title: Hunterdon County Man Charged with Possession of Videos and Images of Child Sexual Abuse

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Hunterdon County man was charged with possessing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. David Tuytjens, 69, of Tewksbury Township, New Jersey, was charged in a one-count complaint with possession of child pornography. He had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah L. Singh in Trenton federal court and was detained. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In December 2024, officers from the New Jersey State Parole Board visited Tuytjens’ residence and discovered various electronic devices, including a 64 gigabyte MicroSD storage card inside of a laptop. Officers conducted their visit because Tuytjens is prohibited from possessing, among other things, Internet-capable devices as an individual under Community Supervision for Life due to a prior State conviction. An examination of the storage card contents revealed at least 800 images and 30 video files containing child sexual abuse materials (“CSAM”). An ongoing review of the CSAM has revealed images depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, images portraying sadistic or masochistic conduct, and sexual abuse or exploitation of an infant or toddler as further outlined in the complaint. Due to Tuytjens’ prior convictions for aggravated sexual assault and possession of child pornography, the charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. The charge also carries with it a maximum $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in the Newark Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, the New Jersey State Parole Board, under the direction of Chairman Samuel J. Plumeri, Jr., and the Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson, with the investigation leading to the charge. The government is represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Garelick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Trenton. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Benjamin West, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender tuytjens.complaint.pdf


title: Fargo, ND Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced today that Kadar Udai Pearson, age 21, from Fargo, North Dakota, appeared in federal court and was sentenced before Chief United States District Judge Peter D. Welte to 51 months in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, and 3 years of supervised release. Pearson pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024. As noted in court documents, in the afternoon of June 5, 2024, Fargo Police Department officers were in the area of the Arbors apartment complex after an earlier shots-fired report. They observed a person, later identified as Pearson, wearing a sweatshirt and pulling up a ski mask over his face, though the temperature was in the mid-70s. The sweatshirt pocket appeared to have something heavier than a cell phone in it. Officers further observed Pearson enter into a backyard in the neighborhood, where a resident of the home said Pearson did not have permission to be. Officers directed Pearson to halt, but he fled on foot. As officers gave chase, one officer observed Pearson throw what appeared to be a firearm beneath a vehicle in a nearby parking lot. Surveillance cameras captured the toss. On the ground beneath the vehicle, officers found a SIG Sauer 9mm pistol, loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, which was previously reported stolen in Fargo. At the time of the offense, Pearson was an inmate on escape status with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, under a state sentence imposed in October 2023, for his felony convictions of Possession with Intent to Deliver Fentanyl and Theft of a Firearm. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Fargo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker and Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein in the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section of the Criminal Division at the United States Department of Justice. # # #


title: Honduran National Indicted for Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – Acting United States Attorney Michael M. Simpsonannounced that JHOSMY JOSUE PEREZ-ALVAREZ (“PEREZ-ALVAREZ”) , age 24, a native of Honduras, was indicted on April 24, 2025, for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, on or about January 2, 2025, PEREZ-ALVAREZ , an individual unlawfully present in the United States, was found in possession of a Glock nine-millimeter handgun. He was arrested by the New Orleans Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations officers, for violating immigration laws. If convicted, PEREZ-ALVAREZ faces a maximum penalty of 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpsonpraised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Houston man charged with using endangered sea turtles to make boots

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A Laredo grand jury has indicted a 31-year-old Houston man for his role in trafficking boots made of sea turtle skin, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Law enforcement has taken Alejandro Hernandez into custody in Midland. He is making his initial appearance there before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roland Griffin. The five-count indictment alleges Hernandez smuggled and conspired to smuggle boots into the United States, illegally sold the boots and sent them through the mail. Hernandez allegedly operated an online store where he advertised selling custom boots made from any animal skin. He claimed the boots were genuine handmade items from Guanajuato, Mexico, according to the charges. In October 2024, Hernandez allegedly caused sea turtle skin boots to be imported from Mexico and sent them to a customer in Houston. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan L. Oliver is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Boston Man Charged with Receipt of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man has been arrested and charged for allegedly receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Cess Frazier, 32, has been charged with one count of receipt of child pornography. Frazier was arrested at his residence yesterday and made his initial appearance in federal court in Boston. He has been ordered detained pending a hearing scheduled for May 1, 2025. According to the charging documents, an ongoing investigation into the dissemination of CSAM allegedly identified Frazier as an individual who had purchased CSAM. During a search of Frazier’s cell phone approximately 100 media files that depicted CSAM were allegedly found saved in Telegram Messenger. The minor victims in the files are alleged to be between approximately three and 10 years old. Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274 or contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov . The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Honduran National Indicted for Reentry of Deported Alien

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – ActingUnited States Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that BRYAN JAVIER PEREZ-ESPINOZA (“PEREZ-ESPINOZA”) , age 33, a native of Honduras, was indicted on April 24, 2025, for reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to court documents, PEREZ-ESPINOZA , an illegal alien, was found in Orleans Parish on March 23, 2024. He had previously been removed to Honduras on September 30, 2022. If convicted, PEREZ-ESPINOZA faces a maximum penalty of two years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson praised the work of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Ocean County Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison for Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey man was sentenced to 180 months in prison for receiving and distributing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced. Christopher Budelman, 37, Brick, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi to an information charging him with two counts of receipt of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. Judge Quraishi imposed the sentence in Trenton federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In or around June 2022, while communicating via an online video chat site, Budelman enticed two minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct while he sexually pleasured himself. Budelman recorded and saved those video chats on his computer. Additionally, from in or around September 2021 to in or around June 2022, Budelman used two Kik Messenger accounts to send images and videos containing child pornography, including images and videos depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, to others. In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Budelman to 10 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Habba credited special agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Atlantic City, New Jersey, under the direction of Special-Agent-in-Charge Ricky J. Patel in Newark; the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Crime Unit, under the direction of Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer; New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and Brick Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Forrester, with the investigation leading to this sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Super Pitts of the Criminal Division in Trenton. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) in the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/psc . ### Defense counsel: John Bruno, Jr., Esq.


