title: National Health Care Fraud Takedown Leads to  Forty-One Count Indictment of Pensacola Beach Man

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Today, United States Attorney John P. Heekin announced criminal charges against Dr. Edward Scott Morrison, who is accused of illegally distributing and dispensing controlled substances. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “I am proud to contribute to the success of the National Health Care Fraud Takedown again this year. Dispensing controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose not only violates federal law, it endangers the lives of the recipients of those powerful drugs. As our country and our state continue to deal with the devastating impacts of the opioid epidemic, it remains vitally important for my office to crack down on fraudulent prescribing practices by medical professionals.” The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Heekin are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Today’s Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms. Today’s coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including: Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers. 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers. Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million. 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025. The following individual was charged in the Northern District of Florida: Edward Scott Morrison, 58, of Pensacola Beach, Florida. According to court documents, Dr. Edward Scott Morrison was charged by indictment with forty-one counts of distributing and dispensing a controlled substance in connection with the illegal prescribing of at least 25,500 controlled substance pills, including over 22,000 opioid pills and over 3,000 stimulant pills. As alleged in the indictment, Morrison was a licensed physician who wrote, signed, and distributed controlled substance prescriptions—including for oxycodone, hydrocodone, amphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, methylphenidate, testosterone, alprazolam, diazepam—to individuals without determining whether there was a legitimate medical purpose for the medication, without conducting physical examinations, without reviewing and assessing all available historical medical and prescribing records, and without creating and maintaining any records of encounters with those individuals. The indictment further alleged Morrison issued controlled substance prescriptions to individuals simply upon their request or the request of a third party in whatever type, dosage, and quantity desired without evaluating the recipient to determine a legitimate medical purpose or need. If convicted, Morrison faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment on each count. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Forbes. The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virigina participated in the investigation of federal cases announced today. Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here . The Northern District of Florida, in particular, worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and the Drug Enforcement Administration to investigate and prosecute the case filed during the Takedown. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Two Statesville Men Face Federal Charges for Breeding Pit Bulls for Dog Fighting; 25 Dogs Rescued, Including Puppies

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two Statesville men are facing federal charges for allegedly running a multi-state commercial dog breeding operation that bred pit bulls that were advertised and sold for illegal dog fighting, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The federal indictment was unsealed yesterday, charging Juelz Christopher Daniels, 19, and Reginald Lionel Goodson, Jr., 55, with one count of conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act. Daniels is also charged with three counts charging the possession, training, and sale of fighting dogs, and eight counts of violating the Animal Welfare Act, related primarily to his possession, training, and sale of fighting dogs, and advertising fighting dogs for sale on Facebook. Daniels and Goodson were arrested last Thursday. Law enforcement also executed search warrants at three residences, where they rescued and seized 25 pit bull-type dogs, including puppies, as well as other items, tools, and paraphernalia associated with breeding and training animals for dog fighting. “It’s unbelievable people still engage in dog fighting activities,” said U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson. “We are here to protect innocent animals from the abuse and suffering that comes with dog fighting.” “When the FBI investigates illegal dog‑fighting operations, we’re not just stopping cruelty, we are disrupting violent criminal networks that harm both people and animals,” said Reid Davis, the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge. According to allegations in the indictment, from January 2021 to May 2026, Daniels and Goodson maintained properties where they bred, housed, and trained pit bull-type dogs intended for dog fights. They also used fighting training equipment and paraphernalia in their operations, including treadmills, bite sticks, heavy metal chains, animal hides, and “spring poles” or “flirt poles”—all to increase the animals’ strength and stamina. The defendants also allegedly trained and conditioned the pit bull-type dogs to fight in dog fights, and evaluated their dogs’ strengths, capabilities, aptitudes and willingness or inclination to fight. According to allegations in the indictment, Daniels and Goodson operated one or more dog kennels, including “Hoodwoods Kennels,” for the purpose of raising pit bull-type dogs for dog fighting. It is further alleged that the defendants selectively bred pit bull-type dogs to display particular traits desirable for dog fighting, including aggressiveness and propensity to fight other dogs, often referred to as “gameness,” or a willingness to continue fighting another dog despite traumatic or mortal injury, among others. The indictment further alleges that Daniels routinely posted advertisements for various pit bull-type dogs that he and Goodson bred and sold on multiple Facebook Groups dedicated to illegal dog fighting and to various individuals via Facebook Messenger. In the advertisements, Daniels allegedly touted the fighting bloodlines of the dogs, at times posting or providing links to the dogs’ pedigrees and bloodlines claiming the dogs were the offspring of dog fighting champions, a “champion” being a dog that has won three or more dog fights. Daniels and Goodson also frequently posted and shared pictures of pit bull-type dogs consistent with various methods of training dogs for dog fighting. The defendants allegedly marketed and advertised on Facebook the dogs they bred and trained for dog fighting and communicated with others about the dogs’ victories, bloodlines, and training, as well as discussed details about the price, purchase, transfer, and delivery of the dogs to interested buyers. For example, in November 2025, Daniels allegedly posted a link in a Facebook Group to a pedigree alongside a picture of a black-colored young pit bull-type dog tethered in a chain spot captioned “[y]ou will hear about him soon.” The pedigree listed the dog’s breeder and owner as “Hoodwoods.” The pedigree included notations identifying some members of the advertised dog’s bloodline as “2XW,” “POR” and “ROM.” The notation of “XW” on a pedigree indicated the dog was a winner (in this instance, a two-time winner). A dog that produced multiple offspring that went on to be champions was bestowed the prestigious “Register of Merit” (ROM) or “Producer of Record” (POR) title and drove the sales and pricing of fighting dogs. Both defendants are in federal custody. If convicted, Daniels and Goodson each face a sentence of up to five years in prison for the charge of conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act, and Daniels faces a sentence of up to five years in prison for each count of possession and commerce of fighting dogs and for each count of advertising fighting animals through interstate commerce. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The charges against the defendants are allegations, and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson credited the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office, the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hickory Police Department for their investigation and assistance in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Armstrong of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case. To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General complaint hotline at 1-800-424-9121 or online at https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline .


title: Albuquerque Man Pleads Guilty to Aiming Laser at Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man pleaded guilty to federal charges for aiming a laser pointer at a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office helicopter and striking the cockpit over a dozen times. According to public court documents, on October 7, 2025, Jorge Pinon Armendariz , 48, aimed a green laser pointer at the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Metro 1 helicopter while it was flying over Albuquerque. Armendariz struck the aircraft multiple times from two separate locations, including multiple strikes to the pilot’s eyes. Using the aircraft’s onboard camera, the crew tracked the laser beam first to a vehicle in the McDonald’s drive-thru and later to the nearby residence. Ground deputies responded to the residence, and Armendariz fled the scene. Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputies subsequently identified Armendariz as the individual who aimed the laser at Metro 1 that night. At the time of the incident, Armendariz had an active state warrant for violating conditions of pretrial release in a state case allegedly involving receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance. At sentencing, Armendariz faces up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jena Ritchey is prosecuting the case.


