title: Two Foreign Nationals Charged With Fraudulently Using The Trump Name To Scam Victims Across The United States

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), James C. Barnacle, Jr., announced the unsealing of two separate Indictments charging GORAN SPIRIDONOV and KRISTINA JANEVA, respectively, with federal crimes relating to their fraudulent sale of “Trump Bucks”—a fake form of legal tender—to victims across the United States. SPIRIDONOV and JANEVA are both citizens and residents of North Macedonia and remain at large. SPIRIDONOV’s case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel and JANEVA’s case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, both of the Southern District of New York. “As alleged, the defendants created a fictitious financial instrument and marketed it to Americans around the country under the false pretense that ‘Trump Bucks’ was affiliated with the funding of President Trump’s re-election campaign and other causes associated with the President and the Trump Organization,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “That cannot be further from the truth. ‘Trump Bucks’ has no connection to the President, the campaign, or the Trump Organization. This fraud targets many senior citizens, taking advantage of their support for the President. We commend our FBI partners for detecting and thwarting this scheme. Importantly, this conduct may be ongoing, and we strongly urge anyone targeted not to provide financial information or funds to any entity related to ‘Trump Bucks’ or the fictitious products pictured in this press release.” “These foreign nationals allegedly leveraged a false affiliation with the President's administration to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from Americans,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “The FBI continues to target fraudsters that manipulate our country’s citizens, regardless of where they’re located.” As alleged in the Indictments: [1] From at least in or about 2023 through in or about the present, SPIRIDONOV, JANEVA, and others based abroad have engaged in a widespread scheme to scam victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars through the sale of so-called “Trump Bucks.” SPIRIDONOV and JANEVA have each falsely claimed that “Trump Bucks” are valuable legal tender affiliated with President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization. In reality, these products are worthless and have no such affiliations. SPIRIDONOV, JANEVA, and other participants in the scheme have each marketed and sold a number of different “Trump Bucks” and other related products to victims, mainly through the use of a certain online marketplace (identified in the Indictments as “Marketplace-1”) and encrypted messaging applications such as Telegram. Scheme participants have fraudulently sold “Golden Checks,” “Membership Booklets,” “Golden Badges,” “Trump Dollars,” “Trump Checks,” “Golden Trump Checks,” and “Diamond Bucks,” among other fraudulent products, many of which are marketed under the “Trump Rebate Banking System,” or “TRB,” banner. Pictures of some of the “Trump Bucks” products fraudulently marketed and sold to victims are below: SPIRIDONOV, JANEVA, and other promoters of this scam have each falsely represented to victims that “Trump Bucks” products are affiliated with President Trump, members of his family, members of the Trump Organization, and members of the Trump administration, and that purchases of “Trump Bucks” would help fund President Trump’s re-election campaign and various causes purportedly associated with President Trump. SPIRIDONOV, JANEVA, and others have also falsely claimed that these products are preloaded with tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash that would be redeemable at banks during a Trump presidency. These statements are all lies. “Trump Bucks” products are worthless; are not redeemable at any bank; and have no affiliation at all with President Trump, his family members, or members of his administration. During the scheme, JANEVA marketed several different fake “Bank of Trump” products to victims. Below is an example of a “Ruby Certificate” marketed by JANEVA, which she falsely claimed was issued by the Trump Organization: SPIRIDONOV has marketed several other fake “Trump Bucks” products to victims. For example, in the below email, which was later sent to victims, SPIRIDONOV falsely claimed that any victim who purchased a “Patriot Eagle” product could exchange such product for $10,000 upon President Trump’s reelection: SPIRIDONOV, JANEVA, and others have each used this fraudulent scheme to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars from victims across the country, many of whom are senior citizens. * * * SPIRODONOV, 25, and JANEVA, 39, are each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, which each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. SPIRIDONOV and JANEVA are each also charged with aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations. This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas W. Chiuchiolo and Jackie Delligatti are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Indictments and the description of the Indictments set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: D.C. Man Found Guilty of Murdering Father of Four in Deanwood Neighborhood in 2020

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jamil Whitley, 38, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday in D.C. Superior Court, for charges related to the shooting death of 32-year-old Kevin Redd in the alley behind 4722 Jay Street, Northeast, on June 11, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Whitley was found guilty by a jury on May 12, 2026, after a nearly month-long trial, on one count of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson scheduled sentencing for July 17, 2026. According to the government’s evidence, on June 11, 2020, at approximately 1:36 a.m., the victim, Kevin Redd, dropped off at the Shell Gas Station located at 4321 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE. According to gas station surveillance video, three minutes earlier the defendant had arrived at the gas station as the rear passenger of a four-door, white vehicle. The surveillance video, that had no audio, captured the two men speaking. Eventually, Whitley returned to the rear passenger area of the white vehicle and was driven from the gas station while Mr. Redd remained. Thirteen minutes later, the defendant returned to the gas station driving an older two-door, white vehicle with a sunroof and tinted windows. Whitley was wearing the same clothes, but his face was now covered with a surgical mask. The defendant exited the vehicle and approached Mr. Redd. The defendant returned to his car with Mr. Redd following behind him. As Whitley entered the driver’s door, he quickly pulled a small object from his pants. Then, Mr. Redd entered the passenger door and before he could fully close it, the defendant sped off causing a vehicle to swerve to avoid hitting him. Just over a minute later, a residential security camera captured the defendant’s vehicle entering the alley leading to the rear of 4722 Jay Street, N.E., where within seconds two gunshots rang out. Approximately 17 seconds later, a business security camera captured the defendant fleeing the alley and the area. Subsequently, Sixth District police officers responded to the alley where they found Mr. Redd suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. At the time of Mr. Redd’s murder, he was a father of three with a fourth child born within weeks of his murder. Whitley was arrested on August 25, 2021, and has been in custody since. Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michelle D. Jackson and Negar Kordestani. 2021 CF1 004848


title: Morristown Woman Sentenced To 20 Years In The Deaths Of Multiple Fentanyl Overdose Victims

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On May 13, 2026, Ashlyn Jade Henry, 25 of Morristown, Tennessee was sentenced to 20 years by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, United States District Court, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following her imprisonment, Henry will be on supervised release for five years. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Henry agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging her with one count of conspiracy to distribute a quantity of fentanyl and cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). According to filed court documents, in January 2024, Henry purchased a quantity of cocaine base from her supplier in the Knoxville area for the purpose of reselling it to people in Morristown, Tennessee. This cocaine base was laced with fentanyl. Over the course of several days Henry then sold the laced drugs to numerous victims. At least three victims were found deceased in their homes after using the drugs. Two additional victims overdosed and survived after being resuscitated. Both surviving victims identified Henry as the person that sold them the fentanyl laced cocaine base. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement. Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the indictment and subsequent conviction of Henry included the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Morristown Police Department, and the Hamblen County Sherriff’s Office. Meghan L. Gomez, Assistant United States Attorney represented the United States. On December 15, 2025, the President issued an Executive Order designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Jefferson County felon sentenced for federal firearms violation related to Dowlen Road disturbance

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

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Wendell Rashaud McKinney, 38, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on May 12, 2026. According to information presented in court, during the early morning hours of February 22, 2025, a 911-caller reported multiple armed men loitering in the parking lot of the Fuma Dubai Hookah Lounge on Dowlen Road. Moments later when Beaumont police responded they found McKinney in possession of an AK-style pistol. Further investigation revealed McKinney was a previously convicted felon having been found guilty of a felony drug offense in Jefferson County and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms. 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. This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross. ###


title: Mexican national illegally living in Lufkin guilty of immigration violations as part of Operation Take Back America

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Mexican national illegally living in the Eastern District of Texas, has pleaded guilty to immigration violations, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Jose Perez-Segura, 41, pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry by a deported alien before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn on May 13, 2026. According to information presented in court, Perez-Segura was arrested by the Lufkin Police Department in August 2025 for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Further investigation revealed Perez-Segura was an alien illegal present in the United States after having been previously deported in 2011 and did not have permission to return to the United States. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lufkin Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter. ###


title: Louisville Man Charged by Federal Complaint for Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – Last week, a Louisville man was arrested and charged by complaint with possession with the intent to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, possession of firearms as a convicted felon, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division made the announcement. The complaint alleges that in April 2026, law enforcement identified Darrell Malone, 35, as a multi-kilogram quantity fentanyl drug trafficker in the Louisville area and began an investigation into Malone’s drug trafficking operation. On or about May 7, 2026, members of the DEA executed a federal search warrant at Malone’s residence in Louisville. During the execution of the search warrant, DEA seized 4 bricks of suspected powdered fentanyl, additional bags of suspected fentanyl, a baggie of suspected MDMA (ecstasy) tablets, a hydraulic kilo press, and United States currency. DEA also seized three firearms, including a loaded Smith and Wesson 9-millimeter pistol, a loaded Glock 9-millimeter pistol, and a stolen Springfield XD 9-millimeter pistol. At the time he allegedly possessed the firearms, Malone was prohibited from possessing a firearm based on a prior federal conviction for conspiring to distribute controlled substances. As a result of the seizures, Malone was charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. United States Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner stated, “President Trump has designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction based upon its lethality and the tragic loss of so many American lives from overdose deaths. DEA’s seizure of three million potentially lethal doses of fentanyl undoubtedly saved the lives of Louisvillians. I want to commend DEA for this fentanyl seizure. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to assist law enforcement in investigating fentanyl trafficking and we will aggressively prosecute fentanyl trafficking cases.” “Mr. Malone, a career criminal, is behind bars today because of the cooperation and partnerships among law enforcement at every level… federal, state, and local, all working together to make Louisville a safer city,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “The amount of fentanyl that we took from his home equates to more than three million potentially lethal doses that never made it to the street. If convicted as charged in the complaint, Malone faces a combined mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of Life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the DEA, FBI, and LMPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl is prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Nashville comprises agents and officers from FBI, HSI, DEA, ATF, and IRS, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Kentucky. A complaint merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Mexican national illegally living in Arlington sentenced to 20 years in federal prison as part of Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – An illegal alien has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation for trafficking methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Mauricio Diaz-Abraham, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on May 12, 2026. According to information presented in court, beginning in 2020, Diaz-Abraham, a Mexican national who was illegally living in Arlington, was part of a methamphetamine distributing conspiracy responsible for trafficking a large amount of methamphetamine from Mexico into the Eastern District of Texas and beyond. Diaz-Abraham admitted to being personally responsible for the distribution of at least 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Dallas Field Office; U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations - Dallas (ICE-HSI); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Dallas Field Division; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Dallas Field Division; Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CD; United States Postal Service, United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Transportation Security Administration, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS); United States Secret Service (USSS); Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DSS); TEXOMA HIDTA; and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Eastern District of Texas with the prosecution being led by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Johnson. ###


title: Southington Man Sentenced to More Than 7 Years in Prison for Dealing AR-15-Style Assault Rifles, Marijuana

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRYAN JOYCE, 40, of Southington, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 90 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for offenses related to his selling privately made AR-15-style firearms, ammunition, and marijuana. According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2022, the Connecticut State Police received information that Joyce was offering to sell assault weapons and other firearms, including privately manufactured firearms (PMFs or “ghost guns”), as well as ammunition and firearms accessories. On January 28, 2022, Joyce sold an undercover law officer a privately made AR-15 style rifle, a privately made 9mm handgun, and a box of ammunition, in exchange for $2,000. On March 4, 2022, Joyce sold the undercover officer two loaded AR-15 style rifles and approximately 400 grams of marijuana, for $5,800. For an additional charge, Joyce offered to supply the undercover officer with fully automatic firearms. On March 21, 2022, Joyce was arrested at a parking lot in Waterbury where he met with the undercover officer who had arranged to purchase five more privately made AR-15 style rifles and a kilogram of marijuana. A search of Joyce’s vehicle revealed the five firearms, marijuana, and numerous rounds of ammunition. The investigation revealed that Gregory Leary was Joyce’s firearm supplier. A subsequent search of Leary’s Wolcott residence revealed six privately made AR-15 style rifles; two privately made 9mm semiautomatic handguns; a loaded Remington 12-gauge shotgun; a Glock .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun; a Glock 9mm semiautomatic handgun stamped “San Antonio Police Department”; numerous firearm parts and accessories; equipment used to manufacture firearms; and $7,129 in cash. Joyce is a felon with a criminal history that includes state convictions for drug, larceny, and burglary offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. On October 8, 2024, Joyce pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, three counts of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, marijuana, and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Joyce, who had been released on bond, has been detained since April 2024 after he was arrested after a domestic violence incident. Leary pleaded guilty and admitted that he manufactured and sold more than 25 firearms to Joyce. On November 7, 2023, he was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment. This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Connecticut State Police Statewide Firearms Trafficking Task Force (SFTTF) and Statewide Urban Violence Cooperative Crime Control Task Force (SUVCCCTF/Gangs Unit), assisted by the Statewide Narcotics Task Force (SNTF) Southwest and North Central Offices, and the Bridgeport, Shelton, Orange, Waterbury, and Hartford Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Man With Illegally Possessing Loaded Firearm in Downtown Chicago Federal Courthouse

body_text: CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois has charged a man with illegally possessing a loaded firearm in the Dirksen Federal Building in downtown Chicago. JAMES C. LAKE, JR. possessed a loaded semiautomatic handgun on Monday morning in the lobby of the Dirksen Building, which is located at 219 S. Dearborn St. in Chicago’s downtown Loop neighborhood, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The Dirksen Building houses the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the offices of various governmental agencies. It is the largest federal courthouse in the United States both by square footage and number of federal judges. According to the complaint, Lake approached the Court Security Officers around 7:40 a.m. and placed a bookbag containing the gun, a box cutter, and a jackknife onto the magnetometer conveyer belt. Lake informed the officers that he had a gun and “other stuff” in the bag, the complaint states. Officers searched the bag and discovered the gun with a loaded magazine, the box cutter, 23 live rounds of ammunition, and the jackknife inside its sheath. The seized items can be seen in the photo below. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois An inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service took Lake into custody and seized the contraband. Lake had previously been convicted of a federal felony and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The complaint charges Lake, 53, of Chicago, with illegal possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Lake made an initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday and was ordered to remain detained in federal custody. The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and LaDon Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Smith. The public is reminded that a complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. lake_complaint.pdf


title: Jury convicts Laredoan of multiple offenses involving child sexual abuse material

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 27-year-old Laredo man has been found guilty of transportation, receipt and possession of child pornography, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. The jury deliberated for approximately two hours before convicting Fernando Xavier Ortiz on all counts as charged following a two-day trial that concluded May 12. The investigation began after law enforcement learned child sexual abuse material had been uploaded to a social media application which originated from an apartment in Laredo. Ortiz resided at the location with his family. Authorities executed a search warrant in June 2024 and seized several electronic devices. Further examination of one of the cellular phones revealed 220 videos and 144 images containing CSAM. The files were all hidden in a “secure” folder Ortiz had loaded on the phone which was password protected. Testimony revealed he had been actively using that same secure folder for other purposes, such as sending emails to purchase a car. The jury heard from four witnesses, some of whom described how Ortiz obtained the material from another application and stored it in the secure folder of the Samsung phone. The defense attempted to convince the jury someone else must have placed the material on his phone, and there was insufficient proof that he did it. They did not believe those claims and found Ortiz guilty as charged. U.S. District Judge John A. Kazen presided over trial and will set sentencing at a later date. At that time, Ortiz faces up to 20 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Previously released on bond, he was ordered into custody following the verdict where he will remain pending that hearing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance of Laredo Police Department and other members of the Laredo Child Exploitation Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ann Zeller and Michael Makens are prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Former School Resource Officer Sentenced for Receipt of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Mack’s Creek, Mo., man was sentenced to nine years imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release for his conviction of receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Darrin Marshall Skinner, 52, was sentenced before District Judge Stephen R. Bough, for one count of receipt of CSAM. Skinner, who worked as a school resource officer in Mack’s Creek and was employed by the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, traded child sexual abuse material with other individuals using MeWe, an application which focuses on the privacy of its users. A National Center for Missing and Exploitive Children (NCMEC) Cyber Tip alerted the Camden County Sheriff’s Office of Skinner’s conduct. Due to a conflict of interest, the Camden County Sheriff’s office requested the Missouri State Highway Patrol investigate. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Camden County Sheriff’s Office. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources." Skinner will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.


title: Illegal aliens and convicted felons sentenced for transnational drug trafficking and money laundering

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Two illegal aliens and two convicted felons have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a large international drug trafficking and money laundering organization stretching from Mexico to Atlanta. “These defendants forfeited their freedom by choosing to poison our community and enrich narco-terrorists abroad,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “My office, our Homeland Security Task Force, and our state and local partners are deeply committed to stemming the tide of drugs flowing into north Georgia and punishing the criminals who enable and abet foreign cartels.” “Fentanyl continues to devastate communities across our country,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “Through strong partnerships and coordinated enforcement efforts, we were able to stop a dangerous operation and disrupt the flow of illegal profits. This case underscores our shared mission to save lives and keep our communities safe.” “Sandra Hernandez Chilel’s sentencing demonstrates that individuals involved in trafficking dangerous drugs such as fentanyl and laundering crime proceeds, which contribute to violence and instability within our communities, will be held responsible,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS-CI special agents, together with our federal partners, conducted thorough investigations to dismantle this network and intercept narcotics and illicit funds, thereby ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2024, federal law enforcement uncovered a scheme in which David Miranda Vinalay and multi-convicted drug dealers, such as Jerome Lewis and Irving Joel Hernandez, funneled bulk cash drug proceeds to a middleman in Norcross, Georgia. At the direction of Mexico-based drug traffickers, the middleman delivered the money to Sandra Beatriz Hernandez Chilel, who laundered the funds to Mexico through her Norcross, Georgia money service business, “Pulga La Esperanza.” Hernandez Chilel attempted to conceal the laundered funds by wiring the money to different individuals in Mexico in small transactions. Between September and November 2024, the organization laundered over $1 million in drug proceeds to Mexico. Earlier today, U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross sentenced Sandra Beatriz Hernandez Chilel, 50, an illegal alien from San Marcos, Guatemala, to five years and five months in prison and she will be deported to Guatemala upon completion of her sentence. On December 17, 2025, Hernandez Chilel pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business. Three additional defendants were sentenced in this case: Jerome Lewis, 48, of Lilburn, Georgia, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Lewis was separately convicted in federal court in 2015 of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. David Miranda Vinalay, 40, an illegal alien from Michoacán, Mexico, was sentenced to seven years and eleven months months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy. Irving Joel Hernandez, 35, of Lilburn, Georgia, was sentenced to seven years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Hernandez was convicted in state court in 2015 of trafficking methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Valuable assistance was also provided by Georgia State Patrol, DeKalb County Police Department, Gwinnett County Police Department, and Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany L. Rupert, Dwayne A. Brown, Jr., and Nicholas Evert prosecuted the case. These prosecutions are part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Atlanta Wilhelm HSTF comprises agents and officers from ATF, CGIS, DEA, FBI, ICE-HSI, IRS-CI, DOL-OIG, DSS, USMS, USPIS, and USSS, as well as numerous state and local agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Winooski Man and Woman Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base and Fentanyl

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: BURLINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Todd Jarvis, 54, and Kylei Brown, 24, both of Winooski, Vermont, have been charged by criminal complaint with possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl. On May 12, 2026, Jarvis appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, who ordered that Jarvis be detained pending trial. Brown is scheduled to have her initial appearance later today. According to court records, the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted substantial surveillance of Jarvis after learning from sources that Jarvis was engaged in drug trafficking. DEA’s surveillance revealed that Jarvis was associated with multiple drug-involved locations in the greater Burlington area, that Brown frequently accompanied him on visits to these drug-involved locations, and that Jarvis was making short-duration trips to New York City. These observations led law enforcement to interdict Jarvis on the evening of May 10, 2026, while he was returning to Vermont from New York City. During a traffic stop in Shelburne, Vermont, Brown was driving, and Jarvis was the passenger. A search of Jarvis’ person revealed approximately 510 grams of suspected cocaine base and 24 grams of suspected fentanyl in his vest pocket. A search of Jarvis and Brown’s Winooski apartment occurred in the early morning hours of May 11, 2026, resulting in the seizure of additional suspected controlled substances and drug trafficking paraphernalia. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Jarvis and Brown are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Jarvis and Brown face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The actual sentences, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Vermont Office, thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New York Task Force 21, the Burlington Police Department, and the Essex Police Department for their assistance. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Nate Burris. Jarvis is represented by Lisa Shelkrot, Esq. Brown is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.


title: United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller Recognizes the Law Enforcement Community During National Police Week

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: SHREVEPORT– In honor of National Police Week, United States Attorney Zachary A. Keller recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers. The week is observed May 10 through May 16, 2026. “During National Police Week, we pause to honor the courageous men and women of law enforcement who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities—and especially those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” said United States Attorney Keller. “Our Office and community are deeply grateful for the unwavering commitment of our local, state, and federal officers who keep us safe while serving with integrity, courage, and honor.” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche kicked off National Police Week 2026 by hosting a breakfast at the Department of Justice to honor law enforcement officers and their families, emphasizing a message of "we love law enforcement". He celebrated their daily work, stating that the week is meant to honor the fallen while recognizing those who "keep us safe every day". In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Each year, during National Police Week, our nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our communities safe. In 2025, there were 111 federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers that died in the line of duty., representing 25% decrease from the 148 deaths in 2024. Of those officers who died, 53 were feloniously killed. There were 44 firearm related incidents, 34 from traffic related deaths and 33 other causes including health-related, etc. Demographically, the average age of fallen officers was 44, with an average of 14 years of service. Five of those officers who died in the line of duty were from Louisiana. For National Police Week 2026 , a total of 363 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. On today, May 13, 2026, 109 names of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty during 2025 will be formally dedicated during the 38th Annual Candlelight Vigil held in Washington, D.C. You can view it livestream: YouTube: YouTube.com/NLEOMF Facebook: Facebook.com/NLEOMF LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/company/national-law-enforcement-officers-memorial-fund You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla . ### CONTACT Public Affairs United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Louisiana USALAW-News@usdoj.gov www.justice.gov/usao-wdla Twitter @USAO_WDLA


title: Berks County Man Sentenced to 32 Months in Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Firearms as a Felon

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Jeffrey Hill, 27, of Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 32 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release by United States District Judge John M. Gallagher for illegal gun possession. The defendant was charged by information with possession of a firearm by a felon and pleaded guilty in January of this year, waiving prosecution by indictment. As detailed in court filings and statements, Berks County Probation officers went to Hill’s residence in January of 2025 for a routine probation visit. When the defendant opened the door and saw the officers, he appeared nervous. Once inside the residence, one of the probation officers observed two metal pins, the type used to assemble a handgun, in a bag on a dresser. After receiving supervisory approval, the probation officers conducted a search of the residence, recovering two 12-gauge shotguns, a privately manufactured AR-15-style rifle, and a privately manufactured 9mm handgun loaded with 15 rounds of hollow point ammunition. Officers also discovered various types of ammunition; a ballistic vest; multiple loaded magazines; gun parts, including a trigger assembly, two handgun frames, metal threaded cylinders, a slide lock, and grip; and tools commonly used to manufacture homemade firearms. Hill had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and was not permitted to possess a firearm or ammunition. This case was investigated by the Sinking Spring Police Department, Berks County Probation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Kulik.


title: Portland Man Sentenced for Distributing and Possessing Child Pornography

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for distributing and possessing child pornography. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Derren Wood-Peterson , 35, to seven years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Judge Neumann also ordered Wood-Peterson to pay $56,500 in restitution to victims whose images he possessed. Wood-Peterson pleaded guilty on October 2, 2025. According to court records, Wood-Peterson sent a payment on Cash App for a link associated with child sexual abuse material. In December 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant at his residence, resulting in the seizure of two cell phones containing thousands of images and videos of child sexual abuse material. When interviewed by investigators, Wood-Peterson admitted to accessing, viewing, and distributing child sexual abuse material over the internet. Forensic analysis of his devices revealed multiple acts of distribution of this material over the Telegram Messenger application. The FBI investigated the case. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child sexual abuse material: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: 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 Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: Chesapeake man sentenced to 17 years in prison after traveling to the Philippines to have sex with a minor

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to 17 years in prison for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual activity. According to court documents, through an online dating site, Dylan Joseph Knauer, 32, met a minor victim who resided in the Philippines, and began chatting, video calling, and “sexting” with the minor. Knauer traveled to the Philippines in April and May of 2025 and had sex with the victim, who was 14 years old. On Oct. 22, 2025, Knauer asked the victim to make a sexually explicit video of herself. On Oct. 23, 2025, law enforcement learned that Knauer was scheduled to travel from Norfolk to Denver to Japan with a final destination of the Philippines. After boarding his flight from Denver to Japan, Knauer was removed from the aircraft. The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office investigated this case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Air Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, and the Denver Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen S. Taylor prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:26-cr-1.


title: Geauga County Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse Offenses

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Geauga County man has been sentenced to federal prison for engaging in online activities that involved Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). Jeffrey A. Williams, 50, of Chardon, Ohio, has been sentenced to 110 months (9.1 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge Patricia A. Gaughan, after pleading guilty in January to Receipt and Distribution of Visual Depictions of Real Minors Engaged in Sexually Explicit Conduct. He was also ordered to serve 15 years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $184,000 in restitution to victims. According to court documents and evidence presented in court, from about November 2022 to February 2024, investigators found that Williams knowingly received and distributed numerous computer files which contained the sexual abuse of children. He served as a moderator and participant in online groups where he engaged with others to share CSAM and discuss their sexual interest in children. As moderator, he served as a gatekeeper to more than 50 chat groups and required others to provide CSAM files to him before they were admitted. During a search warrant executed on his electronic devices, investigators found more than 5,300 images and videos of CSAM. About 80 CSAM videos were more than 15 minutes long, with two being more than one hour. His collection included the sexual abuse of infants and the torture and rape of pre-pubescent children. The investigation leading to the indictment was led by the FBI Cleveland Division. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer King for the Northern District Ohio led the prosecution. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative is led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country and marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit justice.gov/PSC . To report child exploitation, please visit cybertipline.org , or call 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


title: Registered sex offender sentenced to more than 34 years in prison for sexually exploiting high schoolers

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in federal court here today to 410 months in prison for preying on high school girls by providing them with drugs and gifts in exchange for sexual activities or explicit images and videos. Investigators initially identified at least four minors victimized by Terrance P. Cummings, 31. After the news of Cummings’s arrest in 2024, at least 17 other females contacted the related law enforcement tipline to report similar interactions with Cummings. “Despite previously being convicted of sex crimes against minors, Cummings continued to prey on a slew of young females, exploiting and manipulating his victims in order to maintain his reputation of a lifestyle of sex and drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II. “Cummings has demonstrated time and again that he is a danger to society and must be imprisoned to protect our youth.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie stated: “This type of egregious victimization of minors cannot and will not be tolerated. We are grateful for our partnership with the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force that allows us to investigate and prosecute this type of conduct.” According to court documents, in July 2024, the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force received information about a teenage victim allegedly receiving gifts and illicit substances from Cummings in exchange for sex acts. Cummings was known on social media as “614 Terrance.” Further investigation revealed that Cummings had sex with numerous minor victims and requested nude images and videos of the victims in exchange for marijuana, Xanax, cocaine, acid and ecstasy. The defendant bought the victims gifts like clothes and shoes and offered to buy lingerie and sex toys for at least one of the victims. While executing a search warrant at Cummings’s apartment in August 2024, agents discovered two iPhones submerged in the water tank on the back of the bathroom toilet, which Cummings had attempted to destroy after learning about the warrant. Investigators also discovered fentanyl pills, Xanax, cocaine, methamphetamine, mushrooms and amphetamine in the apartment. Cummings’s electronics contained approximately 62,000 chat messages, 26,000 emails and 150 instant messages about drug sales and to various females. In the messages, Cummings requested the females send him “content” videos and said he would give cash, clothes, concert tickets, drugs, alcohol or other items of value to them. Between 2015 and 2023, Cummings kept information on his iPhone investigators later recovered and connected to his crimes, such as lists of the full names of hundreds of females, including some of the identified victims. He also kept track of his monthly spending on his iPhone, with one example where Cummings noted he spent $1,300 on a**, $400 on “nudes” and $400 on “gifts for hoes” one month. He also made a list of the ways females could make $250, which included seven different sexual acts and a time frame for which to complete the sex act. Cummings has a criminal history of unlawful sexual conduct with minors dating back to 2016. He pleaded guilty in this case in June 2025 to sexually exploiting minors, sex trafficking of a minor and to distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Jason Cromartie, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and Jennifer Rausch are representing the United States in this case. The Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force was formed under the Ohio Attorney General’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, and includes resources from the Columbus Division of Police, Homeland Security Investigations, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Powell Police Department, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, The Ohio State University Police Department, Marysville Division of Police, Salvation Army, Southeast Healthcare, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office and the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office. # # #


title: New York Physical Therapist Admits Participating in Health Care Fraud Scheme Targeting Amtrak

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A New York physical therapist today admitted participating in a health care fraud scheme to defraud Amtrak, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Jaekwan Lee, 41, of Flushing, New York, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court to an Indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From January 2022 through June 2022, Lee and his co-conspirators agreed to engage in a scheme to bill the Amtrak health care plan for fraudulent claims for services that never were provided and were medically unnecessary. Lee, a licensed physical therapist, allowed his license and business bank accounts to be used in the fraudulent billing scheme, in return for a portion of the proceeds. Other members of the conspiracy recruited Amtrak employees to participate in the scheme by paying them cash, in return for allowing the conspirators to use their personal and insurance information to submit false and fraudulent claims. The conspiracy involved dozens of Amtrak employees and multiple health care providers, who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash kickbacks to Amtrak employees over the course of the scheme. In total, the Amtrak health care plan paid over $11 million in fraudulent claims associated with providers connected to the scheme. The Amtrak health care plan paid out over $800,000 for claims associated with Lee. The investigation has resulted in the prosecution of nineteen individuals, including Lee. All have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The health care fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for October 8, 2026. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Amtrak Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James Harper, the Amtrak Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief of Police James Cook, and special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III in New York, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano, Co-Chief of the General Crimes Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen O’Leary of the Health Care Fraud and Opioids Enforcement Unit. ### Defense counsel: Megan Rha, Esq.


title: Two Men Sentenced for their Roles in Trafficking Deadly Drugs Obtained from Detroit and Sold in Shinnston

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Detroit, Michigan men were sentenced for leading a drug trafficking operation selling fentanyl and methamphetamine in Harrison County, West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Teran Demonde Gordon, also known as “Mike,” 28, was sentenced to 168 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Devaughn Lamont Thompson, also known as “Trey,” 23, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Gordon and Thompson worked with four others to sell fentanyl and methamphetamine from a house in Shinnston, West Virginia. The two men would source the drugs from Detroit. The four other defendants in this case have been convicted of their roles in the operation. Malik Fikes was sentenced to 78 months in prison in March 2026. The other three will be sentenced later this year. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Greater Harrison Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. Fentanyl has been designated by President Donald Trump as a weapon of mass destruction due to its extreme lethality which poses a grave threat to public safety, even in trace amounts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime, and repel the invasion of illegal immigration. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – BLAKE ANTHONY BACHEMIN (“BACHEMIN”) , age 28, of Orleans Parish, pled guilty on May 7, 2026 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and § 841(b)(1)(C). U.S. District Judge Barry Ashe scheduled sentencing for August 6, 2026. At sentencing, BACHEMIN faces up to twenty years imprisonment followed by at least three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, BACHEMIN had a pending felony arrest warrant for possession of methamphetamine when he was arrested by the New Orleans Police Department near the 500 block of Esplanade Avenue. A search incident to arrest led to the discovery of multiple plastic baggies of methamphetamine on BACHEMIN’s person. BACHEMIN possessed these baggies of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute them in the French Quarter area of New Orleans. U.S. Attorney Courcelle praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and New Orleans Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Armed supermarket robber ordered to prison for 14 years

body_text: HOUSTON – A 34-year-old Houston resident has been sentenced for his convictions of using a firearm during the robberies of two area grocery stores, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Raul Castro pleaded guilty Jan. 15 to two counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Senior U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has now ordered him to serve 84 months on each count to run consecutively. The total 168-month sentence will be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. The court also ordered that Castro make restitution to the two victim businesses. On Oct. 6, 2023, Castro robbed El Ahorro grocery store on Capitol Street and La Michoacana supermarket on Gulf Freeway eight days later. In both instances, he placed items on the conveyor belt, waited for the cashier to open the drawer and demanded money at gunpoint. During the El Ahorro robbery, he placed his gun to side of the cashier who then provided cash in fear for her safety and of being shot. Authorities located Castro after he was found driving a stolen car. Upon searching the vehicle, law enforcement discovered clothing that matched those of the man who had committed the grocery store robberies. Castro also identified himself in surveillance footage of the Oct. 14 incident during an interview with federal investigators. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Houston Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ganz prosecuted the case.


title: Jury convicts prior felon for unlawful possession of a firearm

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Following a two-day trial, a jury found a prior felon guilty of federal charges for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. On May 6, 2026, a federal jury convicted Anthony D. Bradley, Jr., 37, of one count for possession of a firearm by a felon. Indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024, Bradley was observed by officers to possess a firearm on October 28, 2024, during a proactive crime suppression detail that included the John De Shields housing complex in East St. Louis, Illinois. According to court documents, Bradley was previously convicted of state charges for second degree murder and multiple state and federal charges involving illegal firearm possession. Bradley stipulated prior to trial that he was a convicted felon and that he knew he was a convicted felon at the time of the offense conduct. “Convicted felons, like Anthony Bradley, who unlawfully possess firearms contribute to the plague of gun violence threatening our local communities,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “The jury’s verdict holds Bradley accountable for his wrongful possession and supports our office’s commitment to ensure the safety of southern Illinois. I commend the effort of ISP’s Public Safety Enforcement Group for their continued efforts in bringing these offenders to justice.” The evidence presented at trial proved Bradley unlawfully possessed a firearm in East St. Louis. Following trial, Bradley entered a stipulation and consent to forfeit the firearm to the United States. The jury deliberated for approximately two hours and twenty minutes. “This guilty verdict holds a felon who repeatedly broke the law accountable and is a big win for the Metro East community,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Officers in our Public Safety Enforcement Group and Statewide Antiviolence Enforcement unit are committed to making communities safer and ISP will continue to dedicate resources to get criminals out of our neighborhoods.” Sentencing is scheduled for September 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM in the East St. Louis Courthouse. The Illinois State Police led this investigation with assistance from its Public Safety Enforcement Group and Firearms Investigation Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Arshi and Ali Burns prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which is a part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Homeland Security Task Force Operation Concludes with 19th Defendant Pleading Guilty

body_text: GREENVILLE, MS – Harold Cook, 55, of Fort Worth, Texas, pleaded guilty today after a federal jury was selected. This concludes a major Homeland Security Task Force operation involving 19 defendants, more than 25 kilograms of cocaine and $150,000 in drug proceeds and multiple vehicles seized. According to court documents, Harold Cook and his co-defendants were charged in an indictment including cocaine conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute cocaine. His co-defendants include: Roy Ramirez (sentenced to 54 months, 3 years supervised release) Juan Carlos Mercado (sentenced to 46 months, 3 years supervised release) Javier Cardenas (sentenced to 54 months, 3 years supervised release) Thalmus Pace (sentenced to 60 months, 3 years supervised release) Willie B. Hayes (awaiting sentencing) Christopher Lomax (awaiting sentencing) Michael Hughes (awaiting sentencing) Derek Mosley (awaiting sentencing) Edyee Rascon-Mendoza (sentenced to 20 months, 3 years supervised release) Vinton Maclin (sentenced to 20 months, 3 years supervised release) Alyrone Green (awaiting sentencing) Jerry Moody (awaiting sentencing) Andre Rawls (sentenced to 110 months, 3 years supervised release) Marvin Hilliard (sentenced to 20 months, 3 years supervised release) Orlando McKinney (sentenced to 18 months, 3 years supervised release) Dewayne Smith (sentenced to 120 months, 3 years supervised release) Harold Cook will be sentenced at a later date by Chief United States District Judge Debra M. Brown. Cook was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following his plea of guilty. U.S. Attorney Scott F. Leary stated, “We are all aware of the devastation that drug trafficking and violent gangs have visited on our communities. Liberating neighborhoods from the scourge of violent crime is not only a national priority, it is the top priority for the Northern District of Mississippi. The Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative was established by Executive Order in 2025. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, human smuggling and drug trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. This HSTF investigation typifies the interagency collaboration envisioned by our law enforcement community. State and Federal agents, working together, convicted over a dozen defendants and seized over 25 kilograms of cocaine. By dismantling this drug trafficking organization, hundreds of pounds of drugs will be taken off our streets and lives will be saved. Awesome job by the Desoto County Sheriff’s Department, without your help this case would not have been possible. Likewise, DEA-Oxford, Mississippi worked closely with DEA-El Paso, DEA-Fairview Heights (Illinois) and the United States Marshal’s Service to bring this case home. Well done all!” "This operation is a testament to what we can achieve when federal, state, and local law enforcement stand together as a united front,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer. “We are sending a clear message that criminal organizations have no place in Mississippi. Through the HSTF, we will continue to use every resource available to protect our citizens and uphold the rule of law across the Northern District." This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sam Stringfellow and Julie Addison.


title: Cheshire Man Who Defrauded Pandemic Relief Program is Sentenced

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TONY STERLIN CANTAVE, 46, of Cheshire, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to three months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for defrauding a COVID-19 pandemic relief program. In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act provided emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the distribution of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”), through the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), which provided working capital to eligible small businesses to meet operating expenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2020, Cantave applied for EIDL funding through the SBA. The application contained several materially false statements, including that the business for which Cantave sought the loan, Arbitrage 1 Media, was an ongoing, legitimate business involved in the limousine and transportation business, and that he was not more than 60 days delinquent in his child support obligations. After the SBA reviewed and approved the fraudulent EIDL application, Cantave received $96,200. He then used the proceeds from the loan to pay for personal and non-business expenses, including $16,607.26 to pay off an automobile loan. Judge Bolden ordered Cantave to pay $109,605.21 in restitution. On June 24, 2025, Cantave pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money and one count of making an illegal monetary transaction. Cantave, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on July 15. This is Cantave’s third federal conviction. In December 1999, he was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 18 months of imprisonment for a firearm offense, and in February 2015, he was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 13 months of imprisonment for his participation in a U.S. Postal Service money order fraud scheme. This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Huang. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Jefferson County Businessman Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Failing to Pay Taxes on Behalf of Employees

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Zachary M. Bluestone on Tuesday sentenced a Jefferson County businessman to 18 months in prison for failing to pay 10 years of employment taxes totaling $774,081. Judge Bluestone also ordered Danny L. Nickelson Jr., 54, to pay the back taxes in restitution to the IRS and imposed a fine of $18,684. Nickelson owned General Physiotherapy, a manufacturer and distributor of massage and percussion devices used in medicine and physical therapy. For tax years 2013 through 2022, Nickelson withheld Social Security and Medicare taxes and federal income taxes from employees’ pay but did not pay that to the IRS. He also did not match the withheld taxes and pay that amount, as required. Nickelson did the same thing for tax years 2013-2015 for Tomichi Industries, a small plastic distributor and supplier for General Physiotherapy. Nickelson was sole shareholder of Tomichi. Nickelson used the tax money for the operating expenses of the business and personal expenditures including food, travel, retail purchases and credit card bills. Nickelson “put at risk his employees’ tax liabilities and future federal benefits” and stole “money from the U.S. tax system that funds the federal government and the social safety net,” a sentencing memorandum by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow says. Nickelson pleaded guilty in February to two counts of failure to pay over trust fund taxes. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow prosecuted the case.


title: Haysville husband and wife admit to possessing child pornography

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA – A Kansas couple admitted culpability in crimes related to child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Addilynn Jean Onuffer, 22, of Haysville was sentenced to 160 months in prison after pleading guilty to distribution of child pornography. Her husband and co-defendant Gavin Onuffer, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography. He is scheduled to be sentenced August 3, 2026. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cyber tip about CSAM from an IP address connected to the home of Gavin and Addilynn Onuffer. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Gavin’s cell phone and found files containing images of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Evidence showed his wife sent him the images. “In her plea agreement, Addilynn said she sent her husband CSAM images simply because he wanted them,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We all have a duty to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. Instead of holding each other accountable and stopping perverse activity, this couple engaged in their prurient interests together. There is no excuse for this behavior.” The Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and Wichita Police Department investigated the case. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Former Hellenic Orthodox priest accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Christos Christakis, 57, of Cincinnati, OH, was charged by criminal complaint with bank fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. According to the complaint, in March 2007, Christakis was hired to be the Priest at the Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Annunciation (HOCA) in Buffalo, NY. In 2011, Christakis inserted a provision into the HOCA by-laws, which resulted in Christakis having complete control over the Priest Discretionary Fund. Similar to a petty cash account, the fund is intended to allow the priest to provide small direct assistance payments and financial support to those in need. The fund at HOCA was overseen by the parish council and was subject to limits on how much money could be in the discretionary account at any given time, usually less than $1,500. In March 2025, a whistle-blower complaint was filed with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America about the financial irregularities occurring at HOCA, which prompted the Archdiocese to conduct an internal investigation into Christakis, during which he made admissions to using parish funds for his own personal benefit between 2018 and 2025. Investigators analyzed the HOCA Priest Discretionary Fund. According to the complaint, between January 2018 and July 31, 2025, approximately 725 checks were deposited into the fund, of which only 11 were specifically designated for donation into the fund. At least one $7,000 check was written from the fund to pay Christakis’s personal American Express bill. The investigation also included analysis of Christakis’s personal bank account held jointly with his spouse, along with Christakis’s children’s accounts. Cash deposits into these accounts were identified and compared to the amount and timing of cash withdrawals from the Priest Discretionary Fund. The analysis found approximately $338,660 of cash deposited into the joint account. Christakis’s and his spouse’s known employment and lifestyle would not have generated this level of cash. In addition, an analysis of Christakis’s spending levels and bank accounts was conducted, which compared the primary sources and uses of funds each year, excluding cash deposits. The analysis revealed the non-cash sources of income were insufficient to support Christakis’s and his family’s lifestyle. Once cash deposits were added to their budget, the joint account was able to break even each year. Christakis is accused of stealing approximately $450,000. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Gestring. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Alabama man sentenced after found with 3,000 fentanyl pills in traffic stop

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – An Alabama man was sentenced to 72 months in prison after law enforcement discovered fentanyl and firearms in his vehicle. According to court documents, Russell Scott IV, 38, of Gulf Shores, Alabama, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. In September 2023, a Wichita police detective saw Scott speeding on Interstate 35 and made a traffic stop. During a probable cause search, law enforcement found approximately 3,000 fentanyl-laced pills and nine firearms in Scott’s vehicle. “Although deaths caused by fentanyl overdoses are down from record highs, this poison continues to put lives at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “The defendant admitted his intention before his arrest was to distribute thousands of fentanyl pills. I would like to thank the Wichita Police Department for helping to keep so much of this potentially deadly substance off our streets.” The Wichita Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi prosecuted the case. ###


title: Five Charged in Connection with Alien Smuggling Interdiction Off the Coast of Miami-Dade County

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A grand jury in Miami returned an indictment Wednesday charging five illegal aliens for their roles in an attempted smuggling venture that sought to bring dozens of undocumented migrants into the U.S. aboard a small, overloaded vessel off the coast of Miami-Dade County. According to court records, Verdant Roosevelt Scott, 38, of The Bahamas; Zamfir Nitu, 50, of Romania; Donald Coote, 37, of Jamaica; Sergio Alejandro Correa Ramirez, 30, of Colombia; and Gheorghe Ion Chiperi, 43, of Moldova, made their initial appearances in federal court on April 30 and May 1. Law enforcement detected the suspect vessel on radar traveling west toward Miami-Dade County. Shortly after midnight on April 26, a law enforcement vessel interdicted the boat approximately five miles offshore. When law enforcement approached, the vessel was operating without navigation lights. After law enforcement activated their lights and sirens, the vessel slowed and ultimately stopped. Roosevelt, who was operating the vessel, was taken into custody. Agents identified 25 aliens onboard the small center-console vessel, including Roosevelt. All were transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter WINSLOW GRIESSER for biometric screening and records checks. Those checks revealed that Coote, Correa Ramirez, Nitu, and Chiperi had previously been deported from the U.S. Roosevelt is charged with 24 counts of encouraging and inducing aliens to enter the U.S. and two counts of aiding or assisting certain aliens to enter based on his role as the vessel’s operator. The remaining four defendants are charged with illegal reentry of a deported alien. If convicted, Roosevelt faces up to 10 years in prison. Zitu and Coote face up to 20 years in prison because of their prior aggravated felony convictions and Correa Ramirez, and Chiperi face up to two years in prison. The remaining 20 aliens were not charged and were repatriated to The Bahamas. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement. HSI Miami is investigating the case, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations and the USCG. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl is prosecuting the case. An indictment/complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.sdfl.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.sdfl.uscourts.gov , under case number 26-cr-20178. ###


title: Foreign Operators and Technical Superintendent of M/V Dali Indicted for Roles in Key Bridge Crash

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Two corporate entities and a shoreside superintendent face criminal charges in connection with the vessel crash that knocked down the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland. A federal court unsealed an indictment today charging three defendants with conspiracy to defraud the United States and with causing the death of six construction workers on the bridge, among other charges. On March 26, 2024, the Motor Vessel Dali , a 900-foot foreign flag container vessel, registered in Singapore, crashed into the bridge. The indictment alleges that the economic loss in this case is at least $5 billion. Synergy Marine Pte Ltd, based in Singapore, and Synergy Maritime Pte Ltd, based in Chennai, India, along with Radhakrishnan Karthik Nair, 47, an Indian national who worked for both companies as the Technical Superintendent for the Dali , are charged with conspiracy, willfully failing to immediately inform the U.S. Coast Guard of a known hazardous condition, obstruction of an agency proceeding, and false statements. The two Synergy corporations are also charged with misdemeanor violations of the Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, and Refuse Act for the discharge of pollutants into the Patapsco River, including shipping containers and their contents, oil, and the bridge itself. “The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a preventable tragedy of enormous consequence,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This indictment is a critical step toward holding accountable those whose reckless disregard for maritime safety regulations caused this disaster. Six construction workers lost their lives, critical infrastructure was destroyed, pollutants were released into the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay, and the economic damage now exceeds five billion dollars. This Department is committed to securing justice for the victims and ensuring those responsible are held to account.” “This indictment is the first step in our efforts to hold those accountable who caused the tragic deaths of six people and catastrophic damage to our region,” said U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland. “The safety of our residents, ports, and infrastructure is of utmost importance to the prosperity of the District of Maryland. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland will continue to pursue those who commit crimes that jeopardize those interests.” “The indictment alleges criminal conduct that not only destroyed the Key Bridge but brought the regional economy to its knees and claimed the lives of six Maryland residents,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “Adherence to laws governing safe operation of commercial vessels is essential to doing business in our nation’s ports. We enforce these laws to protect the public from future disasters like this fatal crash.” “The indictment reveals a pattern of deception and egregious violations that led to the unsafe operation of the Dali which recklessly endangered the public and resulted in the ship striking the bridge,” said Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “This indictment should send a message to all ship operators that circumventing safety requirements and breaking U.S. laws will not be tolerated. I am proud of FBI Baltimore’s investigative teams who worked diligently over the last two years to find the truth and to hold those responsible accountable.” “The United States will not be a safe harbor for violators who pollute our nation’s waterways. Today’s indictment alleges that reckless cost-cutting by dishonest foreign corporations on a foreign-flagged vessel with a foreign crew carrying hazardous cargo resulted in death, disruption of our economy, and the discharge of oil and other chemicals into the Patapsco River and the Chesapeake Bay,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of EPA’s Office for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “Such tragedy must not happen again. This EPA will ensure that foreign companies do not profit off of polluting American communities. The hard work of our criminal investigators, who were among the first aboard the wrecked ship, was critical for securing this indictment, and we look forward to working with the Department of Justice to prosecute this case.” “At the core of the Coast Guard's mission is the protection of life and property and the facilitation of commerce,” said Acting Director Zinnia James of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS). “The charges announced today reflect the Coast Guard Investigative Service’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and integrity of our nation's maritime transportation system. This indictment alleges a reckless disregard for U.S. maritime laws and safety regulations, which had devastating consequences, leading to the tragic loss of six lives and catastrophic environmental and economic damage. Let this be a clear message: CGIS, alongside our federal law enforcement partners, will vigorously investigate and hold accountable any individual or corporation that compromises the safety of our ports and waterways.” According to the indictment, the Dali lost power twice in a four-minute span, as it navigated out to sea from the Port of Baltimore, causing it to crash into the Key Bridge. The indictment alleges that a loose wire in a high-voltage switchboard likely caused the first power loss. Critical systems on the Dali were originally designed with reliable redundancies and automatic restart capabilities, so the Dali could quickly regain power after a blackout. But shortly after the vessel regained power, it lost power again. According to the indictment, the defendants allegedly altered the ship and relied on a flushing pump to supply fuel to two of the Dali’s four generators. However, the flushing pump was not designed to automatically restart following a blackout, and the Dali’s generators could not operate without a fuel supply, so the ship ultimately experienced a second blackout. The indictment alleges that if the Dali used the proper fuel supply pumps, the vessel would have regained power in time to safely navigate under the Key Bridge. Synergy and Nair are also charged with obstruction of an agency proceeding and providing false statements and documents to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as it conducted a casualty investigation. The obstruction charges relate to, among other things, Nair’s statements to the NTSB that he was unaware that that the Dali was using the flushing pump to provide fuel to the generators. The FBI, CGIS, and the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps, Bijon Mostoufi, and Kimberly Phillips for the District of Mayland and Trial Attorney Leigh Rendé with ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case. Richard Udell, formerly of the Environmental Crimes Section, also assisted in this matter. An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Berks County Resident Sentenced to Seven and a Half Years in Prison for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Reading, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 90 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on her convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Kayla Rickenbach, 24. According to information presented to the Court, from in and around June 2024 to in and around August 2024, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Rickenbach conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine. Additionally, in or around August 2024, Rickenbach possessed with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Rickenbach.