title: Discord User Charged In Interstate Scheme To Lure Children And Traffic In Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging LONNIE YOUMANS with sexual exploitation of a child, receipt and distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. YOUMANS was arrested yesterday in Newburgh, New York, presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy in White Plains federal court, and ordered detained. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said: “As alleged, Lonnie Youmans used Discord as a hunting ground to find, manipulate, and sextort our most vulnerable in a horrific scheme to obtain child pornography. Every New Yorker and every American loathes the exploitation of children. Together with our partners, we will deploy every resource to relentlessly pursue and bring to justice those who prey on our children.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said: “Lonnie Youmans allegedly devised a twisted scheme to obtain sexually explicit images of young children and extorted a minor to produce pornographic content with threats of blackmail. This alleged cyclical abuse groomed victims into submission, perpetuating increased victimization without reprieve. May this arrest highlight the FBI’s stout commitment to apprehending any individual who repeatedly sexually exploits children for depraved gratification.” As alleged in the Complaint: [1] From as early as January 2024, YOUMANS used an online messaging application called Discord to prey on victims as young as 12 years old. YOUMANS, who went by the Discord names “Zenheatsu” and “Leyley,” groomed vulnerable minors, got them to send him sexually explicit photos, and then threatened to leak those photos to coerce his victims into sending more images and recruiting additional victims. Among those YOUMANS targeted was a 15-year-old minor (“Victim-1”) from whom YOUMANS obtained dozens of sexually explicit photos, which YOUMANS distributed to others, including other minors. YOUMANS also manipulated Victim-1 into producing sexually explicit images for him as purported compensation for Victim-1 causing another 13-year-old minor to stop talking to YOUMANS. YOUMANS knew what he was doing was illegal, and once complained to another Discord user that Victim-1 “threatened me with fbi.” On or about April 29, 2025, federal agents searched YOUMANS’ residence and found hundreds of unique files of child pornography on his phone, including multiple images of adults performing oral sex on toddlers and prepubescent children being penetrated by various objects. YOUMANS admitted that he knew the pornographic images he possessed were illegal. A photo depicting YOUMANS is below: If you are a victim of YOUMANS or have any information concerning YOUMANS, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or you can report a tip online at tips.fbi.gov. * * * YOUMANS, 22, of Newburgh, New York, is charged with sexual exploitation of a child, which carries a 15-year mandatory minimum and a 30-year maximum sentence; receipt and distribution of child pornography, which carries a five-year mandatory minimum and 20-year maximum sentence, and possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, Town of Wallkill Police Department, and the Town of Newburgh Police Department. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reyhan Watson is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. u.s._v._youmans_complaint.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Armed Felon Who Led Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies on a Chase with His Child in the Car Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that on April 23, 2025, United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Keith Lamarr Williams, age 43, to 80 months in prison on one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Judge Dimke also imposed 3 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on October 18, 2022, deputies with the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a domestic disturbance involving a weapon in Spokane Valley. K.D., who is Williams’ ex-girlfriend, with whom Williams shares children, told deputies that during the previous two weeks Williams had been parking and watching their daughter walk to school. On the day of the incident, Williams had been sitting in a parked vehicle with a view to the family’s apartment. When K.D. and her husband confronted and told Williams to leave, Williams pulled a gun, pointed it at K.D. and her husband, and demanded to see his daughter before leaving in his vehicle. Deputies found the vehicle Williams was driving and attempted a traffic stop, but Williams fled. Deputies pursued the vehicle until Williams crashed. Williams tried to escape on foot, but deputies took him into custody. Williams’ two-year-old son was in the vehicle during the pursuit and collision. Inside the vehicle, investigators located a Glock 9mm pistol with a bullet in the chamber. Deputies also located a Glock 9mm magazine that was loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. Williams was previously convicted in federal court in Eastern Washington on drug charges and served 80 months in prison. He was released from prison on February 18, 2022. As a result of his felony conviction, Williams was not allowed to possess a firearm. “This case could have ended in tragedy,” stated Acting United States Attorney Barker. “Mr. Williams put his own family and others in danger by fleeing from law enforcement with a loaded gun in the car. Felons, who possess firearms are a threat to public safety, and we will continue to hold them accountable—especially when children are placed in harm’s way.” “Mr. Williams’s actions were extremely dangerous to the community, and in particular to his 2-year-old son,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “He knew he wasn’t supposed to possess firearms, yet he chose to carry a loaded pistol in the car with him and his child. This sentence was well deserved.” This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael L. Vander Giessen and Alison L. Gregoire. 2:23-cr-00060-MKD


title: Two sentenced to federal prison in $100,000 bank fraud and mail theft scheme in Metro East

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Two Metro East women were sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a scheme to steal mail from collection boxes and commit more than $100,000 in bank fraud. Tylann J. Starks, 30, of Swansea, was sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, three counts of bank fraud, two counts of aggravated identity theft and one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. mail. Tiara D. Johnson, 33, of Pontoon Beach, was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. mail. “I commend the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, for solving a difficult case by working with the public to get information, follow leads and piece together the investigation,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. The U.S. Postal Service uses specialized keys, commonly referred to as arrow keys, to service and open mail collection boxes. Arrow keys are labeled with serial numbers for tracking purposes. “The sentencing in this case illustrates that individuals who engage in mail theft will be held accountable for their actions,” stated Inspector in Charge, Ruth Mendonça, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office. The Inspection Service is proud to work with our local, state, and federal partners to bring Mail Theft perpetrators to justice and prevent financial crimes targeting local citizens, postal customers, and financial institutions.” According to court documents, Starks purchased an arrow key from former postal employee Jackson to gain access to mail collection boxes throughout the Metro East. Agents conducted an undercover purchase of an additional arrow key from Jackson in exchange for $1,000. Co-defendant Jamil Jackson, 52, is facing one count of conspiracy to steal U.S. mail, one count of theft of a specialized key to access US Postal receptacles, and one count of making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer. He is scheduled to appear in court on May 13. An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. Starks and Johnson searched collection boxes for checks to use bank account and personal identifying information from victims to cash and enrich themselves from February 2020 through February 2023. Jackson is also accused of stealing checks out of mail from his route and give to Starks to defraud. The conspirators used the stolen account information to generate counterfeit checks. “This sentencing represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this significant mail theft investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service, along with our law enforcement partners, remain committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.” Starks and Johnson cashed, deposited or otherwise negotiated the stolen and counterfeit checks at area businesses, banks and ATM machines in Belleville, East St. Louis and O’Fallon. There were at least 100 victims affected by the scheme with an estimated loss of more than $100,000. Agents with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, contributed to the investigation. U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft is prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican National With Three Prior Deportations Charged For Illegally Reentering The United States

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national made his initial court appearance Tuesday to face charges of illegally reentering the United States after being removed from the country on three prior occasions. Audencio Vazquez-Calletano, 31, is charged with one count of deported alien found in the United States. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13, 2025, before United States Magistrate Judge Elayna J. Youchah. According to allegations contained in the criminal complaint and statements made during court proceedings, Vazquez-Calletano is a citizen and national of Mexico who was previously deported and removed from the United States on May 13, 2011, February 22, 2012, and June 21, 2024, and reentered the United States illegally on or before April 14, 2025. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) arrested Vazquez-Calletano near Searchlight, Nevada, on April 14, 2025. Vazquez-Calletano unsuccessfully tried to flee CBP apprehension. Vazquez-Calletano has a prior felony conviction for Take Vehicle Without Owner’s Consent/Vehicle Theft, in Santa Barbara County, California. If convicted, Lopez Munoz faces the maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison, a three-year term of supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Salt Lake City Field Office Director Michael Bernacke made the announcement. The ICE Salt Lake City, Las Vegas Sub-Office investigated the case; and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada is prosecuting the case. Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form . A complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Former State Department Budget Analyst Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More than $650,000