title: Alexandria felon previously convicted in Potomac Mills shooting sentenced to four years for possessing a machinegun

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

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Alexandria man was sentenced today to four years in prison for possessing a machinegun. According to court documents, on April 17, 2025, Jamarion Dawon Jackson, 23, was driving on the right shoulder of Interstate 95 at more than 100 miles per hour past heavy traffic in Fairfax County when he passed a Virginia State Trooper. The Trooper activated his emergency equipment and pursued Jackson, who subsequently crashed into a parked vehicle on the right shoulder and then struck two additional vehicles on the roadway. Jackson then fled on foot and unsuccessfully attempted to enter two vehicles. Jackson then tried to jump through the open passenger side window of a third vehicle, but the driver accelerated and Jackson was injured and apprehended. During an inventory search of Jackson’s vehicle, a Trooper recovered a loaded handgun with a 31-round magazine and equipped with a machinegun conversion device, rendering the firearm capable of fully automatic firing. In 2022, Jackson shot a victim at the Potomac Mills Mall and fled. Jackson pled guilty to unlawful discharge of a firearm within an occupied building, felony destruction of property, and carrying a concealed weapon and was sentenced to time served and an 11-year suspended sentence. As a previously convicted felon, Jackson cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas J. Patterson and Reed Sawyers prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-22.


title: Gang Member Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Distribution

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Maurice McKeithan (street name “Puff”), 25, to 15 years in federal prison. On December 16, 2025, McKeithan pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl. The Wilmington Police Department and ATF made several controlled purchases of fentanyl and carfentanyl at various locations from McKeithan in Wilmington, North Carolina. A video from one of the controlled purchases shows that McKeithan had a firearm in his pocket. “Let this prosecution serve as a clear warning: if you choose to traffic drugs, fuel violence, or profit from poisoning our communities, law enforcement and prosecutors will pursue you relentlessly. We will use every lawful tool available to identify, arrest, and hold accountable those who believe they can operate above the law. Drugs Kill: Prison Awaits, Do Right.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. McKeithan repeatedly broke society’s laws and trust with prior convictions for selling heroin (2012), conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon (2015) and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill as a habitual felon (2019). At the time he committed these most recent federal offenses, McKeithan was on probation for felony fleeing to elude law enforcement. Per law enforcement McKeithan was a validated member of the United Blood Nation street gang. “The outcome of this case demonstrates that those who threaten the safety of our communities with drugs and violence will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “The collaborative efforts among law enforcement partners, and the focus and objective of the Homeland Security Task Force, have been invaluable in helping to identify, apprehend and prosecute the violent groups and individuals that jeopardize our public safety.” “This offender’s involvement in violent crime and drug trafficking posed a serious threat to our community. Thanks to the outstanding work of Wilmington Police Department officers, ATF agents, and federal prosecutors, he will now serve a significant prison sentence. This case highlights the strength of our local and federal partnerships and our shared commitment to holding violent offenders accountable. We will continue working aggressively with our law enforcement partners to protect our residents, enhance public safety, and ensure those who endanger our community are brought to justice,” said Chief Ryan Zuidema. This prosecution is part of Operation Counterpunch which is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after the sentencing before U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Wilmington Police Department and ATF investigated the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:25-cr-00070.


title: Two Pittsburgh Convenience Store Employees Charged with Food Stamp Trafficking as Part of Nationwide Health Care Fraud Takedown

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Today, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced criminal charges against two defendants in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud the United States Department of Agriculture. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from the two defendants exchanging Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamp, benefits for cash, allowing certain beneficiary recipients to use this cash to purchase illegal controlled substances. “Giving customers cash for their SNAP benefits is against the law and violates the clear rules and regulations of a program designed to provide nutritional assistance to families in need,” said United States Attorney Rivetti. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute individuals who attempt to take advantage of both recipients and taxpayers by compromising the integrity of important public health programs and illegally trafficking SNAP and other government benefits.” The charges announced today by United States Attorney Rivetti are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Today’s Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms. Today’s coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including: • Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers. • 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers. • Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million. • 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025. The following individuals were charged in the Western District of Pennsylvania: Abdou Jallow, 55, and Alicia Mastrantoni, 39, both of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were charged by Criminal Complaint with food stamp fraud in connection with exchanging SNAP benefits for cash. As alleged in the complaint, Jallow, manager of a Pittsburgh convenience store, and Mastrantoni, an employee of the same store, exchanged these SNAP benefits for cash for various store customers, many of whom used this cash to purchase illegal controlled substances. Jallow and Mastrantoni attempted to conceal the nature of these transactions by using fraudulent universal product codes (UPCs) on the store’s cash register. The store was identified as being involved in fraud through the SNAP benefit transactions, which were significantly high in both volume and dollar amount. It is believed that Jallow and Mastrantoni fraudulently exchanged over $550,000 in SNAP benefits over the course of the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole A. Stockey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “Exploiting a vital nutrition program for personal profit and to fuel drug abuse is a betrayal of the communities these benefits are intended to support,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Nathan Abel. “The charges announced today demonstrate the commitment of HSI Philadelphia and our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who defraud the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and threaten public safety. We will continue to trace illicit funds, safeguard taxpayer resources, and hold accountable anyone who seeks to exploit vulnerable families for personal gain.” The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia participated in the investigation of federal cases announced today. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, in particular, worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pennsylvania State Police Organized Crime Unit West to investigate and prosecute the case filed during the Takedown. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Bucks County Man Indicted on Child Sexual Exploitation Charges

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Charles Dingman, 29, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by indictment with use of an interstate commerce facility to entice a minor, and attempt to entice a minor, to engage in sexual conduct; manufacture and attempted manufacture of child pornography; and possession of child pornography. The indictment alleges that, from approximately June 2025 to October 2025, Dingman used the internet to sexually exploit a minor, persuading the child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct. The indictment further alleges that Dingman possessed child pornography on or about January 29, 2026. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison. 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to 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 projectsafechildhood.gov . The case was investigated by Bucks County Detectives and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Branwen McNabb O’Donnell. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.


title: Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Bryce Garrels, 32, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was sentenced in federal court in Sioux City on June 22, 2026, to 183 months’ imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. At the plea hearing on February 6, 2026, Garrels admitted that from July 2024 through August 2025, he and others were involved in a conspiracy that distributed more than 1 ½ pounds of meth in the Fort Dodge, Iowa area. Evidence further showed that on at least four occasions in July and August 2025, Garrels distributed or helped others distribute methamphetamine, ranging from one to four ounces. Garrels was previously convicted of seven felony offenses in the State of Iowa, including Burglary 3 rd Degree in 2011, 2015, and 2022, and Forgery in 2020, 2021 and 2022, as well as Possession of a Counterfeit Substance with Intent to Deliver in 2021. United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Garrels to 183 months’ imprisonment along with a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Garrels remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Fort Dodge Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, and Wright County Sheriff’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-3043. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Lakeside man sentenced to over 3 years in prison for stealing construction equipment

body_text: MISSOULA – A Lakeside man who stole over $180,000 worth of construction equipment from a Kalispell business and trucked it to Idaho was sentenced today to three years and five months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said. Eric Brandon Wright, 43, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The government alleged in court documents that Wright stole $181,890 worth of construction equipment from RDO Rental Equipment in Kalispell. Over the night of Aug. 23 and into the early morning of Aug. 24, 2023, Wright found his way into RDO and stole various pieces of digging and mulching equipment, along with a Towmaster trailer. Wright then used the trailer, hooking it up to an employee’s vehicle, to haul the equipment from the business. The employee’s vehicle was found a few days later, but a motorized wheelchair that had been kept in it was missing. Law enforcement received a tip on Jan. 19, 2024, that Wright was selling construction equipment on Facebook, which they tracked to a storage facility in Lewiston, Idaho. Detectives spoke with the facility’s owner, who confirmed Wright had been renting storage space there. On Jan. 30, 2024, officers arrested Wright on an unrelated outstanding warrant and questioned him about the RDO theft. Wright denied stealing the equipment, saying he bought it from someone in Missoula. Using cell phone data and surveillance video, investigators linked Wright’s truck to RDO the night of the theft. Responding to a report of a separate theft, officers were called to the residence of Wright’s uncle in Dalton Gardens, Idaho, where they discovered the missing Towmaster trailer. They also noticed the uncle using an electric wheelchair similar to the one stolen from the employee’s vehicle. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Kalispell Police Department and FBI conducted the investigation.


title: Clarksville Physician Charged with Health Care Fraud Related to Controlled Substance Prescribing Scheme

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: NASHVILLE – Ramon Aquino, 77, of Clarksville, Tennessee, has been charged by Information with one count of health care fraud in connection with a multi-year scheme involving the prescribing of controlled substances without a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice, announced Braden H. Boucek, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. According to the Information, Aquino owned and operated North Clarksville Medical Center and prescribed medically unnecessary controlled substances to patients for more than five years. During that period, Aquino issued prescriptions totaling more than 1.08 million pills and doses of controlled substances. The Information alleges that many of those prescriptions were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose in the usual course of professional practice. The Information further alleges that Aquino prescribed excessive and inappropriate quantities and combinations of controlled substances, resulting in medically unnecessary prescriptions being issued to patients and contributing to patient abuse, misuse, and addiction. Aquino allegedly failed to adequately monitor his patients' use and abuse of prescribed controlled substances and continued to prescribe excessive and inappropriate amounts of those drugs even after receiving warnings regarding his prescribing practices. According to the Information, Aquino's conduct caused losses of approximately $335,621.73 to health care benefit programs. “Medical professionals occupy positions of extraordinary trust and responsibility,” said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “When that trust is abused through the unlawful prescribing of controlled substances, patients can suffer serious harm, addiction can flourish, and taxpayer-funded health care programs can be defrauded. Our office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who contribute to prescription drug abuse and health care fraud.” This case is part of the Department of Justice's National Health Care Fraud Takedown, a coordinated nationwide law enforcement effort targeting health care fraud schemes that exploit patients, contribute to prescription drug abuse, and defraud federal health care programs. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Suedekum is prosecuting the case. Information is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. #####


title: Rapper “P-Dice” Sentenced to 63 Months for Utilizing “Ghost Gun” to Shoot at Pregnant Woman

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Rapper “P-Dice” was sentenced on June 23, 2026, to 63 months of imprisonment for unlawfully possessing ammunition as a previously convicted felon when he fired a gun at a pregnant woman, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced today. Justin Pope, a rapper who goes by “P-Dice,” 38, of Clifton, New Jersey, previously pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court to an indictment charging him with two counts of unlawfully possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. “The defendant’s brazen and violent conduct could have cost lives. Pope fired multiple shots at close range at a pregnant woman in a public parking lot and took to social media to taunt law enforcement as he continued to endanger the community. This sentence holds him accountable not only for unlawfully possessing ammunition as a convicted felon, but for the potentially deadly harm of his actions. Our Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of individuals who use firearms and ammunition to threaten lives and undermine the safety of our communities.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On the evening of July 12, 2023, law enforcement officers responded to a report of shots fired in a public parking lot in Clifton, New Jersey. The surveillance footage showed Pope and a pregnant woman arguing in a car. During the argument, the woman grabbed a gun from Pope and waved it at him before giving it back. The woman struck Pope in the face with her hand and got out of the car. As she did, Pope pointed the gun at her and fired two close range shots. Then, Pope exited the car and approached the woman. In an attempt to escape, the woman got back into the car, but Pope violently yanked at the woman’s arm, trying to pull her back out. When this was unsuccessful, Pope climbed over the pregnant woman and kicked at her to push her from the car. One of bullets that Pope fired traveled across the street into a quick service restaurant, where it lodged in a menu display behind the counter. The restaurant was open for business with employees present at the time. Law enforcement recovered the bullet. The next day, Pope posted a video of himself on social media firing a gun in the air in a residential neighborhood, taunting police, stating, “Can’t find me . . . Police. Y’all never gonna find me.” Shortly after his taunts, law enforcement recovered his ammunition. Later, Pope recorded and posted another video, in which he was driving a vehicle, taunting, “Can’t find me. Fucking pigs. Police. Y’all never gonna find me.” A few hours after posting the second video on social media, law enforcement arrested Pope as he tried to get on a bus in New York City that was headed out of state. Pope was witnessed brandishing a firearm to bus employees. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement recovered a loaded gun, which was later identified as a privately made 9mm firearm, commonly known as a “ghost gun,” with a large capacity magazine attached. Ballistics testing showed that this was the same gun Pope used to shoot at the pregnant victim the night before. Pope had previously been convicted of aggravated assault in New Jersey in connection with the shooting of a child. In addition to the prison term, Judge Martinotti sentenced Pope to 3 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark; officers of the Clifton Police Department, under the direction of Chief Thomas Rinaldi; officers of the Paterson Police Department, under Officer in Charge Patrick Murray; officers of the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department under Sheriff Thomas Adamo; officers of the Passaic Police Department, under Chief Luis Guzman; and officers of New York City Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Edward Caban, with the investigation leading to the charges. 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. The government is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Rachelle M. Navarro of the Criminal Division. ### Defense counsel for Pope: Georgina Pallitto, Esq.


title: Morris County Man Who Misappropriated Confidential Documents from Girlfriend’s Employer Indicted for $2.7 Million Insider Trading Scheme

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County man was indicted for conducting a scheme to trade on material nonpublic information (MNPI) he stole from a public relations firm where his girlfriend worked, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Justin Jennings, 27, of Rockaway Township was charged by indictment with one count of engaging in a securities fraud scheme, eight counts of securities fraud for insider trading, and two counts of transacting in criminal proceeds. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Between February 2022 and October 2024, Jennings made well-timed trades in the securities of eight publicly traded companies in the days before major corporate announcements, typically announcements of mergers and acquisitions, based on MNPI. At the time of these trades, Jennings was romantically involved with an account executive at a public relations firm that was entrusted with MNPI regarding these announcements. Jennings’ profitable bets came after he gained access to confidential information, including draft press releases, from his girlfriend’s employer-issued laptop without her knowledge or permission. In total, Jennings made over $2.7 million in illegal trading profits from the scheme. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison on the securities fraud charge, 20 years in prison on each of the insider trading charges, and 10 years in prison on each of the transacting in criminal proceeds charges. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission also filed a civil complaint against Jennings based on the same conduct. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, New Jersey, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Webman and Farhana C. Melo of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Robert G. Stahl, Esq. and Laura K. Gasiorowski, Esq., Mountainside, New Jersey. jennings.indictment.pdf


title: Justice Department Seizes Backend Infrastructure Used by the  Huione Group for Money Laundering Services

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Today, the Justice Department announced the seizure of a cloud computing account used by subsidiaries of the Huione Group, a Cambodia-based corporate conglomerate. These subsidiaries are alleged to have assisted individuals and organizations in transferring proceeds of cryptocurrency investment frauds, cyber scams, and other criminal activities on cryptocurrency blockchains and allowing for the conversion of the proceeds of these schemes to the legitimate banking sector undetected.The seized account hosted backend infrastructure for the subsidiaries. “Today’s seizure strikes a blow against one of the world’s most prolific criminal marketplaces,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Huione Group used this cloud computing account as part of a technological backbone that allowed billions in fraud proceeds to be transferred, moved, and concealed — much of it stolen through Southeast Asian scam centers. Seizures of these marketplaces is critical in the fight against fraud that affects so many Americans, and to stop avenues for criminal proceeds to be laundered.” “Today’s seizure demonstrates that law enforcement will use all tools at its disposal to protect Americans from criminals seeking to exploit them,” said U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California. “We will not allow individuals or companies to exploit our country’s technology to defraud hardworking Americans.” “The FBI continually leverages its global reach to combat criminals targeting the American people,” said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI’s Criminal Division. “This seizure demonstrates our commitment to disrupting every component of the illegal ecosystem and working with our partners to prevent further victimization from scams.” “The FBI is committed to disrupting the infrastructure and services that cybercriminals rely on to profit from their illegal activity,” said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Today’s action targets a key enabler of cyber-enabled fraud and money laundering schemes, demonstrating that the FBI will pursue not only the perpetrators, but also the services that support their criminal operations.” According to court documents, the seized account was used to help operate Huione Guarantee, also known as Haowang Guarantee. Huione Guarantee is alleged to have operated Telegram channels that contained discussions regarding illicit products and/or services, ranging from the sale of stolen credit card and identity information, the fruits of malware-enabled thefts, the procurement of individuals for human trafficking schemes, as well as assistance with laundering the proceeds of romance and investment scams. Huione Guarantee also provided escrow services for criminals transacting on its platforms to facilitate transactions, including money launderers laundering cryptocurrency. In doing so, Huione Guarantee facilitated the movement of considerable funds stolen by Southeast Asian scam centers. Law enforcement has continuously traced cyber-enabled fraud proceeds to cryptocurrency addresses attributed to the Huione Group, including Huione Guarantee, where the funds were then further laundered. Reports of cyber-enabled fraud involving cryptocurrency continue to increase, with complainants reporting over $7.2 billion in losses to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in 2025 due to cryptocurrency investment fraud alone. Last October, the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued a final rule severing Huione Group from the U.S. financial system. In this rule, FinCEN found the Huione Group to be a primary money laundering concern pursuant to section 311 of the USA Patriot Act, citing its significant role in laundering proceeds of cryptocurrency investment fraud, cyber heists conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and proceeds of other cyber scams. Today, FinCEN issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend this rule’s definition of the Huione Group to include H-Pay Service PLC, among other changes. In its NPRM , FinCEN has assessed H-Pay Service PLC is a component of the Huione Group and of primary money laundering concern. The FBI’s San Francisco Field Office and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sailaja Paidipaty for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case. Former CCIPS Trial Attorney Stefanie Schwartz and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Pastor, formerly in the Northern District of California, provided valuable assistance. The Department of Justice also thanks the intelligence teams at Chainalysis and Elliptic, and Google’s CyberCrime Investigation Team for voluntarily providing valuable information for this investigation. CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime and intellectual property (IP) crime in coordination with domestic and international law enforcement agencies, often with assistance from the private sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cyber and IP criminals, and court orders for the return of over $350 million in victim funds. If you have been victimized by a cyber-enabled fraud scheme, please report the crime to the IC3 at www.ic3.gov. Law enforcement uses these complaints to investigate crimes, trace stolen funds for investigations and law enforcement action, and build cases against those responsible for the offenses. This action is part of Operation Riptide, an ongoing FBI campaign targeting the criminal actors, infrastructure, and financial networks behind cybercrime, cyber-enabled crime, and fraud against the American people. Last year, Americans reported over $20 billion in losses to cybercrime, a 26 percent single-year increase. Operation Riptide is the FBI’s sustained enforcement response to that threat.


title: Homeland Security Task Force Case: Illegal Alien from Canada Sentenced to 160 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Smuggle 65 Handguns from U.S. into Canada

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: Defendant Illegally Entered U.S. in 2023 After Allegedly Helping to Steal Millions in Gold Bars from Toronto Airport HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Durante King-Mclean, 27, of Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, was sentenced to 160 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for conspiring with others to illegally traffic in firearms. King-Mclean pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to illegally traffic firearms on May 14, 2025. The charges stem from a Sept. 2, 2023, traffic stop by the Pennsylvania State Police in Franklin County of a rental vehicle operated by King-Mclean who was the only occupant of the vehicle. During the stop King-Mclean fled on foot and was apprehended after a brief foot chase. A subsequent search of the rental vehicle led to the recovery of 65 handguns in the vehicle’s trunk that were all individually concealed in socks. Of the 65 handguns that were recovered, two were fully automatic, 11 were stolen, and one had an obliterated serial number. King-Mclean had been in communication with his co-conspirators from April of 2023 until his arrest on September 2, 2023, and had been staying at an Airbnb in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, until he rented the vehicle at the end of August 2023 and headed north towards Canada with the illegally purchased handguns. Sometime after his arrest and incarceration on Sept. 2, 2023, King-Mclean was charged by Canadian authorities for his alleged participation in the April 17, 2023, heist of millions of dollars in gold bars and foreign currency from the Air Canada cargo terminal at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. It was shortly after this heist that King-Mclean illegally entered the United States where he remained until his arrest on Sept. 2, 2023, as he was headed back to Canada with the 65 handguns. “Firearms trafficking is a serious crime that puts guns in the hands of the criminals that terrorize our communities in the United States and Canada,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Eric J. DeGree for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Philadelphia Field Division. “King-Mclean’s lengthy sentence reflects the seriousness of his crime and shows the heavy penalties perpetrators can expect. This case also demonstrates the strength of our cooperation with our local and international law enforcement partners to protect our communities from violent gun crime.” “Trafficking dozens of illegal firearms across our border is a serious offense with far-reaching consequences. The conviction of Durante King-Mclean underscores the serious threat posed by firearms traffickers, whose actions fuel violence in communities both here and in Canada,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) Philadelphia Nathan Abel. “HSI is steadfast in its commitment to work with our federal, state, and international partners to dismantle cross-border criminal networks and ensure that individuals like King-Mclean are held fully accountable for their crimes.” This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The ATF Harrisburg Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and HSI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carlo D. Marchioli and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William A. Behe for the Middle District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Federal Jury Convicts Haitian National in Armed Robberies of Delivery Driver and Store Clerk

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- A federal jury has found Laurens Jean-Francois, 23, of Haiti, guilty of two counts of interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, Jean-Francois committed two armed robberies in Indianapolis over a three‑day period in July 2025. On July 19, a Domino’s Pizza delivery driver arrived at the Scarborough Lake Apartments to deliver an order. As the victim knocked on the apartment door, Jean‑Francois approached from a stairwell holding a .556 caliber AR‑15 pistol. He demanded the driver’s wallet, cell phone, and food order before telling him to run. The victim later provided police with a description of the suspect, and the robbery was captured by external surveillance cameras. Three days later, on July 22, Jean‑Francois entered the Xpress Pantry on North High School Road wearing a ski mask, clear latex gloves, and dark clothing. After initially asking a clerk to retrieve a phone charger kept in a locked display, Jean-Francois brandished the same AR‑15 pistol used in the previous robbery, demanding cash from the register. IMPD officers arrested Jean‑Francois on July 29, 2025, during a traffic stop of a Ford Fusion in which he was a passenger. Officers observed the AR‑15 in plain view, leaning against the rear driver’s side door. Jean‑Francois was also wearing the same ski mask worn in the Xpress Pantry robbery. Further investigation revealed he was unlawfully present in the United States, as his green card had expired in August 2024. The FBI Indianapolis Field Office and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. U.S. District Judge Richard L. Young presided over the trial and will sentence Jean-Francois at a later date. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys, Matt Barloh and Michelle P. Brady for prosecuting the case, along with paralegal specialists Kayla Whitaker and Paige Carpenter, and Victim Witness Specialists Johnna Preidt and Maurine Bwambok. ###


title: Repeat Drug Trafficking Offender Sentenced to  More Than Ten Years in Federal Prison for Meth and Firearm Convictions

body_text: A man who conspired to distribute meth and illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced on June 22, 2026, in federal court in Sioux City to 131 months’ imprisonment. On February 2, 2026, Seann Mackey, 32, from Mount Pleasant, Iowa pled guilty, admitting that between June 2024 and December 2024, he was involved in a conspiracy that distributed at least 3000 grams of mixed methamphetamine which contained at least 150 grams of pure methamphetamine. On December 20, 2024, law enforcement apprehended Mackey after he led them on a high-speed chase, then attempted to flee on foot. During the foot pursuit, Mackey was observed throwing a firearm. Law enforcement seized methamphetamine, numerous empty baggies and a digital scale from Mackey, along with a loaded Glock 9mm handgun. Mackey has several previous felony convictions, including: Delivery of a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance – Methamphetamine, and Dominion/Control of Firearm/Offensive Weapon by Felon. Each of these convictions prohibit Mackey from possessing any firearm and also enhance his sentencing penalties. 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. United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Mackey to 131 months’ imprisonment and an eight-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Mackey remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 25-4006. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Third Defendant Sentenced To Prison For Hacking Fantasy Sports And Betting Website

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that NATHAN AUSTAD, a/k/a “Snoopy,” was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a scheme to hack user accounts on a fantasy sports and betting website (the “Betting Website”) and sell access to those accounts, resulting in losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars to the users. On December 12, 2025, AUSTAD pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit computer intrusion before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who imposed today’s sentence. "Nathan Austad and his co-defendants hacked an online betting website to compromise the accounts of over 60,000 users by purchasing their already stolen credentials on the darkweb and utilizing their previous passwords from other websites,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “The defendants acknowledged the federal investigation into their conduct while they were committing their crimes, even having the hubris to say the FBI could not do anything about it. They were wrong. Austad’s prison sentence today demonstrates the commitment of the DOJ, the FBI, and all our federal partners to protecting our on-line markets.” According to the charging documents and other filings and statements made in court: On or about November 18, 2022, AUSTAD and others launched a “credential stuffing attack” on the Betting Website. During a credential stuffing attack, a cyber threat actor collects stolen credentials, or username and password pairs, obtained from other large-scale data breaches of other companies, which can often be purchased on the darkweb. The threat actor then systematically attempts to use those stolen credentials to obtain unauthorized access to accounts held by the same user with other companies and providers, in order to compromise accounts where the user has maintained the same password. Here, in connection with the attack on the Betting Website, AUSTAD and his coconspirators made a series of attempts to log into the Betting Website user accounts using a large list of stolen credentials. AUSTAD and his coconspirators successfully compromised approximately 60,000 user accounts at the Betting Website (the “Victim Accounts”) through the credential stuffing attack. In some instances, AUSTAD and his coconspirators were able to add a new payment method of their own on the account ( i.e ., to a newly added financial account belonging to the hacker) and then use it to withdraw all the existing funds in the Victim Account to themselves, thus stealing the funds in each affected Victim Account. Using this method, AUSTAD and others stole approximately $600,000 from approximately 1,600 Victim Accounts on the Betting Website for themselves. Access to the Victim Accounts were also sold on various websites that traffic in stolen accounts, which are frequently referred to as “Shops.” AUSTAD directly controlled and profited from his own shop, which was named after the character Snoopy from the Peanuts comic strip. A photo of AUSTAD’s Shop website with victim companies redacted is below: On or about December 2, 2022, AUSTAD messaged about the existence of this investigation, “everyone shouldve been prepared for this before cashing out lol,” and a coconspirator replied, “lol fbi can’t do shit.” On or about May 19, 2023, AUSTAD messaged about the existence of this investigation, “like we didnt know the risk when we started lol . . . everyone knows their committing fraud.” AUSTAD also controlled cryptocurrency accounts that received cryptocurrency worth approximately $465,000, including proceeds of his crimes. AUSTAD is the third defendant to be sentenced in this investigation. On January 31, 2024, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan sentenced Joseph Garrison to 18 months in prison. On April 16, 2026, U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald sentenced Kamerin Stokes, a/k/a “TheMFNPlug,” to 30 months in prison. * * * In addition to the prison term, AUSTAD, 21, of Farmington, Minnesota, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $463,684.48 in forfeiture and $1,327,061 in restitution. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Mead and Micah Fergenson are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Port Neches felon sentenced for federal firearms violation

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Port Neches felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Jordan Lee Davis, 36, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Michael Truncale on June 22, 2026. According to information presented in court, on January 1, 2025, Port Neches police officers were investigating a possible assault at Davis’s residence when they found him in possession of a loaded revolver. Further investigation revealed that Davis was previously convicted of felony offenses in Jefferson County. As a convicted felon, Davis is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, to achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and to protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case was investigated by the Port Neches Police Department; the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John B. Ross and Jonathan Lee. ###


title: Registered Sex Offender Charged With Drugging And Sexually Abusing Minors

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced the return of a 10-count Indictment charging ANDREW WILKINSON, a/k/a “Steppa,” with convincing and enticing three minor female victims to engage in unlawful sexual activity with him, filming a sexually explicit video of a 15-year-old girl (“Minor Victim-1”), and drugging and sexually assaulting 17-year-old and 16-year-old girls (“Minor Victim-2” and “Minor Victim-3,” respectively). The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon. WILKINSON was arraigned on the Indictment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang earlier today. “As alleged, Andrew Wilkinson, a registered sex offender and serial predator, used social media to target vulnerable girls so he could drug them, sexually assault them, and film his abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Thankfully, Wilkinson’s illicit conduct was brought to light, and he will now have to answer to these serious charges. Our Office, along with our federal partners and the NYPD, are making a whole-of-government effort to rid our streets of sexual predators. That is what New Yorkers want. That is what we are delivering. The sexual assault of minors and the production and distribution of child pornography are too prevalent. I urge all New Yorkers to assist us in ridding our streets of predators. If you have been a victim of the alleged sexual abuse perpetrated by Wilkinson—or if you know anything about his alleged crimes or think you’ve experienced something similar—we encourage you to contact usanys.wilkinson-case@usdoj.gov or 212-637-0076.” “This defendant, who is already a registered sex offender, allegedly used social media to lure underage girls to an unlicensed business for free tattoos and then drugged, raped, and recorded sexually explicit videos of them,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “This horrific behavior—especially the abuse of minors—has no place in our city, and thanks to the relentless work of our NYPD investigators and law enforcement partners, this predator is being held accountable. We will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York to protect survivors of sexual assault and ensure justice is served in this case.” As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in Court:(1) WILKINSON drugged, sexually assaulted, and recorded sexual encounters with minor female victims. WILKINSON, who was 34 years old and a registered sex offender, operated and advertised an unlicensed tattoo service and used his tattoo service as a means by which to gain access to minor victims to sexually abuse. WILKINSON met and communicated with his victims primarily on social media platforms and utilized those platforms to convince his victims to travel to an apartment in the Bronx where he drugged, sexually assaulted, and filmed sexually explicit videos of them. WILKINSON drugged a 16-year-old girl and sexually abused her while she was physically incapacitated. Between at least in or about December 2024 and May 2025, WILKINSON repeatedly sent promotional messages offering free tattoos to Minor Victim-1, who was 14, and tried to convince Minor Victim-1 to meet him in person. On or about January 27, 2025, after Minor Victim-1 turned 15, WILKINSON convinced Minor Victim-1 to visit him, where he used a cellphone to record a sexually explicit video depicting Minor Victim-1. In or around May 2025, WILKINSON met a second victim, who was 17 years old, and convinced Minor Victim-2 to travel from Long Island to the Bronx to obtain a tattoo. While in the Bronx, WILKINSON drugged and sexually assaulted Minor Victim-2. On or about July 23, 2025, WILKINSON persuaded a third victim, who was 16 years old, to travel to the Bronx where WILKINSON told Minor Victim-3 that he would provide a free tattoo if she played and won three card games. WILKINSON provided psilocin psychedelic mushrooms, methamphetamine, and an unidentified beverage to Minor Victim-3, causing her to lose consciousness. While Minor Victim-3 was impaired and unconscious, WILKINSON raped and sexually assaulted Minor Victim-3. If you have been victimized by WILKINSON, who utilized the Instagram account “@tattzbysteppa,” among others, or have any additional information about his alleged illegal behavior, or if you’ve seen something similar, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York at 212-637-0076 or reach out to us at usanys.wilkinson-case@usdoj.gov and reference this case. * * * WILKINSON, 36, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison; three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison; three counts of committing a felony offense involving a minor as a registered sex offender, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison which must run consecutively to the other sex offenses; one count of distribution of a controlled substance, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of distribution of a controlled substance with intent to commit rape, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of distribution of a controlled substance to a minor, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD, the Special Agents, Task Force Officers, the Digital Forensics Unit, and the Complex Analytics and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Mr. Clayton also thanked the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, the Connecticut State’s Attorney Office for the Judicial District of Ansonia/Milford, the Derby Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service for the Southern District of New York, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection for their assistance. The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Dana R. McCann is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ^ As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitutes only allegations and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Guatemalan National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that SERGIO HIPOLITO REYES CORDERO, 52, a citizen of Guatemala, was arrested yesterday on a federal criminal complaint charging him with illegally reentering the United States after being deported. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, on October 22, 2011, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) arrested Reyes in Freer, Texas. Reyes, who was using the alias “Jose Armando Mendoza Jimenez” and claimed to be a citizen of Mexico, was returned to Mexico that same day. On October 27, 2011, USBP arrested Reyes in Calexico, California. USBP transferred Reyes to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which determined that Reyes was a citizen of Guatemala. Reyes was removed to Guatemala on November 16, 2011. On December 6, 2011, USBP arrested Reyes in Laredo, Texas. He was removed to Guatemala on December 28, 2011. On January 23, 2012, USBP again arrested Reyes in Laredo, Texas. Reyes was charged in the Southern District of Texas with illegally reentering the U.S., convicted of the offense, sentenced to 15 days of imprisonment, and removed to Guatemala on February 22, 2012. It is further alleged that Reyes again illegally reentered the U.S. On August 18, 2025, Reyes was convicted in Connecticut Superior Court in Danbury of two counts of tampering with physical evidence and one count of moving a dead body without a permit. Reyes was sentenced to five years of incarceration, execution suspended after two years, and five years of probation, for the offenses. He was released from state prison yesterday. Reyes appeared yesterday in Hartford federal court and was ordered detained. If convicted of the charge of unlawful reentry, Reyes faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years. U.S. Attorney Sullivan stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis L. Beyerlein. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Leader of Antifa Cell Members in North Texas Sentenced to 100 Years in Prison for Terrorist Attack on ICE Facility

body_text: Today, the Justice Department announced that eight North Texas Antifa Cell operatives were sentenced for their roles in rioting, using weapons and explosives, providing material support to terrorists, obstruction, and the attempted murder of an Alvarado police officer at the Prairieland Detention Center on July 4, 2025. This is the first sentencing of defendants affiliated with Antifa following President Donald J. Trump’s executive order designating the group as a Domestic Terrorist Organization in September 2025. Benjamin Hanil Song, who was convicted of the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, was sentenced to 100 years in prison. Together, the Prairieland terrorists received a combined sentence of 450 years in prison: Maricela Rueda was sentenced to 70 years in prison; Cameron Arnold was sentenced to 50 years in prison; Savanna Batten was sentenced to 50 years in prison; Zachary Evetts was sentenced to 50 years in prison; Bradford Morris was sentenced to 50 years in prison; Elizabeth Soto was sentenced to 50 years in prison; and Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada was sentenced to 30 years in prison. “The sentences handed down today make clear that Antifa terrorists who attack law enforcement and federal facilities will face swift and uncompromising justice,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Their violent extremism has no place in our country, and the Department of Justice will continue to aggressively investigate, disrupt, and prosecute those who threaten law enforcement officers or undermine the rule of law.” “Today’s sentencings show the FBI remains committed to identifying, locating, and dismantling Antifa and its funding networks across the country,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “Acts of violence against our law enforcement partners will not be tolerated, and we continue our work to protect communities across the country from domestic terrorism.” “These sentences justly punish the vicious, armed attack that these Antifa cell members planned and executed against law enforcement and detention center officers on the night of July 4th last year,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas. “Their terrorist acts, attempted murder, vandalism, and explosives launched at a detention facility were a far cry from a peaceful protest or First Amendment expression. Because of the prompt action of first responders that night and tenacious work of our law enforcement partners, in tandem with the prosecutors in my office, eight people have been rightly punished for these violent acts and their attempts to conceal them. We will continue in this mission to hold others accountable who perpetrate such violence and fund these ANTIFA groups in the Northern District of Texas.” “The sentences handed down today send an unmistakable message: Attacks on federal officers and facilities will not be tolerated. The men and women of ICE serve with integrity and courage, often in challenging and dangerous environments. The calculated violence carried out by these Antifa cell members at Prairieland was an assault on law enforcement and an attack on the rule of law itself,” said Acting ICE Director David J. Venturella. “Nearly one year after this cowardly act, justice has prevailed. ICE will continue to stand firm against those who threaten our officers, our facilities and our mission.” The sentences follow a 12-day trial that began on Feb. 23, where jurors heard testimony from 46 witnesses and considered over 210 exhibits supporting the charges against nine indicted defendants: Cameron Arnold, also known as Autumn Hill; Zachary Evetts; Benjamin Song; Savanna Batten; Bradford Morris, also known as Meagan Morris; Maricela Rueda; Elizabeth Soto; Ines Soto; and Daniel Rolando Sanchez-Estrada. All were convicted . Ines Soto was granted a continuance and will be sentenced on July 1. Seven others, Seth Sikes, Nathan Baumann, Joy Gibson, Susan Kent, Rebecca Morgan, Lynette Sharp, and John Thomas, pleaded guilty prior to trial to one count of providing material support to terrorists and they will be sentenced on July 1. Testimony and other evidence at trial established that the defendants were members of a North Texas Antifa Cell, part of a larger militant enterprise made up of networks of individuals and small groups primarily ascribing to an ideology that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States Government, law enforcement authorities, and the system of law. An expert testifying in the government’s case told the jury that ANTIFA’s coordinated efforts involve obstructing Federal law through organized riots, violent assaults, and armed confrontations with law enforcement officers, increasingly targeting agents and facilities related to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement in opposition to the agency’s deportation actions. Evidence at trial revealed that most of the ANTIFA Cell involved in the Prairieland attack looked to Benjamin Song as a leader. Song acquired firearms that he distributed to co-defendants and recruited members at gun ranges and combat sessions he conducted, as well as from various ideologically aligned groups. For example, defendants Ines Soto, Elizabeth Soto, and Savanna Batten were part of a group that created and distributed insurrectionary materials called “zines,” according to trial evidence. Trial testimony reflected that, late at night on July 4, 2025, at least eleven of the defendants rioted and attacked the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas, which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was using to house illegal aliens awaiting deportation. The defendants dressed in “black bloc”—dark clothing with head and face coverings that concealed their identities—designed to hide each individual’s identity but also to aid and abet those members engaged in illegal acts by making members indistinguishable from one another to law enforcement. Evidence introduced at trial revealed that the defendants brought eleven firearms, body armor, and eleven military-grade first aid kits with tourniquets and other items to treat gunshot wounds to the scene of the attack. Many of these items were introduced by the government as exhibits. Additionally, DNA and fingerprint evidence linked many of the defendants to the items at the scene, and evidence obtained on phone locations supported that those who participated in the attack all turned off their phones or placed them in Faraday bags to prevent tracking on the night of the attack. After ANTIFA Cell members arrived at the detention facility, they began shooting off and throwing fireworks (explosives) at the facility and vandalizing vehicles and a guard shack on Prairieland property: Exploding fireworks (explosives) thrown at the Prairieland facility by Antifa Cell members, captured by surveillance cameras. Antifa Cell members’ vandalism at Prairieland, including graffiti on a guard building, punctured tires of a facility van, and broken facility surveillance camera. Witnesses testified that an Alvarado police officer responded to the scene after correctional officers called 911. When the officer began issuing commands to defendant Nathan Baumann, Benjamin Song can be heard on police bodycam video yelling, “get to the rifles!” and then he opened fire on the officers, striking the Alvarado police officer in the neck as the unarmed correctional officers ducked and ran for cover. Police arrested most of the Antifa Cell shortly after the attack, many near the scene. Benjamin Song escaped and remained at large with the help of others until his capture on July 15, 2025. Trial evidence demonstrated that collectively, this ANTIFA Cell acquired over 50 firearms in the Fort Worth/Dallas area prior to July 4. During trial, the government introduced numerous chats of the members, who used an encrypted messaging app to coordinate with each other that had auto-delete functions, permanently deleting some Antifa Cell members’ communications. They also used monikers in group chats to hide their identities, and some of the planning chats included only trusted participants. The chats introduced at trial revealed that members in this limited group conducted reconnaissance and discussed what to bring to the riot, including firearms, medical kits, and fireworks: Chats between Song (“Champagne”) and Evetts (“Jon ValJon”) the day before the attack. Chats between Song and Rueda (“Mal Criada”) just before the attack. Files stored on Evetts’s phone listing Antifa tactics strikingly similar to the defendants’ tactics. Witnesses who testified during the government’s case included the Alvarado police officer who was shot in the neck by Song, detention officers present that night who also took cover from rapid fire, multiple additional responding officers, numerous investigative agents, and cooperating codefendants, including Baumann, Sharp, Thomas, and Kent. Among other things, Kent testified that the night before the attack at a “gear check,” Song proposed to free the detainees at the Prairieland detention facility and told the group that they should wear “black bloc” and bring rifles, because he (Song) wasn’t going to be arrested. Evidence at trial also revealed that some of the defendants attended a peaceful daytime protest at Prairieland on July 4—without the gear they brought that night—and that they reported back to other defendants details regarding security at the facility: Message from Evetts to other defendants about Prairieland security. The sentences of the eight defendants were for the following offenses: Riot , with the intent to commit an act of violence, involving conduct such as shooting and throwing fireworks and explosives, slashing tires on a government vehicle, spraying graffiti on property and vehicles, destroying a closed circuit camera, shooting at officers, and dressing in black bloc. Defendants convicted: Cameron Arnold, Zachary Evetts, Benjamin Song, Savanna Batten, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, and Ines Soto Providing Material Support to Terrorists , including property, services, training, communications equipment, weapons, explosives, personnel (including themselves), and transportation. Defendants convicted: Arnold, Evetts, Song, Batten, Morris, Rueda, E. Soto, and I. Soto Conspiracy to Use and Carry an Explosive , and Using and Carrying an Explosive , during a riot. Defendants convicted: Arnold, Evetts, Song, Batten, Morris, Rueda, E. Soto, and I. Soto Attempted Murder of Officers and Employees of the United States , involving the unlawful attempt to kill with malice aforethought an Alvarado Police Officer who was assisting federal officers/agents. Defendant convicted: Song Discharging a Firearm During, and in Relation to, and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence , i.e., the attempted murder of two correctional officers and an Alvarado Police Officer. Defendant convicted: Song Corruptly Concealing a Document or Record , by transporting a box containing numerous Antifa materials, such as insurrection planning, anti-law enforcement, anti-government, and anti-immigration enforcement documents and propaganda from Sanchez Estrada’s residence to a location in Denton, Texas, intending to conceal the box’s contents and impair its availability for use in a federal grand jury and federal criminal proceeding. Defendant convicted: Daniel Rolando Sanchez Estrada Conspiracy to Conceal Documents and other objects that would implicate Maricela Rueda in the riot and shooting at the Prairieland facility. Defendants convicted: Sanchez Estrada and Maricela Rueda Defendants Song, Morris, Rueda, and E. Soto were sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark T. Pittman for the Northern District of Texas. When imposing the sentences, Judge Pittman said, “It’s by the grace of God that Song is not dead. He managed to get 11 shots in seconds; then the officer shooting blindly happened to hit the magazine well of Song’s rifle. Mr. Song’s lucky he isn’t dead. We had a guardian angel that ensured that Mr. Song isn’t dead, and we don’t have several deceased people at Prairieland.” Defendants Arnold, Evetts, Batten, and Sanchez-Estrada were sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’ Connor for the Northern District of Texas. When imposing the sentences, Chief Judge O’ Connor said, “The defendants’ violence and terrorism is an assault on Democracy. The defendants’ planning, staging, and execution of the attack led to the attempted murder of an officer who ironically is not even involved in enforcing immigration law.” The sole count of providing material support to terrorists brought in the information against Baumann, Gibson, Kent, Morgan, Sharp, Thomas, and separately, Sikes’s information, mirrors the material support offense in the charges presented to the jury at trial. Each of these defendants face a sentence of up to fifteen years in federal prison and will be sentenced on July 1, 2026. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Dallas Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations Dallas, ATF, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Alvarado Police Department, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Office (ICE ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Gatto, Shawn Smith, and Matt Capoccia for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.


title: Grayson County man sentenced to life in federal prison for supplying fentanyl and then watching and recording the victim’s overdose death

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Denison man who supplied fentanyl that resulted in an individual’s death, has been sentenced to life in federal prison, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Andrew Michael Smith, 36, was found guilty at trial of possession with intent to distribute and dispense fentanyl resulting in death and was sentenced to life in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on June 22, 2026. According to information presented in court, on September 5, 2024, Smith provided a woman with fentanyl and methamphetamine. Smith watched and recorded the victim for several hours as she began to show severe signs of an overdose, including difficulty breathing, severe mental confusion, vomiting, and tremors. After the victim had taken her last breath, Smith finally, but untimely, called emergency responders. After law enforcement arrived, they began to perform lifesaving measures, but those efforts proved futile. The evidence during trial showed that Smith talked to numerous individuals over the course of hours while the victim was dying and even continued to arrange additional deals to acquire drugs. “Smith targeted this victim because he knew her addiction made her vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “Smith deserves every day of this life sentence. Our office, and our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively seek justice for drug trafficking victims.” 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). This case was investigated by the FBI and the Denison Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Erlandson and Abe McGlothin, Jr. ###