are in our communities. The Homeland Security Task Force is dedicated to the complete elimination of cartels like Sinaloa, and this case is an important step in achieving that goal. These defendants will now spend more than a decade in federal prison and then be removed from the country.” According to filed documents and court proceedings, from November 2022 through May 2023, Sandoval-Ocampo and Salinas-Isais were members of Mexico-based drug trafficking organization. During that time, Sandoval-Ocampo was a drug distributor for the organization, responsible for delivering multi-kilogram quantities of illicit drugs, including methamphetamine, for further distribution locally. Over the course of the investigation, Sandoval-Ocampo made or coordinated multiple drug deliveries to investigators working in an undercover capacity. Upon his arrest, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Sandoval-Ocampo’s residence in Lexington, N.C., where they seized methamphetamine, marijuana, and firearms, including a rifle and two semi-automatic pistols. The residence of an individual Sandoval-Ocampo directed to make deliveries was also searched, resulting in the seizure of 1.8 kilograms of pills pressed with fentanyl. Based on his part in the conspiracy, Sandoval-Ocampo was held accountable for more than four kilograms of methamphetamine. Salinas-Isais worked for the organization as a local distributor. In April 2023, Salinas-Isais distributed approximately 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine to an undercover agent. In May 2023, law enforcement stopped Salinas-Isais’s vehicle while he was traveling from Atlanta into Western North Carolina. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and found a bag containing nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine and 355 grams of cocaine that Salinas-Isais possessed with the intent to distribute to others. Sandoval-Ocampo and Salinas-Isais will remain in federal custody until they are transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. This was an investigation led by the HSTF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) is an initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF CORE 23 (Charlotte) is comprised of agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), United States Marshal Service (USMS), United States Customers and Border Protection (CBP), United States ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), the Naval Criminal investigative Service (NCIS), the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FIDC) Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), the North Carolina Insurance Bureau, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Raleigh Police Department, the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, the Cary Police Department, the Nash Count Sheriff’s Office, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, the Halifax County Sheriff’s office, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the Craven County Sheriff’s Office, the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, the Brunswick Count Sheriff’s Office, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office, the Wilmington Police Department, the Nags Head Police Department, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS), the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office, Cabarrus County Sheriff’s Office, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the Kannapolis Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, the Waxhaw Police Department, the Gaston County Police Department, the Gastonia Police Department, the Huntersville Police Department, the Cornelius Police Department, the Matthews Police Department, the Pineville Police Department, the Stallings Police Department, the Kings Mountain Police Department, the Greensville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), the Cherokee County Sheriff’s office, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) International Airport Police Department, the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the Anderson City Police Department, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston County Airport Police Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Summerville Police Department, the Greensboro Police Department, the Winston-Salem Police Department, the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, the Alamance County Sheriff’s office, the Davie County Sheriff’s Office, the Eden Police Department, the Piedmont Triad Internal Airport Police Department, the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Districts of North and South Carolina.


title: New Orleans Man Convicted of Drug Conspiracy and Federal Gun Charges

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – DESHAWN JONES (“JONES”), age 44, pleaded guilty on April 21, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), 841(b)(1)(C), and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8), announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, beginning at a time unknown but prior to December 27, 2021, and continuing to on or about November 25, 2024, JONES conspired with others to distribute fentanyl, crack, and cocaine in the Eastern District of Louisiana. On November 25, 2024, JONES possessed, with the intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl, 28 grams or more of a mixture containing crack, cocaine, and 2 guns, including a Smith and Wesson, Model 67, .38 special caliber revolver and a DPMS Panther Arms, Model A-15, .223 caliber semi-automatic pistol. As to the drug trafficking charges, JONES faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to 40 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least 4 years of supervised release. For the firearm charge, JONES faces a maximum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. As to each charge, JONES also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit is in charge of the prosecution. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). * * *