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: WASHINGTON – Levita Almuete Ferrer, 64, of Montgomery Village, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to embezzling more than $650,000 from the U.S. State Department over a two-year period. The guilty plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Benjamin Brockschmidt of the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Inspector General, and Deputy Assistant Director William Ferrari of the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service Office of Special Investigations. As part of her guilty plea, Ferrer, who is also known as Levita Brezovic, admitted that she abused her signature authority over a State Department checking account between March 2022 and April 2024 while working as a Senior Budget Analyst in the State Department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol. She issued 60 checks payable to herself and three checks payable to another individual with whom she had a personal relationship. She printed and signed each check and then deposited all 63 checks, which totaled $657,347.50, into her personal checking and savings accounts. Ferrer attempted to conceal her scheme by using a common Quickbooks account at the State Department. After entering her name as the payee on checks in Quickbooks and then printing them, she often changed the listed payee in Quickbooks from herself to an actual State Department vendor. As a result, anyone viewing those entries in the Quickbooks system did not see Ferrer’s name as the payee on the checks unless they accessed an audit trail. U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper accepted Ferrer’s guilty plea to theft of government property and set a sentencing date for September 18, 2025. Ferrer faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Judge Cooper will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As part of her plea agreement, Ferrer agreed to pay $657,347.50 in restitution to the U.S. government. She also agreed to be liable for a forfeiture money judgment in that same amount. This case was investigated by the State Department’s Office of Inspector General and Diplomatic Security Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Sona Chaturvedi. Essential investigatory work was conducted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Orville of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina. 25cr108


title: Three ATF Agents Awarded for Victim Support during Jury Trial  in Northern Mississippi

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

body_text: OXFORD, MS – Multiple agents in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were recognized yesterday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Mississippi for their dedication to supporting victims during a jury trial last month. Special Agent David Erhart, Special Agent Jackson Price, and acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephen Bridgmon with the ATF were awarded the Carolyn Clayton Victims’ Service Award in observance of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week for going above and beyond with assisting victims throughout the prosecution of Korea McKay and forming relationships to build trust between the victim’s family and the government. This award is named for longtime victim’s rights advocate Carolyn Clayton. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Korea McKay, 44, shot and killed Davao Thomas on February 18, 2023. McKay killed Mr. Thomas after Mr. Thomas told him to slow down in the Kirby Estates apartment complex. Two shell casings were recovered at the scene. A federal jury convicted McKay on March 26, 2025, for felon-in-possession of ammunition stemming from the homicide. He is set for sentencing on July 17, 2025. At the time McKay possessed the ammunition, he had multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for assault of a police officer and a federal drug conviction. He faces up to 15-years imprisonment. Soon after Mr. Thomas was shot and killed in Tunica County, SA David Erhart established a relationship with the victim’s family and maintained that relationship throughout the case. SA Jackson Price and acting ASAC Stephen Bridgmon ensured that the victim’s family was able to attend the trial in Oxford and maintained a presence with the victims throughout the trial. “These agents would be worthy of commendation just for their outstanding work in putting a violent killer behind bars, but their efforts went much further than that,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “These agents exemplified a victim-centered approach, ensuring that the victim’s family was treated with dignity and respect while providing a sense of security when attending the trial.” “A federal investigation can be both complex and lengthy, especially if the crime is very devastating to the victims and their families, but safety of the victim is of utmost importance for ATF,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “We are very proud of our Special Agents for their excellent investigatory work, but also for their compassion for these victims. We also congratulate them on being honored with this award.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel Stringfellow and Julie Addison are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Yakima Man Subject to a Domestic Violence No Contact Order Sentenced to Prison for Possessing More Than a Dozen Firearms

body_text: Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Benjamin D. Cliett, age 44, of Yakima, Washington, to 2 years in federal prison on one count of Person Subject to a Court Order in Possession of Firearms. Judge Dimke also imposed 3 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on July 23, 2022, officers with the Yakima Police Department (YPD) were dispatched to Cliett’s residence in Yakima. Dispatch told the YPD that neighbors had called to report screaming and other loud noises coming from the residence. Aware that Cliett was subject to a domestic violence no-contact order, and fearing that a domestic violence incident was occurring inside, YPD entered the residence. Cliett’s partner was in the house, and YPD conducted a protective sweep of the residence. Inside, offices located Cliett hiding in a doghouse in the backyard. Cliett was arrested for violating the no-contact order. While conducting the sweep, YPD observed a tall gun safe in the bedroom. Officers later returned with a search warrant and found ammunition and magazines spread throughout the home and eighteen firearms in the gun safe. “Victims of domestic violence often feel trapped in abusive relationships, where they face higher risks of being shot or killed by their abuser than the general public,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Barker. “This is why it is so important to enforce laws that keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers—it really can save lives.” “Mr. Cliett made many wrong choices that day,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “He knew that he had a no-contact order and that prohibited him from having access to firearms. We hope that this prison sentence will give Mr. Cliett time to think about his actions and turn his life around.” This case was investigated by the ATF and the Yakima Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Ellis. 1:22-cr-02111-MKD


title: Former religious services assistant admits to smuggling contraband into federal prison

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 33-year-old Beeville woman has entered a guilty plea to smuggling contraband into a federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Ashley Priscilla Garza worked as a religious services assistant with the Federal Correctional Institution in Three Rivers. As part of her plea, Garza admitted she used her access to the prison to smuggle contraband to an inmate in 2022 and 2023. The items included cigarettes, an MP3 player and papers laced with synthetic opioids and other drugs. In return, she received 13 payments totaling approximately $11,400. She was terminated following the discovery of the smuggling scheme. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos will impose sentencing Aug. 12. At that time, Garza will face up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible fine of up to $250,000. Garza was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. The Department of Justice-Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Chu and Robert Thorpe are prosecuting the case.


title: PRAIRIEVILLE MAN SENTENCED TO 121 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED COERCION AND ENTICEMENT OF A MINOR

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Darryl Felder, age 43, of Prairieville, Louisiana, to 121 months in federal prison following his conviction for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Felder must serve five years of supervised release upon completing his term of imprisonment. The Court also ordered Felder to register as a sex offender upon his release. In announcing the sentence, the Court stated that the conduct for which Felder was convicted after a trial in September 2024 warranted the lengthy term of imprisonment imposed. As the evidence at trial demonstrated, over an 8-day period in January 2023, Felder enticed an undercover agent whom he believed to be 15 years old, to engage in sexual activity using cell phones and the internet. This case was investigated by the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation for the Office of the Attorney General and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Paul L. Pugliese and Stephen Vick.


title: Mexican National Charged with Possession of Child Pornography While Attempting to Enter the United States

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Alan Xavier Cabrera, 27, of Mexico, was arrested on April 25, 2025, and charged by criminal complaint for Possession of Child Pornography. According to the complaint, on April 25, 2025, Cabrera applied for entry into the United States at the port of entry in San Luis, Arizona with a B1/B2 travel visa. Based on Cabrera’s behavior, agents examined his cell phone and identified numerous images of child pornography, also known as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The material included images and videos that appeared to depict minors under the age of ten years old engaged in sexual acts on adult males. A conviction for Possession of Child Pornography carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both, and a term of supervised release up to life. A criminal complaint is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Homeland Security Investigations is conducting the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 25-01524MJ RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-066_Cabrera # # # 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 Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Justice Department Declines Prosecution of Company That Self-Disclosed Export Control Offenses Committed by Employee

