title: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Daviontae Lately, also known as “Dave,” 32, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 7, 2023, Lately sold a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant at a Beckley residence where Lately was staying. As part of his guilty plea, Lately admitted to the transaction. Lately further admitted to selling a quantity of fentanyl to the same confidential informant on September 8, 2023. On September 12, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the Beckley residence where Lately was staying and seized additional quantities of fentanyl, a quantity of cocaine base, also known as “crack,” and approximately $9,360 including $1,400 from the controlled buys involving the confidential informant. Lately admitted that he intended to distribute the seized fentanyl and crack, and that the seized cash represented proceeds of drug trafficking activity. Lately is scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Beckley Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-174. ###


title: Puerto Rico Man Indicted For Straw-Purchasing Dozens Of Firearms On Behalf Of Others

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces the return by a grand jury of an indictment charging Esai Pastrana Cruz (30, Puerto Rico) with conspiring to make and making false statements to a firearms dealer. If convicted, Pastrana Cruz faces a maximum penalty of 5 years in federal prison on the conspiracy count and up to 10 years on each substantive count. The indictment also notifies Pastrana Cruz that the United States intends to forfeit all firearms and ammunition involved in or used in the violation. According to the indictment, between June 29, 2019, and December 22, 2023, while living within the Middle District of Florida, Pastrana Cruz purchased dozens of firearms on behalf of his co-conspirators. While making the purchases, Pastrana Cruz falsely represented to federally licensed firearms dealers that he was the actual buyer or transferee of the firearms. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Arizona Man Sentenced For Hand Sanitizer Scheme During The COVID Pandemic

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron today sentenced Frank Richard Nickens (58, Arizona) to three years in federal prison for wire fraud. The court also ordered Nickens to forfeit $69,155 traceable to proceeds of the offense and to pay restitution to the victims. Nickens pleaded guilty on March 3, 2025. According to court documents, in April 2020, at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Nickens falsely claimed that he was a commercial producer of hand sanitizer. After promising to produce tens of thousands of units of hand sanitizer, three companies sent Nickens money to acquire his product. In truth, Nickens had no ability to produce hand sanitizer and was using the opportunity of high demand to require up-front deposits of 50% for the product that he never intended to provide. Nickens was a resident of Ormond Beach, Florida when he committed the crime. This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta.


title: District of Arizona Charges 135 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from July 19, 2025, through July 25, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 135 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 67 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 50 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 11 cases against 13 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. Protecting law enforcement is a key part of border vigilance, and prosecutors also charged 5 individuals in 3 cases for assaulting federal officers. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Santos Mendivil Contreras, Jr., et al : On July 22, Santos Mendivil Contreras, Jr. and Emanuel Mendivil Cervantes were charged by criminal complaint with assaulting federal officers. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) had been investigating Contreras based on his unlawful presence in the United States and his attempt to purchase firearms in April 2025. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact Contreras in June and July, HSI agents initiated a traffic stop on July 22. Contreras, who was accompanied by Cervantes, attempted to flee by accelerating the vehicle. He ultimately stopped in front of his residence, exited the vehicle, and began walking toward the home. An HSI agent drew his firearm and gave commands, at which point Contreras reached for the agent’s weapon, leading to a physical struggle over control of the firearm. Three additional agents arrived at the scene. Cervantes exited the vehicle and began kicking the agents who were attempting to arrest Contreras. During the altercation, Contreras bit and struck multiple agents. Both Contreras and Cervantes were eventually taken into custody. All four agents sustained injuries. [Case Number: 25-MJ-9300] United States v. Benigno Armando Rios Pacheco, et al : On July 24, Benigno Armando Rios Pacheco and Janeth Karina Montoya Estrada were charged by criminal complaint with assaulting federal officers. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents were investigating Rios for being unlawfully present in the United States. During the course of their investigation, agents learned that Rios was also wanted in Mexico for the theft of a vehicle involving a firearm. DEA agents conducted a traffic stop on Rios, who complied with verbal commands and was placed in handcuffs without incident. Shortly thereafter, Montoya arrived at the scene with another individual. Montoya became aggressive toward the agents, approaching them closely and yelling. She then physically pushed a DEA agent. As agents attempted to place Montoya under arrest, she made erratic movements that resulted in injuries to several agents. Simultaneously, Rios began to resist by throwing his elbows and using his body weight, causing himself and one agent to fall to the ground. Both Rios and Montoya were eventually subdued and taken into custody. Two agents sustained injuries during the incident. [Case Number: 25-MJ-9327] These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-126_July 25 Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Five drug dealers sentenced to federal prison in Centralia-area crackdown

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BENTON, Ill. – Five drug dealers active in Fayette, Jefferson and Marion counties were sentenced to federal prison for distributing cocaine, meth or fentanyl in southern Illinois. Jason Barnes, 53, of Odin, Illinois, pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of meth and one count of possession with intent to distribute meth. He was sentenced to 210 months for selling meth on multiple occasions in 2019 and 2020. Marvelous Burnett, 46, of Mount Vernon, Illinois, pleaded guilty to 16 counts of distribution of a controlled substance: cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance: cocaine. He was sentenced to 162 months for selling cocaine through the Centralia, Vandalia and Mount Vernon area in 2023 and 2024. Kenneth Thornton, 61, of Centralia, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl. He was sentenced to 78 months for selling more than a gram of fentanyl in December 2023. David Barnes, 37, of Centralia, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance: cocaine. He was sentenced to 72 months for distributing a half ounce of cocaine during a controlled buy in February 2023. Karie Holstlaw, 40, of Salem, Illinois, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance: meth, and she was sentenced to 57 months for selling eight grams during a controlled buy in November 2022. “These sentences send a clear message: drug trafficking in southern Illinois will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Thanks to the efforts of law enforcement, five fewer drug dealers are fueling addiction and violence in the Centralia area. Drug dealing is a cancer that causes all sorts of societal harm, and we will continue to use all our federal powers to protect communities." “These sentencings further prove that the FBI Springfield's Southern Illinois TOC-West Task Force will not tolerate the continued flow of drugs in southern Illinois,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. S. Johnson. “Together with our local partners, we remain relentless in our mission to identify and arrest those who bring these substances into our community.” The FBI Springfield Field Office’s Southern Illinois TOC-West Task Force and the Centralia Police Department contributed to the investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Reppert, Dan Kapsak and Dan Carraway represented the U.S. for the prosecutions.


title: Osceola County Man Sentenced For Fentanyl Distribution

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Yo’Rel Le-Dari Pemberton (27, Osceola County) to 10 years and 5 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute and distribution of over 40 grams of fentanyl. Pemberton pled guilty on April 16, 2025. According to court documents, on six occasions between July 6, 2023, and June 6, 2024, Pemberton sold pills containing fentanyl to an undercover officer. In total, Pemberton sold approximately 284 grams of fentanyl to the undercover officer. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Nate and Patrick Flanigan.