title: Healthcare Worker at Detention Facilities Pleads Guilty to Fraud

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Neery Velazquez admitted in federal court today that while he was a healthcare worker at U.S. Customs and Border Protection detention facilities in San Diego County, he submitted almost $250,000 in false travel claims for reimbursement. Velazquez, who worked for a government contractor, pleaded guilty to a single count of False Claim. He is scheduled to be sentenced before District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo on July 14, 2026. Contractor employees are eligible to request reimbursement of their lodging, meal and incidental expenses when they are on “Temporary Duty” (TDY) travel more than 50 miles from the employee’s permanent home. The defendant was hired in January 2020 to work as a “traveler” performing contracted services for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) away from his permanent home in Las Vegas. In 2021, however, the defendant moved his permanent home to San Diego, making him ineligible for reimbursement for travel expenses. According to his plea agreement, between 2021 and 2024, Velazquez submitted approximately 35 monthly travel claims to his employer and falsely attested that he was entitled to reimbursement of his lodging, meal, and incidental expenses because he was on TDY travel. Velazquez also admitted he submitted forged documents to inflate and support his purported monthly expenses. This included a forged month-to-month lease agreement with a fake landlord, along with a forged rental receipt signed by the fake landlord, to make it appear as if he was paying thousands of dollars more for rent of a supposed temporary home each month than he was actually paying for his permanent residence. In total, Velazquez submitted approximately $244,019.48 in false travel claims for reimbursement. CBP reimbursed approximately $181,082.85 of that amount before it discovered discrepancies in the submitted travel claims. This case stemmed from an investigation led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General and Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility, with assistance from CBP’s Office of Finance, Investment Analysis Office. The investigation revealed that nearly a third of the contractor’s 100 employees on TDY status in the San Diego area were committing some form of travel benefits fraud. Investigators determined that such employees had submitted more than $1.59 million in false travel claims to their employer for reimbursement, which CBP later reimbursed. CBP offset the loss by withholding funds payable to the contractor based on findings of false claims. The investigation and subsequent scrutiny also resulted in a reduction in travel claims submitted by the contractor to CBP. Notably, the submitted claims decreased from an average of $3.9 million per month in calendar year 2023 to $3.1 million per month in calendar year 2024, resulting in a cost avoidance of approximately $9.6 million. “Every dollar stolen through fraudulent travel claims is a dollar taken directly from the pockets of hardworking taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “We stand committed to preserving a government that stewards the public’s money wisely and protects it from wrongdoers.” “This guilty plea sends a strong message that those who attempt to defraud the government and American taxpayer will be identified and held accountable for their actions,” said Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “We appreciate the coordination with our law enforcement partners in their actions to exact justice for these crimes.” “This plea agreement highlights CBP OPR’s ongoing commitment to accountability and integrity, said Jeffrey Egerton, Acting Executive Director of the Investigative Operations Directorate, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility. “Today’s resolution reaffirms our duty to protect taxpayers and ensure those who misuse government funds are held accountable.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Swan. DEFENDANT Case Number 26-cr-1544-CAB Neery Velazquez Age: 31 San Diego, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES False Claim – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 287 Aiding and Abetting, Title 18, U.S.C. Section 2 Maximum penalties: Five years in prison and fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General Customs and Border Protection, Office of Professional Responsibility Customs and Border Protection, Office of Finance


title: Seminole County Resident Pleads Guilty To Money Laundering And Conspiracy To Commit Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rachel Leah Sitton, a/k/a Rachel L. Sitton, a/k/a Rachel Sitton, a/k/a Rachel Leah Chesser, a/k/a Rachel Chesser, age 42, of Konawa, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, punishable by a term of up to 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine, and one count of Money Laundering, punishable by a term of up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The Indictment alleged that from in or about January 2021, and continuing through in or about March 2021, Sitton agreed and conspired to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud and to obtain money and property by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, through wire communications in interstate commerce, certain signals and sounds for the purpose of executing a scheme and artifice to defraud Customers Bank and the Small Business Administration. The Indictment further alleged that on or about March 18, 2021, Sitton knowingly engaged in a monetary transaction in criminally derived property of a value greater than $10,000.00, that is a cashier’s check in the amount of $20,000.00 in U.S. currency, derived from the specified unlawful activity of Wire Fraud. The charges arose from an investigation by IRS-Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sitton is released on bond with conditions pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Okfuskee County Resident Sentenced For Accessory To Murder