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Note: View the declination letter here . The Justice Department today announced that it has declined the prosecution of Universities Space Research Association (USRA) after it self-disclosed to the Department’s National Security Division (NSD) criminal violations of U.S. export control laws committed by its former employee, Jonathan Soong. Soong pleaded guilty to willfully violating the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by exporting U.S. Army-developed aviation software to a university in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that had been placed on the Commerce Department’s Entity List and was sentenced to 20 months in prison. “If we stay vigilant, all of us — including our citizens, small businesses, and large corporations — can play a critical role in protecting our country,” said Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “A criminal who compromised our national security was brought to justice because his employer caught him and immediately turned him in. We decline to prosecute his employer and are ready to work together with such responsible corporate actors who are committed to joining us in this fight to protect our country from foreign adversaries.” “USRA discovered that one of its employees was funneling sensitive aeronautics software to a Beijing university in violation of export control laws and at risk to our national security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick D. Robbins for the Northern District of California. “What the company did next made all the difference in the Government’s decision not to prosecute it: the company took swift and proactive measures to disclose the employee’s wrongdoing, provide all known facts, and cooperate – and continue to cooperate – with the government’s investigation.” According to court documents, in April 2016, USRA contracted with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to, among other things, license and distribute for a fee aeronautics-related and U.S. Army-owned flight control software. Soong was employed by USRA as a program administrator under the contract and was responsible for performing due diligence on prospective purchasers to ensure that the sale or transfer of software licenses complied with applicable law, including by checking the Entity List. Soong willfully exported software subject to the EAR to Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, also known as Beihang University (Beihang), a university in the PRC, knowing that an export control license was required for the export to Beihang because it was on the Entity List. Beihang was on the Commerce Department’s Entity List due to its involvement in the development of military rocket systems and unmanned air vehicle systems. Soong further used an intermediary to complete the transfer and export of the software to Beihang to avoid detection, and embezzled tens of thousands of dollars in software license sales by directing purchasers to make payment to an account he personally owned and controlled. This scheme continued until NASA inquired about the sales of software licenses to PRC-based purchasers and USRA began to investigate. Soong initially lied to USRA and fabricated evidence that he had conducted due diligence on the purchasers and provided it to USRA’s counsel to provide to NASA, but after USRA’s counsel investigated further and confronted Soong with evidence that contradicted his statements, he admitted to knowing that Beihang was on the Entity List when he exported the software to Beihang and that a license had been required for the export. Within days of learning that Soong had willfully violated U.S. export control laws, and before USRA had completed its own investigation to understand the scope of the misconduct, USRA self-disclosed the crime to NSD and fully cooperated with the ensuing criminal investigation, which eventually established that Soong had acted alone at USRA. USRA’s cooperation included proactively identifying, collecting, and disclosing relevant evidence to investigators, including foreign language evidence and evidence located overseas, and providing detailed and timely responses to the government’s requests for information and evidence. USRA remediated the root cause of the misconduct by disciplining a supervisory employee who failed appropriately to supervise Soong, and by significantly improving its internal controls and compliance program. USRA also compensated the government both for the funds Soong embezzled, and for the time Soong had spent embezzling funds instead of performing his duties under USRA’s contract with NASA. The Justice Department declined USRA’s prosecution after considering the factors set forth in the Department’s Principles of Federal Prosecution of Business Organizations and the National Security Division Enforcement Policy for Business Organizations (NSD Enforcement Policy). The NSD Enforcement Policy creates a presumption that companies that (1) voluntarily self-disclose to NSD potentially criminal violations arising out of or relating to the enforcement of export control or sanctions laws, (2) fully cooperate, and (3) timely and appropriately remediate will generally receive a non-prosecution agreement, unless aggravating factors are present. In appropriate cases, the NSD Enforcement Policy authorizes prosecutors to go further, and exercise discretion to decline a company’s prosecution. This is the second time that NSD has exercised its discretion to decline the prosecution of a company under the NSD Enforcement Policy. The case was investigated by the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security; the Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and the FBI. The NASA Office of Inspector General; U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Army Counterintelligence; and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations provided valuable assistance. Trial Attorney Rachel Craft of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Barbara Valliere for the Northern District of California prosecuted the case.


title: Charlotte Man Sentenced To Prison For His Role In Multi-Million Dollar Bank Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to prison today for his role in a multi-million dollar bank fraud scheme, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Bruce Howard Marko, 66, was sentenced to 12 months and a day in prison followed by two years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1.5 million. Marko pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Marko’s three co-defendants, Kotto Yaphet Paul, 50, of Waxhaw, N.C., Latoya Tamieka Ford, 50, of Covington, Georgia, and Love Norman, 50, of West Palm Beach, Florida, have each pleaded guilty to wire fraud and bank fraud conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. Paul also pleaded guilty to money laundering. According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, beginning in 2018, Marko conspired with Peebles, Paul and Ford to orchestrate a fraudulent loan scheme that defrauded at least 17 federally insured financial institutions of more than $17 million. Marko participated directly in at least five of these fraudulent loans totaling over $2.8 million. To execute the scheme, Marko and his co-defendants submitted loan applications to financial institutions that contained fraudulent information, including false employment and income information, false tax returns, and misrepresentations regarding the applicants’ assets, liabilities, and the intended use the loan proceeds. Based on the fraudulent loan applications, Marko and his co-defendants secured at least 42 loans from the victim financial institutions. Contrary to information provided on the loan applications about the purposes of the loans, the defendants used the loan proceeds to purchase real estate, cover unrelated business expenses, make investments, make payments toward earlier loans, and pay for personal expenditures. Court documents show that the defendants defaulted on most of the loans, causing substantial losses to the victim financial institutions that issued the loans. Four additional defendants were previously convicted of bank fraud conspiracy for their involvement in the scheme. Amrish D. Patel was sentenced to 15 months in prison, Dwight A. Peebles, Jr. was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Denise Woodard was ordered to serve 36 months in prison, and Derrick L. Harrison, was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. The defendants were also ordered to pay restitution ranging from $620,000 to more than $3.1 million. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson credited the Office of the Inspector General of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Charlotte, and the Charlotte Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation, for the investigation of this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville is prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney Martin Encourages Staff to Attend May 14 Federal Interagency Holocaust Remembrance Program

