title: Upper Marlboro Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Drive-Thru Robbery Spree

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Zachary Alexander Kinnell, 23, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Kinnell is guilty of interference with interstate commerce by robbery and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Chief Marc Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD); and Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy. According to the guilty plea, beginning July 28, 2022, and continuing through August 3, Kinnell and co-conspirator Brian Thornel Elzey, traveled through Maryland and Virginia robbing fast-food restaurants. The co-conspirators robbed 11 fast-food restaurants for a total of $3,555.01. During the robbery spree, the co-conspirators approached the victim businesses’ drive-thru window as if they were conducting a legitimate transaction. Typically, the co-conspirators pulled into the drive-thru, then Kinnell exited the vehicle and approached the window on foot. Then Kinnell initiated a transaction with the victim employee before forcibly removing cash. Beginning on August 1, and continuing August 3, the robberies escalated to armed robberies. On these dates, Kinnell brandished a firearm while robbing four fast-food restaurants. Then in the early morning hours of August 4, MCPD officers stopped a stolen Chevrolet Cruze near Wheaton, Maryland. Law enforcement searched the vehicle, finding a Taurus, Model G2C, 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol in the rear passenger compartment; a restaurant cash drawer in the footwell of the front passenger seat; and another restaurant cash drawer in the trunk. Officers also seized Kinnell and Elzey’s cell phones along with $427.01. Law enforcement discovered that during the same robbery spree, Kinnell and Elzey attempted to rob six additional fast-food restaurants. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, MCPD, Howard County Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department, Anne Arundel County Police Department, Calvert County Sherriff’s Office, Loudon County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office, Fairfax, Virginia Police Department, and Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas F. Potter and Timothy J. Hagan who prosecuted the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Ledyard Man Charged with Child Exploitation Offense

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New England, today announced that JASON GIBSON, 45, of Ledyard, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with a child exploitation offense. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in February 2020, Gibson was convicted in state court of possession of child pornography and sentenced to 10 years of incarceration, suspended after 30 months, and 10 years of probation. He was released from state custody in January 2021. In April 2023, Gibson’s probation was revoked for violating the conditions of his release and he was sentenced to 90 months of incarceration, suspended after six months, and 94 months of probation. He was released from state custody in August 2023. It is further alleged that on March 6, 2024, state probation officers made a routine home visit to Gibson’s residence and seized an unapproved cellphone that also contained a dark web application. Subsequent analysis of the phone revealed more than 200 child sex abuse images and videos, and numerous text messages with links to access child pornography on the dark web. On April 2, 2025, probation officers made another home visit to Gibson’s residence and seized an external hard drive. Analysis of the hard drive revealed more than 18,000 images and 1,400 videos depicting child sex abuse. The complaint charges Gibson with possession of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The penalties in this matter are enhanced because of Gibson’s prior state convictions. Gibson has been detained in state custody since April 2, 2025. He made his initial appearance today in Hartford federal court. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New Haven Police Department, with the assistance of the Town of Groton Police Department and the Connecticut Court Support Services Division – Adult Probation Services. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Mexican National Charged With Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG-The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Miguel Molina-Echavarria, age 40, a citizen of Mexico residing in Hagerstown, Maryland, was indicted on May 28, 2025, by a federal grand jury on the charge of illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Molina-Echavarria illegally reentered the United States and was found in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on May 18, 2025, after being removed pursuant to a court order in July 2024, at or near Brownsville, Texas, without first having obtained permission for reentry into the United States. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis P. Sempa is prosecuting 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is two years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Former MBTA Transit Police Officer Convicted of Aiding and Abetting the Filing of False Report Related to Assault at MBTA Station

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former Sergeant with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Transit Police Department (Transit Police) was found guilty today by a federal jury in Boston following an eight day trial, of aiding and abetting the filing of a false arrest report regarding another Transit Police Officer’s assault on a man at the Ashmont MBTA Station. David S. Finnerty, 49, of Rutland, was convicted on one count of aiding and abetting the filing of a false report. In August 2023 , Finnerty was indicted by a federal grand jury. Finnerty was the Transit Police Officer in Charge and the supervisor of Transit Police Officer Dorston Bartlett. At 1:47 a.m. on July 27, 2018, at the Ashmont MBTA station, Bartlett, while acting in his role as an officer, physically assaulted a man without legal justification. Finnerty helped Bartlett draft a false arrest report regarding the incident, with the intent to impede any federal investigation of Bartlett’s unconstitutional use of force. The charge of false reports provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 and Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina E. Barclay and Julien M. Mundele are prosecuting the case.


title: Los Angeles Man Who Mailed Kilograms of Cocaine for Distribution in Western Pennsylvania Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charge

component: Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Los Angeles, California, pleaded guilty in federal court to a drug trafficking charge, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Jose Angel Sanchez, 33, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between March 2022 and September 2022, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) conducted an investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in the Western District of Pennsylvania. The investigation revealed that Sanchez would mail parcels containing kilogram quantities of cocaine from California to a residence in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. After investigators seized a parcel containing two kilograms of cocaine before it reached the Aliquippa residence, Sanchez began sending the parcels from California to co-defendant Christopher Andrew Salgado in West Virginia. Thereafter, surveillance confirmed that Salgado would drive the parcels from West Virginia to the Pittsburgh International Airport, where he would pick up Sanchez, who had arrived on flights from California. Salgado would when then drive both the parcel of cocaine and Sanchez to co-defendant Romaro Foster Sr. in Aliquippa. Following one re-supply of cocaine to Foster Sr., law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Salgado as he drove Sanchez back to the Pittsburgh International Airport. After identifying Salgado and Sanchez, law enforcement terminated the traffic stop while surveillance followed the conspirators. Prior to reaching the airport, investigators observed Salgado park at a fast food restaurant and discard a box in a trash bin in the restaurant’s parking lot before leaving. Investigators recovered the box, which bore a shipping label with Salgado’s West Virginia address that Sanchez had mailed from California. Investigators observed drug packaging material within the box and conducted a field test of the packaging, which revealed the presence of cocaine. In August 2022, investigators seized a parcel sent from California to Salgado in West Virginia that contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine. Investigators then executed a search warrant upon Salgado’s residence, recovering a different parcel mailed by Sanchez to Salgado that contained another approximately two kilograms of cocaine. Judge Hardy scheduled sentencing for October 2, 2025. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Judge Hardy previously sentenced Salgado to five years of imprisonment for his role in the drug trafficking conspiracy. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Sanchez. This prosecution is part of an OCDETF investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Brazilian National Sentenced to Over One Year in Prison for Perjury

body_text: BOSTON – A Brazilian national residing in Malden, Mass. was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for lying on his asylum application and at an immigration hearing. Upon applying for a U.S. Visa, the defendant never disclosed his arrest in a case involving the murders of 11 people, mostly teenagers, in Brazil in retaliation for the death of a police officer, an incident known as The Slaughter of Curió. Antonio Jose De Abreu Vidal Filho, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 16 months in prison. De Abreu is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In February 2025 , De Abreu pleaded guilty to two counts of perjury. In May 2024 , De Abreu was indicted by a federal grand jury. In April 2014, De Abreu joined the Ceara State Military Police – Brazilian state forces who, under the governor, do first line policing on the street. In the early morning hours of Nov. 12, 2015, numerous Brazilian military police officers employed by the government of the Brazilian state of Ceará, including De Abreu, participated in a mass killing event of primarily young people from the impoverished neighborhoods of Barroso, Messejana, Guajeru, Curió and Lagoa Redonda in the capital of Ceará. The killings were in retaliation for the death of another police officer who was attempting to defend his wife who was being assaulted. In total, 11 people, mostly teenagers, were murdered and many others seriously injured and tortured. This incident has come to be known as A Chacina do Curió or The Slaughter of Curió or The Curió Massacre. A total of 45 individuals, including De Abreu, were charged by the Brazilian authorities and, on Aug. 31, 2016, De Abreu was arrested and detained by the Brazilian police. He was subsequently released pending trial on May 24, 2017. Two weeks later, on June 9, 2017, while in Recife, Brazil, De Abreu applied for a United States non-immigrant B2 visitor visa. When asked whether he had ever been arrested or convicted for any offense or crime, De Abreu responded “no.” Thereafter, on or about June 21, 2017, the United States Department of State approved De Abreu’s Visa Application and issued him the B2 Visa based upon his false representations. De Abreu used the B2 Visa and travelled to Miami on May 30, 2018. Between May 30, 2018 through Aug. 14, 2023, as a result of the approval of his Visa Application, De Abreu obtained various state driver’s licenses, a social security card, travel documents and authorizations for employment. De Abreu applied for asylum on Jan. 29, 2020, and lied when asked whether he had ever been accused, charged, arrested, detained, interrogated and imprisoned in any country other than the United States. He also failed to disclose his arrest and detention in Brazil when he applied for adjustment of status with United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. On June 25, 2023, De Abreu was convicted of 11 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and four counts of physical and mental torture in the First Court of Fortaleza, Ceará. That same day, De Abreu was sentenced to 275 years and 11 months in prison and an arrest warrant issued. On Feb. 9, 2024, De Abreu testified under oath at an immigration hearing conducted by U.S. Immigration Court, falsely claiming that he had never lied to immigration officials and that the only reason he had left off important information on immigration documents filed with the United States government was because he had not yet been arrested. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Boston Field Office; Mathew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office; and Denis C. Riordan, District Director of the Fraud Detection and National Security Division of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. This matter was investigated with the assistance of the United States Interagency Human Rights Violators & War Crimes Center. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of the National Security Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Former Alabama Police Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violation and Child Sexual Exploitation

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A former Killen, Alabama, Police Department (KPD) officer has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a woman while on duty and for receiving sexually explicit photos of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. United States District Judge Liles Burke sentenced Jarrod Gailen Webster, 27, to 15 years in prison for his crimes. According to documents filed in connection with this case, on November 12, 2023, Webster violated the civil rights of a woman after initiating a traffic stop on the woman’s vehicle. Webster asked the woman to step out of her vehicle and asked her what she wanted to do to “get out of this.” When the woman told Webster that she was not going to do anything for him, Webster handcuffed the woman and sexually assaulted her. Further, between June 2016 and October 2018, Webster communicated with a minor by phone, and he asked the minor to produce and send him sexually explicit images. The minor victim sent multiple photos to Webster at his request, at least one of which constituted child sexual abuse material. Webster previously pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of sexual exploitation of children on March 4, 2025. “Jarrod Webster forcibly assaulted a woman after a traffic stop, and exploited a minor to receive sexually explicit images,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This was a gross abuse of his authority as a police officer and a betrayal of the public trust. I am proud of our DOJ Civil Rights team for holding him accountable.” “This sentence sends a clear message that such criminal conduct will not be tolerated,” said Prim F. Escalona, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. “I commend the dedication of our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to ensure that Webster was held accountable for his actions.” “Law enforcement officers are entrusted with significant responsibility and are therefore held to a higher standard,” said Special Agent in Charge David R. Fitzgibbons of the FBI Birmingham Field Office. “Today’s sentencing clearly demonstrates there are serious consequences when someone tarnishes the badge by breaking the law. Jerrod Webster brought shame to the badge by committing the horrific crimes of sexually assaulting a woman in his care and receiving sexually explicit images of a minor. His sentencing confirms that the FBI has zero tolerance for officials who prey on the citizens they are sworn to protect.” The FBI Birmingham Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Royster for the Northern District of Alabama and Trial Attorney Sarah Howard of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: Romanian National Charged With Wire Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft For Stealing From The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap)

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ionut Popovici, age 33, a Romanian National, was indicted on May 28, 2025, by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for targeting and defrauding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”), a federally funded program that helps low-income individuals purchase groceries and certain food items. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment returned by the grand jury alleges that Popovici used stolen SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (“EBT”) card information at Sam’s Club stores in Harrisburg and Mechanicsburg between March 4 and 5, 2023. During this period, Popovici illegally purchased thousands of dollars in goods. The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Williams is prosecuting 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. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The maximum penalty under federal law for the offenses charged against Ionut Popovici is twenty years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Indianapolis Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Queyoun Foulks-Smith, 20 years old, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to possession of a machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Foulks-Smith was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on July 4, 2024, law enforcement found Foulks-Smith in possession of a machinegun—a stolen firearm with a loaded 50-round drum magazine and a “switch.” The switch converted this firearm into an automatic firearm, allowing it to fire multiple bullets instantaneously with a single function of the trigger. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph P. Falvey. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison in 2nd Federal Conviction on Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A registered sex offender now twice convicted on federal child pornography charges has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. In December 2016, David A. Skally, 65, was convicted in federal court of possessing and accessing with the intent to view child pornography. He was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence presented at Skally’s December 2024 trial in this most recent matter: Skally admitted, in interviews that were part of his court-ordered supervised release, to viewing sexually explicit images of children “over ten times” after his release from prison while on supervised release. In these interviews, Skally admitted some of the images he viewed depicted children 11 years of age or under engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Skally engaged in repeated efforts to avoid monitoring software and other safeguards required during his term of probation but subsequent investigation and a forensic examination of Skally’s computer ultimately discovered several images of child pornography, including images of adults engaged in sexual activity with prepubescent victims. In December 2024, the jury ultimately concluded that Skally both possessed and accessed child pornography with the intent to view it, and specifically found that at least some of the material in question involved prepubescent children under the age of twelve. At sentencing today, U.S. District Court Senior Judge William E. Smith sentenced Skally to 120 months in federal prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. By virtue of his most recent conviction, Skally was also adjudged to be a violator of his previously imposed supervised release and sentenced to a concurrent term of 10 months. Additionally, the court imposed an assessment totaling $10,000 as mandated by the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ronald R. Gendron and Denise M. Barton, with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and John P. McAdams. This case, investigated by the U.S. Probation Department and Homeland Security Investigations, was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc ###


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of an Improvised Explosive Device and Sawed-Off Shotgun

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM Ala. – An Alabama man has pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona. Key’onstis Maurice Morgan, 24, of Centreville, Alabama, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Anna M. Manasco for illegally possessing a weapon made from a shotgun and a destructive device, specifically an improvised explosive device-type bomb. According to the plea agreement, Morgan was found in possession of both the firearm and bomb on the night of February 16, 2024. The firearm had been made from a single-shot 20-gauge shotgun and was loaded with a shell. Morgan admitted to sawing off the shotgun’s stock and cutting the barrel down to 13.5 inches in length. Morgan was also in possession of a cardboard tube wrapped in electrical tape that contained 12 grams of energetic powder and a fuse. Someone weaponized the device by taping or gluing 21 screws, four small razor blades, and assorted staples around the exterior. These small metal pieces would create potentially lethal shrapnel upon explosion. ATF investigated the case along with the Centreville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney W. Lee Gilmer is prosecuting the case.


title: Bloods Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Possessing Machinegun

body_text: BOSTON – A Bloods gang member from Lynn, Mass. pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to possessing a loaded machinegun that was recovered from his backpack in January 2025 during a motor vehicle stop. Delvyn Liriano, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Sept. 10, 2025. Liriano was indicted on March 5, 2025. According to court records, Liriano is a known member of the Bloods gang. In late December 2024, Liriano traveled into rival gang territory in order to confront rival gang members with a firearm. At the time, Liriano was on state probation for a 2023 felony firearm conviction in Lynn, where he pointed a firearm in the face of a former girlfriend and threatened to kill her, based upon his belief that she had associated with a rival gang member. On Jan. 3, 2025, Liriano was observed entering a motor vehicle at his residence in Everett carrying a black backpack. Following a motor vehicle stop for a revoked registration due to lack of insurance, the black backpack carried by Liriano was found to contain a loaded Glock Model 27 firearm with a selector switch (also known as a machinegun conversion device) attached. Liriano was then placed under arrest. Based upon the presence of the selector switch, the firearm was capable of firing fully automatic and was therefore a machinegun. A subsequent search of Liriano’s cellular phones revealed pictures of him in possession of other firearms. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Lynn, Malden and Everett Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: West Virginia Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – David Laquan McGowan, 41, of Huntington, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 92 months in federal prison for the possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation revealed that McGowan, also known as “Drip,” was traveling from Huntington to Elkins to sell fentanyl and methamphetamine in Randolph County. During a traffic stop, a search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of fentanyl hidden in the ceiling of McGowan’s car. McGowan will serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Pastor at Word of God Church Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently  Obtaining More than $400,000 in COVID-19 Loans

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Mitchell Summerfield, age 45, of Raleigh, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 loan funds. At sentencing, Summerfield faces a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. Summerfield will also be required to pay restitution in an amount to be determined. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Summerfield was the pastor of the Word of God Fellowship Church in Raleigh, and also owned various other entities, including Winning Ways, KHS Investments, and Vision and Destiny. Between July 2020 and July 2021, Summerfield conspired with others to submit false and fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster loans (EIDL) for these entities. Congress created the PPP program in March 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in order to mitigate the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic for small businesses. PPP loans were fully guaranteed by the United States and forgivable so long as the proceeds were used for payroll and other qualified expenses. The CARES Act also expanded the EIDL program to assist small businesses experiencing financial distress due to the pandemic. The PPP and EIDL programs were administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Summerfield submitted multiple EIDL and/or PPP applications on behalf of Winning Ways, KHS Investments, and Vision and Destiny. Summerfield made various false statements in the applications to induce the SBA and lending institutions to approve and disburse the requested loan amounts. Summerfield also provided fabricated IRS tax forms, including false income tax returns. As a result of the fraudulent applications, Summerfield received more than $400,000 in PPP and EIDL funds. Summerfield used the loan fraud proceeds for unauthorized and unlawful purposes, including paying for personal expenses. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted the plea. The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, investigated the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa K. Labresh prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:25-CR-22. ###


title: Kanawha County Man Sentenced for Obstructing Mail

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Brice Allen Pomeroy, 26, of Hernshaw, was sentenced today to two years of federal probation and ordered to pay $2,051.21 in restitution for obstruction of mail. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 11, 2023, Pomeroy knowingly and willfully threw away approximately 227 pieces of mail by depositing a large plastic bad containing the mail pieces into a trash can located outside a gas service station in Charleston. At the time of the offense, Pomeroy was employed by a United States Postal Service vendor as a mail handler at the vendor’s facility in Charleston. The 227 pieces of mail included Mother’s Day, graduation, anniversary, and birthday cards. Any cash or gift cards that had been in the mail pieces was removed by the time they were discarded at the service station. Over $2,000 in cash or gift cards was reported stolen. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-2. ###


title: Onalaska Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking and Illegally Possessing Firearms

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Efrain Estrada, 31, Onalaska, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 132 months in federal prison for possessing 400 grams or more of fentanyl intended for distribution and possessing firearms as a felon. Estrada pleaded guilty to these charges on March 13, 2025. On July 22, 2024, law enforcement found approximately 5,000 fentanyl pills and 3,000 methamphetamine pills in a package mailed from Houston, Texas, to La Crosse, Wisconsin. On July 25, 2024, after replacing the pills with candy, agents conducted a controlled delivery to the recipient address and arrested the person who retrieved the package. Upon arrest, the person told agents that the package was meant for Estrada and agreed to conduct a controlled delivery to Estrada’s house in Onalaska, Wisconsin. The person then delivered the package to Estrada and agents arrested him as he left his house. Law enforcement then searched Estrada’s house and found another 2,800 fentanyl pills, approximately 1,000 pills containing other controlled substances, and more than 600 grams of methamphetamine. Law enforcement also found 10 firearms and ammunition of varying caliber in various locations throughout the house, some containing loaded high-capacity magazines. One firearm was a short-barreled rifle, and 2 other firearms were sawed-off shotguns with scratched off serial numbers. Some of the drugs and guns were found in a hidden compartment of a coffee table accessible only through a key card found in Estrada’s dresser. At sentencing, Judge Peterson acknowledged Estrada inherited a mature drug operation from a deceased relative, but Estrada was not an amateur and did not simply fall into drug trafficking. He said Estrada not only stepped into it but embraced it, and it constituted a very destructive financial shortcut for him. Estrada was not a low-level actor in someone else’s organization caught with a large quantity of drugs – this was Estrada’s organization for which he was fully accountable. Judge Peterson also observed that Estrada possessed a mini arsenal of firearms that had no purpose other than to protect his drug operation and that the result would have been catastrophic if he had used the firearms for that purpose. The charges against Estrada were the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Wisconsin Department of Justice-Division of Criminal Investigation, La Crosse Sheriff’s Office, La Crosse Police Department, Madison Police Department, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, which consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Ayala and David Reinhard prosecuted this case.


title: Federal Inmate And Visitor Sentenced In Scheme To Introduce Contraband Into Prison Facility

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced a federal inmate, Jessie Wooden (36, Miami), to 10 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. A co-defendant, Janai Chanel Stephens (38, Opa Locka), also was sentenced to 18 months’ probation for her role in introducing contraband into a federal prison and making false statements to a federal agent. A federal grand jury indicted Wooden and Stephens on May 28, 2024. Both defendants entered guilty pleas to the charges in January 2025. According to the court records, on March 10, 2024, Wooden was an inmate at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex (FCC Coleman) in Sumter County, Florida. On that date, Stephens visited Wooden at the prison. She entered FCC Coleman with a bag containing contraband 78 grams of methamphetamine and tobacco cigarettes that she intended to give to Wooden. Federal inmates are prohibited from possessing such items because they threaten the order, discipline, and security of the prison. Prior to the visitation, Stephens falsely represented to a corrections officer on a written form that she did not have any contraband in her possession. When she subsequently met with Wooden in a visitation room, however, she threw him the bag containing the contraband. After being confronted by law enforcement, Stephens confessed to bringing in the contraband for Wooden, though she claimed only to know about the tobacco products. Wooden admitted that he had planned to distribute the methamphetamine and other items to inmates inside FCC Coleman. “Individuals who smuggle contraband into federal prisons put lives at risk,” said Eric Fehlman, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Southeast Region. “The Department of Justice Office of Inspector General will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep federal prisons safe and hold those who would exploit our correctional system for personal gain accountable.” This case was prosecuted as part of a United States Department of Justice (DOJ) task force aimed at rooting out contraband and misconduct in the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The task force was led by the BOP and the DOJ - Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson.


title: Pocahontas County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Joshua Ray Vanreenan, 37, of Hillsboro, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for the distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Vanreenan was selling methamphetamine from his home in Pocahontas County. He has prior firearms convictions, as well as a domestic violence protection order. Vanreenan will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Children and Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to child exploitation offenses. Kyle Joyner, 40 pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper scheduled sentencing for Sept. 10, 2025. Joyner was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 6, 2024. On various dates between Jan. 3, 2023, through Sept. 17, 2023, Joyner sexually exploited a minor victim known to him by producing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Additionally, two cell phones seized from Joyner in October 2023 were found to contain over 700 CSAM images that included prepubescent females. The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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 and Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Grant County Man Sentenced to Decade in Prison for Firearms Violation

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Wesley Shane Haggerty, 37, of Cabins, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 120 months in federal prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, Pendleton County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a disturbance involving a firearm. When officers arrived at the home, Haggerty was arrested after a short foot pursuit. Haggerty had a pistol and is prohibited from having firearms because of seven prior felony convictions and two misdemeanor domestic battery convictions. Haggerty will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Pendleton County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: West Columbia Man Indicted for Directing the Sex Abuse of Children in Brazil by Livestream, Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence has returned a 13-count indictment charging Stephen Todd Greene, 55, of West Columbia, with conspiracy to produce child sexual abuse material, two counts of production of child sexual abuse material, four counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material, three counts of receipt of child sexual abuse material, possession of child sexual abuse material, and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor into illegal sexual conduct. The indictment alleges that from June 2023 through September 2024, Greene worked with a woman in Brazil, referred to in the indictment as C0-Conspirator 1, to sexually exploit her nieces, who are 3 years old and 9 years old as of the date of the indictment. Co-Conspirator 1 abused the children in person and Greene abused the children virtually, including by livestreaming their sex abuse to his home in West Columbia and by directing Co-Conspirator 1 to engage in certain abuse over livestream, according to the indictment. Greene and Co-Conspirator 1 used Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, and FaceTime to facilitate the scheme, as well as a series of cameras installed in Greene’s home and in Co-Conspirator 1’s home in Brazil, which allowed a livestream from both locations. According to the indictment, Greene produced, received, distributed, and possessed child sexual abuse material, and he engaged in sexually explicit conduct on video and caused the minor victims to watch. During the scheme, Greene travelled twice to Brazil, where he gained direct access to the children, and he transferred money during the scheme to Co-Conspirator 1 through a wire service, according to the indictment. Agents with the FBI Columbia field office arrested Greene and he was arraigned in federal court earlier this afternoon. He was ordered detained pending a bond hearing. Greene faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He also faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years on the conspiracy to produce child sexual abuse material and the production of child sexual abuse material charges, a mandatory minimum of 10 years on the coercion and enticement charges, and a mandatory minimum of five years on the receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material charges. Greene also faces up to a $250,000 fine, restitution payable to the minor victims for damages incurred as a result of the conduct, a special assessment of $5,000, lifetime supervision by the U.S. Probation Office following any term of incarceration, and potential sex offender registry requirements. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia field office and the Brazilian Federal Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case. The FBI’s Columbia field office is seeking any information regarding additional potential victims in this investigation. Tips can be provided at 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov. U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### * The term “pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”


title: Maryland woman sentenced to four years in prison for scheme to use stolen identities to purchase vehicles

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland woman was sentenced yesterday to four years in prison for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, on Nov. 23, 2022, Loryn Michelle Dorsey, 36, of Elkridge, Maryland, fraudulently obtained the personal identifying information (PII) of two victims, identified as K.R. and Z.B, due to their high credit scores, which she needed to fraudulently obtain a loan from a bank to purchase a vehicle. Dorsey also assumed the fake identity of “Julia Ball,” who is not a real person. On December 6, 2022, Dorsey used K.R.’s PII to apply online for financing to purchase a vehicle from a car dealership in Fairfax, falsely presenting herself as K.R., a female. The dealership then submitted the information to financial institutions to provide the requested credit. Ally Bank, among others, received but rejected the application, but no loan was awarded, and no vehicle was purchased. Later that day, Dorsey again attempted to obtain approval for financing to purchase a vehicle from the same dealership, this time applying with Z.B. as the co-purchaser and “Julia Ball” as the co-owner. Through the dealership’s website, Dorsey was granted conditional approval of a loan from Ally Bank based on Z.B.’s good credit rating. Because Z.B. had to be present to complete the purchase, and because Z.B. is a man, Dorsey asked a coconspirator to accompany her to the dealership and fraudulently present himself as Z.B. Dorsey also arranged for someone to create a fraudulent identification document with Z.B.’s information and the co-conspirator’s photograph. Dorsey and the co-conspirator, at Dorsey’s direction, completed paperwork to purchase a 2015 Cadillac Escalade for $48,629.20, with $1,000 cash downpayment provided by Dorsey and the remaining sum of $47,629.20 to be financed by Ally Bank. Fairfax County Police (FCPD) arrived at the dealership after the paperwork was completed. When Dorsey was arrested, she was in possession of a firearm. In 2016, Dorsey was convicted of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance in Maryland. As a previously convicted felon, Dorsey cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Emily Odom, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga. FCPD Auto Crimes Enforcement and the FBI WFO TOC-E/Major Theft Task Force investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Durham prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-7.


title: Bluefield Woman Sentenced to Prison for Witness Tampering Conspiracy in Sex Trafficking Case

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Laurel Blankenship, 58, of Bluefield, was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit witness tampering. On January 18, 2024, a federal jury found Blankenship and her husband, Terry Leon Blankenship, guilty of conspiracy to commit witness tampering following a one-day trial. Evidence at trial proved that from on or about April 4, 2023 through at least July 25, 2023, the Blankenships conspired to influence the testimony of a witness in a federal sex trafficking case against Terry Leon Blankenship. The witness was a 12-year-old girl who alleged that Terry Leon Blankenship had paid her for sexual activity with vapes and other items. Based upon those allegations, Terry Leon Blankenship was indicted on a charge of sex trafficking of a minor under the age of 14. Later, the minor victim recanted the allegation during the course of a West Virginia Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation that could have resulted in her being placed into foster care. In multiple recorded audio and video jail calls while Terry Leon Blankenship was incarcerated pending trial in the sex trafficking case, he and his wife had numerous conversations about ensuring that the minor witness maintained the recantation she had allegedly made to CPS. The recorded conversations included discussions about bribing the minor witness with an iPhone to ensure she stood by her recantation. At the time of this offense conduct, Terry Leon Blankenship was a registered sex offender after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography in United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia on December 5, 2008. He was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison in that case, and was serving a lifetime term of supervised release at the time of the alleged sex trafficking offense and subsequent attempts at witness tampering. Following an evidentiary hearing, the Court concluded that Terry Leon Blankenship engaged in sex acts with the minor female, that her initial disclosure of his sexual abuse was credible, and that the later recantation was not. “Despite knowing that her husband was on federal supervised release and not permitted to be around children, Laurel Blankenship allowed children into their home including overnight,” said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston. “She fostered the environment that allowed her husband to sexually abuse the child.” The jury also convicted Terry Leon Blankenship, 56, of interfering with the enforcement of federal sex trafficking laws and attempted witness tampering. He was sentenced on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, to 12 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He is scheduled for a revocation hearing on his alleged violations of supervised release on June 10, 2025. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-97. ###


title: Linneus Man Sentenced for Role in Penobscot and Aroostook County Drug Trafficking Ring

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Linneus man was sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor for his role in a northern Maine drug trafficking ring. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced James Valiante , 43, to 36 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On August 22, 2024, Valiante pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court records, between January 2018 and December 2021, Valiante and others trafficked methamphetamine and fentanyl in Penobscot and Aroostook counties and elsewhere. Valiante regularly arranged to obtain quantities of the two drugs from other members of the conspiracy through phone calls and texts using coded language and then distributed those drugs through a network of dealers he supplied in Aroostook County, using the proceeds to purchase more drugs. Twenty-two defendants have been charged in this and related cases for their part in a widespread northern Maine drug trafficking conspiracy. With Valiante’s sentencing this week, 20 of the defendants have been sentenced while two – Daquan Corbett and Daviston Jackson, who were convicted following a two-week trial in December 2024 – await sentencing. In addition to the sentence imposed on Valiante today, the Court has imposed the following sentences in related cases: Sentenced: Andrew Adams (32, Aroostook County) – 10 years Matthew Catalano (38, Penobscot County) – 165 months Christopher Coty (44, Bangor) – 4 years Jason Cunrod (42, Caribou) – 48 months Blaine Footman (38, Bangor) – 5 years Nicole Footman (41, Holden) – 3 years Dwight Gary, Jr. (54, Medway) – Time served (approx. 5 months) Carol Gordon (53, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 31 months) plus 6 months of community confinement Thomas Hammond (26, Charleston) – 84 months Joshua Jerrell (30, Orrington) – Time served (approx. 36 months) James King (55, Caribou) – 165 months Shelby Loring (29, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 32 months) Danielle McBreairty (34, Glenburn) – 20 years John Miller (24, Caribou) – 54 months Aaron Rodgers (43, Bangor) – Time served (approx. 33 months) Wayne Smith (33, Bangor) – 85 months Joshua Young (48, Presque Isle) – Time served (approx. 2 months) plus 24 months home detention Tamara Davis (29, Fall River, MA) – Time Served (approx. 14 months) Sarah McBreairty (36, Dixmont) – 60 months Awaiting sentencing: Daquan Corbett (31, Brockton, MA) – sentencing scheduled for August 11, 2025 Daviston Jackson (28, Boston, MA) – sentencing to be scheduled The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Maine Drug Enforcement Agency investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the police departments in Orono, Bangor, Brewer, Caribou, Presque Isle and Houlton. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also recognized the cooperation and coordination provided by the Maine State Attorney General’s Office and the Aroostook County District Attorney’s Office. Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. ###


title: St. Louis Drug Trafficker Connected to Nine Murders Sentenced to Two Life Sentences

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced a St. Louis cocaine trafficker responsible for nine murders to two consecutive life sentences in prison, plus five more years. Judge Autrey also ordered Anthony “TT” Jordan to pay restitution of $67,405. Jordan, 38, was convicted by a jury in February of one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and nine counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime resulting in death. Evidence and testimony at that trial showed that Jordan led a major cocaine trafficking ring. “Building up his drug empire, Jordan maintained his status by enforcing a lethal code against those who snitched, those who stole, and those who targeted his associates,” a sentencing memorandum says. After a Jordan associate was murdered, Jordan later targeted a St. Louis gang he held responsible for the murder. He then targeted gang members and their families with the help of others. According to evidence and testimony, Jordan was responsible for multiple non-fatal shootings and the murders of nine people: The April 19, 2008, murders of Al Walters, Linnie Jackson and Keith Burks. The Feb. 3, 2010, murders of Marquis Jones and Keairrah Johnson. The June 25, 2013, murder of Anthony “Blinky” Clark. The Dec. 29, 2013, murders of Robert “Parker G” Parker and Clara Walker. The Jan. 21, 2014, murder of Michail “Yellow Mack” Gridiron. Jordan’s associate, Michael Brooks, fatally shot Montez “Tez” Woods on May 20, 2012, because Jordan believed he stole cocaine, according to evidence and testimony. When Brooks was killed in retaliation for the murder of Woods, that sparked another round of retaliatory murders by Jordan. Jordan’s phone was later seized and found to contain images of some of the victims he murdered, including Mr. Clark and Mr. Gridiron. Twenty firearms were also seized from vehicles and residences connected to Jordan. “Today’s sentencing of Anthony Jordan wraps up the last and most violent of the 34 defendants responsible for large-scale drug trafficking directly sourced from Mexican cartels,” said Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Dismantling an entire criminal enterprise is what the FBI does best. Together with our law enforcement partners, this is how we are making the greatest impact in protecting our community.” “Anthony Jordan’s reign of terror has come to an end,” DEA St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “Our hope is that today’s sentencing serves as a reminder that the DEA and our law enforcement partners will go to great lengths to remove criminals who bring violence and push harmful drugs into our communities. The life sentence of Anthony Jordan handed down today is the culmination of the dismantling of a violent drug trafficking network that no longer possesses the ability to wreak havoc in the St. Louis area.” Jordan’s cocaine was supplied by Adrian Lemons , who obtained cocaine in bulk from representatives of a Mexican cartel. Lemons, now 47, of St. Louis, is serving a 20-year prison sentence. Lemons, Jordan and 32 others were indicted as part of a long-running investigation by the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Granger and Donald Boyce prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty to Re-Entry After Deportation

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Guatemalan national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to illegally re-entering the United States after a prior removal. According to court records, Marvin Aguilar-Lopez , 24, was pulled over by Old Orchard Beach police officers in March 2025 for a taillight violation. Aguilar-Lopez produced an invalid international license and told police he was from Guatemala. Immigration records showed that he had previously been removed from the U.S. in 2023 and did not have a visa or other documentation that would allow him to re-enter the country. Aguilar-Lopez faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to a year of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case. Operation Take Back America : This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). ###


title: Second large-scale methamphetamine trafficker in Duncanville sentenced to 20 years in federal prison

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: The second defendant convicted of large-scale methamphetamine trafficking in Duncanville, Texas was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in federal prison, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad E. Meacham. Moises Elias Saavedra Posadas, 45, a Mexican national illegally living in the United States, pled guilty to methamphetamine possession with intent to distribute in February 2025. He was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison yesterday, May 28, 2025, by United States District Judge David C. Godbey. According to court documents, Saavedra Posadas helped codefendant Gerardo Barraza Ortiz deliver more than 4 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine on two separate occasions. Officers with the Duncanville Police Department executed a search warrant at an auto body shop located on South Cockrell Hill Road in Dallas, Texas, where several identifying documents belonging to Saavedra Posadas were located. Testimony from codefendant Barraza Ortiz’s sentencing hearing revealed that on June 2, 2022, officers located approximately 48.66 kilograms (107.05 pounds) of crystalized methamphetamine during a search of the building. The majority of the methamphetamine was located in 1,022 small packages hidden in buckets and pallets. A further search of the auto body shop revealed a freezer, burners, coolers, storage bins, and barrels that were being used to store, cook, and convert liquid methamphetamine into a crystalized form. Officers also located three firearms and several pounds of marijuana during the search. According to the Duncanville Police Department, the 48.66 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, if sold in ounce quantities, has a street value of approximately $3,128,400.00 in the Dallas, Texas area. Barraza Ortiz was sentenced to a term of 262 months’ imprisonment in March 2025 by U.S. District Judge Godbey. The Duncanville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys George Leal and Sarah Douglas prosecuted the case.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Ammunition Offense in Connection with Everett Shooting

body_text: BOSTON – A Revere man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for illegally possessing ammunition in connection with a shooting in a residential neighborhood of Everett. Kenneth Munoz, 27, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 70 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In December 2024, Munoz pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. On the afternoon of Jan. 2, 2022, three individuals fired over 20 shots in an Everett neighborhood, during which multiple houses were struck by stray bullets. Munoz was identified as one of the shooters. Due to prior convictions, including a 2017 state conviction for assault and battery on a family member and malicious destruction of property, Munoz is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Everett Police Chief Paul Strong; and Chelsea Police Chief Keith E. Houghton made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Hoefle of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: Honduran Citizen Living Illegally in West Virginia Sentenced to Prison for Immigration Crime

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Nolvin Alfredo-Diaz, also known as “Alfredo Diaz” and “Nolvin Alfredo Diaz,” 43, a citizen of Honduras living illegally in Lewisburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to three years in prison for reentry of a removed alien. Alfredo-Diaz will be remanded to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for deportation proceedings at the conclusion of his sentence. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 21, 2024, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Alfredo-Diaz in Lewisburg. Alfredo-Diaz admitted that he was a citizen of Honduras in the United States illegally and that he had previously been deported from the United States. Alfredo-Diaz had no identification documents permitting him legal status in the United States. Fingerprints matched Alfredo-Diaz to two prior removals from the United States to Honduras, each following a felony criminal conviction. Alfredo-Diaz was convicted of felony heroin possession on September 25, 2006, and of felony cocaine possession on December 20, 2007, both in Denver County, Colorado, District Court. Alfredo-Diaz was removed from the United States to Honduras on December 27, 2006. On July 21, 2010, Alfredo-Diaz was found in Canon City, Colorado, and was removed from the United States to Honduras on August 5, 2010. Alfredo-Diaz never obtained the express consent of the Secretary of U.S. Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States for either of the prior removals, nor did he seek to reenter the United States through other legal means. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-146. ###


title: Woman Bound for Dubai Arrested at Airport and Indicted in Feeding Our Future Scheme

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – The 71st defendant in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme has been indicted with two counts of wire fraud following her failed attempt to leave the country for Dubai, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. According to court documents, Hibo Daar, 50, owned and operated an entity called Northside Wellness Center. In 2020, Daar applied to use Northside Wellness Center as a food distribution site in the federal child nutrition program under the sponsorship of Feeding Our Future. Using Northside Wellness, Daar purportedly served thousands and thousands of meals to children from a small business park on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. At times, Daar completed and signed meal count forms on which she claimed to be serving 40,000 meals to children from the Northside Wellness site each week. Court documents explain that those meal counts were inflated, and that Daar used false invoices and false attendance rosters to bolster those inflated claims. Daar’s Northside Wellness site submitted over $2.4 million in reimbursement claims. A bank account Daar controlled received more than $1.7 million in taxpayer dollars from those claims. Financial records indicate that Daar used only a tiny portion of those dollars to purchase food and instead transferred most of that money to family, associates, and to herself. Court documents further describe that Daar paid $72,000 in bribes to a Feeding Our Future employee to ensure processing of Daar’s fraudulent reimbursement claims. Federal agents apprehended Daar at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport this week before she could board a flight booked to Dubai. Daar is currently in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 30. “As we have said, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is not stopping. We will continue to investigate and charge defendants who defrauded the government in the Feeding Our Future case—the largest COVID fraud scheme in the country and the single largest case charged in the history of this office,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Our work is not done.” “Fraud against the government takes money out of taxpayers’ pockets,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “Criminals who exploit government programs for personal gain will face the full weight of justice. The FBI and our law enforcement partners condemn these actions and will continue to work to protect the public from these damaging schemes.” This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph H. Thompson, Matthew S. Ebert, Harry M. Jacobs and Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Man Sentenced to 72 months in Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a Firearm

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Eddie Lee Grasty was sentenced last week to 72 months in prison with 3 years of supervised release, following his guilty plea to unlawful possession of a firearm, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. According to court documents, Eddie Lee Grasty, 28, was arrested in March 2024 after assaulting a woman in a St. Paul apartment. During the assault, Grasty repeatedly struck that woman in the face and head before brandishing a Glock handgun, pointing it at her, and threatening to use it to end her life. Grasty was prohibited from possessing that firearm due to his prior felony convictions, several of which arose from Grasty’s other violent assaults of women. Grasty’s history of violence against women includes several assaults, a stabbing, and two strangulations of a pregnant victim. “We know that defendants like Grasty—who habitually abuse and assault women—are some of the most dangerous offenders on the streets,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick. “Grasty has stabbed, strangled, and terrorized women for years. He will now serve a well-deserved 72 months behind bars.” Grasty was sentenced in U.S. District Court before Judge Ann D. Montgomery. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF and the St. Paul Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel W. Bobier represented the government at sentencing.


title: Ocala Man Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Attempted Enticement Of A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Scott Alan Colson (60, Ocala) to 15 years in federal prison for attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Following the prison term, Colson must serve a lifetime of supervised release. He entered a guilty plea on February 6, 2025. According to court records, on July 24, 2024, an undercover detective from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office posed as a 15-year-old girl on an online messaging application. Colson contacted the undercover detective’s account, inquired as to whether the fictional minor had ever “been with older men” and asked to meet her. Colson added, “You keep secrets if we meet up.” Colson then engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the undercover detective. Colson arranged to meet the “minor” at a predetermined location in Marion County where he was arrested by law enforcement. When interviewed by law enforcement, Colson admitted to engaging in the sexually explicit conversation and then traveling to meet the fictional minor to engage in sexual activity. An examination of Colson’s cellphone revealed other child sexual exploitation materials. “The attempt to entice and meet a minor for sexual activity is a reprehensible crime that strikes at the heart of our community’s safety and moral foundation,” said Homeland Security Investigation Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI and our law enforcement partners remain unwavering in our commitment to protect our children from these kinds of predators. The safety and security of our youth is non-negotiable, we will protect them at all costs.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk Watson. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Woman guilty of bank fraud conspiracy involving millions

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 71-year-old woman has admitted to acting as a loan borrower on millions of dollars in fraudulent loans as part of a large-scale bank fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Jennifer Williams admitted that from 2016 to 2021, she conspired with others in a bank fraud scheme involving dozens of loans totaling at least $10 million in fraudulent proceeds. As part of the plea, Williams acknowledged submitting loan applications with false income information along with fraudulent tax returns and financial statements. She also admitted using proceeds from the scheme to buy a home in the Houston area. Williams and others accomplished the bank fraud by preparing loan applications that contained false and fraudulent information and documents, including fake equipment sales invoices, income tax returns and financial and bank statements. U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison will impose sentencing Aug. 14. At that time, Williams faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine or twice the amount involved in the transaction. She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. Another Houston resident charged in the case - Hugo Villanueva, 70, - is considered a fugitive, and a warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact the FBI at 713-693-5000. The Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General (OIG), IRS Criminal Investigation, FBI and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation - OIG conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Belinda Beek is prosecuting the case.


title: Boston Man Indicted for  Receipt and Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Cess Frazier, 32, was charged with one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Frazier was arrested and charged by complaint on April 29, 2025 . The defendant was subsequently released on conditions following a detention hearing and will be arraigned in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, on or about Feb. 20, 2025 through April 29, 2025, Frazier knowingly received and possessed files that depicted CSAM from unknown users on Telegram. It is alleged that the CSAM files depicted the sexual abuse of minor victims who appeared to be between approximately three and 10 years old. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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 and Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Denver Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Federal Prison for Post Office Burglary, Other Crimes

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Zachary Robert Rodrick Jones, 36, of Denver, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison following a guilty plea to Burglary of a United States Post Office; Possession of Stolen Mail; and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. According to the plea agreement, Jones participated in the burglary of the Dacono Post Office on or about April 6, 2022. The door of the Post Office was pried open, and a computer terminal, laptop, scanner, two printers, one postal service jacket, nine keys, two genuine postal service keys, seven employee personnel files, and one binder containing postal applications were stolen. The plea agreement also states that on May 1, 2022, Jones was contacted by United States Postal Inspection Service inspectors and was found to be in possession of a genuine postal service key, personnel files, post office box applications, and other postal service forms from the Dacono Post Office, in addition to possessing other postal property. He was also in possession of stolen personal and business mail. Additionally, he had a Smith & Wesson handgun that, as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from having. “The public entrusts the U.S. Postal Service with the safe handling of valuable and important mail,” said Acting U.S. Attorney J. Bishop Grewell. “Criminals who undermine that trust will be prosecuted.” “Protecting the integrity of the U.S. mail and ensuring the safety and security of the U.S. Postal Service, its employees, and its customers is core to the mission of the United State Postal Inspection Service,” said Denver Division Acting Inspector in Charge Steve Hodges. “This sentencing serves as a reminder that postal inspectors work tirelessly day in and day out to bring to justice those who seek to do harm to the U.S. Postal Service.” United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing. The United States Postal Inspection Service handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Albert Buchman handled the prosecution. Case Number: 25-cr-00108-CNS


title: Baltimore Woman Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Daniela Marie Giancoli, age 35, of Baltimore, Maryland, was sentenced today to 150 months in federal prison for supplying fentanyl to dealers in West Virginia. According to court documents and statements made in court, Giancoli and co-defendant, Michael Matthews, worked together out of their Baltimore apartment to sell drugs to more than 10 dealers in Grant County, WV. During the investigation nearly 9,000 fentanyl pills, weighing more than two kilograms, were seized. Giancoli will serve three years of supervised release following her prison sentence. Matthews previously pled guilty and was sentenced to 100 months in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Multi-Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Illegal Possession Of Firearms And Ammunition

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Brady Kyle Milton Williams (29, Florida) has pleaded guilty to two counts possession of a firearm or ammunition affecting commerce by a convicted felon. Williams faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. According to court documents, on November 3, 2022, during an investigation into a stolen vehicle, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office discovered Williams had a loaded pistol tucked inside his waistband. Several weeks later, on January 13, 2023, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on another suspected stolen vehicle. Williams, the driver of that vehicle, fled from law enforcement. Once law enforcement disabled the vehicle, Williams fled on foot into a nearby field where he was apprehended. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded revolver in the vehicle’s driver-side door pocket. The passenger in the vehicle confirmed the firearm belonged to Williams. At the time of these events, Williams already was a nine-time convicted felon. His previous state convictions included fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, grand theft of a motor vehicle, owning and operating a chop shop, and possession of methamphetamine. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Fort Pierce Jury convicts a Louisiana Registered Sex Offender of Various Internet Sex Crimes Involving a Martin County Minor

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On May 20, a federal jury sitting in Fort Pierce, Florida convicted Nicolas James Palmisano, 45, of Destrehan, Louisiana, for attempted enticement of a minor, attempted production of visual depictions involving sexual exploitation of a minor, receipt of visual depictions involving sexual exploitation of a minor, transfer of obscene material to a minor, and offense by a registered sex offender. According to court records and evidence introduced during trial, in 2019, Palmisano was convicted in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana for sexual offenses involving a juvenile. Upon the completion of his four-year prison sentence, Palmisano registered as a sex offender with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office in the town in which he resided. In May 2024, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) learned that a minor had images of sexually explicit activity on her cellular phone. An MCSO computer forensic examiner recovered messages, images, and recordings from the minor’s cellular phone that were sent from Palmisano’s cellular number. Despite acknowledging that the minor was 15 years old, Palmisano wrote thousands of sexually explicit messages and sent multiple sexually explicit images, as well as audio and video recordings, of himself between February 22 and May 6, 2024. Palmisano also solicited, and obtained, sexually explicit images from the minor. In August 2024, members of the FBI and MCSO arrested Palmisano at the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, after he arrived for his annual Sexual Offender Registration review and update. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Palmisano’s residence and recovered his cellular phone, which was found to contain the sexually explicit material that Palmisano and the minor exchanged. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 25, before U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez. Palmisano faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years up to life in prison, and up to a lifetime of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida, acting Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of FBI Miami, and Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek made the announcement. FBI Fort Pierce investigated the case, with assistance from MCSO, FBI New Orleans, and St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. Fort Pierce Branch Managing Assistant U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Lineberger and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Kahn Obenauf are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . Anyone with information relating to child sexual exploitation or abuse is encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-14044. ###


title: Physician at VA Medical Center Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Child Pornography Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A physician employed at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Bedford, Mass. has been indicted by a federal grand jury for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Sven Knudsen Ljaamo, 70, was indicted on one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The defendant was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint on April 23, 2025. on April 23, 2025 He was subsequently released on conditions following a detention hearing. According to the charging documents , law enforcement received a CyberTip reporting that over 100 files of suspected CSAM files had allegedly been uploaded to Ljaamo’s Google account. When Ljaamo spoke to investigators, he allegedly admitted to viewing, downloading and saving pornographic material involving female minors. It is further alleged that several CSAM files, along with tens of thousands of pornography files, were found during a review of Ljaamo’s devices, including on a cell phone Ljaamo kept in his office at the VA Medical Center. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. 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; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Christopher Algieri, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, Northeast Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Billerica, Lowell and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Gainesville Man Sentenced To A Decade In Federal Prison For Attempted Enticement Of A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Alberto Christian Quiroz (33, Gainesville) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Following the prison term, Quiroz will spend the rest of his life on court supervision. The court also ordered Quiroz to forfeit the cellular phone which he used to commit the offense. Quiroz entered a guilty plea on January 28, 2025. According to court documents, Quiroz was an employee of a care agency that was contracted with the Florida Department of Children and Families to provide services for children. On July 26-27, 2024, Quiroz used an online messaging service to communicate with an undercover detective portraying a 14-year-old girl. Quiroz arranged to meet the undercover detective at an Ocala restaurant for sexual activity. Agents arrested Quiroz upon his arrival at that location. “This predator’s attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity was a gross violation of the position of trust he held,” said Homeland Security Investigation Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding all offenders accountable, no matter what title they hold. Protecting our children is our highest priority and we will do everything in our power to ensure those who prey on them face swift and decisive justice.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Ocala Police Department, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Berks County Man Pleads Guilty to Art Fraud Scheme, Admits Selling Counterfeit Artworks to Customers

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Carter Reese, 77, of Reading, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl to one count of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud, in connection with a scheme in which he defrauded customers by making false representations about the source and authenticity of certain art purportedly created by prominent artists. Reese was charged by information with those offenses earlier this month. As detailed in court filings and admitted to by the defendant, from about February 2019 to March 2021, Reese sold and attempted to sell art that he represented as genuine pieces created by prominent artists, including Francis Bacon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jean Cocteau, Keith Haring, Fernand Léger, Roy Lichtenstein, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and others. Reese knew that the pieces were fake and had not been created by those artists. The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on September 12 and faces a maximum possible term of 40 years in prison. The case was investigated by members of the FBI’s Art Crime Team assigned to the Philadelphia and Miami field offices and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and Jason Grenell.