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Sejaryee Lee Bear, age 42, of Okemah, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served in prison (147 days) for one count of Accessory After the Fact—Murder in Indian Country, to be followed by a term of two years of supervised release. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okemah Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. On August 12, 2025, Bear pleaded guilty in federal district court. According to investigators, on June 30, 2024, Bear helped Michael Wayne Lambert flee after Lambert shot and killed the victim at an Okemah apartment complex. In the hours after the murder, Bear turned off location services to her cell phone, deleted her location data, phone call records, and messages, and accompanied Lambert to the Bearden River Bridge on the North Canadian River, where Lambert discarded the murder weapon later recovered by investigators. On September 11, 2025, a federal jury convicted Lambert at trial. On April 2, 2026, Lambert was sentenced to a term of Life in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country, and a consecutive ten years for one count of Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. The crime occurred in Okfuskee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Senior Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lewis M. Reagan and Ryan Conway represented the United States.


title: Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Pleads Guilty To Deprivation Of Rights Under Color Of Law

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Joshua Gabriel Blake, age 31, of Cameron, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law, punishable by up to ten years in prison. The Information alleged that on January 28, 2025, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, Blake, while acting under color of law as an Oklahoma State Highway Patrol Trooper, and while using a dangerous weapon, kicked the victim in the head, thereby willfully depriving the victim of the right, secured and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States, to be free from unreasonable seizure, which includes the right to be free from the unreasonable use of force by a law enforcement officer. The charge arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. A U.S. District Court Judge will determine the sentence to be imposed after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Blake was released on bond with conditions pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: Eight Indicted for Illegal Gambling Business

body_text: FORT WAYNE – On April 23, 2026, a federal Grand Jury in Fort Wayne, Indiana, approved an indictment charging Rodney L. Naylor, Bruce Naylor, Chae David Naylor, Jawauna P. Davis-Parker, Michael L. Carter, Douglas W. McKinney, Christian R. Naylor, and Paul G. Rowan with conducting, financing, managing, supervising, directing, and owning an illegal gambling business in violation of Title 18, United States Code section 1955. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Indiana Gaming Commission, the Indiana State Police, and the Allen County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony Geller and Dawn Ransom.


title: Frankfort Man Convicted of Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: FRANKFORT, Ky.- A Frankfort man, Donald Demil Clay, 50, was convicted on Wednesday by a federal jury in Frankfort for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Clay was convicted of the charges following a two-day trial. According to testimony at trial, the investigation as to Clay began with numerous tips to law enforcement that Clay was renting a commercial property in Frankfort that he used to store and to distribute cocaine. After several months of surveillance, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant at the property used and maintained by Clay. Law enforcement seized approximately 4 ounces of cocaine that was concealed in a box affixed to a custom poker table. Clay was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in July 2014. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Colin Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Derrick Napier, Frankfort Police Department, jointly announced the conviction. The investigation was conducted by HSI, DEA, and the Frankfort Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury. Clay will appear for sentencing on July 9. He faces a maximum of 30 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence. — END —


title: Huntington Man Ordered to Pay $347,038.02 in Restitution For Tax Fraud

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: FORT WAYNE – Robert Elsten, 57 years old, of Huntington, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to Fraud and False Statements, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Elsten was sentenced to time served, followed by one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $347,038.02 in restitution. According to documents in the case, Robert Elsten owned and operated Global Paving, LLC, a family-owned asphalt paving company. Elsten’s customers routinely paid Elsten by check for paving work. Elsten would then deposit some of those checks into the business bank account. Other checks received by Elsten for paving work were cashed by Elsten at various check cashing facilities. Elsten then failed to report on his taxes all gross income earned from Global Paving, LLC. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery.


title: Pensacola Woman Indicted for Federal Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Dominique J. Stanberry, 33, of Pensacola, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging her with two counts of wire fraud involving Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program funds. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today. Stanberry appeared for her arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon, in Pensacola, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 18, 2026 at 8:30 am before United States District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell II. If convicted, Stanberry faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each count. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service-Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Alicia H. Forbes and Thomas S.P. Geeker are 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 Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The 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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Perry Man Indicted for Gun & Drug Crimes