title: Athens, Georgia, Woman Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking and Threat Offenses

component: Criminal - Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section

body_text: NASHVILLE –Gabryele “Gabby” Watson, 29, pled guilty today to four counts of cyberstalking, two counts of interstate transmission of threats to kidnap or injure, and two counts of unlawful use of a means of identification, announced Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. “The defendant’s callous actions and complete disregard for the families she victimized was not only disturbing, it was also a violation of federal law,” said Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney. “We will aggressively seek to vindicate the rights of caring people who simply wanted to adopt, love and raise a baby and, instead, were heartlessly victimized by the defendant.” “The devastating effects of cyberstalking cannot be understated, and I hope the victims can find some closure to the nightmares they endured during Gabby Watson’s relentless reign of harassment,” said Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “This plea is the result of the hard work of motivated agents and analysts. The FBI will continue to protect the community from those who try to commit similar scams.” From May to June 2023, Watson cyberstalked a married couple living in the Middle District of Tennessee, who had been trying to adopt a baby for eight years. She assumed the identity of a real 16-year-old in Pennsylvania who was pregnant (Minor Victim 1), obtaining accurate details about Minor Victim 1 and her pregnancy from Minor Victim 1’s social media posts. These included Minor Victim 1’s full name and nickname, her date of birth, her home state, the full name and nickname of Minor Victim 1’s teenaged boyfriend, who was also the baby’s father (Individual A), and details about, and photographs and video recordings depicting, Minor Victim 1’s pregnancy. She obtained photographs and video recordings of Minor Victim 1 and Individual A, including a series of “baby bump” photographs and videos of Minor Victim 1 displaying her pregnant belly at various stages of development. She also obtained sonogram photographs and videos of Minor Victim 1 and Individual A’s unborn baby at various stages of development. Over the next several months, as Minor Victim 1 posted new content on her social media accounts, Watson copied that new content for continued use in her scheme. Posing as Minor Victim 1 and using Minor Victim 1’s real nickname, Watson contacted Victim One online, initially through her social media adoption page and then later through spoofed text messages, spoofed voice phone calls, and e-mail messages using an account the defendant created in Minor Victim 1’s name. In their early conversations, the defendant claimed that she was 16 years old, was facing an unplanned pregnancy, and wanted to give her baby up for adoption. She shared detailed information about her (really, Minor Victim 1) life and elicited similar personal information from Victim One. Watson shared photographs of sonographs of Minor Victim 1’s unborn baby, and repeatedly assured Victim One and Victim Two (Victim One’s husband) that they were going to adopt her baby and encouraged them to share their good news with others. Over time, Watson began to demand that Victims One and Two be available at all hours to respond to her frequent communications and that they purchase baby-related gear and maternity clothing. Watson also repeatedly threatened to cancel the adoption, claimed that “her” baby suffered from various life-threatening health emergencies, and pretended to being stalked and to have disappeared from home. Watson also threatened to abort or injure the unborn baby or to commit suicide while pregnant. Finally, she threatened to kill Victims One and Two. Watson engaged in the same disturbing conduct with Victims Three and Four, another married couple living in the Middle District of Tennessee, when she pretended to be a pregnant 18-year-old living in Arkansas (Victim Five). This time, Watson pretended to be pregnant with high-risk twins. She also communicated on speaker phone with Victim Three and Four’s two young sons and encouraged them to be excited about the adoption. She made similar claims about “her” unborn babies’ health, was verbally abusive to Victim Three, and threatened to kill Victims Three and Four and their children. Watson is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2026. She faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000, for each of the eight counts in the second superseding indictment. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica R. Morrison is prosecuting the case with the assistance of the Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCPIS). # # # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Man With Felony Possession of a Dangerous Weapon During Standoff in Federal Courthouse in Downtown Chicago

body_text: CHICAGO — The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged a man with feloniously possessing a dangerous weapon during a standoff in the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago earlier this week. MARIO SANTOYO, 38, of Chicago, was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal facility with intent to use the weapon in the commission of a crime, according to a criminal complaint filed today in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The charge is punishable by up to five years in federal prison. Santoyo made an initial appearance in federal court this afternoon and was ordered to remain detained in federal custody. A detention hearing was set for July 31, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel P. McLaughlin. The complaint alleges that Santoyo entered the Dirksen Federal Building, 219 S. Dearborn St. in Chicago, at 10:27 a.m. on Tuesday and asked to speak with the FBI about “gangsters” or “gangbangers” who were trying to kill him. After a Court Security Officer advised Santoyo that the FBI does not have an office in the Dirksen Building and that he could not remain in the building if he had no other business there, Santoyo put a knife to his throat and threatened to hurt himself, the complaint states. Law enforcement attempted to get Santoyo to drop the knife, but he refused, the complaint states. An hours-long standoff ensued, with Santoyo remaining in the lobby of the building with the knife to his throat and carrying a dark bag the contents of which were unknown. Santoyo’s conduct prevented individuals from entering or exiting the Dirksen Building. Approximately nine and a half hours after the standoff began, and after the federal building had been evacuated throughout the day—causing enormous disruption to the business of the federal courthouse, including criminal and civil trials, hearings, and other proceedings—law enforcement used non-lethal force and took Santoyo into custody at 7:55 p.m. He was transported to a Chicago hospital for treatment. The complaint was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, LaDon A. Reynolds, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Valuable assistance was provided by the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Protective Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Chmura. “As I have said before, under my leadership, there will be zero tolerance for violence against federal officials or violence against the important work of the federal government as it is conducted in the Northern District of Illinois,” said U.S. Attorney Boutros. “The defendant’s actions impeded the due administration of justice in the largest federal courthouse in the country both by square footage as well as number of federal judges, as it 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. The Court Security Officers, Deputy U.S. Marshals, and FBI Special Agents who bravely resolved the situation and took Santoyo into custody deserve our utmost respect and appreciation.” “The defendant created a dangerous situation for himself, law enforcement, and the thousands of federal employees and members of the public inside the Dirksen Building,” said Marshal Reynolds. “The standoff in this case was peacefully resolved thanks to the courage and professionalism of the law enforcement officers from the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI. I am deeply appreciative of this U.S. Attorney’s strong partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service and for his strong leadership in choosing to bring a felony charge to hold the defendant accountable for his intolerable actions.” “Federal agents courageously put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe from harm," said FBI SAC DePodesta. “I remain grateful that this situation resolved without incident, thanks to the heroic efforts of law enforcement professionals, and in particular, the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI's SWAT and Crisis Negotiations Teams. The dedicated agents who comprise these highly trained teams ensure that when dangerous situations occur, everyone affected has the best probability of returning home safely.” 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. santoyo_complaint.pdf


title: Kansas City Man Charged in String of Bank Robberies Across Kansas City

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On July 16, 2025, Staci-Christopher Zjacku Cannon, 26, was charged with four counts of bank robbery and two counts of attempted bank robbery in a now-unsealed federal indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri. The indictment alleges that between Feb. 6, 2024, and May 15, 2024, Cannon robbed, or attempted to rob, six different banks and credit unions across Kansas City, acquiring over $30,000 in the process. Under federal statutes, each count of bank robbery, or attempted bank robbery, carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: International Trafficker Pleads Guilty To Multi-Million Dollar Drug Conspiracy That Smuggled Hundreds Of Kilograms Of Cocaine And Murdered A Rival

body_text: Tampa, FL –United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Marlon Alexis Aguilar-Reyes (44, Guatemala), a/k/a “Padrino,” “Flack,” “New Flack,” and “Flack NW” has pleaded guilty for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States. Aguilar was apprehended on March 4, 2024. According to the plea agreement, Aguilar-Reyes was part of an organization in Guatemala that received cocaine from South American maritime vessels, transported the cocaine to locations near the Guatemala/Mexico border, and smuggled bulk cash throughout the country. Aguilar-Reyes controlled one of the land routes between northern Guatemala and southern Mexico and worked with corrupt law enforcement and politicians to further the conspiracy. Throughout 2018, intercepted communications between Aguilar-Reyes and associates revealed multiple sales of cocaine and payments of millions of dollars. For example, in April 2018, Aguilar-Reyes negotiated a sale of 100 kilograms of cocaine for $1.2 million. On another occasion, Aguilar-Reyes and other coconspirators, including a coconspirator operating in Mexico, discussed the transfer of $5.877 million to Aguilar-Reyes and his organization. In May 2018, discussions between the conspirators, including a corrupt law enforcement officer, were involved in a murder near the Suchiate River crossing in Ayutla, Guatemala on the Guatemala/Mexico border. After confirming that the victim was killed, Aguilar-Reyes asked the officer to send a video recording to a local politician to show that the victim “was a freaking nuisance.” This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) comprised of agents and analysts from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. The U.S. Marshals Service provided critical support in the apprehension of the defendant. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.


title: Former Commissioner of Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation and Co-Conspirator Convicted in Bribery Scheme

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, USVI — Acting U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper announced today that former Commissioner of Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation Calvert White, 49, of St. Thomas, and Benjamin Hendricks, 62, also of St. Thomas, were convicted of Honest Services Wire Fraud and Federal Programs Bribery following a four day jury trial. “No one is above the law,” said Acting United States Attorney Adam Sleeper. “Today’s convictions show that even high-ranking government officials will be held accountable for engaging in criminal misconduct. Our community deserves better.” “Public corruption erodes the very fabric of our society. The community deserves honesty and integrity from public officials,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Devin Kowalski. “The FBI follows the facts no matter where they lead. Our mission is simple but powerful: to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States. Every person in the Virgin Islands is included in that promise. I want to thank our dedicated FBI agents and personnel here in the Virgin Islands who worked relentlessly on this investigation as well as our partners at the United States Attorney’s Office and the Public Integrity Section. We encourage anyone with information on federal crimes to contact us at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at Tips.FBI.Gov. Tipsters may remain anonymous.” According to evidence admitted at trial, White solicited and accepted a bribe from a then-government contractor, David Whitaker, through Hendricks, who acted as an intermediary. The scheme began in at least December 2023 and continued until the defendants were approached in June 2024. In exchange for the bribe paid by Whitaker, White agreed to assist Whitaker in obtaining a contract budgeted for $1.6 million with SP&R. White, amongst other acts, provided confidential bid information to Whitaker and took official action to encourage the awarding of the contract to Whitaker. Hendricks served as a middleman for the payments and facilitated the bribery scheme. The offense of Honest Services Wire Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the offense of Federal Programs Bribery carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI San Juan Field Office, St. Thomas Resident Agency investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Alexandre Dempsey and Lina Peng of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Conley for the District of the Virgin Islands are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Nine Indicted in Illegal Gambling Ring Worth Over $9.5 Million

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Nine individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged involvement in an illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri. Each of the defendants face multiple charges in the 72-count indictment. Rahulkumar D. Patel, 40, a citizen of India residing in the state of Washington, Manishkumar M. Patel, 44, a citizen of India residing in the state of Georgia, Mitulkumar M. Barot, 40, of Georgia, Sunilkumar N. Patel, 52, a citizen of India residing in the state of New York, Tushar R. Patel, 39, of Georgia, Azghar Ali, 51, of New York, Harshadkumar S. Chaudhari, 38, a citizen of India, residing in Colorado, Vipul A. Patel, 40, of Arkansas, and Mohammed Iphtekar Ali Ajgar, 50, of Georgia were each charged in a 72-count superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield on May 14, 2025. The superseding indictment replaces an indictment returned against Rahulkumar D. Patel, on Dec. 10, 2024, and includes additional charges and defendants. The superseding indictment was unsealed and made public following the arrest of several defendants and in advance of certain defendants’ arraignments on July 23 and 24, 2025. “Illegal gambling operations affect the citizens of the neighborhoods and communities where they are located as well as the local economy. We worked closely with our law enforcement partners to shut down this criminal conspiracy and bring those responsible to justice. This case is an example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together to tackle organized criminal activity,” said Acting United States Attorney Jeff Ray. “What began as a local investigation quickly expanded into a large, multi-jurisdictional case resulting in numerous indictments and a significant positive impact across our community,” Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams said. “We’re grateful for the strong partnerships we have with federal agencies that made it possible to build a case of this scale.” “This wasn’t some low-level gambling scheme. It was an organized, multi-million-dollar criminal network that operated brazenly and believed it could stay one step ahead of law enforcement,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito. “They were mistaken. Through precise coordination, relentless investigation, and cross-agency teamwork, we dismantled their operation piece by piece-locally and overseas. To those still involved in this kind of crime: we’re watching, we’re tracking, and we will shut you down.” “Today’s charges reflect the dedication of law enforcement – especially in Springfield, Joplin, and across Southwest Missouri - to hold those who violate the law accountable. We especially thank and commend our law enforcement partners for their persistent and unwavering commitment to this case,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus. The federal indictment charges all nine defendants with one count each of participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and operating illegal gambling businesses from July 1, 2022, to May 13, 2025. In addition to the conspiracy counts, all nine defendants were charged with at least one count of wire fraud, and eight defendants were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. The State of Missouri has established regulations controlling the operation of electronic gaming devices. Certain gambling devices and slot machines are prohibited by Missouri and Federal law. According to the indictment, the defendants ran illegal gambling businesses under the guise of internet amusement arcade games, skill game arcades, and adult arcades. Between April 24, 2023, and Aug. 28, 2023, Barot registered six businesses online with the Missouri Secretary of State: Big Win Arcade, LLC; Big Win Arcade 2023, LLC; Spin Hitters 1, LLC; Spin Hitters, LLC; Vegas City Arcade, LLC; and Vegas Arcade, LLC. The indictment alleges that the defendants then used these businesses to fraudulently apply for business license applications filed with the cities of Springfield, Joplin, and Branson West, and to obtain utilities contracts, lease agreements, and business incorporation documents filed with the State of Missouri. The defendants hired local employees to work in their businesses, which operated contests of chance, gambling devices, and slot machines in violation of Missouri and Federal law. There were four locations that operated in Springfield: Big Win Arcade #1 at 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Big Win Arcade #2 at 1135 E. Commercial St., Spin Hitters at 838-840 S. Glenstone Ave., and Vegas Arcade at 615 S. Scenic. They also opened Spin Zone at 2331 E. 7 th St. in Joplin, Mo., and Vegas City Arcade at 16585 Missouri Highway 13, Branson West. Rahulkumar D. Patel, Manishkumar M. Patel, Tushar R. Patel, Vipul A. Patel, and Ajgar participated in WhatsApp group chats where they communicated about the operation of the illegal gambling arcades from May 31, 2023, to March 11, 2024. The indictment alleges that the defendants transported the proceeds from the illegal gambling locations to several states to promote the ongoing illegal activity. The defendants hid the proceeds of their gambling ring by depositing them in various personal bank accounts within the United States and the Republic of India. Over $9.5 million in US currency was laundered by this organization in a little over three years. Rahulkumar D. Patel, Manishkumar M. Patel, Sunilkumar N. Patel, Tushar R. Patel, Barot, Ali, Chaudhari, and Ajgar are all charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and at least one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering. Rahulkumar D. Patel, Manishkumar M. Patel, Sunilkumar N. Patel, Tushar R. Patel, Barot, Ali, and Ajgar are all charged with money laundering. Rahulkumar D. Patel, Manishkumar M. Patel, and Ali are also charged with depositing or transferring more than $10,000 of funds derived from illegal gambling and wire fraud in a single transaction. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is the result of a lengthy investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) involving the transnational organized crime group with ties to India. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark who was significantly assisted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Oliver prior to his retirement in June of this year. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, the Greene County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney, the Jasper County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney, and the Johnson County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). ###


title: Bogalusa Man Sentenced for Federal Drug Violations

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that HENRY JERMAINE MILLER (“MILLER”) , age 41, of Bogalusa, LA, was sentenced to 75 months imprisonment, followed by three (3) years of supervised release, and payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, by U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe on July 17, 2025, after MILLER previously pled guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute, an amount of heroin and methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). According to court documents, MILLER conspired with other individuals in the Bogalusa area to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, a variety of drugs, including methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl. This conspiracy began in 2021 and continued through 2023. Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpson praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bogalusa Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Three Juveniles Charged in December 2024 Capitol Hill Robbery Spree

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Rashad Ervin (17), Markell Butler (16), and Dereon Butler (17), all of Washington, D.C., were arrested and charged by complaint as adults under Title 16 with multiple counts of armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for a robbery spree in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. According to the government’s evidence, in the early-morning hours of December 2, 2024, the defendants utilized a stolen gray Kia Sorento and a stolen red Lexus sedan to locate and target commuting pedestrians in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. In all, they approached ten different unsuspecting pedestrians across numerous locations, brandished a firearm (or imitation thereof) at them, and robbed them of their wallets, purses, cellphones, and other personal belongings. They then fled each scene before the police could arrive. Rashad Ervin was arrested on May 13, 2025; Markell Butler was arrested on June 23, 2025; and Dereon Butler was arrested on July 22, 2025 in Superior Court. They are all in custody. Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Levy. A complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Federal Jury Finds Red Lake Man Guilty of  Sexually Assaulting a Minor

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: BEMIDJI, Minn. – Following a four-day trial, Matthew Thomas McGregor, 35, a Red Lake man, was convicted by a federal jury with one count of sexual abuse of a minor, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, McGregor groomed and sexually assaulted a minor victim, who was under the age of 15, in a residence. McGregor will be sentenced at a later date. “Sexual violence against children is one of the most devastating crimes we prosecute, and tragically, it occurs at disproportionately high rates in our tribal communities. This conviction reflects our unwavering commitment to standing with our native nations like the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians in protecting their children and delivering justice. McGregor committed an unthinkable crime against a vulnerable child. We will not tolerate it. Our office will continue working alongside tribal, federal, and local partners to confront the crisis of sexual abuse head-on and ensure that survivors are heard, believed, and protected.” “Yesterday, a federal jury convicted Matthew McGregor for sexual abuse of a minor,” said FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. “Anyone who sexually assaults a child will feel the full force of our law enforcement efforts. The FBI will deploy every resource possible to protect the most vulnerable members of our community. We will work with federal prosecutors to seek an appropriate sentence, and we remain committed to keeping every child safe.” This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and Red Lake Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office commends the excellent work of the FBI and the Red Lake Police Department in this case and is grateful for this important partnership. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary S. Riverso and Rachel L. Kraker prosecuted the case.


title: Collin County man sentenced to over 24 years in federal prison  for COVID- fraud conspiracy

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A McKinney man has been sentenced to over 24 years in federal prison in a COVID - fraud conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Olamide Olatayo Bello was found guilty at trial to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 293 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on July 24, 2025. Judge Mazzant sentenced Bello to the statutory maximum allowed by federal guidelines. According to information presented in court, Bello devised and orchestrated a conspiracy to defraud the United States of millions of dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bello fraudulently acquired government loans, which were designed to provide financial assistance to legitimate small businesses in need, and recruited others in an elaborate scheme. In so doing, Bello took advantage of government programs and used those funds for his personal gain and enrichment. In March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These included the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL). The EIDL program provided low-interest financing to small businesses, renters, and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. Bello assisted and/or completed and submitted materially false applications for COVID government program benefits for himself and his co-defendants. The defendant received proceeds and “kickbacks” for the fraud scheme. “People who exploit our system to steal public money from the citizens of this country are engaged in despicable behavior,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Let this sentence serve as a clear message: anyone who endeavors to steal from the public coffers within our jurisdiction will be pursued and held fully accountable under the law.” This case was investigated by FBI, Department of the Interior, and the Small Business Administration. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chalana A. Oliver. ###


title: Hartford Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Charge

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that TYRICK THOMAS, 35, of Hartford, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to a fentanyl trafficking offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 16, 2024, Tyrick was arrested after a search of his residence on Ashley Street residence revealed approximately 88 grams of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, fentanyl, and xylazine, and a search of his vehicle revealed nearly 200 wax folds of fentanyl and xylazine, and additional quantity of loose fentanyl. Thomas pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 22. Thomas has been detained since his arrest. This investigation has been conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the ATF, and the New Haven Police Department. The DEA Task Force includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Pierpont, Jr. through Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Mexican National Arrested Thursday in Waco for Failing to Possess Registration

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: WACO, Texas – A Mexican national was arrested in Waco Thursday for failure to possess registration documents. According to court documents, Noe Fermin Guerrero-Mendieta, 33, was allegedly located on July 24 by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Waco Fugitive Operations team without his required certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card. Upon his original apprehension by immigration authorities, Guerrero-Mendieta was granted an immigration bond and released from immigration custody. By federal law, he was required to, at all times, carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card. Guerrero-Mendieta was charged with one count of failure to possess a registration form and made his initial appearance in federal court Friday afternoon. If convicted, he faces up to 30 days in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. ICE is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Frazier is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Monterey Man Charged With Production Of Child Sexual Abuse Materials And Other Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – A federal grand jury has indicted Samuel Rios on seven counts of child exploitation and child pornography offenses. Rios, 29, of Monterey, was initially charged by complaint on July 8, 2025, and was indicted yesterday on two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, three counts production of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. According to the complaint and indictment, Rios allegedly used the social media platform Snapchat to persuade, induce, entice, and coerce two different minor victims (Victim-1 and Victim-3) in Monterey County to engage in sexually explicit activity from July 24, 2023, through March 5, 2024, and from May 9, 2024, through May 10, 2024. The indictment also alleges that Rios produced child sexual abuse materials with minor victims in the Northern District of California in 2023 and 2024, and further possessed and distributed child sexual abuse materials. In May 2024, on behalf of an anonymous client, a therapist reported the possible sexual assault of a child by a male alleged to be Rios. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan made the announcement. Rios has been in federal custody since July 16, 2025. He is next scheduled to appear in federal court on July 28, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Virginia K. DeMarchi. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Rios faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of coercion and enticement of a minor in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b); a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison for each count of production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a); a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison for the count of distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2) and (b)(1); and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the count of possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Johnny Ellis James Jr. is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Natachiana Burney. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI, the Monterey Police Department, and the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. Anyone who believes they are the victim of a crime perpetrated by Rios or has information relevant to this case can report it by contacting HSI at HSISanJose@dhs.gov or (877) 477-4847.


title: Burglar Gets Prison Term for Stealing from the Same Business Twice in One Day

body_text: WASHINGTON – Antonni Flores, 29, was sentenced to 42 months of jail time for breaking into a local business, stealing money and food, and returning the next day to break in a second time to steal a TV, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Flores was found guilty by a jury on April 28, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of second-degree burglary. As part of the sentence, Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel sentenced him on July 18, 2025, to 42 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for each count to be served concurrently. According to the government’s evidence, in the early morning of July 26, 2024, the defendant broke into a local business. While inside, the defendant stole food, money, and various items before leaving the business. Surprisingly, the defendant returned less than 24 hours later with an accomplice. Once again, the defendant forced entry into the business and stole a large screen TV. Fortunately, the burglar alarm swiftly went off in the establishment and a Metropolitan Police Department officer, on the beat patrolling, stopped and arrested the defendant who was seen walking shirtless with the local business’s large screen TV. Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. In announcing the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikéla Cuffy and Michael Dal Lago, who prosecuted the case.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 76 Border-Related Cases This Week

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 76 border-related cases this week, including charges of assault on a federal officer, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city). In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here . A sample of border-related arrests this week: On July 20, Adrian Arturo VILLAR-Chavez (VILLAR), was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, VILLAR applied for entry through Andrade, California Port of Entry driving a black Mercedes. Upon inspection of the vehicle, Customs and Border Protection officers found 75.38kg (166.18 pounds) of methamphetamine concealed in the vehicle. On July 24, Juan Roberto CRUZ-Quinonez, a Guatemalan national, was arrested and charged with Transportation of Illegal Aliens. According to a complaint, U.S. Border Patrol Agents were conducting a pro-active patrol of State Route 94 when they observed a suspicious vehicle driving eastbound. Following a traffic stop on the suspicious vehicle, U.S. Border Patrol Agents identified the driver of the vehicle as CRUZ, who was attempting to transport two illegal aliens within the United States for financial gains. On July 24, Alberto LOPEZ-Salazar, a Mexican national, was arrested and charged with Attempted Entry after Deportation. According to a complaint, LOPEZ was attempting to enter the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry by hiding under a blanket in the rear of a vehicle. LOPEZ was discovered by Customs and Border Protection officers after the officers noticed two adult males hiding in the rear of the vehicle. The defendant has a criminal history in the U.S. and had previously been deported to Mexico twice, the most recent deportation being in June 2025. Also recently, a number of defendants with criminal records were convicted by a jury or sentenced for border-related crimes such as illegally re-entering the U.S. after previous deportation. Here is one of those cases: On July 25, 2025, Perla IBARRA Rodriguez, a Mexican national who is a permanent resident of the United States, was sentenced to 27 months in custody for smuggling more than 20 pounds of fentanyl into the United States. While on bond in this case, IBARRA was charged in San Bernardino County in a separate incident for possessing methamphetamine for sale, transporting methamphetamine, and willfully causing or permitting any child to suffer. Pursuant to the Department’s Operation Take Back America priorities, federal law enforcement has focused immigration prosecutions on undocumented aliens who are engaged in criminal activity in the U.S., including those who commit drug and firearms crimes, who have serious criminal records, or who have active warrants for their arrest. Federal authorities have also been prioritizing investigations and prosecutions against drug, firearm, and human smugglers and those who endanger and threaten the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who protect the community. The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Five People Indicted in Rockford for Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $1 Million in Federal Benefits

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: ROCKFORD — Five individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rockford in a scheme alleging more than $1 million in federal benefit fraud. The indictment returned Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Rockford charges TYESHA BOWMAN, 32, of Beloit, Wis., with thirty-four counts of mail and wire fraud; LIBRA MARTIN, 48, of Rockford, with fourteen counts of wire fraud; LAMONT FOSTER, 38, of Rockford, with eight counts of mail and wire fraud; KHADIJAH BROWN, 31, of Rockford, with two counts of mail fraud; and SIETA CARRINGTON, 36, of Rockford, with one count of mail fraud. Arraignments have not yet been scheduled. According to the indictment, Bowman and Martin schemed to defraud and fraudulently obtain over $500,000 in connection with the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, both programs enacted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). Bowman, Foster, Brown, and Carrington schemed to defraud and fraudulently obtain over $500,000 in connection with the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program. The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of mail and wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.


title: 203 Federal Immigration Cases Added This Week in the Western District of Texas

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas announced today, that federal prosecutors in the district filed 203 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from July 17 through July 24. Among the new cases, Mexican national Pablo Alfredo Cazares-Carrion was turned over to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)/Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) on July 22. He had been in Bexar County Adult Detention Center since he was arrested April 13 for assault causing bodily injury to a family member. Cazares-Carrion was previously convicted for illegal re-entry in October 2017 and sentenced to 40 months in federal prison. He is again charged with illegal re-entry, facing up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. A Mexican national was arrested in Waco and charged with one count of failure to possess registration form. A criminal complaint alleges that Noe Fermin Guerrero-Mendieta was located on July 24 by the ICE Waco Fugitive Operations team without his required certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card. Upon his original apprehension by immigration authorities, Guerrero-Mendieta was granted an immigration bond and released from immigration custody. By federal law, he is required to, at all times, carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card. In Del Rio, Mexican national Emmanuel De Jesius Arroyo-Aviles was arrested for illegal re-entry. On Jan. 28, Arroyo-Aviles was convicted and sentenced to 10 years of probation in Zavala County for smuggling of persons with a likelihood of serious bodily injury or death. Three days after that sentence hearing, on Jan. 31, he was deported to Mexico. U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Mexican national Cesar Alejandro Munoz-Lopez for illegal re-entry in Eagle Pass. Munoz-Lopez was previously removed to Mexico through San Diego, California, on May 6, but also had an active warrant for failure to appear in court out of Fort Collins, Colorado, as of April 28. Munoz-Lopez has two prior convictions for assault and one felony conviction for bribery of a public servant, for which he was sentenced in 2012 to six years imprisonment. Angel Amilcar Martinez-Martinez , a Honduran national, was also arrested for illegal re-entry in Eagle Pass. Martinez-Martinez is a convicted felon, having been sentenced in Houston in August 2021 to one year in prison for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Less than three months later, in November, he was convicted for causing an accident involving damage to a vehicle in Houston and sentenced to 90 days confinement. Martinez-Martinez was again convicted in Houston in May 2023 for assault causing bodily injury. He was sentenced to one year confinement and deported for the fourth time on April 5, 2024. In El Paso, Mexican national Jose Alberto Ramos-Chino was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry after he was found on a Greyhound bus during an immigration checkpoint inspection. Ramos-Chino allegedly did not possess immigration documents allowing him to legally be or remain in the U.S. Estrada has been removed from the U.S. three times, the last time being to Mexico on May 18. Ramos-Chino has been removed from the U.S. twice before and was convicted of two felony charges for drug and firearm possession in 2021. U.S. citizen Isaac Saldana was charged in El Paso for his alleged involvement in alien smuggling. A criminal complaint alleges that, on July 16, U.S. Border Patrol agents were searching for two illegal aliens who were observed illegally entering the U.S. less than four miles ease of the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry. During their search, a vehicle allegedly driven by Saldana was seen speeding away, running a stop sign and making a hard turn. The agents conducted a traffic stop and transported Saldana to the El Paso Processing Center for further investigation. The investigation revealed that Saldana had been arrested for alien smuggling in 2024 by the Texas Department of Public Safety, and that he allegedly coordinated with a known smuggler for drivers to pick up aliens. A search of Saldana’s phone allegedly indicated approximately 20 instances of such coordination between March and July 16. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in Texas—San Antonio, Austin and El Paso—and shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Ramps Up Prosecution Of Illegal Re-Entry Into The United States Following Deportation

body_text: SAN JOSE – In the latest example of federal prosecutors’ increased focus on defendants alleged to have been found in the United States following removal, a federal grand jury yesterday returned an indictment charging Jesus Alexis Cervantes-Luna, aka “Sinaloa,” with one count of illegal reentry following removal from the United States and multiple counts of drug and firearms offenses. Cervantes-Luna, 29, a Mexican national, was initially charged by complaint on July 8, 2025. The eight-count indictment filed on July 24, 2025, charges Cervantes-Luna with one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl; two counts of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl; two counts of possession with intent to distribute five grams and more of methamphetamine; one count of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition as a felon; one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and one count of illegal reentry following removal. According to the complaint, in February 2025, law enforcement responded to a hit-and-run collision in Salinas, Calif., involving a grey GMC SUV registered to an individual at an address in Soledad, Calif. While heading to the Soledad address, law enforcement observed a grey GMC SUV matching the description of the hit-and-run vehicle parked at a nearby gas station and made contact with the alleged driver, Cervantes-Luna. During a search of the GMC, law enforcement allegedly found a backpack with suspected narcotics, two boxes of 9mm ammunition, clear plastic baggies, shaved keys, and a glass pipe. The complaint further describes that, on March 25, 2025, based on an outstanding warrant, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a van that Cervantes-Luna was driving. When officers exited their patrol car, the van accelerated at a high rate of speed and led officers on a 23.5-mile pursuit from Soledad to Paicines, Calif. Officers were unable to locate Cervantes-Luna, but found a black backpack that they had previously seen Cervantes-Luna hold. Inside the backpack, officers allegedly located approximately 17 net grams of suspected methamphetamine, a baggie of suspected fentanyl pills weighing approximately 51.4 net grams, a baggie of suspected fentanyl powder weighing approximately 59.7 net grams and a digital scale. On March 31, 2025, law enforcement arrested Cervantes-Luna for an outstanding warrant while he was driving a Jeep in Monterey County. During a search incident to arrest, officers allegedly found a semiautomatic firearm in Cervantes-Luna’s waistband, and also located on his person a black satchel containing approximately 37 net grams of suspected methamphetamine and approximately 75.2 net grams of suspected fentanyl. On April 2, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant in King City, Calif., during which they located an Audi that allegedly belonged to Cervantes-Luna. Inside the Audi, officers allegedly found a white compressed brick of suspected fentanyl with a net weight of 624.8 grams. As charged in the indictment, Cervantes-Luna was previously deported and removed from the United States on or about September 2023. Cervantes-Luna was previously arrested on the complaint on July 14, 2025, in Monterey, Calif., and made his initial appearance that same day. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on July 28, 2025. United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Brannigan made the announcement. * * * Since January 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California has significantly increased the number of such prosecutions and has publicly filed criminal charges against over a dozen defendants alleged to have been found in the United States following removal. Many of the charged defendants were previously convicted of felony offenses prior to their removal from the United States, including, for example: Juan Jose Vazquez Hernandez, 34, a Mexican national, was convicted of and has been sentenced for illegal reentry following removal, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(1). Vazquez Hernandez was previously convicted of possessing an assault weapon. He has been deported or removed from the United States on at least nine occasions since 2010. Jose and Jonathan Erazo: Jose Erazo, 36, and Jonathan Erazo, 33, Honduran nationals, were charged with illegal reentry into the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(1) and 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a), respectively. Both defendants were previously ordered removed from the United States. On June 20, 2025, Jose Erazo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and illegal reentry following removal. According to the plea agreement, in May 2024, Jose Erazo was found with fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Law enforcement also found an industrial press, cutting agents, large amounts of currency, and packaging materials at his residence and stash house. Jonathan Erazo also pleaded guilty on June 20, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and illegal reentry following removal. According to the plea agreement, in May 2024, Jonathan Erazo was found with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine base, and heroin that he intended to distribute. Wilson Acosta-Zuniga: 53, a Honduran national, was charged with being found in the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(1), and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). He pleaded guilty to both counts of the information on July 7, 2025. According to the plea agreement, Acosta-Zuniga was removed from the United States in 2011, following a felony illegal reentry conviction in 2009. On or about April 28, 2025, Acosta-Zuniga was arrested for selling methamphetamine near 9th and Mission Streets in San Francisco. Law enforcement found methamphetamine, cocaine base, heroin, and cocaine in Acosta-Zuniga’s possession. Augustin Luna-Gasca, 41, a Mexican national, was charged with illegal reentry into the United States following deportation, in violation of 8 U.S.C. §§ 1326(a) and (b)(2). According to the criminal complaint, Luna-Gasca was deported from the United States on two prior occasions in March 2022 and June 2019. Luna-Gasca has a prior felony conviction for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). * * * A criminal complaint or indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, defendants who were removed after a prior felony conviction face a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, and defendants removed after a prior aggravated felony conviction face a maximum of 20 years in prison. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The prosecutions are the result of investigations by HSI, DEA, ICE ERO, and FBI.


title: Guilty Verdict in Road Rage Killing of Uber Driver Near Dupont Circle

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

body_text: WASHINGTON –Rodney Baggott, 58, of the District of Columbia, was found guilty yesterday of murder and related counts in U.S. District Court in the 2024 road rage slaying of Uber Eats driver Rasheek Abdullah near the Dupont Circle Metro Station, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. A federal jury deliberated for a single day before finding Baggott guilty on July 24 of first degree murder while armed (premeditated), possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Judge Reggie B. Walton scheduled sentencing for Dec. 18, 2025. Joining in the announcement was Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 30, 2024, Baggott was driving a white Mitsubishi Outlander to his then-girlfriend’s office at a law firm in Dupont Circle. Shortly before 4 p.m., the girlfriend left her office and joined Baggott. The two drove to the intersection of Connecticut Ave. and Q St, NW. There, as Baggott made a right-hand turn, Mr. Abdullah passed him on the left-hand side. Baggott became enraged believing that Mr. Abdullah had cut him off. Baggott drove up next to Mr. Abdullah, pulled out a gun, and shot him in the neck. Mr. Abdullah ultimately died as a result of the shooting. Baggott fled the scene with his girlfriend sitting in the passenger seat. The girlfriend called an auto body repair shop to fix distinctive damage on the vehicle—distinctive damage that would go out on a police bulletin later that day and would ultimately be used to link Baggott to the shooting. On March 2, 2024, a Montgomery County Police officer stopped Baggott and the girlfriend while they were in the white Mitsubishi Outlander. Baggott was arrested for illegally possessing a gun in the vehicle. On March 3, 2024, law enforcement found the gun used in the shooting during the execution of a search warrant at Baggott’s girlfriend’s apartment. The firearm had DNA that linked it to both the girlfriend and Baggott. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and the Metropolitan Police Department, with valuable assistance from the Montgomery County Police Department and the FBI Washington Field Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron Tepfer and Daniel Seidel, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Lipes. 24cr127


title: South Florida Telecom Company and its CEO Pay $128 Million and CEO is Sentenced to 5 Years for Massive Government Program Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI –Issa Asad, 51, of Southwest Ranches, Florida, and Q Link Wireless LLC, of Dania Beach, Florida, were sentenced yesterday for conspiring to defraud and commit offenses against the United States in connection with a years-long scheme to steal over $100 million from a celebrated federal program providing discounted phone service to people in need. Asad, Q Link’s CEO, was also sentenced for laundering money from a separate scheme to defraud a different federal program meant to aid individuals and businesses hurt by the Covid-19 pandemic. Asad and Q Link were each sentenced on Count 1 of an Information, which charged them with conspiring to commit wire fraud and to steal government money, and also with conspiring to defraud the United States, Asad was also sentenced on Count 2 of the Information, which charges him with money laundering. Asad received a sentence of 60 months’ imprisonment. Q Link agreed to pay a forfeiture money judgment of over $109 million. Asad and Q Link also agreed to jointly paid $109,637,057 in restitution to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Asad separately paid $1,758,339.25 in restitution to the United States Small Business Association, and paid a forfeiture judgment against him of $17,484,118.00. The paid financial penalties and restitution totaled over $128 million. "Issa Asad and his company, Q Link Wireless, deliberately scammed two vital government programs aimed at supporting people and companies in economic distress, wrongfully diverting hundreds of millions of dollars for their personal benefit and gain, all while impeding the government's capacity to assist those who genuinely required the help," stated U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’ Byrne for the Southern District of Florida. "These outcomes underscore our resolve to make sure that those who mastermind corporate fraud schemes face personal consequences.” “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents are specially equipped to follow the complex financial trail left by criminals, and we are dedicated to holding those accountable for crimes committed,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carterof the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office. “This was a brazen scheme of staggering proportions. Mr. Asad prioritized his own greed, stealing $100 million from taxpayers. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that our Global Illicit Financial Team and our law enforcement partners remain vigilant and will vigorously pursue those who attempt to enrich themselves through fraudulent means.” “Q Link and Asad stole funds from a key FCC program meant to serve low-income households,” said Inspector General Fara Damelin of the FCC, Office of Inspector General (FCC-OIG). “This sentencing sends an important message that egregious criminal misconduct against FCC programs will not go unanswered. FCC OIG investigators and their law enforcement partners at DOJ, IRS, SIGPR, and USPIS, did an outstanding job on this investigation, and we thank FCC for its assistance. FCC OIG is dedicated to stopping waste, fraud, and abuse, and will continue to vigorously pursue investigations against wrongdoers who defraud FCC programs and victimize our most vulnerable populations.” “Issa Asad used the cover of a legitimate business to line his pockets at the expense of taxpayers and vulnerable communities,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division. “Today’s sentencing reinforces our commitment to protecting our communities and government programs from abuse.” According to court records, the case arose out of the Asad and Q Link’s scheme to defraud the FCC’s Lifeline program. Lifeline makes basic communications services more affordable for low-income consumers. It provides subscribers a deep discount on qualifying monthly cellphone service, broadband Internet service, or bundled voice-broadband packages purchased from participating telecommunications providers. The discount helps ensure that low-income consumers can afford 21st century connectivity services and the access they provide to jobs, healthcare, and educational resources. Asad and Q Link agreed that they purposefully conspired to defraud this program. Specifically, beginning as early as 2012 and continuing through at least 2021, Q Link, directed by Asad, cheated the Lifeline program by making repeated false claims for reimbursement, taking and retaining Lifeline funds that it was not entitled to receive, providing false information about its Lifeline customers, and deceiving the FCC about its compliance with program rules. Asad directed these illegal activities and conspired with others to commit the fraud. Among other things, according to court records, the Asad and Q Link engaged in multiple tricks designed to mislead the FCC about how many people were actually using Q Link’s Lifeline phones, and to prevent customers who did not want the phones from ending their relationship with Q Link (which would have prevented Q Link from billing the program for them). Asad and Q Link manufactured non-existent cellphone activity and engaged in coercive marketing techniques to get people to remain Q Link customers. On one occasion, for example, Asad and Q Link devised the following automated script to be played for Q Link customers: “Hello, your Medicaid, Food Stamp and Lifeline benefits are about to get cancelled. To avoid cancelation of these benefits, press 1 now to indicate that you wish to remain enrolled in these government programs. Press 2 if you wish to speak to a representative about your government benefits. To opt out of any future calls, press 3.” The Asad and Q Link used this false and threatening script to coerce customers into accepting Lifeline services. In another recorded call in which a similar script was deployed, a customer, who called to cancel due to a non-working cellphone, asked the Q Link customer service representative, “Do you want me to throw it in the garbage?” The representative instructed the customer to “Just make sure you continue to use the device at least once every 30 days.” Upon learning that the FCC was investigating their Lifeline billing, Asad and Q Link created and provided false records to the FCC to conceal the scam and to continue collecting reimbursement. As part of this plan, Asad and Q Link, with the help of others, simply manufactured cellphone activity on behalf of Q Link customers who were not using their cellphones. At no point did Q Link amend past Lifeline claims for customers who were not using their cellphones or return any of the Lifeline payments. Asad and Q Link, together with their co-conspirators, caused a $109,637,057 loss to the FCC. Asad admitted that he sent over $50 million in Lifeline funds to bank accounts he and his family member controlled in Jordan. Meanwhile, Asad defrauded another federal government program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), by making false statements about Q Link’s business. Congress created the PPP during the Covid-19 pandemic to authorize forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. Asad, in Q Link’s name, executed a fraudulent scheme to obtain, and keep, PPP proceeds. To further the scheme, Asad made false statements about Q Link’s business, including a false claim that Q Link’s Lifeline reimbursements substantially decreased because of the pandemic. Asad then, in 2021, engaged in an unlawful financial transaction involving approximately $389,000 of those proceeds. Asad spent PPP loan proceeds on a Land Rover payment, his personal Amex card, jewelry, and personal property taxes. Resolution of this matter makes this the largest criminal matter involving the FCC and the largest criminal plea deal in the history of Southern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney O’ Byrne, acting Inspector in Charge Rojo, Executive Special Agent in Charge Carter, and Inspector General Damelin, made the announcement. The FCC-OIG, USPIS, IRS-CI’s Global Illicit Financial Team, and Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR), investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Young and John Shipley prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Pastor and Mitch Hyman are handling asset forfeiture. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Croke is handling restitution. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-20363. ###