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – President Donald J. Trump’s U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia said he hoped his staff and partners with his office would participate with him at the 32nd Annual Federal Interagency Holocaust Remembrance Program. “This year’s theme is ‘Courage Cannot Be Silenced,’ and the keynote speaker is Holocaust survivor Eugene Bergman, whose personal story is a compelling reminder of the horrors of the Shoah. “In 1939, Bergman, a native of Poznan, Poland, was moved with his family to Lodz, as part of the Nazi ghetto policies, and there a German soldier struck him with the butt of his rifle as he was in the street with other children,” Martin said. “Five days later, Bergman woke up from a coma completely deaf,” he said. “For the rest of the war, Bergman was shuttled between ghettos and camps as the Nazis pursued their so-called ‘final solution,” he said. After the war, Bergman threw himself into his education, becoming a master of five languages and the first deaf individual to earn a PhD in English. “Bergman’s life story is full of sorrow and survival, but always in the context of his own courage that could not be silenced,” Martin said. The program will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Great Hall of the Robert F. Kennedy Main Building. The Federal Interagency Holocaust Remembrance Program started at the U.S. Department of Education in 1994 to commemorate the Congressional Days of Remembrance—an annual, national, and civic commemoration of the Holocaust. This year’s program also coincides with both Jewish American Heritage Month and the 80th anniversary of U.S. troops liberating Nazi concentration camps. For more information, please visit the Federal Inter-Agency Holocaust Remembrance Program . Sign-language interpretation will be provided.


title: Owner of Chicago-Area Convenience Stores Convicted of Defrauding Low-Income Food Program for Women and Children

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted the owner of several Chicago-area convenience stores of scheming to defraud a low-income food program for women and children. HASSAN ABDELLATIF, also known as “Eric,” 36, of Chicago, was convicted of all five counts against him, including two counts of wire fraud, one count of fraudulently obtaining government benefits, and two counts of willfully failing to file corporate tax returns. The jury returned its verdicts on Monday after a week-long trial in federal court in Chicago. U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso set sentencing for Aug. 26, 2025. Evidence at trial revealed that Abdellatif, who owned or operated El Milagro Mini Market, Supermercado El Grande, Star Mini Market, In & Out Grocery, and Harding Grocery, schemed with eight other store owners or workers to fraudulently redeem checks from the Women, Infants, and Children (“WIC”) program, a federally funded initiative designed to provide a nutritious diet to moderate and low-income infants, children up to five years of age, and pregnant, breastfeeding, and post-partum women. Over a period of several years, Abdellatif and the others knowingly allowed customers to provide their WIC checks as payment for ineligible items at the stores, often at inflated prices. Abdellatif and a co-defendant redeemed more than $6.5 million in WIC checks at two of the stores alone, before law enforcement searched those premises and shut down the fraud scheme. The evidence established that ten stores involved in the scheme redeemed more than $19 million in WIC checks over an eight-year period. All eight of Abdellatif’s co-defendants pleaded guilty prior to his trial. The convictions were announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Shantel R. Robinson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Midwest Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, and Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kartik Raman, Rick Young, and Matthew Moyer.


title: Dulce Woman Charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Child Abuse

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce woman has been charged with aggravated sexual abuse and abandonment of a child after an FBI investigation revealed allegations that she repeatedly sexually and physically abused minors over several years. According to court documents, Muniz is charged with aggravated sexual abuse and abandonment of a child and will remain in third party custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted of the current charges, Muniz faces up to life in prison. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Jemez Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of Minors

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Jemez man pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor. According to court documents, Tyler Chinana , 35, an enrolled member of the Jemez Pueblo, admitted that in 2012, he engaged in unlawful sexual contact with a minor victim who was under the age of 12 at the time. In a separate incident, Chinana also admitted that in November 2022, he engaged in similar unlawful sexual contact with a second minor victim who was also under the age of 12. At sentencing, Chinana faces up to life in prison followed by no less than five years and up to life of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Jemez Pueblo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meg Tomlinson and Timothy Trembley are prosecuting the case. View the Plea Agreement (Chinana)_0.pdf


title: Shiprock Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Violent Assault

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man was sentenced to 4 years in prison for a brutal attack that left the victim with life-threatening injuries. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on January 1, 2024, Tyrell Jordan Benally , 26, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted Jane Doe at a residence in Shiprock, New Mexico. Benally repeatedly struck Jane Doe with a closed fist and strangled her until she lost consciousness. As a result, Jane Doe suffered serious bodily injury, including life-threatening injuries from the strangulation. Upon his release from prison, Benally will be subject to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case.


title: Fargo, ND Man Sentenced to 32 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: Fargo – Acting United States Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl announced today that Dustin Ray Fredrickson, age 37 of Fargo, North Dakota, appeared in United States District Court for the District of North Dakota and was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Peter D. Welte to serve 32 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime supervised release for the offenses of Receipt of Materials Depicting the Sexual Exploitation of Minors in violation of 18 USC § 2252(a)(2). Fredrickson was also ordered to pay $18,000 in restitution to the victims that were identified in the videos and images recovered from his cellphone. Fredrickson pleaded guilty on November 20, 2024. As noted in court documents, Dustin Ray Fredrickson’s criminal activity was discovered after the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involving a Snapchat account that contained images depicting nude children. Further investigation revealed that the account was associated Fredrickson. A search warrant for Fredrickson’s residence resulted in the seizure of a Samsung cellphone that belonged to Fredrickson. A search of the phone revealed approximately 373 videos and 773 images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, to include children as young as infants. At the time Fredrickson committed this offense, he had three prior convictions for having sexual contact with minors as an adult. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Fargo Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and North Dakota Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gary Delorme. # # #


title: Zuni Couple Sentenced for Violent Assault

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni Pueblo couple has been sentenced for a brutal assault in which they attacked a man in his home, prevented him from seeking help, and continued the assault in the presence of a witness and two minor children. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records, on September 3, 2023, Shannon Concho , 47, and LouAnn Johnson , 29, both enrolled members of the Pueblo of Zuni, assaulted John Doe at his residence on the Zuni Pueblo. The incident began as a verbal dispute and rapidly escalated when Johnson repeatedly slapped the victim. Concho and Johnson then prevented the victim from calling for help by seizing his phones and attempting to access a bedroom where a witness and two minor children were present. Concho continued the assault on John Doe by striking him over the head with a chair, nearly rendering him unconscious. Concho then instructed Johnson , who was wearing boots, to kick John Doe in the head. After Johnson complied, Concho continued the attack until Johnson alerted him that a witness had contacted law enforcement. Concho and Johnson fled the scene and remained at large until their subsequent apprehension in Arizona. Concho was sentenced to 57 months in prison, and Johnson was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Upon their release, Concho and Johnson will be subject to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jesse Pecoraro.


title: Arizona Man Receives 22-Year Prison Sentence for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of Child

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the prolonged sexual abuse of a minor over nearly a decade in the Navajo Nation. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, between May 16, 2009, and May 15, 2012, Cedric Martinez , 31, engaged in unlawful sexual contact with a minor victim, who was under the age of 12, at a residence in Upper Fruitland, New Mexico, within the Navajo Nation. Upon his release from prison, Martinez will be subject to fifteen years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Brittany DuChaussee and Meg Tomlinson are prosecuting the case.


title: Kanawha County Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Krista Marie Menchaca, 32, of Cross Lanes, pleaded guilty today to receipt of stolen money. Menchaca received $19,395 in proceeds from a criminally derived Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loan, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 12, 2021, an individual submitted a PPP loan application on Menchaca’s behalf to a program lender in Arizona. As part of her guilty plea, Menchaca admitted that the application and an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business, filed with it falsely represented that Menchaca was a self-employed health practitioner who received $93,100 in gross income during 2000. Menchaca further admitted that the IRS Form 1040 was fake and created solely to obtain a fraudulent PPP loan. The lender approved the fraudulent loan application and $19,395 was deposited in Menchaca’s personal bank account on or about July 2, 2021. While in West Virginia, Menchaca spent more than $5,000 of the PPP loan proceeds on her personal expenses. The CARES Act made forgivable PPP loans available to qualifying sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, to replace their normal income and for certain other expenses. Applicants were required to certify that they were in operation on February 15, 2020, and provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020. Menchaca is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Menchaca also owes $21,963.96 in restitution. Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case. Individuals with information about allegations of fraud involving COVID-19 are encouraged to report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-68. ###


title: Pinehill Man Receives 27 and a Half Year Prison Sentence for Fatal Family Shooting

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Pinehill man was sentenced today to 27and a half years in prison for a fatal family shooting. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on the morning of December 22, 2023, Ellery Brent Yazzie , 38, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, fatally shot his father and brother, shot and seriously injured his sister, and tried to shoot his mother in their family home. Yazzie then attempted to take his own life, but he survived. Upon his release from prison, Yazzie will be subject to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Ramah Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin L. Dillon and Jena Ritchey are prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican Citizen Sentenced to 8 Months for Illegally Reentering the United States After Prior Removal

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Rafael Cruz-Hernandez, 39, a citizen of Mexico found in Monroe County, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 8 months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after having previously been removed. Cruz-Hernandez pleaded guilty to this charge on February 25, 2025. On December 23, 2023, Cruz-Hernandez was arrested in Monroe County, Wisconsin for a domestic abuse offense. This was his second arrest for a domestic offense. He was originally removed from the United States in 2010, following a conviction for third degree sexual assault. In choosing an 8-month sentence, Judge Conley considered Cruz-Hernandez’s criminal history and his recent domestic arrests and injunction, along with Cruz-Hernandez’s consistent employment and the outpouring support from his family and friends. Judge Conley noted that he lacks the authority to release Cruz-Hernandez into the community and that he poses a risk of unlawfully returning to the United States. Judge Conley advised him that should he return, he could face higher penalties. The charge against Cruz-Hernandez was the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Sparta Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon prosecuted this case.


title: 18th Street Gang Member Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for  Racketeering Conspiracy and Two Murders

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Yanki Misael Cruz-Mateo, a member of the 18 th Street gang, a transnational criminal organization, was sentenced by United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall to 45 years’ imprisonment for racketeering conspiracy in connection with his participation in two murders: the October 25, 2017 murder of 20-year-old Jonathan Figueroa in Saugerties, New York, and the February 2, 2018 murder of 20-year-old Oscar Antonio Blanco-Hernandez in Queens. John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence. “Cruz-Mateo committed two horrific murders and boasted about the carnage in video and text messages to instill fear, exact retribution, and promote gang violence,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “The lengthy sentence imposed today delivers a powerful message that senseless violence carries serious consequences. My Office will continue our tireless efforts to investigate and prosecute violence carried out by the 18 th Street and other transnational criminal organizations. It is my sincere hope that the justice meted out today provides a measure of comfort and closure for the victims’ loved ones.” Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Police, the Kingston Police Department, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance on the case. “Yanki Misael Cruz-Mateo, an 18 th Street gang member, lured two victims to their brutal murders as retribution for perceived disloyalty and affiliation with rival organizations,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia. “His actions mirror the gang’s depravity and its lawless prioritization of social status over human life. May today’s sentencing offer a semblance of justice for the victims’ families and highlight the FBI’s continued determination to eradicate all brutal gang violence plaguing our communities. Today’s sentence is the latest achievement in a series of prosecutions by this Office and our law enforcement partners of the leaders, members, and associates of 18 th Street. According to court filings and proceedings, 18 th Street is a transnational criminal organization and violent street gang with members and associates residing throughout New York State, including Queens and Long Island, elsewhere throughout the United States, including Houston, Texas, and Central America. Members of 18 th Street regularly engage in murder, attempted murder, assault, extortion, illegal drug and firearms trafficking, false identification document production, witness tampering, and money laundering. October 25, 2017 Murder of Jonathan Figueroa As set forth in court filings, including the government’s sentencing memorandum, in the late evening hours of October 24, 2017, Cruz-Mateo lured and travelled with Figueroa from Queens to Kingston, New York. Upon their arrival in Kingston, they were met by Israel Mediola Flores and other 18 th Street members and associates who, into the early morning hours the following day, brought Figueroa to Turkey Point State Forest, brutally stabbed him to death and buried him in a makeshift grave. Cruz-Mateo ordered the murder to be video-recorded and captured multiple 18 th Street members and associates repeatedly stabbing Figueroa, slashing his throat and severing his ear. In the video, Cruz-Mateo stated that Figueroa was being murdered for “being a rat.” Cruz-Mateo then sent the video to other 18 th Street members as a warning. Figueroa’s body was discovered in February 2018 by the FBI, along with state and local law enforcement authorities, in a five-foot deep grave in Turkey Point State Forest. The victim had sustained more than 100 stab wounds. Co-defendants Walter Fernando Alfaro Pineda, Israel Mediola Flores, and Jose Douglas Castellano pleaded guilty to Figueroa’s murder. Mediola Flores was sentenced to 425 months in prison; Pineda and Castellano are awaiting sentencing. February 2, 2018 Murder of Oscar Antonio Blanco-Hernandez On February 2, 2018, several gang members killed Blanco-Hernandez because they believed he was a member of the rival MS-13 gang. Co-defendant Jose Chacon had met Blanco-Hernandez weeks earlier through their mutual employer, a New Jersey-based house painting company. On the morning of the murder, co-defendant Carolina Cruz and Chacon picked up Blanco-Hernandez at his home in New Jersey under the guise of going to smoke marijuana as friends. Cruz and Chacon drove Blanco-Hernandez to Queens where they met 18 th Street gang members, including Cruz-Mateo and co-defendant Yoni Sierra, who entered the rear passenger seat of Cruz’s car on opposite sides, sandwiching Blanco-Hernandez between them. Cruz drove Chacon, Cruz-Mateo, Sierra, and their victim about 1.6 miles away to a quiet residential neighborhood. Cruz-Mateo, Sierra, and Blanco-Hernandez got out of the car and started walking eastbound, while Cruz and Chacon stayed behind with the car. After walking for a few minutes, Cruz-Mateo drew a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun and shot Blanco-Hernandez in the back of the head, killing him instantly. Blanco-Hernandez’s body was discovered on a residential street in the Jamaica Hills section of Queens. He sustained three gunshot wounds: two gunshots to the torso and one to the head. Sierra, Chacon, and Cruz also pleaded guilty to Blanco-Hernandez’s murder. Chacon was sentenced to 269 months in prison; Sierra to 204 months in prison; and Cruz to 150 months in prison. This case is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan P. Lax, Erin Reid, Margaret Schierberl, Adam Amir, and Rebecca Urquiola are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Tareva Torres and Samuel Ronchetti. The Defendant : YANKI MISAEL CRUZ-MATEO (also known as “Yenki Misael Cruz Mateo,” “Yankee Mateo,” “Doggy,” and “Wino”) Age: 25 Jamaica, Queens Co-Defendants Previously Convicted : ERIC CHAVEZ (also known as “Lunatico”) Age: 25 Jamaica, New York WALTER FERNANDO ALFARO PINEDA (also known as “Clever”) Age: 45 Houston, Texas ISRAEL MEDIOLA FLORES (also known as “Chapito” and “Sinaloa”) Age: 29 Kingston, New York YONI ALEXANDER SIERRA (also known as “Arca,” “Arc Angel” and “Wasson”) Age: 26 Jamaica, Queens JOSE JIMENEZ CHACON (also known as “Little One”) Age: 26 New Brunswick, New Jersey CAROLINA CRUZ (also known as “La Fiera”) Age: 31 Elizabeth, New Jersey JOSE DOUGLAS CASTELLANO (also known as “Chino”) Age: 26 Brooklyn, New York JUNIOR ZELAYA-CANALES (also known as “Terco”) Age: 28 Jamaica, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-139 (S-7) (LDH)


title: Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison

body_text: FORT WAYNE – Neon L. Frazier, 50 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady following his conviction from a January 2025 jury trial for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Frazier was sentenced to 63 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, during a traffic stop on August 16. 2024, Frazier was found to be in possession of two firearms, one of which was stolen. At the time, Frazier was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his prior Indiana state court felony robbery conviction. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Fort Wayne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey R. Speith and Dawn Ransom. This case was also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Former Georgia Church Bookkeeper Sentenced to Prison for Fraud

body_text: ALBANY, Ga. – A Florida woman who served as the bookkeeper for an Alapaha, Georgia, church was sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay back $173,500 in restitution for falsely applying for and then stealing federal loan money designated for use by the church and the church’s Peanut Butter and Jesus (PB&J) charitable organization, which provides food and hope for the community. Judith Alane Chavis, 58, of Sorrento, Florida, was sentenced to serve 21 months in prison per count to run concurrently to be followed by three years of supervised release and $173,500 in restitution by U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on April 29, 2025. Chavis previously pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud in relation to a disaster benefit and ten counts of money laundering on Oct. 30, 2024. There is no parole in the federal system. “Individuals who use places of worship and charitable organizations for their fraud and theft will be rooted out and face consequences for their criminal actions,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “I want to express my gratitude to our FBI partners for their ongoing efforts to combat fraud and ensure accountability for these crimes.” "Chavis betrayed the confidence the church had placed in her by misappropriating funds intended to support its mission,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We hope that this federal prison sentence offers some measure of closure to the church and its congregation and serves as a warning to others who might exploit the trust of faith-based or charitable institutions for personal enrichment." According to court documents, Chavis was a volunteer bookkeeper for both the Glory Church of Alapaha and its charity, the Peanut Butter and Jesus Outreach (PB&J), from 2018 until August 2022. Chavis was authorized to write checks; the Church’s and PB&J’s bank statements were only sent to her. Between August 2020 and March 2022, Chavis applied for and was granted $163,500 of Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) on behalf of the Church and PB&J without the Church's or PB&J’s authorization or knowledge and using the Church’s letterhead. Chavis also falsely designated herself as treasurer in the request for funds, signing the letter herself. On March 7, 2022, Chavis submitted a signed certification stating members of the Church's finance committee approved the second modification of the loan. No such approval occurred. In June 2021, Chavis submitted requests for targeted advances on behalf of the Church without the Church’s authorization or knowledge. The SBA granted the requests and deposited $15,000 in the Church’s account. Chavis transferred almost all of the EIDL and advance funds from the Church's and PB&J’s accounts, totaling $173,500, to her personal checking account using the Church's and PB&J’s checks that she made out to herself and signed without the Church's or PB&J’s authorization or knowledge. She used the money for personal expenses including travel and large purchases. FBI Atlanta’s Valdosta Resident Agency investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch Hostetler prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Illinois Man Admits Trying to Arrange Florida Murder

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man from Illinois on Wednesday admitted trying to have a business associate in Florida murdered. Ben Patrick Mullavey, 66, of Mechanicsburg, in Sangamon County, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one felony count of use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of attempted murder-for-hire. As part of his plea, Mullavey admitted offering cash to a former employee to commit the murder. On Jan. 3, 2024, Mullavey picked up the former employee in Missouri and took him to a McDonald’s restaurant. There, Mullavey flashed a stack of cash and said he wanted his business partner killed. On Jan.11, 2024, the employee drove to Mullavey’s house. During the next three days, the employee helped Mullavey with construction work as they discussed the murder. Mullavey said he had been planning the murder for months, had conducted surveillance of the victim in Florida and had stolen a Florida license plate in preparation for the murder. Mullavey suggested the best time and place to commit the murder and how to avoid being identified on surveillance cameras. He also discussed several possible ways of disposing of the victim’s body, including using lime to dissolve it. Many of the conversations were audio and video recorded. On Jan. 13, 2024, the employee left Mullavey’s home with orders to kill the victim. Mullavey also gave him a crossbow, arrows, the stolen Florida license plate, handwritten directions to a restaurant located next door to the victim’s business and $2,100 in cash, Mullavey’s plea agreement says. Mullavey is scheduled to be sentenced July 22. The attempted murder-for-hire charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton is prosecuting the case.


title: Five Men Charged Following Largest Single Seizure of Machinegun Conversion Devices in the Middle District of Alabama

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, AL. – Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced today that four men are facing federal charges in connection with the largest single seizure of machinegun conversion devices (MCDs) ever recorded in the Middle District of Alabama. A fifth individual is facing related state charges. Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Hal Taylor joined Davidson in the announcement. Machinegun conversion devices are small, often easily concealed components that illegally convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons. These devices are classified as machineguns under federal law, even if not installed on a firearm. On April 23, 2025, a federal grand jury indicted 22-year-old Maceo Levar Edwards and 22-year-old Elliott Arjuna Turner, both of Montgomery, Alabama, charging them with the illegal possession of 53 machinegun conversion devices and the unlawful transfer of a federally regulated firearm. According to the indictment and other court records, the charges stem from an April 3, 2025, operation during which Edwards and Turner were allegedly found with the illegal devices after leaving a residence in Montgomery. Later that day, agents made contact with 24-year-old Jemarion Fe’Qon Lausane at the same residence. Lausane was arrested on site and now faces federal charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On April 25, 2025, another individual connected to the investigation — 22-year-old Ke’Marcus Simmons of Selma, Alabama — was charged with the federal crime of illegal possession of a machinegun. In a related development, Jalen Rodgers is facing state charges for the possession of machinegun conversion devices following the execution of a search warrant at his home in Repton, Alabama, on April 18, 2025. The search of Rodgers home was part of the investigation that began on April 3, 2025. This investigation was led by the Metro Area Crime Suppression (MACS) Unit, a multi-agency task force that includes personnel from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Montgomery Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and ATF. An indictment or criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted on all charges, Edwards, Turner, and Simmons each face up to 10 years in federal prison. Lausane faces a sentence ranging from five years to life. There is no parole in the federal system. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher P. Moore is prosecuting the four federal cases. These federal prosecutions 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 (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).