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

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Deontae David Bernard Watkins, 43, of Perry, Florida, has been indicted in federal court for two counts of possession with intent to distribute multiple illegal drugs, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charge. Watkins appeared in federal court for his arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for June 2, 2026, at 8:30 am before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor in Tallahassee, Florida. Watkins faces a minimum mandatory prison sentence of 10 years’, and up to life, imprisonment on the drug possession counts, and a consecutive five years’ imprisonment for carrying a firearm during a drug-trafficking crime. He also faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon. The case is being jointly investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Perry Police Department, and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. 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 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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison For Drug Trafficking and Conspiracy

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Tiffani Danielle Harris, 35, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Methamphetamine is a scourge on our communities, but this defendant sought to profit off the deadly, destructive drug and will now spend years in federal prison. This successful prosecution is yet another win under Operation Take Back America , which was launched based upon the promise by President Donald J. Trump that we would devote the full might of the Department of Justice toward dismantling the drug trafficking schemes that have plagued our communities for far too long. The citizens of the Northern District of Florida deserve safe, drug-free streets, and that is exactly what my office will deliver with more successful prosecutions like this.” Court documents reflect that on February 6, 2025, a Pensacola Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by Matthew Murillo and Tiffani Harris. During the traffic stop, a narcotics K9 conducted a free air sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of contraband. The vehicle was searched and approximately 112 grams of methamphetamine was located, as well as a scale and other narcotics paraphernalia. Murillo’s and Harris’s phones were seized, and subsequent searches of each device uncovered multiple conversations between Harris and Murillo involving narcotics. The conversations showed Harris and Murillo worked together to buy and sell methamphetamine in the weeks leading up to their arrest. Murillo is scheduled for jury trial on July 20, 2026, in Pensacola, Florida. This case was a joint investigation by Pensacola Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher C. Patterson prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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 https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Little River Woman Pleads Guilty to Concealing the Laundering of Drug Proceeds

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. - Kayla Tisdale, 37, of Little River, has pleaded guilty to misprision of felony based on her concealment of a scheme to launder assets purchased with funds that she knew were derived from drug trafficking. Evidence presented during her change of plea hearing demonstrated that Tisdale was formerly in a relationship with a large-scale drug trafficker who distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine, among other drugs. She admitted to assisting her paramour in laundering at least $750,000 in assets that were illegally obtained using the proceeds from the drug trafficking business. She did so by depositing funds across different banks, trading cryptocurrency, and even purchasing gold bullion, all in an attempt to obscure the source of the funds. Much of this evidence was uncovered after Tisdale’s accomplice was arrested on drug trafficking charges. Agents obtained recorded jail calls during which the drug trafficker instructed Tisdale to hide certain assets to conceal them from authorities. Rather than notify authorities of the ongoing illegal conduct, she took steps to conceal the crimes. Tisdale faces a maximum penalty of three years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, potential restitution orders, and a year of court supervision to follow her term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Tisdale after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report that will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian is prosecuting the case. ###


title: York County Man Indicted for Child Pornography Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Christopher Vuiller, age 38, of York, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on child exploitation charges. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that between 2022 and 2025, Vuiller knowingly received dozens of images and videos containing the sexual exploitation of children. The indictment further alleges that Vuiller possessed several devices that contained child pornography depicting the exploitation of prepubescent children and children younger than 12 years of age. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen W. Dukes is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is 20 years of imprisonment, a mandatory minimum term of 5 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following the finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: International Car Theft Ring Busted

body_text: WASHINGTON - A 15-count indictment was unsealed today in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia and charges six individuals in connection with their roles in a conspiracy that allegedly stole at least 20 cars in the Washington metropolitan area and Pennsylvania, transported the vehicles across state lines, and sold the vehicles to buyers in the United States and the African nation of Ghana. Law enforcement is continuing to investigate the defendants involved in this ring in relation to the theft of more than 100 vehicles in the District of Columbia and more than 30 vehicles in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Officers also executed a search warrant yesterday at an automobile storage facility in Decatur, Georgia, which is suspected to be linked to the auto-theft ring. The indictment follows a year-long investigation into an alleged D.C.-based auto theft ring that carried out vehicle thefts using electronic devices that enabled the conspirators to reprogram cars to accept previously blank key fobs. Charged in the indictment are Jacob Hernandez, 29, of Los Angeles; Dustin Wetzel, 23, of Woodbridge, Virginia; James Young, 23, of Hyattsville, Maryland; Khobe David, 24, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; and Chance Clark, 25, of Waldorf, Maryland. One additional defendant remains at large and is considered a fugitive. The indictment against that defendant remains sealed. According to the allegations in the indictment, members of the conspiracy caused the vehicles – primarily recently manufactured Honda Civics and CRVs and Acura TLXs and RDXs – to be stolen and then transported them to storage locations that included a parking garage in Southeast Washington D.C. At the garage, co-conspirators allegedly disguised the appearances of the stolen cars by swapping license plates and obscuring Vehicle Identification Numbers. Before transporting the vehicles, the defendants disabled the stolen vehicles’ GPS and Bluetooth capabilities to inhibit detection. All six of the indicted individuals are charged with conspiracy to possess, sell, and transport stolen motor vehicles. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia’s Criminal Investigations Unit, and the FBI Washington Field Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the Prince George’s County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Green and Michael Lee and Trial Attorney Haley Pennington are prosecuting the matter. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. Car transporter in Maryland loaded with several of the recovered vehicles. Vehicle thefts were carried out using On-Board Diagnostics II devices that enable them to reprogram cars to accept previously blank key fobs. The above OBD2 device was recovered from a stolen vehicle in Pennsylvania in February 2025. Stolen cars linked to the ring on shipping containers in Baltimore destined for Ghana. 26cr85


title: Pocatello Man Sentenced to 11 years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Pornography


title: Mexican illegal alien faces federal charges for trafficking methamphetamine

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Edgar Zamarron-Cobos, an illegal alien from Mexico, faces federal charges after law enforcement seized over 130 pounds of methamphetamine from his vehicle. Zamarron-Cobos was arrested after he fled from troopers and crashed into innocent motorists at a DeKalb County intersection. “This defendant, who is illegally in our country, allegedly sought to traffic over 130 pounds of deadly methamphetamine and purportedly injured innocent bystanders as he tried to flee from law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to hold drug traffickers accountable in federal court – where there is no opportunity for parole – in order to keep our communities safe.” “Fleeing from law enforcement with a large quantity of methamphetamine is a blatant disregard for public safety,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The actions in this case endangered motorists and bystanders alike. We remain committed to holding individuals accountable and protecting the communities we serve.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: On April 15, 2026, as part of an ongoing investigation, DEA agents observed an individual allegedly place three large black trash bags into the rear cargo area of a Jeep at a fast-food restaurant in Decatur, Georgia. Zamarron-Cobos exited the restaurant and drove away in the Jeep. Shortly thereafter, the Georgia State Patrol attempted to stop the Jeep. However, Zamarron-Cobos fled from law enforcement, drove in opposing lanes of traffic, and ultimately wrecked the Jeep at the intersection of Covington Highway and I-285, after striking several occupied vehicles and causing injuries to the occupants. During a search of the Jeep, law enforcement located approximately 130 pounds of methamphetamine in the three large black trash bags. The investigation further revealed that Zamarron-Cobos is a citizen of Mexico who is illegally present in the United States. On April 17, 2026, Edgar Zamarron-Cobos, 30, from Mexico, was named in a criminal complaint charging him with possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Zamarron-Cobos is currently in the custody of the DeKalb County Jail but is expected to appear in federal court before the end of this week. Members of the public are reminded that the complaint only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonell L. Lucca is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Jury Convicts Honduran Citizen of Illegally Reentering the United States

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An illegal alien was found guilty by a federal trial jury for illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported. Orlin Rafael Cerrato-Avilez, 32, was found guilty of one count of illegal reentry of a removed alien. On March 4, 2026, officers with the Independence, Missouri Police Department arrested Cerrato-Avilez for giving false information during a traffic stop when he would not provide complete information about his date of birth. After using fingerprints to confirm Cerrato-Avilez’s identity, officers learned he had previously been removed from the United States. The Independence Police Department contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, (“ICE-ERO”) who took custody of Cerrato-Avilez. In conjunction with ICE - Homeland Security Investigations (“ICE-HSI”), it was determined that Cerrato-Avilez had illegally entered the United States in April of 2013 and was removed to Honduras later that same month. Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., returned a guilty verdict to U.S. District Judge Greg Kays, ending a trial that began Monday, April 20, 2026. Under federal statutes, Cerrato-Avilez is facing up to two years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Nichols and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by ICE-HSI, ICE-ERO, and the Independence, Missouri Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Seven Individuals Sentenced In Central Florida Gun Trafficking Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Seven members of a gun trafficking scheme have been sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Roy. B. Dalton. Six of the individuals pleaded guilty. Jincheng Shi was convicted by a jury. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. The convictions and sentences are listed below: Name (Age, City of Residence) Convictions Sentence Date Sentence Imposed Victor Manuel LaFontaine Ruiz (32, Poinciana) Gun trafficking conspiracy Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence 2/6/2026 17 years, 4 months Jose Emanuel Maldonado Rodriguez (33, Kissimmee) Gun trafficking conspiracy Possession of machinegun 1/21/2026 5 years, 6 months Freddie Geovani Cruz Batiz (37, Kissimmee) Gun trafficking conspiracy Possession of machinegun 10/28/2025 7 years, 3 months Jomar Manuel Lopez Montanez (31, Kissimmee) Gun trafficking conspiracy Felon in possession of a firearm 8/11/2025 7 years, 8 months Derrick Yamil Rivera Robles (30, Kissimmee) Gun trafficking conspiracy Unlicensed gun dealing, aiding and abetting Possession of machinegun 12/4/2025 3 years, 10 months Leonardo David Joseph Guerra (24, Orlando) Gun trafficking conspiracy Possession of a firearm by an illegal alien 2/23/2026 4 years Jincheng Shi (28, St. Cloud), Unlicensed gun dealing, aiding and abetting Possession of a firearm as an alien admitted under a non-immigrant visa 4/21/2026 7 years According to court documents, from at least as early as September 2023 onward, Lafontaine and Maldonado operated a gun trafficking ring involving hundreds of firearms, machineguns, machinegun conversion devices, and high-capacity magazines needed for fully automatic weapons. This operation did not involve any federally licensed firearms dealers. Instead, Lafontaine and Maldonado obtained firearms parts, including from Shi, a Chinese national who was admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa in 2022, which places him in a prohibited class of persons not legally allowed to possess firearms. Lafontaine and Maldonado assembled, manufactured, and modified semi-automatic and automatic firearms using a “ghost gunner” machine and specialized “endmill” drilling devices at a workspace on Maldonado’s property in Kissimmee: From there, Lafontaine and Maldonado, along with assistance from Batiz, sold firearms, including fully automatic weapons and machinegun conversion devices (“chips” or “buttons”) that are used to convert semi-automatic weapons into machineguns. They sold those items to illegal aliens and convicted felons such as Lopez Montanez, Rivera Robles, and Joseph Guerra, who were often brokered such transactions on behalf of other unknown customers. On February 7, 2025, Lafontaine sold Lopez Montanez (a convicted felon) two firearms falsely branded to appear as though they were legitimate firearms manufactured with engraved fake sequential serial numbers. When Lopez Montanez was stopped by law enforcement, he fled and attempted to hide the weapons that were eventually recovered. The next day, Lafontaine delivered five similar firearms to Maldonado. On February 20, 2025, law enforcement executed five search warrants at various locations associated with this conspiracy. Federal agents recovered five AR-style pistols with sequential and identical serial numbers at Maldonado’s residence (depicted below), along with at least three machinegun conversion devices, machinery used to assemble, modify, and manufacture the firearms and machine guns sold through this operation. At Lafontaine’s residence, agents recovered a completed rifle, gun parts, gun manufacturing and modification equipment, and drug distribution paraphernalia with a blender and fentanyl, packaged for sale. At Batiz’s residence, agents recovered a handgun and an AR pistol, four machinegun conversion devices, along with drug paraphernalia. At Shi’s residence and storage facility, eight handguns, three rifles, and eight AR-style receivers were recovered, as depicted below. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orlando Police Department, the Winter Garden Police Department, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Apopka Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael Felicetta and Dana Hill. 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: Danbury Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Cocaine Through the Mail from Puerto Rico