title: San Diego Man Sentenced in D.C. to 108 Months in Prison for Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: WASHINGTON – Eduardo Alberto Zelaya Vides, 31, of San Diego, California, was sentenced today in the District of Columbia to 108 months in prison in connection with repeatedly posting child sexual abuse materials to an online chatroom, with aggressively encouraging other group members to do the same, and possessing a collection of child pornography that numbered more than 2,000 digital files, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Zelaya Vides pleaded guilty on February 7, 2025, before U.S. District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell, to one count of distribution of child pornography. In addition to the 108-month prison term, Judge Howell ordered Zelaya Vides to serve 15 years of supervised release, to register as a sex offender, and to provide a total of $106,500 in restitution to the 14 children depicted in the child exploitation images that he distributed. Joining in the announcement was FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office, which conducted the investigation. According to court documents, Zelaya Vides joined an instant messaging group which existed as a chatroom for the purpose of discussing the sexual exploitation of children and sharing child pornography. To gain entry and remain in the group, members were required to actively post and share child sexual abuse content. Zelaya repeatedly shared child pornography videos in the group and encouraged other members to share materials they collected, repeatedly imploring the group to “post your sluts” and “post your young sluts.” On May 10, 2024, law enforcement arrested Zelaya Vides. FBI agents executed a search warrant at the defendant’s home and recovered six digital devices, three of which contained more than 2,000 videos and images depicting the sexual abuse of children. During his interview with investigators, Zelaya Vides admitted that he participated in the chatroom that began as a forum for discussion and exchange of pornography. He later admitted that he was aware that the pornographic images shared in the group depicted minors who were under 18-years-old. He further admitted that he uploaded images to the chatroom. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Shinskie. This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . 24cr0216


title: Brooklyn Man Convicted Of Possessing 18 Rounds Of Ammunition Inside Federal Courthouse

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the conviction of JONATHAN BANYAN yesterday for possessing ammunition after a felony conviction. On April 7, 2025, BANYAN brought ammunition into the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse. The defendant was found guilty following a four-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff. “Everyone who enters a federal courthouse—judges and juries, lawyers and litigants, the press and the public—must know they are safe,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “This conviction sends a clear message: ammunition carried by a convicted felon should not be tolerated in our community, let alone in the court.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment and the evidence presented at trial: On April 7, 2025, BANYAN entered the Daniel Patrick Moynihan U.S. Courthouse wearing a backpack. Inside that backpack were 18 bullets in three different calibers. As BANYAN passed through the security station, court security officers spotted the bullets. BANYAN grabbed the bag of bullets and tried to hide it in his pocket, but court security officers stopped him and recovered the ammunition. BANYAN has previously been convicted of a felony. * * * BANYAN, 39, of Brooklyn, New York, was convicted of knowingly possessing ammunition after having been convicted of a felony, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. BANYAN is scheduled to be sentenced on December 1, 2025. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Marshals Service. He also thanked the court security officers for their assistance. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James G. Mandilk, Ariana L. Bloom, and Nicholas S. Bradley are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Roberts.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico Weekly Immigration and Border Crimes Report

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced its immigration enforcement statistics for this week. These cases are prosecuted in partnership with the El Paso Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, along with Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, and assistance from other federal, state, and county agencies. In the one-week period ending July 25, 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office brought the following criminal charges in New Mexico: 40 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Reentry After Deportation (8 U.S.C. 1326) 4 individuals were charged this week with Alien Smuggling (8 U.S.C. 1324) 37 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325) 35 individuals were charged this week with Illegal Entry (8 U.S.C. 1325), violation of a military security regulation (50 U.S.C. 797) and Entering Military, Naval, or Coast Guard Property (18 U.S.C. 1382), arising from the newly established National Defense Area in New Mexico. Many of the defendants charged pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1326 had prior criminal convictions for robbery, alien smuggling, DUI, assault, and illegal reentry. In one significant case, Jose Luis Ramirez-Montoya , a Mexican national illegally in the U.S., was charged with providing a false statement to a firearms dealer by falsely claiming on an ATF form that he was a U.S. citizen. At the time of the false statement, Ramirez-Montoya was attempting to purchase a firearm from a pawn shop in Deming, NM. The sale was denied, and HSI agents located Ramirez-Montoya at a residence in Deming, NM where he was arrested. Protecting law enforcement officers is a key part of border security. During this time period, two Guatemalan nationals were charged with assault of a federal officer. On July 17, 2025, a group was spotted crossing the border in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. When a Border Patrol agent arrived at the location, the group was spotted hiding in some brush. When the agent attempted to apprehend one of the subjects, Sarbelio Garcia-Ramo, “threw elbows” and was able to break free for a short time. The agent then attempted to arrest Juan Gutierrez-Gutierrez who began wrestling with the agent. As the agent was wrestling with Gutierrez-Gutierrez , Garcia-Ramo approached them and grabbed the agent by her duty belt and started to pull her away. A second agent arrived, and both defendants were subsequently subdued and arrested. From the beginning of Fiscal Year 2025 through June 2025, 50 El Paso Sector Border Patrol Agents have been assaulted, following 103 assaults in Fiscal Year 2024. U.S. Border Patrol is collaborating closely with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office to ensure that those who assault federal officers are brought to justice. This interagency cooperation is crucial in protecting the men and women who serve on the frontlines of our nation's border security efforts and in deterring future attacks on law enforcement personnel. These cases are part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. These statistics represent prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico only. The numbers do not include individuals apprehended by immigration enforcement officials and subjected solely to administrative process. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for the District of New Mexico. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal history, including human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The District of New Mexico consists of 33 counties and shares 180 miles of international border with Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from Albuquerque and Las Cruces work directly with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to prosecute immigration-related and other federal offenses.


title: Vehicle Theft Investigation Leads to 33-Year Federal Prison Sentence for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: An Arlington resident was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison for Production of Child Pornography and Illegal Possession of a Machinegun, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson. Court documents revealed that in late September 2024, the Bedford Police Department began investigating a theft of a truck that belonged to a business in Bedford, Texas. A few days later, the Arlington Police Department recovered the vehicle and returned it to the owners. Multiple bags containing cell phones and illegal firearms that belonged to Carlos Isaac Barrientos were found in the vehicle. A forensic review of the devices by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms located images and videos of child pornography on the devices. Barrientos, 36, of Arlington, Texas, was arrested, charged, and subsequently pled guilty to production of child pornography and illegal possession of a machinegun on April 16, 2025. On July 24, 2025, Barrientos was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Reed O’Connor. The investigation was conducted by the Arlington Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorney Allyson Monte prosecuted the case.