title: Kissimmee Real Estate Broker Sentenced For Bank Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, FL – United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Maria Del Carmen Montes (48, Kissimmee) to 33 months in federal prison for bank fraud. Montes pleaded guilty on January 4, 2024. According to court documents, Montes, co-conspirator Carlos Ferrer, and others created and executed a mortgage fraud scheme targeting financial institutions. Montes assisted clients with purchasing homes and, after signing the real estate contract, referred her buyers to a loan officer at a mortgage company. In order to qualify her clients for mortgage loans for which they were unqualified, Montes transferred the personal identifying and financial information of her clients to Ferrer and directed Ferrer to create fictitious paystubs and W-2s showing false earnings and length of employment for her clients, knowing that her clients never worked for the companies on the fictitious employment documents. After Ferrer created the documents, Montes submitted the fictitious paystubs and W-2s to the financial institutions who relied on them when making underwriting decisions. On August 13, 2024, Ferrer was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and ordered to serve three years of supervised release for his role in the case. This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development – Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Chris Poor.


title: Louisville Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – Yesterday, a Louisville felon pled guilty to illegally possessing a firearm. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge John Nokes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to court documents, Dajuan Simonton, 31, pled guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to the plea agreement, on January 12, 2022, Simonton unlawfully possessed a Glock, model 41 Gen4, .45 caliber handgun, and ammunition. Simonton is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On January 14, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Simonton was convicted of 3 counts of receiving a stolen firearm. On January 14, 2019, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Simonton was convicted of complicity to possession of a controlled substance in the first degree - methamphetamine, complicity to receiving stolen firearm, and tampering with physical evidence. Simonton is scheduled for sentencing on August 5, 2025, before a United States District Judge for the Western District of Kentucky. Simonton is detained in federal custody pending sentencing. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The judge will determine the sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the ATF Louisville Field Division and LMPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is prosecuting this 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). ###


title: Former Hospital Worker Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Producing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Wednesday sentenced a man who produced child pornography and secretly recorded women in the hospital where he worked to 20 years in prison. Ian Wood, 45, of Rolla, Missouri, pleaded guilty in January to one count of production of child pornography and one count of receiving child pornography. He admitted producing child pornography by recording video of three girls when they were nude, including when one girl was 10 years old. He also admitted possessing images and videos in his Google account containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The CSAM triggered an alert to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which notified law enforcement. A court-approved search of Wood’s Google accounts uncovered the CSAM as well as video files of adult women being recorded by Wood without their consent in the hospital where he worked. The women were filmed in a room and shower in a state of full or partial nudity. “The actions of this individual are not only reprehensible, but they are also a grotesque violation of human dignity and trust. We will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on the innocent,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito. “This case reflects the firm commitment of HSI and our law enforcement partners to ensure that predators are identified, apprehended, and brought to justice. We will not tolerate exploitation in any form and will use every resource at our disposal to protect our communities.” Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, the South-Central Missouri Computer Crimes Task Force and the Missouri Department of Social Services’ State Technical Assistance Team investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Kingsville business owner pleads guilty to tax fraud

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A local resident has admitted to failing to pay employment taxes, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Timothy Gaines Pollard owned and operated Tim Pollard Construction, a residential remodeling and fence installation business in Bishop and Kingsville. He admitted that from 2019 through 2021, he was responsible for collecting and withholding employment taxes from his employees’ paychecks. These included federal income, Social Security and Medicare taxes. Pollard admitted he withheld those monies from his employees but failed to pay them to the United States, as the law requires. Instead, Pollard used the funds to cover personal expenses. In total, Pollard’s scheme resulted in a total tax loss of over $400,000. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales will impose sentencing July 30. At that time, Pollard faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. IRS-Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Foster and John Marck are prosecuting the case.


title: Three Charged with Trafficking Narcotics in the Naugatuck Valley

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Anish Shukla, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Stephen P. Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 10-count indictment today charging KEYSHON ZIMMERMAN, also known as “AJ,” “Ace,” and “Slick,” 39, of Stratford; ROBERT SMITH, also known as “Mookie,” 43, of Ansonia; and MAHOGANY PETTWAY-STOKES, 45, of Ansonia with offenses related to the trafficking of fentanyl and cocaine in the Naugatuck Valley. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the FBI New Haven Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and the DEA New Haven District Office (NHDO) Task Force determined that Zimmerman and Smith were distributing fentanyl, cocaine, and prescription opioids in Connecticut’s Lower Naugatuck Valley. Zimmerman and Smith shared a phone used to coordinate drug transactions. Zimmerman typically used the phone in the morning and early afternoon and Smith used the phone in the late afternoon into the evening. Between July 2024 and April 2025, investigators made multiple controlled purchase of narcotics from Zimmerman, Smith, and Pettway-Stokes. Zimmerman, Smith, and Pettway-Stokes were arrested on April 23, 2025. It is alleged that as investigators entered Zimmerman’s residence on Main Street in Stratford, they located Zimmerman in a bathroom attempting to flush fentanyl in a toilet. In association with the arrests, a search of Zimmerman’s residence revealed a large quantity of unpackaged fentanyl and cocaine, drug processing and packaging materials, and approximately $21,000 in cash. Searches of two cars parked in Stratford and Ansonia used by Zimmerman revealed additional quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, narcotic pills, a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number, and a 9mm caliber semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine. A search of a residence shared by Smith and Pettway-Stokes on Wakelee Avenue in Ansonia revealed two handguns, and a search of an apartment on Olivia Street in Derby revealed narcotics processing and packaging materials, including a kilogram press. The indictment charges Zimmerman, Smith, and Pettway-Stokes with one count of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl and cocaine. As to this charge, based on the type and quantity of drug attributed to each defendant, Zimmerman faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and Smith and Pettway-Stokes each faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The indictment also charges Zimmerman, Smith, and Pettway-Stokes with multiple substantive counts related to the possession and distribution of controlled substances. Zimmerman is also charged with two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years on each count. Zimmerman and Smith are currently detained and Pettway-Stokes is released on a $75,000 bond. Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and the DEA New Haven District Office (NHDO) Task Force. The FBI Task Force includes participants from the Connecticut State Police and the North Haven, New Haven, East Haven, Milford, and Brookfield Police Departments, and the DEA Task Force includes participants from the 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 Geoffrey M. Stone. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces ( OCDETF ) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).