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that ROMAN SANTIAGO JR., 42, of Danbury, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to a cocaine trafficking offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, from September 2024 to February 2025, Santiago engaged in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy that involved the shipment of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Connecticut through the U.S. Mail. During the investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service intercepted multiple packages that were mailed from Puerto Rico to various addresses in Connecticut. Each package was intended for Santiago and contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine. Santiago was arrested on February 12, 2025. At time of his arrest, a search of residence revealed a package of cocaine that had been mailed from Puerto Rico, and additional quantities of cocaine and fentanyl. In total, investigators seized more than 11 kilograms of cocaine during the investigation. Santiago pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. He is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing, which is scheduled for July 23. This matter has been investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Narcotics and Bulk Cash Trafficking Task Force, which includes members from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service – Office of the Inspector General, the Connecticut State Police, the Hartford Police Department, and the Plainville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathan Guevremont and Christopher Lembo. 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: Florida Man Arrested For 1993 Execution-Style Murders Of Husband And Wife In The Bronx

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Michael Alfonso, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today the arrest of WILLIAM ANTONIO SOLIS, a/k/a “Vegano,” a/k/a “La Vega,” in connection with the June 21, 1993, execution-style murders of Luis Guerrero and his wife, Danis Sime, in the Bronx. SOLIS was arrested earlier today in Tampa, Florida, by HSI agents and is expected to be presented later this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsay Saxe Griffin in the Middle District of Florida. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain. “For more than 30 years, this Bronx double murder has haunted a family and the people of New York,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “That ends today. This Office always will pursue perpetrators of violence, and time is no bar to our investigation and prosecution of these horrific crimes. We will always pursue justice for victims in New York and elsewhere.” “The defendant in this case allegedly executed two New Yorkers in cold blood over 30 years ago, right in front of their three-year-old child,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “Today’s indictment sends a clear message: the NYPD will always work to make sure criminals are held accountable, no matter how long it takes or how far they may run. This long-term investigation underscores the tireless efforts of our NYPD investigators, in collaboration with our partners at HSI, who were undeterred in solving these brutal murders. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for its partnership in bringing these charges.” “As alleged, William Solis spent decades hiding in plain sight more than a thousand miles from where he viciously murdered the Guerreros in front of their young child,” said HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso. “This arrest is the result of years of meticulous investigative work by dedicated special agents and task force officers who refused to let this case go cold. Regardless of the time that has passed or the distance traveled, HSI New York, together with the Southern District of New York and the NYPD, will stop at nothing to ensure those responsible for senseless violence face justice on behalf of New Yorkers.” As alleged in the Indictment, other documents filed in federal court, and statements made in public court proceedings: [1] On or about June 21, 1993, SOLIS and two co-conspirators participated in the planned robbery of Guerrero, a narcotics supplier, at an apartment in the Bronx. During the course of that robbery, SOLIS and his co-conspirators restrained Guerrero, took his drugs, then lured his wife, Danis Sime, into the apartment, where she too was overpowered and bound. SOLIS then executed both victims by shooting them in the head. The murders were carried out in the presence of the victims’ three-year-old child. * * * SOLIS, 62, of Tampa, Florida, is charged with intentional killing while engaged in a narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison or death. The minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI’s Violent Gang Task Force, the NYPD, and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Clayton also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, HSI Tampa and the Tampa Police Department for their assistance in this investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile and Joseph H. Rosenberg are in charge of the prosecution. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Brevard County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Nico Jonte Lennear (35, Rockledge) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Julie S. Sneed to 15 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Lennear pleaded guilty on December 10, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, law enforcement used a confidential source to conduct two controlled purchases of drugs from Lennear in Melbourne, Florida, each of which involved 4 ounces of methamphetamine and 1 ounce of fentanyl. At the time of Lennear’s arrest, Lennear had over 80 grams of additional methamphetamine in his rental vehicle. In total, Lennear was responsible for over 300 grams of methamphetamine and over 50 grams of fentanyl mixtures. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.


title: Israeli man pleads guilty to bringing an alien to the U.S.

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Israel Enden, 46, a citizen of Israel, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to bringing an alien to the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000. According to the plea agreement, Enden is a dual citizen, he was born in the United States and physically resides in the State of Israel. In the early morning hours of January 8, 2026, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers encountered Enden driving a vehicle bearing Canadian license plates at primary inspection at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry. Enden was referred to for secondary inspection after failing to produce any rental agreement for the vehicle. During secondary inspection, officers opened the rear hatch of the vehicle and observed a large male, later identified as Elazar Wigdorowitz, hiding beneath some suitcases. Subsequent investigation determined that Enden, Wigdorowitz, and a third person flew from Warsaw, Poland to Toronto, Canada together the previous day on January 7, 2026. When Enden drove the rental from Canada to the United States, he knew Elazar Wigdorowitz was an alien and had not received prior official authorization to enter the United States. Elazar Wigdorowitz was previously convicted of improper entry by an alien, sentenced to time served and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan W. Fitzgerald and Maeve E. Huggins. The plea is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan. Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Vilardo. # # # #


title: “F.R.A.U.D. is dope” podcaster sentenced to federal prison again

body_text: ATLANTA – Multi-convicted fraudster Jonathan Dupiton has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for using stolen identities to obtain millions of dollars in unemployment insurance benefits. “During the pandemic, while citizens were struggling with job loss and trying to make ends meet, Dupiton stole unemployment benefits by submitting false applications using hundreds of stolen identities,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “His sentence underscores that anyone who seeks to exploit taxpayer-funded programs will be aggressively prosecuted and face substantial prison time.” “Jonathan Dupiton orchestrated a brazen scheme to steal millions in unemployment benefits using the stolen identities of innocent victims, all while already serving a sentence for fraud,” said Marlo Graham, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “At a time when Americans were facing unprecedented financial hardship, he chose to exploit a critical safety net for personal gain. The FBI remains committed to identifying and holding accountable those who abuse public assistance programs and undermine trust in systems designed to help those in need.” “Jonathan Dupiton stole identities and filed hundreds of fraudulent claims to steal nearly $3 million in unemployment benefits meant for struggling Americans, said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. His sentencing sends a strong message: if you exploit federal programs and steal from taxpayers, my office will relentlessly pursue you. We work hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners and have zero tolerance for fraud. We will find you, and we will hold you accountable.” “Dupiton’s fraud stole critical unemployment benefits from Americans who needed them most,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Maisha Horton, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS CI special agents remain vigilant in protecting taxpayer dollars and will continue to hold accountable those who exploit public programs for personal gain.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2020, while completing a federal sentence at a halfway house for a previous fraud conviction that targeted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Jonathan Dupiton, a podcaster, organized a multi-million dollar fraud scheme that targeted California’s Unemployment Insurance (“UI”) benefits program. The scheme began at least by July 2020 and continued into early 2021. The UI program was a joint state and federal program that provided temporary financial assistance to lawful workers who were unemployed through no fault of their own. Beginning in or about March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, several federal programs expanded UI eligibility and increased UI benefits, including the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, and the Lost Wages Assistance Program. In California, the Employment Development Department (“CA-EDD”), based in Sacramento, California, administered the UI program. Dupiton, whose motto was “F.R.A.U.D. is Dope” (acronym for “Finally Rich After Unstoppable Determination”), obtained stolen identities of hundreds of unwitting individuals. He and his conspirators used this information to electronically submit false and fraudulent UI applications to the CA-EDD via the internet, using a virtual private network (“VPN”). The VPN helped encrypt data and masked the actual originating Internet Protocol address, thereby concealing the computer used to submit the fraudulent UI applications and delaying detection by law enforcement. After UI claims were approved, Dupiton and his conspirators updated the claimants’ information to add mailing addresses in the Northern District of Georgia, including Dupiton’s own address, for the delivery of debit cards containing the UI benefits. After the debit cards were received, Dupiton and others went to ATMs, mostly located in the metro-Atlanta area, and withdrew the fraudulently obtained funds. In total, the CA-EDD was duped into electronically transferring approximately $3,800,000 in UI benefits. Dupiton and his conspirators subsequently withdrew or otherwise spent more than $2 million of the fraudulently obtained funds. On April 14, 2026, U.S. District Judge Victoria M. Calvert sentenced Jonathan Dupiton, 36, of Atlanta, Georgia, to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Dupiton will be ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a future hearing. Dupiton pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft on January 13, 2026. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracia M. King prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .