title: Texas Man Charged with Providing Bomb Components and Funding to Individuals He Believed Were Involved with Foreign Terrorist Organization

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: An alleged ISIS sympathizer has been federally charged with an international terrorism offense after providing bomb components and money to individuals he believed were acting on behalf of a designated foreign terrorist organization. “This case is a testament to the incredible work of our federal agents, who work tirelessly to save American lives,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “ISIS’s poisonous ideology must be ripped out root and stem — anyone who tries to commit violence on ISIS’s behalf will be found, arrested, and prosecuted. You cannot hide from us.” “Today’s announcement underscores the FBI’s commitment to combatting terrorism and demonstrates our continuous work to disrupt and thwart terrorist plots against the American public,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Let this serve as a warning to those who plan to conduct attacks against the United States on behalf of terrorist organizations – you will be brought to justice.” “The increasing threats of harm and destruction in our country made by those aligned with violent ideologies must be stopped,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas. “An alleged ISIS sympathizer has been federally charged with an international terrorism. This operation is but one example highlighting the necessity of vigilant observation and swift action to halt what could have been a devastating outcome. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to take prompt action against those attempting to carry out alleged terrorist missions.” “The FBI worked alongside our law enforcement partners to quickly arrest an individual who intended to provide bomb making materials to a foreign terrorist organization,” said Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of FBI Dallas. “Protecting the Homeland is a top priority for the FBI. This arrest demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding our communities from terrorism.” “Today’s charges illustrate that the threats of terrorism and extremist violence against our nation are still very real,” said Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch of the New York Police Department (NYPD). “The NYPD remains committed to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling these networks at their source – before they can reach their murderous ends. And any person who puts American lives at risk will face justice and be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. I want to thank our undercover investigators in the NYPD, as well as our law enforcement partners in the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, for their exceptional work on this case.” John Michael Garza, Jr., 21, of Midlothian, Texas, was charged last week by federal complaint with the offense of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization after he brought various bomb-making materials to a meeting on Monday evening, Dec. 22, and gave them to an individual he allegedly believed was an ISIS “brother.” In reality, Garza met with an undercover agent. During the meeting, Garza described how to mix the components and offered to send an instructional video explaining how to build the bomb. Law enforcement agents arrested Garza shortly after he left the meeting. According to the complaint, in mid-October 2025, an undercover New York City Police Department employee noticed a particular social media account — later determined to be Garza’s — that followed several other pro-ISIS accounts and wrote a comment on a pro-ISIS post. When the NYPD undercover engaged with Garza on social media, Garza described himself as a 21-year-old Mexican-American living in Texas. In their continuing conversations throughout November and December, Garza shared that he ascribed to the ISIS ideology and sent the undercover multiple official ISIS media releases. Garza paid the undercover small sums of cryptocurrency in November and December 2025, believing that he was supporting ISIS causes, including buying firearms and other materials. Examples of ISIS media releases that Garza provided included: Photo of masked individual and another man standing in a gated area Photo of explosion in part of a building Garza also allegedly shared a video depicting a suicide vehicle bombing. A screenshot of one bomb-making instructional video shared by Garza is below: Still photo taken from video depicting masked and gloved individual prepared to assemble materials As alleged, Garza began telling the undercover agent of his plans to buy materials to make explosives. Garza told him that he would buy the ingredients and agreed to meet with a second individual who Garza believed to support ISIS activities on Monday, Dec 22. At the meeting, Garza handed the FBI undercover several explosive components. As alleged, Garza explained how to mix the ingredients and surround them with nails, and he offered to send the undercover an instructional bomb-building video. Garza appeared before a United States magistrate judge for his initial appearance on Dec. 23. A probable cause and detention hearing is scheduled for Dec. 30. If convicted, Garza faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Dallas Field Office and the NYPD, with assistance by FBI’s New York Field Office, Dallas Police Department, Midlothian Police Department, and Euless Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Madeleine Case for the Northern District of Texas and DOJ Trial Attorney David Courchaine with the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.


title: District of Arizona Charges Over 10,000 Individuals for  Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct Since January 20, 2025

component: USAO - Arizona

number: 2025-180_10,000 Immigration Enforcement

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the weeks of enforcement operations from January 20, 2025, through December 26, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against more than 10,140 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 5,128 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 4,260 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 638 cases against 734 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border vigilance, and federal prosecutors also charged 17 defendants for assaults on federal officers related to immigration enforcement during this period. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “President Trump promised to secure our border, and the District of Arizona has delivered,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Thanks to the leadership of the President and Attorney General Bondi, law enforcement and federal prosecutors have been empowered to uphold the laws they swore to protect, including immigration laws. Through increased presence, a 97% prosecution rate, and commitments to real criminal penalties, fewer people are crossing the border illegally so fewer traffickers can exploit them. The District of Arizona has proven that the dedicated men and women of the DOJ will go as far as they must to secure our homeland.” Since March 7 th , the District of Arizona has released its weekly immigration prosecution numbers here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr . Please continue to follow our progress in strengthening our Border and upholding the Rule of Law. These cases were part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-180_10,000 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: David I. Courcelle Takes Oath of Office as The United States Attorney for The Eastern District of Louisiana

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle took the oath of office today at the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana before family, former colleagues, members of the judiciary and a host of well-wishers. Chief United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter Judge presided over the Oath of Office ceremony. On June 30, 2025, Mr. Courcelle was nominated by President Donald J. Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 18, 2025. As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Courcelle will serve as the chief federal law enforcement official for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The Eastern District of Louisiana consists of the following thirteen (13) parishes located in South Louisiana: Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne and Washington. He will lead a dedicated staff of prosecutors and support staff tasked with the mission of protecting and serving all residents of Southeast Louisiana through the enforcement of the laws of the United States. Over the course of his career, Mr. Courcelle practiced law for 30 years and has extensive experience in both criminal and civil law. Additionally, he has served as City Attorney for the City of Harahan, and as Parish Attorney for the Parish of Jefferson. Most recently, Mr. Courcelle managed the Law Office of David I. Courcelle, LLC in Metairie, Louisiana, handling criminal and civil matters, and represented the Parish of Jefferson. Mr. Courcelle is a proud graduate of De La Salle High School, University of New Orleans (UNO) and Loyola College of Law.


title: Repeatedly Convicted Felon Sentenced To Forty Years In Prison  And Fined $500,000 Following New Cocaine Conviction

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Following a trial in September 2025, a federal jury convicted an Arkansas man of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Nicholas Ferlando Haynie, 45, of Camden, Arkansas, was a member of a drug trafficking organization based in Mobile, Alabama. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) initiated an investigation into the drug distribution network of John David Clarke of Mobile, leading to a court-authorized wiretap on Clarke’s phone. During the monitoring of Clarke’s calls, agents identified Clarke’s drug supplier, who was charged as a co-defendant in the indictment. Substantial incriminating evidence was obtained from Clarke’s phone communications with his drug supplier who also lived in Mobile. Incriminating evidence was also obtained from several phones belonging to Clarke’s cocaine supplier, which identified several of his other drug distributers, including Haynie. The drug supplier routinely discussed drug amounts, prices and locations where the drugs were delivered for further distribution with his co-conspirator distributers. During the conspiracy, hundreds of kilograms of cocaine sourced from Mexico and through Texas were distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, and elsewhere. During the conspiracy, hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds were delivered from Mobile to drug suppliers up the chain of distribution in Texas. Evidence obtained from Haynie’s cell phones included pictures of him possessing firearms and posing with bulk cash drug proceeds. Eight guns were also seized from locations where co-conspirators lived in Mobile and Katy, Texas, along with hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Haynie had been previously convicted of multiple felonies, including the manufacture, delivery, and possession of a controlled substance and sexual abuse first degree in violation of Arkansas state law in 2000. Haynie had also been convicted in federal court in Arkansas for the distribution of crack cocaine in 2014. While in federal prison, Haynie was twice convicted of possessing a prohibited object (cell phone). Haynie was released from federal prison in 2021. United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed the sentence. On December 18, 2025, Haynie was sentenced to 40 years in prison, followed by an eight-year term of supervised release upon release from prison. Haynie was also ordered to pay a $500,000 fine and a $100 special assessment. As conditions of his supervision, Haynie will undergo testing and treatment for drug and/or alcohol abuse, will be subject to a search of his person and premises upon reasonable suspicion, and required to register as a sex offender. United States Attorney Sean P. Costello made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Mobile Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and multiple federal and local partners. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Kopf and Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. 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: Four Foreign Nationals Sentenced in December for Illegally Reentering the United States After Deportation

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that four foreign nationals convicted separately of illegally reentering the United States after prior deportations were sentenced this month. Juan Vargas Ramirez , aka Juan Vargas and Seferino Vargas-Ramirez, 30, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher to time served, approximately seven months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. The defendant had previously been removed from the U.S. five times after encounters with U.S. immigration authorities: once in March 2014, twice in January 2015, and twice in October 2016. In May of this year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) learned that Vargas Ramirez had illegally reentered the U.S. and took him into custody. He was charged by federal indictment with illegal reentry in June and pleaded guilty in August. Miguel Limon Ascencion , aka Miguel Limon, 42, a Mexican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Juan R. Sánchez to time served, approximately three months, plus seven days, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. The defendant had previously been removed from the U.S. in April 2018, after being encountered by the U.S. Border Patrol near Brownsville, Texas. ICE learned that Limon Ascension had been arrested in July of this year by the Norristown Police Department. He was charged by federal indictment with illegal reentry in September and pleaded guilty in October. Jenfry Then Regalado , 29, a Dominican national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Gerald A. McHugh to time served, approximately seven months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. The defendant had previously been removed from the U.S. in July 2016, after an encounter that March with the U.S. Border Patrol in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. ICE became aware that Then Regalado had illegally reentered the United States following his arrest by the Philadelphia Police Department on narcotics charges, to which he pleaded no contest in May of this year. In June, Then Regalado was charged by federal indictment with illegal reentry and pleaded guilty in September. Kevin Arley Rosas-Pabon , 27, a Colombian national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Timothy J. Savage to time served, approximately four months, for illegal reentry. Having completed his sentence, he will be removed from the United States again. The defendant had previously been removed from the U.S. in late 2021, following an encounter with the U.S. Border Patrol in Texas. In July of this year, ICE learned that he had reentered the U.S. illegally and frequented an address in Easton, Pa. Rosas-Pabon was taken into custody in August, charged by indictment with illegal reentry in October, and pleaded guilty the same month. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The cases were investigated by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Martin E. Howley Jr., Lindsey Mills, Maureen McCartney, and Rosalynda M. Michetti.


title: Rocky Mount Truck Driver Charged Federally After December 26th Bank Robbery and Shootout with Arresting Officers

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A United States Magistrate Judge signed a complaint on December 27, 2025, charging Willie Edward Mcgee, Jr. with bank robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. “As alleged, this defendant didn’t just rob a bank - he threatened innocent civilians with explosives and then opened fire on police officers,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “That is not desperation, it is domestic terror. Thanks to the extraordinary courage and professionalism of our law enforcement partners, he is alive, in custody, and facing decades in federal prison. Let this serve as a warning: if you bring violence into our communities or target the men and women who protect them, this Department of Justice will meet you with the full weight of the federal government and ensure you are removed from the streets for a very long time.” “When bad guys shoot at our law enforcement partners, we will aggressively pursue federal charges against them. Brave officers in Rocky Mount, and across the nation, regularly put their lives on the line to protect and serve,” said United States Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We honor them and will do everything we can to make sure that they go home to their families at the end of each shift. We intend to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt that this man robbed a bank and shot his gun during and related to that crime of violence. God bless the brave men and women who responded, and rest assured, the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina has your back.” "It is inexcusable for anyone to put the lives of the men and women in blue at risk. They selflessly protect our communities every day, so the rest of us are safe. FBI Charlotte commends the Rocky Mount Police Department for taking immediate action to make an arrest in this case. We also thank our partners at the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of North Carolina for quickly bringing federal charges,” said James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. According to the complaint, on December 26, 2025, Mcgee entered a First Citizens Bank in Zebulon and demanded that the bank teller give him money under the threat of exploding C-4. The teller gave Mcgee $3,234 in cash, and Mcgee fled the bank. Officers responded to the bank and began investigating the robbery. Surveillance footage depicted Mcgee leaving the scene of the robbery in a semi-truck. Later that day, Rocky Mount Police located the semi-truck in a Hobby Lobby parking lot in Rocky Mount. Police officers were surveilling the semi-truck when Mcgee exited the semi-truck armed with a Ruger AR 5.56 rifle. Mcgee immediately began firing at the officers. Officers returned fire and struck Mcgee. While taking Mcgee into custody, officers recovered the AR rifle he used to shoot at officers and a handgun from Mcgee’s waistband. As explained in the complaint, several items worn by or used by Mcgee during the robbery were later recovered from the semi-truck. Thankfully, no law enforcement officers or members of the public were injured during the arrest. Additionally, bomb technicians from the FBI and SBI rapidly responded, secured the scene, and ensured no explosive devices were present. The federal complaint charges Mcgee with armed bank robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison on the bank robbery charge and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, on the discharging a firearm charge. The FBI, ATF, NC SBI, Zebulon Police Department, and Rocky Mount Police Department are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aria Merle, Charles Loeser, and Tyler Lemons are prosecuting the case. This investigation is ongoing. If you have any information about the alleged crimes, please contact the FBI at (704) 672-6100. A complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Federal Inmate Serving Life Sentence Captured in Broward County After Escape from Georgia Jail

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A federal inmate serving a life sentence for carjacking, kidnapping, and robbing multiple victims has been captured in Broward County after escaping from the DeKalb County Jail in Georgia. Stevenson Charles, 24, had been in federal custody until Dec. 5, when he was transferred to Georgia state custody to await trial on charges related to a 2022 murder and armed robbery. During a routine security check Monday morning, authorities discovered that Charles, along with Yusuf Minor, 31, and Naod Yohannes, 25, were missing from the facility. “This was a dangerous, violent felon serving a life sentence who escaped custody, kidnapped an innocent victim, crossed state lines, and brought that threat into our community,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Law enforcement moved with speed, coordination, and resolve to hunt him down and take him off the streets. I’m proud of the U.S. Marshals, FBI, ATF, and our state and local partners who worked across jurisdictions to capture these fugitives, and of our prosecutors who are now ensuring they are held fully accountable.” According to court records, after escaping, Charles, Minor, and Yohannes allegedly used a rideshare service in Georgia and kidnapped the driver. After entering the vehicle, one of the defendants wrapped a rope around the victim’s neck from behind, and then the victim’s hands were bound together. The victim was then forced into the backseat. The defendants allegedly threatened the victim’s life and forced the victim to drive them into South Florida. Law enforcement later located Charles driving the victim’s vehicle. Charles led police on a pursuit before fleeing on foot. He was apprehended shortly thereafter. A firearm was recovered along the route of the pursuit. Minor and Yohannes were also apprehended late Monday night. Upon learning of the escape, federal authorities launched a coordinated, multi-agency effort to locate and apprehend the fugitives. The search spanned from DeKalb County, Georgia, across state lines into South Florida. Charles and Yohannes made their initial appearances in federal court in Fort Lauderdale on Dec. 23 on kidnapping charges. Minor is scheduled to make his initial appearance on Dec. 29. U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones; Acting U.S. Marshal Priscilla Perez-Lopez of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Miami; Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, made the announcement. USMS Miami, FBI Miami, and the ATF Miami Field Office are investigating the case. The investigation and apprehension were supported by the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the Miramar Police Department, and the City of Miami Police Department. Deputy Chief Elena Smukler-Dominguez assisted with the apprehension, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Maultasch is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Russ Ferguson To Lead U.S. Attorney's Office As Presidentially Appointed United States Attorney Following U.S. Senate Confirmation

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Russ Ferguson will lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office as the presidentially-appointed United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, following his confirmation by the United States Senate on December 18, 2025. Nominated by President Donald Trump, who formally signed his commission on December 23, 2025, U.S. Attorney Ferguson took the oath of office, administered by the Honorable Frank D. Whitney, Senior United States District Judge, on Christmas Eve. Mr. Ferguson was first appointed as interim United States Attorney by Attorney General Pamela Bondi on March 3, 2025, and sworn in on March 11, 2025. He was subsequently unanimously appointed to the position by all federal judges in this district effective June 30, 2025. He was then nominated by the President on July 30, 2025. “It is the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of the Western District of North Carolina as their U.S. Attorney,” said U.S. Attorney Ferguson. “We are a district that punches above our weight — and we will continue to deliver justice that is tough, fair, and focused on keeping our communities safe. I am grateful to the President for his trust and to the U.S. Senate for my confirmation. I will continue to approach this responsibility with integrity and accountability.” As the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Western District of North Carolina, U.S. Attorney Ferguson oversees federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation on behalf of the United States. He leads an office of nearly 100 federal prosecutors and professional staff serving 32 counties across western North Carolina, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians — the largest federally recognized tribe east of the Mississippi — and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the most-visited national park in the nation. Since taking office, U.S. Attorney Ferguson has: Increased prosecutions by implementing Operation Take Back America to dismantle gang and cartel networks operating in Western North Carolina and target drug-induced violence and large-scale drug trafficking networks. Strengthened partnerships with law enforcement to increase prosecutions of convicted felons in possession of illegal firearms, repeat offenders, and those drivers of violent crime. Expanded outreach to nonprofit organizations and community advocates to enhance crime prevention strategies, education, and engagement through partnerships in rural counties. Expanded protections for vulnerable populations by prioritizing cases involving older adults and children. Prioritized recouping public dollars and protecting government-funded programs from fraud through increased criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement actions. U.S. Attorney Ferguson brings more than 16 years of legal experience to the office. He began his career as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where he tried 28 cases to verdict, and served as Legislative Counsel for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Prior to returning to public service, he was a partner at Womble Bond Dickinson and led the firm’s complex litigation group, handling high-profile civil and criminal matters in courtrooms and arbitration tribunals around the world. He has been recognized for professional excellence and service by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, North Carolina Business Elite, and the Charlotte Business Journal’s Forty Under Forty Award. The Mecklenburg County Bar honored him with its award for Best Individual Attorney for his dedication to pro bono service. Ferguson has written and presented extensively on issues involving federal criminal practice and complex litigation. U.S. Attorney Ferguson has served the community by serving on the Board of NourishUp, Charlotte’s food pantry and meals on wheels organization, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to addressing hunger and supporting families in need. He also previously served on Keep Charlotte Beautiful, to which he was appointed by the City Council, and on the Mecklenburg County Bar’s Board of Directors. A Duke University graduate, Ferguson earned his law degree and Master of Laws from Georgetown University Law Center. He clerked for Judge Frank D. Whitney of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.


title: Chinese National Sentenced to Prison for Trafficking Reptiles

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A federal judge in Buffalo, New York, yesterday sentenced Wei Qiang Lin, of Brooklyn, New York, to two years in prison for falsely labeling live turtles, snakes, and lizards as toys prior to exporting them in delivery boxes destined to Hong Kong. Lin was also fined $2,339, which is how much U.S. currency he had on him when he was arrested. According to court filings, between August 2023 and November 2024, Lin exported to Hong Kong approximately 222 parcels containing around 850 turtles, but he labeled the boxes as containing “plastic animal toys,” among other things, in violation of the Lacey Act. The approximate market value of the turtles was $1.4 million. Law enforcement intercepted the turtles during customs inspections and observed them bound and taped inside knotted socks within the shipping boxes. Lin also attempted to export protected Abronia lizards and venomous green tree vipers and palm pit vipers. The wildlife is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officers also intercepted packages shipped by Lin that contained rare Cora mud turtles. The Buffalo Zoo used the seized turtles to set up the first-ever assurance colony for the species, which can be used to repopulate them if the wild population becomes unsustainable. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo for the Western District of New York, and Assistant Director Doug Ault, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement announced the sentence. Lin was investigated and charged as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Operation Terrapene, which is an ongoing operation coordinated with other federal and local law enforcement agencies to detect turtle smugglers and dismantle highly-organized syndicates. Federal agencies include Customs and Border Protection, Postal Inspections Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. Trial Attorney Rachel Roberts and Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango for the Western District of New York prosecuted the case.


title: Ayer Company Agrees to Pay Over $1.3 Million to Resolve Allegations of PPP Loan Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Ajinomoto Cambrooke, Inc. (Cambrooke), a company headquartered in Ayer, Mass., has agreed to pay $1,360,819.04 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan for which it was not eligible. Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) on March 29, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain approved expenses through the PPP, which the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) administered. The PPP provided for loans in two “draws”—first draw loans became available in March 2020. Businesses were required to certify on their loan applications that they met certain size standards based on, for example, the number of employees they employed. On May 5, 2020, the SBA issued guidance that, for purposes of assessing whether the borrower met the size standards for a first draw loan, an applicant must count all of its employees, as well as the employees of its U.S. and foreign affiliates, absent an exception. As detailed in the settlement agreement, Cambrooke admitted that, on or about May 15, 2020, it applied for a first draw PPP loan and certified that it was eligible to receive the loan under the PPP rules. When it applied, Cambrooke, together with its Japanese parent company, exceeded the applicable size standards for eligibility. Cambrooke later sought and received forgiveness from the SBA of the full amount of that loan. The settlement credits Cambrooke for cooperation under the Department of Justice’s Guidelines for Taking Voluntary Disclosure, Cooperation and Remediation into Account in False Claims Act Matters. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The relator will receive 10% of the settlement amount under today’s settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Verity Investigations, LLC v. Ajinomoto Cambrooke, Inc., No. 25-cv-10220-RGS (D. Mass.). U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and the U.S. Small Business Administration made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the case. cambrooke_settlement_agreement.pdf


title: Las Cruces Man Charged After School Shooting Threat Posted on Social Media

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Las Cruces man is facing federal charges after authorities investigated a social media post threatening to shoot up a school and recovered a loaded firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, on December 17, 2025, the FBI received an emergency disclosure from TikTok regarding a comment posted during a livestream threatening to “shoot up a school” and kill children. The threat was traced to a Las Cruces, New Mexico residence associated with Dion Lee Torres , 25, after investigators linked the TikTok account, Google account records, and IP address to him. Las Cruces Police Department officers responded to the residence and observed Torres actively smoking marijuana and learned he possessed a firearm. Based on the threat of imminent violence, officers obtained an Extreme Risk Firearms Protection Order and seized a loaded firearm, three fully loaded magazines, and ammunition including armor piercing rounds. Torres is charged with possession of a firearm by a person who is addicted to or an unlawful user of a controlled substance, and he will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. Torres faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the current charge. Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Dickens is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Justice Department Announces Completion of Civil Rights Reform Agreement with Orange County District Attorney

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – Today, the Justice Department announced the successful completion of the Justice Department’s January 14, 2025 Agreement for the Sustainability of Custodial Informant Reforms with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) in California. Under the Agreement, OCDA sustained reforms to its policies, training, information systems, and auditing procedures regarding the use of confidential informants. This agreement addressed the Justice Department’s findings that OCDA had used custodial informants to elicit incriminating statements from people who had been arrested and charged with a crime, in violation of the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution, and failing to disclose evidence about those custodial informants to criminal defendants, in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. “The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has implemented and sustained extensive reforms that demonstrate an enduring commitment to protecting the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendment rights of those in its jurisdiction,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We commend the District Attorney and his staff for their hard work that will ensure the integrity of criminal prosecutions in Orange County and public trust in the criminal justice system.” To read the original press release announcing the findings of the investigation, click here . To read the report of the investigation, click here . To read the OCDA Settlement Agreement, click here . Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt .


title: Federal Grand Jury Charges Four with Illegal Reentry in Northwestern Ohio

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: TOLEDO, Ohio – A federal grand jury returned indictments on Dec. 17 charging four individuals with illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8 U.S. Code 1326. They were found in the Northern District of Ohio without the consent of the U.S. Attorney General or the Secretary for Homeland Security for readmission. These are separate cases and not related. Anastacio Escobar-Roblero, 33, a citizen of Mexico, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Sept. 24, 2013. He was found in Huron (Erie County) on Dec. 5. Nixion Lopez-Peralta, 28, a citizen of Honduras, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Feb. 10, 2020. He was found in Toledo (Lucas County) on Dec. 1. Wilson Lux-Solis, aka Jose Roberto Lemus-Solis, 25, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being Oct. 2, 2019. He was found in Upper Sandusky (Wyandot County) on Dec. 10. Manuel Lux-Tum, 51, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on at least one occasion with the most recent being March 9, 2016. He was found in Upper Sandusky (Wyandot County) on Dec. 10. The investigations in these cases were conducted by U.S. Border Patrol-Sandusky Bay Station. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Simko and Frank Spryszak for the Northern District of Ohio. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: New York Residents Sentenced for Aggravated Identity Theft, Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, and Use of False Passports. Defendants Forfeited $261,647.47 in Cash, $43,685.07 in Checks, Counterfeit Credit Cards, and Device Making Equipment

component: Department of Justice

body_text: JACKSON, MS – United States Attorney Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi announced the sentencing of four individuals last week in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi for their involvement in an identity theft and bank fraud conspiracy scheme. Jaivon Davon Taylor, Jadin Winfield, Dennis James Swint, and Nicolas Beltre, all residents of New York state, conspired with each other to use false passports in a scheme to fraudulently obtain money from banks in the Jackson, Mississippi area. These defendants used individuals’ stolen identities to create counterfeit passport cards and credit cards which were then presented to banks to make fraudulent withdrawals. Investigators have linked the stolen identities to mail stolen by another criminal group in Mississippi who have pled guilty to state charges in the Circuit Court of Madson County, Mississippi. The scheme unraveled when a bank employee noticed attempted bank withdrawal irregularities and notified the Madison County Police Department, who arrested Taylor, Winfield and Swint in a rental vehicle. Beltre was later arrested in New York on a federal warrant from Mississippi. Taylor was sentenced to 70 months in prison, Winfield was sentenced to 57 months in prison, Beltre was sentenced to 54 months in prison, and Swint was sentenced to 79 months in prison. The United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Department of State Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David H. Fulcher and Kabah S. Ealy prosecuted the case.


title: Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Loan and Check Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and stealing both a U.S. Treasury tax refund check and a check from a New York law firm. Lonnie Smith-Matthews, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud; one count of theft of government funds; two counts of bank fraud; and two counts of money laundering. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for March 19, 2026. In June 2025 , Smith-Matthews was arrested and charged by criminal complaint as part of a federal crackdown on stolen U.S. Treasury checks. He was later indicted in September 2025 . In 2021, Smith-Matthews fraudulently obtained two PPP loans by falsely claiming business income of $128,000, when he made less than half that amount and did not actually have a business. Additionally, in 2024, Smith-Matthews obtained and deposited a U.S. Treasury tax refund check for $150,000 that had been altered and forged to be payable to a defunct clothing company that Smith-Matthews owned. In fact, the U.S. Treasury check had been issued to a married couple in North Carolina as a refund on their 2023 income taxes. After depositing the check, Smith-Matthews laundered the proceeds using cashier’s checks made payable to a purported roofing company. In 2024, Smith-Matthews obtained and deposited a $232,000 check stolen from a New York firm. Like the U.S. Treasury check, the law firm check had been altered and forged to be payable to Smith-Matthews’ defunct company. The charge of theft of government funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three of supervised release and a fine of $500,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Christopher J. Gust, Assistant Special Agent in charge of the U.S. Dept. of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto, Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Brevard County Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Distributing Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Demetric Antwan Swinton (39, Cocoa) to 15 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. Swinton pleaded guilty on August 26, 2025. According to court documents, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office used a confidential source to conduct two controlled purchases of more than a pound of methamphetamine each from Swinton after he was identified as a methamphetamine source operating in Brevard County. A search warrant was then executed at Swinton’s residence resulting in the seizure of additional methamphetamine, cocaine, and drug processing materials. In total, Swinton was responsible for over 1,750 grams of pure methamphetamine and over 50 grams of cocaine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.


title: Two Members Of Violent Gang Alliance Charged With Murdering A Sixteen-Year-Old Boy In The Bronx

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), Ricky J. Patel, and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging AHMAR GARCIA, a/k/a “OB,” and RAHEEM PATTERSON, a/k/a “Rah Rah,” with committing the murder of sixteen-year-old Nisayah Sanchez on September 29, 2021, as a result of a gang war that plagued the city throughout that year that cost the lives of multiple young men and boys throughout the Bronx. They are also charged with an attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon which injured another victim during that same shooting. PATTERSON is also charged with an attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon that occurred on December 2, 2021, when he shot at a rival gang member in Manhattan. GARCIA and PATTERSON were each brought into federal custody from New York State custody where they had each been serving state sentences for other violent crimes. The defendants will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave later today. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer. “These charges stem from a violent gang war that played out on the streets of New York and ended with the cold-blooded murder of sixteen-year-old Nisayah Sanchez,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “I want to thank the women and men of this Office and our law enforcement partners who never wavered in the over four years since Sanchez’s senseless murder. Our Office will bring gun-toting criminals who threaten the safety of New Yorkers to justice.” “As alleged, the defendants’ callous disregard for human life—brazenly carrying out an attack in broad daylight and then boasting about their crimes online—will not be tolerated,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge Ricky J. Patel. “For too long, these criminal organizations have terrorized neighborhoods and placed innocent lives at risk—leaving families shattered and communities living in fear. This indictment marks a decisive blow against the violent street gangs that have inflicted fear and devastation on our neighborhoods. HSI New York, the New York City Police Department, and the Southern District of New York are unwavering in our commitment to rooting out those who threaten the safety of our streets.” “Ahmar Garcia and Raheem Patterson allegedly turned a gang rivalry into the killing of a 16-year-old boy on a Bronx street in broad daylight,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “That decision ended a young life, devastated a family, and put an entire community in danger. When violence is carried out this openly—and then celebrated—it demands a decisive response. This case shows what focused enforcement and strong federal partnerships can accomplish, and why the NYPD will continue to pursue violent gangs before they can take another life. I thank Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their partnership in bringing these charges.” According to the allegations in the Indictment: [1] Since at least 2019, two warring alliances of violent street gangs engaged in retaliatory shootings, resulting in multiple young men and boys being shot, injured, and killed. After each shooting, the gangs glorified their acts of violence against their rivals, taunting them for their dead gang members, and promoting their own gangs and their allies via social media and through their rap videos. These posts and videos in turn fueled the cycle of violence, where the rival gangs retaliated against each other for each shooting, taunt, or perceived slight. Over the spring and summer of 2021, these two alliances engaged in a gang war that included multiple shootings against their enemies, real or perceived. These shootings resulted in the deaths of multiple young men and boys throughout the Bronx. On one side of this gang war was an alliance consisting principally of the MacBallers, the Drillys, and the 800 YGz gangs, which historically and generally aligned, collectively or through its individual members, with the Bloods. On the other side of this gang war was an opposing alliance principally including the Sev Side, Third Side, and Reyway gangs, all neighborhood sets generally aligned with the Crips. On September 29, 2021, in retaliation for the murders of their own gang members, and to promote their own standing in their respective gangs, members of the alliance of MacBallers, Drillys, and 800 YGz gangs, including AHMAR GARCIA, a/k/a “OB,” and RAHEEM PATTERSON, a/k/a “Rah Rah,” shot and killed Nisayah Sanchez, a 16-year-old member of the rival Sev Side, Third Side, and Reyway gang alliance, by sneaking up beside Sanchez and shooting him to death on a Bronx street in broad daylight, while also shooting and injuring another rival gang member. A little over two months later, on December 2, 2021, PATTERSON and another member of his gang alliance shot multiple times at a rival gang member in midtown Manhattan as the rival was leaving a restaurant. * * * GARCIA, 25, and PATTERSON, 28, both of the Bronx, New York, are each charged (with respect to the September 29, 2021, shooting) with murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory sentence of life or death; conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and discharging a firearm during an in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. PATTERSON is also charged (with respect to the December 2, 2021, shooting) with attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and discharging a firearm during an in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent Organizations and Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Herman and Patrick R. Moroney are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [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: New Port Richey Man Pleads Guilty To Interstate Threats To Kill Federal Officials

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Benjamin Rubin (79, New Port Richey) has pleaded guilty to interstate transmission of threats to kill multiple federal officials. Rubin faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, during the month of February 2025, Rubin began posting about his frustrations on social media. The tenor of his postings became increasingly violent and he began threatening to injure and kill United States officials and political figures. On February 20, 2025, Rubin posted that the head of a federal law enforcement agency “will be assassinated.” Two days later, Rubin posted “I shot my TV when [U.S. Cabinet Member] appeared in an ad on illegals. Next time I see her in person the shots will be for her.” This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Wheeler, III.


title: MEXICAN MAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

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

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Teodoro Rodriguez-Alvarez, 34, of the country of Mexico, was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by an Illegal Alien. The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “My office has zero tolerance for criminal illegal aliens who brazenly violate our nation’s laws and threaten the safety of our community. We will continue to back up the excellent investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners who catch these criminals, and will enforce our laws to the fullest extent with aggressive prosecutions followed by swift deportations to keep these dangerous illegal aliens off of our streets and out of our country.” On July 15, 2025, a Gulf Breeze Police Department officer responded to the Pensacola Bay Bridge in reference to a pickup truck stopped in the emergency lane. The officer arrived at the scene and identified the sole vehicle occupant as Teodoro Rodriguez-Alvarez by his Mexican passport. After speaking with the defendant, law enforcement arrested him for multiple driving offenses. A vehicle inventory was conducted before the truck was towed. During the inventory, a pistol was found in a bag near the driver’s seat. The defendant is a citizen of Mexico and was illegally in the United States. “Criminal illegal aliens who arm themselves and break our laws endanger the public and show a complete disrespect for the laws of the United States,” said Homeland Security Investigations Tallahassee Assistant Special Agent in Charge Nicholas Ingegno. “Federal immigration and firearms laws exist to protect the public. HSI is making our neighborhoods safer for everyone and will not stop identifying, investigating, and prosecuting anyone who violate these laws.” The case involved an investigation by the Gulf Breeze Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey M. Tharp. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Three defendants receive prison sentences in unrelated drug trafficking cases

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA – Three defendants received lengthy prison sentences after pleading guilty in separate, unrelated drug trafficking cases. “The hefty sentences these defendants received reflect how serious our office is about prosecuting drug trafficking crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Illegal drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine destroy lives and ruin families. We are putting criminals who are operating drug trafficking networks in Kansas on notice to prepare for severe consequences.” According to court documents, Dashea G. “Baby Cherry” Henderson, 38, of Wichita was sentenced to 156 months in prison after pleading guilty to four counts of use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking crime. Henderson admitted to his part in a drug trafficking network to distribute fentanyl. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. In a separate case, Timothy Daniel Finley, 64, of Wichita was sentenced to 220 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in March 2023, the Wichita Police Department received information that methamphetamine was being sold at a house on South Hydraulic Avenue. After executing a search warrant, officers found approximately 2,661 grams of methamphetamine, $68,736 in cash, eight firearms, three digital scales, and other materials conducive with drug dealing in a bedroom belonging to Finley. The Wichita Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. Nicole Rae Kiesel, 39, of Garden City was sentenced to 120 months in prison after she pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, in May 2024, Finney County Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped a vehicle in which Kiesel was a passenger. After a canine detected the presence of narcotics, deputies did a vehicle search and found drug paraphernalia fentanyl and methamphetamine. All three vehicle occupants were taken into custody, but Kiesel was transported to the hospital after complaining of pain. While at hospital, she unsuccessfully tried to flush items she hid on her person. Later, 600 fentanyl pills were discovered in and around a wheelchair where she had been sitting. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case. ###


title: Burtonsville Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Unemployment Insurance Fraud Charges

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Vanessa Valdez, 42, of Burtonsville, Maryland, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG), and Acting Special Agent in Charge Evan Campanella, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act — a federal law enacted in March 2020 — provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also authorized increased UI benefits. According to public documents, beginning in at least May 2020, and continuing through at least September 2021, Valdez, and other co-conspirators, engaged in a conspiracy and scheme to defraud and obtain money by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, in connection with an UI fraud scheme. Specifically, Valdez and her co-conspirators used personal identifiable information (PII) of others to submit false and fraudulent claims to the Maryland Department of Labor (MD-DOL) for UI benefits. Valdez, along with her co-conspirators, then used the UI benefits, which were designated to assist unemployed or underemployed persons due to the COVID-19 national emergency, for their own personal enrichment. As a part of her guilty plea, Valdez also admitted to fraudulently obtaining Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. Established by the CARES Act, the PPP — administered through the Small Business Administration — along with the EIDL, helped businesses meet their financial obligations. An EIDL advance does not have to be repaid, and small businesses can receive an advance, even if they are not approved for an EIDL loan. The maximum advance amount is $10,000. Valdez faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in federal prison, including and a mandatory two years, consecutive to any other imposed sentence, for aggravated identity theft. A sentencing date is forthcoming. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the DOL-OIG and HSI Maryland for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Motsay who prosecuted the case. The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the CARES Act. Strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts that use prosecutor-led and data-analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach # # #


title: GAINESVILLE FELON CHARGED WITH DRUG AND FIREARM OFFENSES

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Christopher Eugene Thompson, 49, of Gainesville, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of an unregistered National Firearms Act weapon. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charges today. Thompson appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Midori A. Lowry on September 30, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for February 11, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. before Chief District Court Judge Allen C. Winsor. If convicted, Thompson faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment for the drug trafficking crime, up to 15 years for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and up to 10 years for possession of an unregistered NFA weapon. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a consecutive five-year term with a maximum of life imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Gainesville Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christie S. Utt. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Chicago Woman Who Threw Incendiary Device onto Neighbors’ Porch Sentenced to Nearly Three Years in Prison on Federal Hate Crime Charge

body_text: CHICAGO — A Chicago woman who threw an incendiary device onto her neighbors’ porch has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison on a federal hate crime charge. On March 16, 2024, ANA M. HERNANDEZ threw a glass bottle containing oil and a washcloth—a device commonly known as a “Molotov cocktail”—onto her neighbor’s back porch in Chicago. The incendiary device started a fire on the wooden porch, but no one was injured. Hernandez admitted in a plea agreement that she threw the device onto the porch because the victims who resided there were of Venezuelan origin, and she wanted to convince them to leave the residence. Later that day, Hernandez placed a handwritten note on the car of the victims’ landlord, who owned and resided in the building. Among other things, the note stated, “We do not want you in the neighborhood. Go back to your country. You can go the easy way or the hard way.” Hernandez, 70, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a federal hate crime charge of unlawfully interfering with housing rights. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins sentenced Hernandez to two years and nine months in federal prison. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Chicago Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan L. Shih.


title: Harrisburg Drug Trafficker Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Trafficking Marijuana And Cocaine Through A Local Business

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that William Kuduk, age 38, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson on December 19, 2025, to 240 months for drug trafficking and hiring gunmen to protect his illegal activities. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, at sentencing Kuduk was found responsible for trafficking over 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of marijuana from his used car dealership. He also trafficked over five kilograms of cocaine. Kuduk previously pled guilty to drug trafficking charges and a fraud charge. Between October 2018 and May 2020, Kuduk and his codefendants operated a marijuana smuggling operation out of Fastlane Auto Sales, a used car lot located on Paxton Street in Harrisburg. Kuduk and his codefendants arranged to have his drug source in California mail hundreds of parcels full of marijuana to Harrisburg through the U.S. Mail. In the same way, they regularly mailed tens of thousands of dollars in cash back to the California source. Kuduk and his codefendants used a sophisticated system of GPS tracking devices, which they placed in their parcels, to keep track of their drugs and money. Through this the scheme, over 9,000 thousand pounds of suspected marijuana parcels, worth millions of dollars, were brought to the Harrisburg area. Kuduk and his codefendants used guns, robbery, and kidnapping as tools to keep their criminal operation running. When imposing sentence, Judge Wilson found that Kuduk engaged in dangerous and violent conduct that endangered the community. When thieves stole marijuana from his drug trafficking operation, Kuduk and his fellow traffickers used gunman to try and stop the thefts. Judge Wilson relied upon the evidence introduced in the case, specifically the jury trial for one of Kuduk’s co-defendants. Kuduk was also sentenced for committing pandemic related unemployment fraud. While he was released awaiting trial for the drug trafficking case, Kuduk submitted a fraudulent application for pandemic relief. He got over $20,000 in pandemic unemployment relief. He was charged with wire fraud for that episode and later pled guilty. When imposing sentence for drug trafficking, weapons, and violence offenses, Judge Wilson also imposed a 10-year sentence for defrauding the United States. Judge Wilson noted as an aggravating factor that Kuduk committed this fraud with his co-defendants in the drug trafficking case while out on release awaiting trial. One codefendant, Christopher Texidor, was convicted of drug trafficking and violence offenses after a six-day jury trial. Texidor was sentenced to 292 months in prison (just over 24 years). Kuduk’s other codefendants -- Jamie Valenzuela, William Kuduk, Jonathan Cobaugh, Justin Laboy, Jose Laboy, and Julio Arellano -- pled guilty. Codefendant Jamie Valenzuela was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to traffic drugs. Codefendant Jose Laboy was sentenced to 108 months’ imprisonment on marijuana trafficking and weapons offenses. Codefendant Jonathan Cobaugh was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment for marijuana trafficking and pandemic fraud. Codefendant Julio Arellano was sentenced to 156 months’ imprisonment for weapons offenses and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. Codefendant Justin Laboy was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael A. Consiglio and Scott Ford prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America ( https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline ) 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: Justice Department Announces Results of Operation Relentless Justice

body_text: 205 Child Victims Located and 293 Child Sex Abuse Offenders Arrested in Nationwide Crackdown, Including the Middle District of Pennsylvania HARRISBURG – The Department of Justice announced the results of Operation Relentless Justice, a coordinated enforcement effort to identify, track, and arrest child sex predators. The nationwide crackdown resulted in over 205 child victims being located and the arrests of over 293 child sexual abuse offenders. The coordinated effort was executed over the course of two weeks by all 56 FBI field offices, the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorneys’ offices around the country. “We will not allow evil criminals who prey on children to evade justice,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Our federal agents have worked tirelessly alongside our state and local partners to track down these vile predators, and now our prosecutors will ensure they receive severe punishments to match their horrific crimes." “Operation Relentless Justice shows no child will be forgotten and that all predators targeting the most vulnerable amongst us will be held accountable,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “This year, the FBI has led multiple nationwide surges across the U.S. to find and arrest hundreds of child predators. We will not stop until every child can live a life free of exploitation. We will utilize the strength of all our field offices and our federal, state, and local partners to protect communities across the nation from such horrific crimes.” “The men and women of FBI Philadelphia work every day to protect and support children across the communities we serve,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Operation Relentless Justice underscores our unwavering commitment to combatting child exploitation, one of the most heinous offenses we investigate. Alongside our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to pursue those who prey on our most vulnerable and bring them to justice." Joseph Anthony Domino, Jr., age 63, of Lords Valley, Pennsylvania, has been charged in the Middle District of Pennsylvania on December 16, 2025, for engaging in online communications with who he believed to be the mother of a 13-year-old female child, who the purported mother was offering for sex. Domino, Jr., expressed his desire to engage in various forms of sexual intercourse with the child and ultimately traveled to the Middle District of Pennsylvania to meet the child for sex. Those arrested are alleged to have committed various crimes, including the production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material; online enticement and transportation of minors; and child sex trafficking. Some of the alleged offenders include an airman out of Dallas, TX, who was arrested with his wife for producing child sex abuse material (CSAM), as well as a Police Officer from Raleigh, NC, who distributed CSAM to an undercover officer while discussing his interest in engaging in sexual contact with children. In another case involving enticement of a minor, the Miami Field Office arrested a Guatemalan national who was previously deported in 2011, and had previous arrests for battery, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and carrying a concealed weapon. As sextortion cases continue to rise, this operation highlights arrests of individuals who target vulnerable children online including the five leaders of Greggy’s Cult, as well as a Virginia man who persuaded a 14-year-old to produce CSAM. The victim attempted suicide after he allegedly told her to kill herself. This effort follows two other successful operations, including Operation Restore Justice in May, which resulted in the rescue of 115 children and the arrests of 205 child sex abuse offenders, and Operation Enduring Justice in August, which resulted in the rescue of 133 children and the arrests of 234 offenders. The FBI's Victim Services Division (VSD) assisted victims during this operation and provided services, to include forensic interviews, referrals for medical and mental health resources, and coordination with partners. VSD's mission is to inform, support, and assist victims in navigating the aftermath of crime and the criminal justice process with dignity and resilience. These operations underscore the Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting children and combating child sexual exploitation. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. attorneys’ offices and 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, visit justice.gov/psc . The Department partners with and oversees funding grants for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which receives and shares tips about possible child sexual exploitation received through its 24/7 hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST and on missingkids.org . The Department urges the public to remain vigilant and report suspected exploitation of a child through the FBI's tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), tips.fbi.gov , or by calling your local FBI field office. An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Fourth Defendant Sentenced to More than a Decade in Prison in Connection with Gang-Related Kidnapping and Murder

body_text: Wilmington, Delaware – Yesterday, a fourth defendant was sentenced in connection with a kidnapping and murder committed by members of the Shotgun Crips gang, announced Benjamin L. Wallace, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware. Rodney Chambers, 34, who served as a lookout at both the site of the kidnapping in Wilmington, Delaware, and the site of the murder in Yeadon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Chief District Judge Colm F. Connolly pronounced the sentence. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the Shotgun Crips targeted the victim, a 35-year-old Wilmington resident, after he and gang member Kimon Burton-Roberson became embroiled in a dispute. Shortly after midnight on July 21, 2021, members of the gang—including Burton-Roberson, Jamil Salahuddin, and Josiah Rivera—invaded the victim’s home, while Chambers stayed outside to monitor for police. The men inside the home beat the victim with a tire iron and a pry bar, bound his hands behind his back with zip ties, and forced him into Burton-Roberson’s Jeep, which was being driven by Stephanie Bultes-Ramirez. The gang then drove the victim to Philadelphia, continuing to beat him on the drive. In Philadelphia, they picked up gang higher-up Dwayne Alexander, who directed the gang to an industrial park in Yeadon. There, Burton-Roberson executed the still-bound victim by shooting him in the head with an assault rifle. Chambers also monitored for police during the murder at the industrial park. After the murder, the gang tried to cover its tracks by, among other things, scrubbing the Jeep for forensic evidence and terminating service on the cell-phone numbers they had been using that night. Three other defendants were sentenced earlier this month—Kimon Burton-Roberson to life in prison, Jamil Salahuddin to 17.5 years in prison, and Stephanie Bultes-Ramirez to 10 years in prison. Dwayne Alexander is awaiting sentencing in federal court. Josiah Rivera is awaiting sentencing in the Superior Court for the State of Delaware. Rivera was not charged federally because he was a minor at the time of the crime. “Rodney Chambers had a hand in an atrocious crime that took a beloved son, brother, and uncle from his family,” said U.S. Attorney Wallace. “We thank our law enforcement partners for the tireless work that resulted in a fourth just sentence of at least a decade in this case. We will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to stamp out gang violence here in Delaware.” “His sentencing is the final step towards holding Rodney Chambers accountable for the life he took,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “This investigation demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners to bring to justice those who use violence to harm and intimidate our community.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force, the Wilmington Police Department, the Yeadon Borough Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, and Delaware Probation and Parole. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle L. Morgan (now with the Eastern District of Pennsylvania) handled the third superseding indictment, the trial, and the sentencings of all defendants. Others involved in the investigation and prosecution include Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce, Ruth Mandelbaum (now with the Eastern District of Pennsylvania), and Maureen McCartney (also now with the Eastern District of Pennsylvania), as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli H. Klein. A copy of this press release can be located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 22-CR-17-CFC.


title: Multiple Mexican nationals indicted for federal immigration violations  in the Eastern District of Texas

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: TYLER, Texas – Multiple Mexican nationals have been indicted for federal immigration violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Leonardo Chalchi, 50, was arrested on October 16, 2025, in Smith County for evading arrest. It was then determined that Chalchi is a citizen of Mexico and allegedly in the United States illegally after having been previously deported to Mexico in 2021 and 2022. This case is being investigated by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Francisco Velazquez-Castro, 46, was stopped for a traffic violation on November 14, 2025, in Smith County. It was then determined Velazquez-Castro is a citizen of Mexico and allegedly in the United States illegally after having been previously deported to Mexico in 2017 and 2022. This case is being investigated by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Pablo Hernandez Rodriguez, 41, was arrested in Smith County on November 30, 2025. It was then determined Hernandez Rodriguez is a citizen of Mexico and allegedly in the United States illegally after having been previously deported to Mexico in 2020. This case is being investigated by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Aurelio Saucedo-Alba, 57, was arrested on December 4, 2025, on a federal warrant. Immigration records indicate Saucedo-Alba is a citizen of Mexico and allegedly in the United States illegally after having been deported to Mexico in 2019. This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Francisco Ubaldo Acosta-Sanchez, 39, was arrested on October 16, 2025, following a traffic stop in Smith County. During the stop, law enforcement officers found alleged counterfeit Legal Permanent Resident Cards and Social Security Cards in Acosta’s vehicle with various iterations of his name appearing on them. This case is being investigated by Smith County Sheriff’s Office and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble and part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Wolf Point man appears on murder charges

body_text: GREAT FALLS – A Wolf Point man accused of murdering a man by arson on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation was arraigned yesterday, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said. Anthony David Flynn, 35, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with felony murder and arson. If convicted of the most serious charge contained in the indictment, Flynn faces mandatory life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Johnston presided. Flynn was detained pending further proceedings. Count 1 of the indictment alleges that on or about September 28, 2024, at and near Wolf Point, Flynn unlawfully and with malice aforethought killed John Doe, by smoke inhalation and thermal injuries, in the perpetration of arson. Count 2 of the indictment alleges that on or about September 28, 2024, at and near Wolf Point, Flynn willfully and maliciously set fire to and burned a structure at 200 1st Ave. S. in Wolf Point. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, and State of Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. PACER case reference. 25-116. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Men indicted for posing as FBI agents to commit fraud

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging two Indian nationals with allegedly defrauding a victim while posing as federal law enforcement officials. According to court documents, Venkateswara Reddy Chagamreddy, 27, of San Antonio, Texas, and Sai Praveen Kommana, 29, of Frisco, Texas, were indicted on one count of wire fraud conspiracy and one count of interference with commerce by threat. From May 2025 through September 2025, Chagamreddy and Kommana are accused of conspiring with others to defraud a victim in Kansas. The members of this conspiracy posed as agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). They allegedly convinced the individual to purchase $255,287 in gold and give it to them, falsely thinking it was going to a government agency for safekeeping. The members of this conspiracy, including the indicted men, allegedly primarily target elderly retired individuals, falsely asserting they are with a government agency and telling victims that their identity has been compromised in ways that could result in jail time and major financial loss for victims. Prosecutors accuse the members of this conspiracy of convincing victims to transfer their assets, primarily in gold, to the federal government to protect themselves against further crimes. The FBI will never call, email or otherwise contact private citizens to demand payment, threaten arrest, or request personal or sensitive information. Fraud can be reported via tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI. The FBI encourages people who have been victims of internet crimes and/or financial fraud and schemes to report via ic3.gov . The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Transient Man Sentenced to Life for Kidnapping, Beating, and Sexually Assaulting an Elderly Woman

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A transient Tulsa man who was retried and found guilty a second time was sentenced to life in prison, U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson announced. Today, U.S. District Judge John F Heil, III, sentenced Elga Eugene Harper, 43, to life imprisonment after a federal jury convicted him of Kidnapping in Indian Country; Aggravated Sexual Abuse by Force and Threat in Indian Country; Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country. According to court documents, in May 2022, Harper showed up at Ellen Finlay's (Ellie) house unannounced. She was a nun and knew that Harper was homeless. Ellie would pay Harper to fix things around her home. Ellie told Harper that she had no work for him. He requested to use the restroom, and Ellie allowed him to. When Ellie testified, she stated that Harper had been gone for a while and that she went to check on him. When she found Harper, he was in her bedroom naked and immediately attacked her. Ellie described to the jury how Harper bound her arms and legs and tied a noose around her neck. Then Harper made her move to the shower, where he sexually assaulted her. Harper physically and sexually assaulted her for more than four hours, went through her home, and took some of her possessions. Harper was found guilty during his federal trial in February 2023, and sentenced a few months later in July. Harper then filed an appeal to the Tenth Circuit Court, and the guilty verdict was overturned in October 2024, causing a retrial. While awaiting retrial, Ellie passed away on February 4, 2025. In August 2025, a new jury was selected when Harper was retried. Law enforcement and witnesses retestified to the events that happened in 2022. The jury heard audio from the 911 call where Ellie cried for help and described being physically assaulted. During the 911 call and on the officers' body cameras, Ellie can be heard saying that “Elga Harper” was the person who attacked her. Body camera video and photos shown to the jury displayed the brutality of the violence that Harper committed on Ellie. During sentencing today, a victim impact statement written by Ellie in 2023 was read on her behalf. In that statement, Ellie said: “Everyone who knows me knows that I am a practicing Christian. As such I have an obligation to forgive my enemies, to bless those who curse me and to pray for those who despitefully use me. I am struggling to fulfill this obligation with sincerity. I pray that God will turn Mr. Harper’s heart from evil to good, will lead him to repentance and will give him the knowledge and understanding that he is loved by the God who created him and who grieves for the great wrong he has done. I also, as a Christian, have the obligation to love my neighbor as myself and my neighbor, most assuredly, is the next woman out there who may well fall prey to Mr. Harper’s horrific propensity for violence if he were to be a free member of society at any point during the remainder of his life. It is my honest conviction that he should not ever, ever, ever be free again.” Harper is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He will continue to remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Melody Nelson, Valeria Luster, and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case.


title: Investment Manager Extradited Back To The United States To Face Securities Fraud Charges

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Christopher G. Raia, announced that MATTHEW MELTON was extradited from the United Kingdom to face securities fraud and wire fraud charges. The charges in the Indictment arise from an alleged scheme by MELTON to raise millions of dollars in investor money by falsely representing that his investment fund, “Price Physics,” was investing in futures contracts using a proprietary trading algorithm. In fact, MELTON was operating a Ponzi scheme in which he used investor money to fund his luxury lifestyle and make payments to earlier investors. MELTON arrived in the United States on December 19, 2025, and was presented on December 20, 2025, before Magistrate Judge Gary Stein. MELTON’s case is assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian. “As alleged, Matthew Melton told investors he was using groundbreaking technology and cutting-edge trading techniques to generate record returns,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “In reality, Melton was allegedly operating one of the oldest scams around, taking new investors’ money to pay old investors and pocketing funds for himself along the way. With the assistance of our dedicated law enforcement partners, our Office will continue to aggressively prosecute financial fraud and protect our markets.” “This alleged scheme victimized many and caused millions of dollars in victim losses,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia. “FBI New York is committed to eradicating all unlawful schemes fueling an unearned life of luxury by those who prey on others. We remain focused on disrupting financial fraud operations and will continue to fiercely pursue those who seek to defraud others.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and bail hearing: [1] MELTON promoted an investment vehicle he called “Price Physics,” which purported to invest in futures contracts using a proprietary trading algorithm. He promised investors guaranteed returns of up to twelve percent per month, of which he said he would keep only two percent as compensation. In reality, there was no proprietary trading algorithm, and MELTON invested almost none of the millions of dollars he raised. The few times that MELTON did make trades, it was not in futures contracts, and the trading was generally unprofitable. For the most part, instead of trading, MELTON used his investors’ money to pay his own personal expenses—including mortgage payments and sailing excursions—and to pay earlier investors in Ponzi-like fashion. * * * MELTON, 61, of Boulder, Colorado, was charged with one count of securities fraud and one count of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum term of 20 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 a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI and thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for its assistance. Mr. Clayton also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which previously filed a separate civil action against MELTON. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Adam S. Hobson is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: HOMESTEAD MAN SENT TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR POSSESSION OF MACHINEGUN BY A CONVICTED FELON

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Vinson Tavaris Brown, 33, of Homestead, Florida, was sentenced to three years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal possession of a machinegun. The sentence announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the outstanding work by our state and federal law enforcement partners, this dangerous felon has been taken off our streets and sent to federal prison. The safety of our communities is not negotiable, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenses to fulfill the promise made by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi to Take Back America from violent criminals.” Court documents reflect that the Tallahassee Police Department stopped a vehicle in which Brown was a passenger after it made an illegal U-Turn leaving Zingales Sports Bar. Three of the occupants of the vehicle complied with officers, but the defendant attempted to reach under his seat and then fled from officers on foot. Officers caught the defendant and detained him, then discovered a Glock 27 equipped with a machinegun conversion device and an extended magazine under the seat that the defendant attempted to reach. Brown had previous felony convictions for child abuse (two counts), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and three separate incidents of fleeing or attempting to elude police. Brown’s three-year prison term will be followed by three years of supervised release. The case involved an investigation by the Tallahassee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. 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. As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .