title: Chicago Man Sentenced After Sending Racial and Violent Sexual Threats  to Women in Tulsa

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Chicago, Illinois, man was sentenced for using Facebook to racially threaten, intimidate, and harass two women living in Tulsa, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced John Gregory Garza, 25, for Cyberstalking and two counts of Interstate Communication of Threat to Injure. Judge Russell ordered Garza to serve 46 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. The Court applied a hate crime sentencing enhancement after it found Garza selected one victim because of race and gender, and the other victim because of gender. Court documents show that in June 2024, Garza used more than 18 alias accounts on Facebook to send threatening messages to numerous individuals. Two unrelated victims that lived in Tulsa were identified in Garza’s messaging. Both victims reported the derogatory, hateful, and threatening messages to Facebook and law enforcement. The investigation revealed that Garza posted racial comments about interracial relationships and acts of sexual violence towards his victims and others. After a further review of Garza’s Facebook accounts, agents found that he messaged with others about his radical views and desire to commit acts of mass violence. Garza will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case in partnership with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele Hulguaard.


title: Purse Thief Who Targeted Kristi Noem Sentenced to 36 Months for Wire Fraud and First-Degree Theft

body_text: WASHINGTON –– Mario Bustamante Leiva, 50, a Chilean national illegally residing in the United States, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 36 months in prison in connection to a string of thefts that included stealing the Gucci handbag belonging to former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem as she dined with her family at a District restaurant, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. Leiva pleaded guilty Nov. 21, 2025, before Judge Trevor N. McFadden to three counts of wire fraud and one count of first-degree theft. At the completion of his 36-month prison sentence, Leiva will be subject to deportation. “Bustamante Leiva came to Washington illegally to prey on citizens of the District. He methodically targeted women at restaurants, stealing their purses, and monetizing the stolen cards within minutes,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “His pattern of theft ends here. He will serve his prison term and be deported.” According to court papers, on three separate days in April 2025, Bustamante Leiva targeted female diners at restaurants in the District of Columbia. During the offenses, Bustamante Leiva surveilled his targets, stole purses containing wallets, credit cards, and personal identifying information, and used the stolen cards to make fraudulent purchases within minutes of each theft. During one of those offenses, Bustamante Leiva worked in concert with his co-defendant, Cristian Montecino-Sanzana. On April 12, 2025, surveillance video captured the defendants pausing outside Nando’s, located in the 800 block of F Street NW, appearing to peer through the front window. Montecino-Sanzana then entered the restaurant while Bustamante Leiva removed his jacket and draped it over his arm. The pair seized a woman’s purse and exited the restaurant. Minutes later, they traveled to a supermarket in the 400 block of L Street NW, where Montecino-Sanzana used the victim’s stolen credit card to purchase a $500 Visa gift card. On April 17, 2025, Bustamante Leiva entered the restaurant inside the Westin Hotel in the 900 block of 9th Street NW, where families were dining. He used his coat to conceal his theft of a purse belonging to a victim as she sat with her family. Surveillance video captured him walking behind the woman and taking her purse. He returned to the supermarket, where he used the victim’s stolen credit card to purchase wine and a $400 gift card. He later used the gift card to pay for a motel room in the 6700 block of Georgia Avenue NW. On April 20, 2025, Bustamante Leiva entered Capital Burger in the 1000 block of 7th Street NW, where he deliberately seated himself within arm’s reach of his next victim. Unbeknownst to him, that victim was then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem who was having dinner with her family. Surveillance cameras recorded Bustamente Leiva repeatedly looking down toward Noem’s purse before bending down and snatching it. Noem’s purse contained several credit cards and about $3,000 in cash. Surveillance photo of Bustamante Leiva with Kristi Noem’s purse and wallet. After the theft, Bustamante Leiva traveled to a restaurant in the 2900 block of M Street NW, where surveillance cameras recorded him in possession of Noem’s purse, wallet, and at least one of her credit cards, which he used to make an unauthorized purchase. On April 26, 2025, law enforcement located Bustamante Leiva at a motel in the 6700 block of Georgia Avenue NW and arrested him. A search of his room recovered Noem’s purse and wallet, the gift card purchased with a stolen card, about $3,174 in cash, and other items. Bustamante Leiva entered the United States at Orlando International Airport on Aug. 16, 2021, on a visa waiver authorizing him to remain until Nov. 13, 2021. He did not leave and continued to reside in the country illegally. He also has active warrants in Utah and New York stemming from 2021 charges involving retail theft, credit card theft, and stolen property. Co-defendant Montecino-Sanzana was sentenced on March 13, 2026, to 13 months of incarceration and three years of supervised release for his role in one of the thefts. He also faces deportation at the completion of his prison term. This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and Metropolitan Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Helfand. 25cr141


title: Eye Practice and Physician Owner Agree to Pay $415,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims to Medicare

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The Mitchell Eye Center, a Florida ophthalmology practice, and Dr. Alan Mitchell, an ophthalmologist and former owner of the Mitchell Eye Center, have agreed to pay $415,000 to resolve allegations that they caused the submission of false claims to Medicare in violation of the False Claims Act. The United States alleges that from September 2018 through March 2020, Mitchell Eye Center and Dr. Mitchell caused the submission of false claims for transcranial doppler (TCD) tests to Medicare and the Veterans Health Administration. A TCD test is a non-invasive diagnostic test that can be used to estimate the blood flow through certain blood vessels in the brain by bouncing high-frequency sound waves off blood cells. As part of the settlement agreement, the Mitchell Eye Center and Dr. Mitchell admitted to and accepted responsibility for facts underlying the settlement agreement. Mitchell Eye Center had contractual agreements with an independent medical diagnostics company, Eyecuity, PLLC (Eyecuity). During the relevant time, Eyecuity paid Mitchell Eye Center for every referral that the Mitchell Eye Center made for TCD tests, even though the parties’ contracts called for payment based on fair market value of rent and administrative services rendered, and not per-patient or per-test that Mitchell Eye Center referred to Eyecuity. When documenting the purported medical necessity of the TCD tests for Medicare to cover the costs of the tests, Mitchell Eye Center physicians also signed order forms that Eyecuity had provided, indicating that patients had Vertebro-Basilar Syndrome or Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency (VBI), a very rare condition. But Mitchell Eye Center physicians did not have reason to believe that patients had a diagnosis of VBI. The United States contends that the claims for the TCD tests that Mitchell Eye Center and Dr. Mitchell caused Eyecuity to submit to Medicare were false because the TCD tests were not medically necessary and because the Mitchell Eye Center received payments from Eyecuity that violated the Anti-Kickback Statute. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge, Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles B. Weinograd of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit is handling this case.


title: Former Director of Food Services for Plymouth Public Schools Charged with Stealing Food and Equipment for Side Business

body_text: BOSTON – The former Director of Plymouth Public Schools’ Food Services program has been charged in connection with a long-running fraud scheme that began in 2014 in which he allegedly stole food and commercial kitchen equipment for use and sale at his private business, the “Snack Shack” on Sandy Neck Beach. Patrick Van Cott, 64, of Sandwich, Mass., was charged with one count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and two counts of wire fraud. The defendant will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging document, Van Cott was the Director of Food Services for the Plymouth Public Schools from 2003 until June 2025. Starting in approximately 2014, he also operated a seasonal business called the “Snack Shack” on Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable, Mass. It is alleged that, between 2014 and June 2025, Van Cott defrauded the Plymouth Public Schools by taking food and equipment purchased with funds including U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds and using that food and equipment to run Snack Shack. The equipment Van Cott is alleged to have ordered with school funds includes two $2,200 refrigerators; a $3,950 two-door freezer; two 12-inch hot plates; a 24-inch griddle; a chargrill; a fryolator; shelving; a sandwich prep table; a convection oven; and hanging chalk boards. In addition, every summer starting in approximately 2014, Van Cott is alleged to have collected condiments, diced chicken, hot dogs, cooking oil, snacks, paper goods, coffee, food products and other miscellaneous items paid for by the Plymouth Public Schools or supplied by the USDA, which he then used and sold those items at Snack Shack. He is further alleged to have directed Plymouth Public Schools cafeteria workers to slice at least nine pounds of deli turkey and 4.5 pounds of deli ham, which he sold in various menu items at the Snack Shack, once or twice per week starting in 2014. Van Cott is also alleged to have ordered over $3,000 in premium burger patties with school funds, which he intended to and did sell in menu items at the Snack Shack. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted program administered on the federal level by the USDA that provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to public school children. In Massachusetts, meals for all students are free, and schools are reimbursed for meals through a combination of USDA funds and state funds. The charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Plymouth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Second Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Multiple Robberies Targeting Armored Trucks

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Dante Shackleford, 26, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Gail A. Weilheimer on one count of Hobbs Act robbery, three counts of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The defendant was charged by superseding indictment in January, along with Mujahid Davis , 24, also of Philadelphia. As detailed in case filings and admitted to by the defendant, Shackleford, with others, participated in the following crimes: the July 15, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia the July 22, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Elkins Park, Pa. the August 12, 2025, robbery of a Brinks truck in Elkins Park, Pa. the October 3, 2025, attempted robbery of a Brinks truck in Philadelphia The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on August 11 and faces a maximum possible term of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum of seven years’ imprisonment, a five-year term of supervised release, and a $1,500,000 fine. This case was investigated by the FBI Philadelphia Violent Crimes Task Force and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Eckert and Kwambina Coker.


title: Billings man appears on charge of carjacking resulting in death

body_text: BILLINGS – A Billings man accused of killing Keith Breckenridge while stealing his truck appeared for an arraignment today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said. The defendant, Brian Dale Contreraz, 31, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of carjacking resulting in death. If convicted, Contreraz could be imprisoned for life or sentenced to death. He also could be fined up to $250,000 and placed on supervised release for up to three years. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Contreraz was detained pending further proceedings. The indictment alleges that on or about May 16, 2025, in Billings, Contreraz took a motor vehicle that had been transported, shipped, and received in interstate commerce from Keith Breckenridge by force, violence, and intimidation, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, resulting in the death of Breckenridge. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Zeno Baucus are prosecuting the case. The FBI, Billings Police Department, and BIA conducted the investigation. The charging document is merely as accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. PACER case reference. CR 26-46-BLG-SPW. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Maryland Woman Sentenced for Role in HSTF  Multi-Million Dollar Money Laundering Conspiracy Case

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Hanover, Maryland, woman learned her fate in federal court, in connection with a multi-million-dollar money laundering scheme. Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Areal Harris, 27, to two years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, for conspiring to engage in a large, multi-member, money laundering conspiracy. Additionally, Judge Maddox ordered Harris to pay $3,159,482.83 in restitution. Harris, who pled guilty to participating in the money laundering conspiracy in May 2025, admitted that at least $1.3 million in money laundering occurred pursuant to her direct participation in the conspiracy. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) – Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG). According to court documents, beginning in 2021, and continuing into February 2024, Harris conspired with multiple individuals to launder proceeds of a large-scale wire fraud. The co-conspirators engaged in various financial transactions to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the wire-fraud proceeds, while carrying out the conspiracy. The victims included government agencies, organizations, and companies, including an environmental trust, urban redevelopment program, medical center, transportation and logistics company, school district, college, and county government, among others. Harris and her co-conspirators worked with each other to create limited liability companies to serve as shell entities; open bank accounts and/or cause bank accounts to be opened in the name of shell entities; and receive and launder fraud proceeds. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland previously charged 14 defendants in connection with the money laundering conspiracy. Thirteen have pled guilty. Faizou Gnora, 28, previously of Alexandria, Virginia, remains a fugitive from justice. In connection with this prosecution, Yahya Sowe, 42, of Silver Spring, Maryland, Gedeon Agbeyome, 31, of Montgomery County, Maryland, and Victor Killen, 33, of Hyattsville, Maryland, previously pled guilty, admitting to conspiring to commit money laundering. Additionally, Adanegbe Gift Osemwenkhae, 39, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; Emily Gil Arias, 28, of Silver Spring, Maryland; Fatoumata Boiro, 32, of Largo, Maryland; Lawrence Ogunsanwo, 33; Lakeisha Parker, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland; Martin Ogisi, 37, of Severn, Maryland; Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland; Kevin Colon, 34, of Curtis Bay, Maryland; and Lorena Perez Herrera, 29, of Silver Spring, Maryland, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Agbeyome also admitted engaging in aggravated identity theft and Parker acknowledged engaging in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. As part of their plea agreements, Gift and Sowe admitted that they served as managers or supervisors of the money laundering conspiracy. The overall conspiracy involved more than $20 million of money laundering, involving more than 15 different victim entities. The District Court previously sentenced: Agbeyome to 48 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, along with restitution of $2,938,424.65, and a $2.8 million preliminary order of forfeiture Ogunsanwo to 40 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release and restitution of $5,648,816.23 Parker to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release and restitution of $8,306,930.95 Ogisi to 33 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release and restitution of $11,077,044.17 Ndjouandjouaka to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release and restitution of $733,941.48 Colon to 27 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release and restitution of $2,515,159.63 Killen to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $7,070,656.46, and a $3 million forfeiture order. This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Baltimore comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI); the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the District of Maryland; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); the United States Marshals Service (USMS); the Washington/Baltimore HIDTA (W/B HIDTA); the Maryland State Police (MSP); the Baltimore Police Department (BPD); and the Baltimore County Police Department (BCPD) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI-led Document and Benefit Fraud/Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force, and thanked IRS-CI and EPA-OIG for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes praised the Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County Police Departments for their assistance. She also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber, Bijon A. Mostoufi, and Jared M. Beim, who prosecuted the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for her assistance. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Chantilly man sentenced to 27 years in prison for sexually exploiting minors he targeted online

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Chantilly man was sentenced today to 27 years in prison following his conviction for sexual exploitation and coercion and enticement of minors to engage in illegal sexual activity. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, between at least February 2022 and April 2023, Michael Logan Bourne, 55, used an anonymous Google account, lordromance2021, to sexually exploit at least six girls between the ages of 13 and 17, to whom he referred as his “slaves,” and persuaded them to “serve” and “please” him by engaging in sexually explicit conduct on live webcams. Bourne groomed the girls, inundating them with sexual messages, including sexually graphic pictures and a video of himself. He pressured the victims to reciprocate his sexual advances and to join him on video calls even when they expressed discomfort. He also received child sexual abuse material from two of his victims. Bourne knew that several of his victims suffered from serious mental health issues, making them more susceptible to his coercion. A federal judge convicted Bourne on Dec. 17, 2025. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Halper and Vanessa Strobbe prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:25-cr-218.


title: Hartford Man Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm Offenses, Violating Supervised Release

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MORRIS CARTER III, also known as “Mo,” 37, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 156 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for firearm offenses and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction. According to the evidence introduced during his trial, in the early morning of February 19, 2023, Carter was involved in a fight a convenience store in the south end of Hartford. Surveillance footage shows Carter possessing a firearm and beating a convenience store patron in the head with a firearm magazine, which ejected ammunition during the altercation. Carter then fled the store, drove toward Wethersfield, and threw two handguns out the car window. Wethersfield Police stopped the car on Nott Street, found a loaded magazine under the passenger seat, and arrested Carter. Later that morning, a Wethersfield resident called police after discovering one of the discarded guns at the end of her driveway. Officers responded and found both discarded firearms, a magazine, and ammunition in the area. Investigators also recovered the ammunition from the convenience store. Carter has been detained since his arrest. On August 15, 2025, a jury found him guilty of one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Carter’s criminal history includes a federal conviction in 2013 for conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, crack cocaine, and he was on federal supervised release when he committed the firearm violations in 2023. Judge Dooley sentenced Carter to 136 months of imprisonment for the firearm violations and a consecutive 20 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hartford Police Department, and the Wethersfield Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nathaniel J. Gentile and Sean P. Mahard.


title: Fourteen Defendants from Dallas and Lubbock Federally Indicted in Large-Scale Oil Theft Conspiracy in the Permian Basin

body_text: Fourteen defendants from Texas and New Mexico were indicted by a federal grand jury in Lubbock, Texas for their roles in a large-scale oil theft conspiracy in the Permian Basin, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. The indictment charges each of the defendants with conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce, and several defendants are also charged with interstate transportation of stolen property, and receipt, possession, or sale of stolen property. According to the indictment returned on April 8, 2026, all 14 defendants allegedly conspired to transport stolen crude oil across the New Mexico-Texas border for the purpose of enriching themselves. The indictment alleges that several defendants stole crude oil from oil producers in the Eastern New Mexico region of the Permian Basin, some of which was then stored on land that one of the conspirators leased from the United States government. That conspirator then sold the stolen crude oil to others in the conspiracy at prices significantly below West Texas Intermediate (“WTI”) pricing. WTI is the benchmark used to price crude oil in the Permian Basin and much of the United States. The charges further state that the conspirators, knowing the crude oil was stolen, then transported the oil across the New Mexico-Texas border for further sale at a profit. Texas defendants: • Randell Wayne Reid, 41, of Electra, Texas, owner of Reidco Enterprises, a Texas-based company; • James Darrell Reid, 65, of Electra, owner of Reidco Enterprises; and • Christopher Frederick Harris, 22, of Seminole, Texas. Lovington, New Mexico defendants: • Louis George Edgett, 68; • Brenden Floyd Strickland, 25; • Sixto Herrera-Estebane, 43; • Gyardo Gonzalez, 47; • Jesus Martin Hernandez-Borja, 51; • Diana Marquez Rojo, 45; • Jose Luis Rojo, 49; • Jose Mario Rivas-Mendoza, 37; • Miguel A. Soto, 41; • Tavares Montrail Cole, 48; and • Danny Dale Brown Jr., 42. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the conspiracy charge and up to ten years in federal prison on each count of interstate transportation of stolen property, and receipt, possession, or sale of stolen property. The Permian Basin is a vast sedimentary shale basin spanning over 86,000 square miles in Southeastern New Mexico and West Texas. It is the largest oil-producing region in the United States and accounts for the majority of all U.S. crude oil production. The Bureau of Land Management, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Texas Department of Public Safety-Criminal Investigation Division, Lea County, New Mexico Sheriff’s Office, and the Eddy County, New Mexico Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Howey is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KENNELIUS BROWN (“BROWN”) , age 36, pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to possession with intent to distribute controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. According to court documents, BROWN was charged along with co-defendants in a multi-count superseding indictment with narcotics trafficking and firearms violations. According to the superseding indictment, from late 2022 until May of 2023, the men distributed fentanyl throughout the New Orleans area and possessed marijuana, cocaine, and fentanyl. Moreover, loaded firearms were found nearby the controlled substances located throughout this investigation, indicating the firearms were being utilized to further the drug trafficking crimes. BROWN will be sentenced on August 5, 2026, and faces the following penalties: Count 2 - Possession with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances 21 U.S.C § § 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C). A mandatory minimum of five (5) years imprisonment up to forty (40) years imprisonment, and/or a fine of not more than $5,000,000.00, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Count 4 - Felon in Possession of a Firearm18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). A maximum of fifteen (15) years imprisonment, and/or a fine of up to $250,000, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. 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). The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Kissimmee Man Sentenced to Over 17 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Christian Eric Harmon (38, Kissimmee) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for receipt of child sexual abuse material. Harmon pleaded guilty on August 7, 2025. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, on April 7, 2024, Harmon was chatting with another user on an internet-based application. During that chat, Harmon requested child sexual abuse material and received approximately 22 illicit videos depicting the sexual abuse of children as young as infants. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S.

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLOS EGBERTO JIMENEZ-TUN, also known as Carlos Egberto-Jimenez, 28, a citizen of Guatemala, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to six months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. According to court documents and statements made in court, in April 2019, Jimenez was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas as part of a criminal alien smuggling investigation. U.S. Border Patrol determined that Jimenez was in the U.S. illegally and he was deported to Guatemala in July 2019. In September 2019, U.S. Border Patrol encountered Jimenez in Texas again. He was arrested for being in the U.S. illegally and was deported to Guatemala in November 2019. Jimenez subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. Between November 2023 and October 2025, Jimenez was arrested, convicted, and sentenced multiple times in Connecticut Superior Court for larceny, failure to appear in court, interfering and resisting arrest, and violating probation. On January 16, 2026, Jimenez was arrested in Bridgeport by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations following his release from state custody and has been detained since his arrest. On January 27, 2026, he pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry. 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 Neeraj N. Patel. 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: Justice Department Announces New Funding Opportunity to Prosecute Fraud, Drug Trafficking, and Other Crimes

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The Justice Department today announced the availability of $300 million in funding to prevent and prosecute fraud and other crimes nationwide. The new Special Attorneys Program notice of funding opportunity will support state, local, Tribal, and territorial prosecuting agencies in designating qualified prosecutors to serve as Special Attorneys within the Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division or Criminal Division, or as Special Assistant United States Attorneys within a United States Attorney’s Office. This grant program will strengthen investigative and prosecutorial capacity, expand intergovernmental coordination, and enhance the ability of jurisdictions to investigate and prosecute fraud and other crimes committed by criminal aliens within the United States and drug and human trafficking crimes. “This unprecedented funding opportunity is part of the Department of Justice’s historic effort to activate every available tool to secure the physical and financial security of our nation,” said Colin McDonald, Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “We invite prosecutors across the country to join the mission to eliminate fraud, defeat the drug cartels, and rescue victims of trafficking.” Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Passaic County Man Charged in One of the Largest Known Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Seizures in New Jersey History

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County man was charged on Monday with trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine base (“crack”) and firearms offenses in one of the largest known drug seizures in New Jersey history, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. “Narcotics, especially fentanyl, and illegal firearms are a deadly combination that poisons our communities and fuels violence. These charges send a clear message to those who seek to profit by flooding our communities with dangerous drugs: our Office will find you, no matter where you hide or how sophisticated you believe your operation to be. This investigation reflects our commitment to shutting down drug trafficking operations and keeping the people of New Jersey safe from the violence and destruction they cause.” - U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer Nankel Stuardo Solorzano, 46, Clifton, New Jersey was charged in a four-count superseding complaint with possessing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine base with intent to distribute it, possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking crimes, and unlawfully possessing firearms as a previously convicted felon. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Solorzano trafficked large quantities of narcotics out of a residential apartment complex in Clifton, New Jersey. Following an investigation, on April 17, 2026, Solorzano was arrested while attempting to access his stash following two drug deals. After his arrest, and pursuant to court-authorized search warrants, law enforcement conducted a search of Solorzano’s garages and vehicle and discovered millions of dollars’ worth of drugs. Law enforcement seized over 40 kilograms of fentanyl, approximately 52 kilograms of methamphetamine, and more than 2 kilograms of cocaine base. They also recovered four firearms, including a stolen handgun, an AK-47-style rifle equipped with a large capacity magazine, and a 12-gauge shotgun, as well as a variety of ammunition and magazines. Following the charges in the superseding complaint, a court-authorized search warrant revealed an additional significant stash of narcotics in Solorzano’s apartment. Evidence from the investigation is depicted below. The two counts charging Solorzano with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances each carry a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $10 million. The count charging Solorzano with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $250,000. The count charging Solorzano with possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited with the investigation special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Task Force Division Group T-24 under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher Roberts in New York; DEA Charlotte Enforcement Group 2, the New York Police Department, the New York State Police, and the Clifton Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ferrara of the General Crimes Unit in conjunction with the Narcotics and International Trafficking Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Eric W. Feinberg, Esq. solorzano.complaint.pdf


title: U.S. Attorney Moore Capito Encourages Participation in DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Moore Capito is encouraging West Virginians to take advantage of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s latest National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026. From 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., more than three dozen collection sites throughout the Southern District of West Virginia will accept old, unwanted, and expired prescription medications for free and anonymous disposal. Collection site locations are available at www.DEATakeBack.com . “Unused prescription drugs don’t just sit in a cabinet — they become a gateway to abuse, addiction, and tragedy,” Capito said. “Taking a few minutes to dispose of them properly is one of the simplest, most effective steps we can take to protect our families, safeguard our communities, and save lives.” Law enforcement and other collection site partners will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage. Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Saturday, April 25, 2026, is the 30th DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This event has removed more than 20.4 million pounds (10,200 tons) of medication from circulation since its inception. More information is available at www.DEATakeBack.com . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. ###


title: Conway Man Indicted for Burning a Cross to Intimidate Black Neighbors

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence returned a two-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Worden Evander Butler, 31, formerly of Conway, for interfering with the housing rights of his Black neighbors and using fire to commit a federal felony. The indictment alleges that on Nov. 24, 2023, Butler made a series of Facebook posts about his next-door neighbors, including that he would give “ his racist neighbors . . . a good scare for the health. With a cross in the lawn .” Butler uploaded photos of the victims’ home, vehicles, and mailbox to his social media. Butler then set up a cross in his backyard and set it on fire. “Every family in America has a right to feel safe in their own homes,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Defendant Butler’s actions threatened this fundamental right. This office will continue to protect South Carolinians' fundamental rights.” “Racial animosity has no place in our community,” said FBI Columbia Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jose Charriez. “This indictment reflects the serious nature of the alleged crimes and our dedication to ensuring the victims see a just resolution.” Butler faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Butler was arrested in California and will make an initial appearance on April 22 in the Eastern District of California. Butler will be arraigned in the District of South Carolina on May 5 at 2:30 p.m. at the McMillan Federal Building in Florence, S.C. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and Horry County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case. All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Columbia, Missouri Doctor Arrested, Accused of Health Care Fraud, Illegally Prescribing Drugs

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A medical doctor and owner of an urgent care clinic in Columbia, Missouri was arrested Wednesday on an indictment that accuses him of defrauding Medicare and Medicaid and providing prescription drugs to friends, people suffering from substance use disorders and those with whom he had sexual relationships. Dr. Jonathan Wayne Morris, 46, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on April 8, 2026, with 15 counts of illegal prescribing of controlled substances and 23 counts of health care fraud. Dr. Morris has owned Columbia Urgent Care since at least 2019. From at least May 1, 2019, through April 8, 2025, Dr. Morris caused Medicare and Medicaid to be billed for medical services as if they had been provided by him instead of the assistant physicians (APs) that he employs, the indictment says. APs are medical school graduates who have not entered a residency program and therefore require training and supervision by a fully licensed physician. Rather than teaching the APs, Morris allowed the APs to train each other, the indictment says. He left the APs unsupervised when he left the clinic for domestic and international travel, and to work at a different clinic in St. Louis, it says. The indictment also accuses Dr. Morris of issuing controlled substance prescriptions outside of the usual course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose to friends, associates, those with substance use disorders and those with whom he had sexual relationships. In some cases, Dr. Morris accepted cash for controlled substances or prescribed them for individuals on whom he made sexual advances (sometimes accepted and sometimes unwelcomed), it says. He also prescribed controlled substances to individuals to whom he offered cocaine and other drugs, it says. Finally, the indictment accuses Dr. Morris of submitting false and fraudulent claims for reimbursement to the Medicare and Missouri Medicaid programs for controlled substance prescriptions that were issued outside the scope of professional practice and to further his personal relationships and/or increase the number of patients at his clinic. A motion seeking to have Dr. Morris held in jail until trial says investigators are currently aware of about 20 individuals who received prescriptions for a total of over 15,000 individual dosage units of controlled substances from Morris despite the existence of substance use issues, sexual relations with Morris, or both. The motion says the lack of training of the APs rendered the Columbia clinic a “free-for-all when it comes to issuing prescriptions for controlled substances.” The motion says “evidence supports that Morris, who still has an active DEA registration, is continuing to operate his clinic in this manner.” The FBI, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missouri Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Sestric is prosecuting the case. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Eastern District of Texas observes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, continues vigorous prosecution of those responsible for fentanyl-related overdoses and deaths

component: Office for Victims of Crime (OJP)

body_text: PLANO, Texas – Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs joins the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Executive Office for the United States Attorneys (EOUSA) in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year’s theme is “ Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities .” “An important part of protecting victims and serving our community is combatting the scourge of fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. “The cases below highlight our work to advocate for our victims and serve our communities by preventing future victims.” On April 15, 2026, Isela Mendez was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for distributing tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced oxycodone pills from her home. On February 26, 2026, illegal alien Victor Manuel Navarette Roman was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl that was imported from Mexico for distribution in the United States. On February 26, 2026, Jessie Zavaleta Peralta was sentenced to over 19 years in federal prison for distributing large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl. On February 10, 2026, Nathan Jesse Garcia was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and his co-defendant, Lino Hernandez, was sentenced to 13 years for their role in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy. On February 4, 2026, Jaquavian Markeith Veasley was convicted by a jury in Tyler of providing the fentanyl that killed two victims. Veasley is awaiting sentencing and faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in federal prison. On November 3, 2025, Corey Bouchea Grant and Calvin Autae Thompson , were found guilty of trafficking multiple drugs, including fentanyl-laced heroin. Those drugs are believed to be responsible for the death of at least one victim in Lewisville. Both defendants are awaiting sentencing and face up to life in federal prison. On October 30, 2025, Desmond Denard Brown was sentenced to over 17 years in federal prison for selling counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl. On October 30, 2025, Trevorris Rashomique Woodard was sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for his role in distributing fentanyl in the Longview area. On October 27, 2025, Deablo Deshon Lewis was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after being convicted at trial of selling large quantities of counterfeit prescription pills, including oxycontin laced with fentanyl. On October 1, 2025, Juan Manuel Navarette Robles , a high-level Mexican drug trafficker illegally in the United States, was sentenced to over 26 years in federal prison for distributing large amounts of fentanyl. On July 30, 2025, Kym Andrew Wallace was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after supplying fentanyl-laced oxycodone that killed a 17-year-old. At sentencing, U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs said, “Thirty years in a federal prison cannot compare to the lifetime sentence of grief that the victim’s family faces as the result of Wallace’s actions. Wallace deserves every day of this sentence. Our office, and our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively work to protect our communities from drug traffickers like Wallace.” On April 1, 2025, Lawrence Duguett Hardin, Jr. was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for supplying the fentanyl that led to an overdose death. A search of Hardin’s residence led to the discovery of 365.2 grams of fentanyl. Achieving justice for victims and protecting their rights is our highest duty, and we are honored to participate in the national observance of this special week to honor victims and victim advocates. For additional information regarding National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and resources for victims, please visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/ . ###


title: Five New Orleans Men Indicted for Drug Trafficking, Federal Weapons Violations, and Bank Fraud

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –EMON CHENEAU, a/k/a “Smiley” (“CHENEAU”), age 22, DEVIN BROWN, a/k/a “YD”, a/k/a “YDtheillest” (“BROWN”), age 27, KENAN BREAUD, a/k/a “Tank” (“BREAUD”), age 20, KELAN GENNINGS (“GENNINGS”), age 24, and KRISHAWN SIMMS (“SIMMS”) , age 22, were indicted on February 26, 2026 in a 15-count indictment for violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act, the Federal Gun Control Act, and committing bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle. The indictment was unsealed on April 17, 2026. All five defendants are charged in Count 1 with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, marijuana, in Count 2 with conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, in Count 3 with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in Count 4 with using or maintaining a drug premises, and in Count 11 with conspiracy to commit bank fraud. CHENEAU, GENNINGS, and SIMMS are additionally charged in Count 5 with possession with intent to distribute marijuana. GENNINGS is charged in Count 6, BROWN is charged in Counts 7 and 10, and CHENEAU is charged in Count 9 with being a felon in possession of a firearm. CHENEAU is charged with an additional count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in Count 8. GENNINGS is also charged in Counts 12 through 15 with bank fraud. According to the indictment, since at least 2024, the defendants conspired to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, marijuana and to possess firearms in furtherance of that drug-trafficking conspiracy. Between July and September of 2025, the defendants used and maintained a drug premises in the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans, and in September of 2025, all five men possessed firearms in furtherance of their drug-trafficking conspiracy. The indictment also alleges that BROWN and CHENEAU possessed Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 pistols and that GENNINGS possessed a Romarm/Cugir Model Micro Draco pistol after being previously convicted of felony offenses. BROWN was previously convicted of simple robbery, and CHENEAU was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and psilocybin, and illegal carrying of a weapon with a controlled substance. GENNINGS had previously been convicted of offenses including illegal possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and aggravated assault with a firearm. In addition to the federal firearms and drug-trafficking violations, the indictment also alleges that all five men conspired to commit bank fraud. The conspiracy involved acquiring stolen checks, re-printing or otherwise altering them to make them payable to individuals or companies other than the intended recipient, soliciting bank accounts into which to deposit the fraudulent checks, and then withdrawing money from the proceeds of the checks before the financial institutions discovered the fraud. The indictment further alleges that in April of 2025, GENNINGS deposited or caused to be deposited four fraudulent checks, including a fraudulent check in the amount of $150,000. As to the charges of conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, the defendants face up to five years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and at least two years of supervised release up to a life term of supervised release. As to the charge of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to the charge of using or maintaining a drug premises, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison, up to a $500,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to the charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, CHENEAU, BROWN , and GENNINGS eachface per count up to 15 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to the charges of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, the defendants each face per count a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other sentence, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. As to the charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, the defendants each face up to 30 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine or the greater of twice the gross gain or twice the gross loss of the scheme, and up to five years of supervised release. GENNINGS faces the same penalties as to each of the four counts of bank fraud against him. Each of the 15 counts also requires payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle reiterated that the indictment is merely an allegation and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 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). The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit and Christine Calogero of the General Crimes Unit are in charge of the prosecution. On April 7, the Department of Justice has created the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: Burlington Man Charged with Distributing Controlled Substances

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Victor Allen, 54, of Burlington, Vermont, has been charged by criminal complaint with distribution of controlled substances. Victor Allen’s initial appearance in court is scheduled for April 22, 2026, at 4:00 pm before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle in Burlington. According to court records, over a fourteen-month period between February 2025 and April 2026, law enforcement conducted approximately ten purchases of controlled substances from Allen at various locations in Chittenden County, Vermont. Based on that investigation, law enforcement obtained search warrants for two apartments on Grant Street and King Street in Burlington, Vermont, that were associated with Allen. On April 21, 2026, law enforcement executed those search warrants. Law enforcement found Allen at the King Street apartment. He told law enforcement that he was the only person staying there. In the sole bedroom at that apartment, law enforcement located more than a kilogram of suspected cocaine, approximately 50 grams of fentanyl, quantities of suspected cocaine base and methamphetamine, a significant quantity of U.S. currency, and a Ruger firearm. Law enforcement also located equipment for drug manufacturing in the apartment kitchen. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Allen is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Allen faces up to twenty years imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt commended the investigatory efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Burlington Police Department. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Flynn. Allen is represented by the Federal Public Defender’s Office.


title: Oklahoma City Man with Violent Criminal History Sentenced to 12 Years for Firearm Offense

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – IZAVIA MARQUIS SMITH , 29, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 144 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, on August 12, 2025, an Oklahoma City Police Department officer pulled Smith over on I-35 after he crossed multiple lanes of traffic without signaling. Officers searched Smith and his car and recovered a small bag of cocaine, a handgun, and nine rounds of live ammunition. On September 2, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Smith with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty to the charge on October 22, 2025. On April 20, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced Smith to serve 144 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Dishman noted the need for deterrence, the need to protect the public, and Smith’s violent criminal history. Public records reflect that he has prior felony convictions in Oklahoma County that include: second-degree burglary in case number CF-2013-7722; two counts of domestic abuse, assault and battery, and malicious injury to property in case number CF-2015-2399; and first-degree burglary, two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, pointing a firearm at another, and using a vehicle to facilitate the discharge of a weapon in case number CF-2021-455. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Laney Ellis prosecuted the case. SAUSA Ellis is an attorney with the City of Oklahoma City whose position is funded by a federal Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) grant awarded to the City of Oklahoma City to enhance efforts to address and reduce violent crime. PSN is a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. This case is part of Operation Take Back America (OTBA), a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. This case is also part of “Operation 922,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of OTBA, which prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Illegal Firearm Possession and Drug Dealing Lands Midwest City Felon in Federal Prison for Almost a Decade

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – JARMELLE DANTE CARTER , 38, of Midwest City, has been sentenced to serve nine years in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition after a previous felony conviction and for his role in a drug conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to public records, on May 15, 2025, Midwest City Police Department officers executed a search warrant at two addresses associated with Carter and located two 12-gauge shotguns, ammunition, a large amount of currency, and controlled substances, including cocaine and marijuana. On July 16, 2025, a federal grand jury charged Carter with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and with drug conspiracy. Carter pleaded guilty on December 10, 2025, and admitted he possessed two shotguns and ammunition despite his prior felony convictions, and that he conspired with others to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute . At a sentencing hearing on April 21, 2026, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Carter to serve nine years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, Judge Russell noted Carter’s repeated drug dealing history. Public record reflects he has prior felony convictions in Oklahoma County District Court, including convictions for distribution of cocaine in case number CF-2007-4865, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in CF-2012-367. This case is the result of an investigation by Midwest City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gridley prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud on First Day of Trial

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Maryland man, who previously decided to stand trial stemming from bank-fraud crimes, changed his mind and pled guilty on the first day of his federal trial. Eric Tano Tataw, 39, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, pled guilty to bank fraud in connection with multiple fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans for his company, National Telegraph, LLC. Tataw also admitted that he attempted to obstruct justice by providing fake documents to a subpoenaed grand-jury witness and instructed her to bring the documents to the grand jury. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Maryland, Special Agent in Charge David Richeson, U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) – Washington Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office. According to the guilty plea, beginning in April 2020, and continuing through May 2021, Tataw executed a scheme to defraud a financial institution, along with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Through the scheme, Tataw sought to obtain two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for his company. On his loan applications, Tataw made several materially false statements, including inflating the number of employees and annual monthly payroll amounts. Tataw also submitted false earning statements in the names of individuals who did not work for National Telegraph, including Witness 1. Additionally, Tataw submitted false tax documents in support of the applications. As a result, Tataw fraudulently obtained $163,302 in PPP funding and misused most of these funds on personal expenses. In October 2020, Tataw also attempted to defraud the SBA by applying for a fraudulent $150,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). On his EIDL application, Tataw made materially false statements, including inflating National Telegraph’s annual gross and net revenue. Through the scheme, Tataw admitted that he intended to defraud approximately $313,302, of which he actually obtained approximately $163,302. Then in August 2023, law enforcement agents served Witness 1 with a federal grand-jury subpoena. In the subpoena, law enforcement instructed Witness 1 to produce records relating to Tataw, his spouse, and National Telegraph. Tataw then met Witness 1 at a Landover, Maryland, laundromat where he gave the witness false earnings statements that purported to represent a salary National Telegraph paid her through 2021. Tataw instructed Witness 1 to give the false documents to the grand jury and testify that she was a National Telegraph employee between 2020 and 2021. Additionally, Tataw gave Witness 1 a blank W-2 and asked her to go to a tax preparer to amend her tax filings to falsely show that she received wages from National Telegraph. As a result, Tataw corruptly acted to obstruct or impede a grand-jury proceeding. Tataw faces a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for bank fraud. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. He is also facing a separate indictment , charging him with conspiring to provide material support to armed separatist groups in Cameroon and making threatening communications to injure or kidnap Cameroonian civilians. The case is still pending. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the Fraud Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. Department of Justice efforts to combat fraud support 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. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended HSI, DSS, and FBI for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Wenner and Philip Motsay who are prosecuting the case, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Hoffman and Paralegal Specialist Andrew Murray, for their valuable assistance. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Chicago Man Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of Methamphetamine and Cocaine with Intent to Distribute it in South Dakota

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court has sentenced a Chicago, Illinois man convicted of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute. The sentencing took place on April 20, 2026. Antonio Baker, 32, was sentenced to 10 years and five months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, fine, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Baker was indicted for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute by a federal grand jury in November 2024. He pleaded guilty on January 20, 2026. On July 9, 2024, members of the Sioux Falls Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by Baker. They eventually utilized a K9 dog, which indicated the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Officers searched the car and found approximately 895 grams of methamphetamine, 233 grams of cocaine, and 258 grams of crack cocaine. Baker was arrested and taken into custody. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Baker was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Honduran National Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-entry

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Honduran national previously deported from the United States has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to illegal re-entry, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. Pedro Marquez Benetiz, 56, pleaded guilty today to one count of illegal re-entry after deportation and was also sentenced to time served. According to information presented to the court, Marquez Benetiz was deported from the United States in January 2020. In June 2025, he was arrested by law enforcement on a charge of simple assault. Immigration officers subsequently determined his presence in the United States through an automated biometric fingerprint match. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan. The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Eugene Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking a Minor

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.— Anthony D’Montrez Crawford, 30, of Eugene, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking a minor. According to court documents, Crawford began trafficking a 17-year old minor victim from July 2024 to August 2024 in Eugene and Springfield, Oregon. Crawford and his wife posted online commercial sex advertisements for the minor victim and coordinated sex acts through phone and text messages. Crawford also transported the minor victim to Seattle on two occasions to engage in prostitution. On March 5, 2026, Crawford was charged by information with sex trafficking of a child. Crawford faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. Crawford will be sentenced on August 19, 2026, before a U.S. district court judge. U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford for the District of Oregon made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Huynh is prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know are victims of human trafficking or have information about a potential human trafficking situation, please call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also submit a tip on the NHTRC website . This case was brought in collaboration with Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison  for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief U.S. District Court Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencing took place on April 20, 2026. Milton Galicia-Vasquez was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Galicia-Vasquez was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering by a federal grand jury in March 2024. He pleaded guilty on February 2, 2026. Investigators learned that Galicia-Vasquez was involved with a drug trafficking organization that obtained methamphetamine in Omaha and then distributed it in Sioux Falls. During his involvement in the conspiracy, Galicia-Vasquez received money from a co-conspirator and then sent it through wire transfers to people in Mexico. Galicia-Vasquez did this to conceal the drug-related nature of the money and the true ownership of the funds. Investigators concluded that Galicia-Vasquez was responsible for sending approximately $13,000 in drug proceeds to individuals in Mexico on behalf of the conspiracy. Investigators also determined that Galicia-Vasquez was involved in the distribution of approximately three pounds of methamphetamine while working with the drug trafficking organization. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Galicia-Vasquez was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Towson Attorney Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud for Role in Real Estate Scheme

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A Baltimore man pled guilty in federal court, today, to bank-fraud charges in connection with a real-estate scheme. Jacob Rappaport, 41, is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Rappaport, an attorney, represented Alexander Schultz, 31, formerly of Pikesville, Maryland and Schultz’s company, Limitless Management — a company that bought, sold, and managed real estate in Maryland — on various real estate transactions. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty plea with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Edwin Bonano, Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), Southeast Region; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Pittano, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Mid-Atlantic Region. According to court documents, in January 2020, Coventry Realty, LLC, an organization controlled by Schultz and others, purchased Coventry Manor, a Baltimore apartment complex, for $5.5 million. Then in March 2021, Coventry Realty, LLC obtained a new loan from Bank B for approximately $6.2 million for Coventry Manor. In December 2021, Schultz and others agreed to sell Coventry Manor to Buyer #1. According to the agreement, Buyer #1 would assume the Bank B loan instead of seeking new financing. Rappaport, acting on behalf of Limitless Management, prepared two separate contracts for sale. The first contract given to Bank B reflected that Buyer #1 was purchasing Coventry Manor from Coventry Realty for $7.8 million. Rappaport also drafted a side agreement that he did not disclose to Bank B. In this side agreement, which Schultz and Buyer #1’s representative signed, it listed Coventry Manor’s true purchasing price as approximately $6.9 million. It also stated that Coventry Realty would provide approximately $847,619.05 in “seller credits” to account for the difference between the fake purchase price of $7.8 million and the actual purchase price of $6.9 million. Rappaport prepared both the $7.8 million contract of sale and the separate $6.9 million agreement. Rappaport participated in conversations with Schultz, and others to plan the scheme. Additionally, when the attorney who initially represented Buyer #1 indicated that he would not participate in the scheme, Rappaport assisted in identifying a different lawyer who would participate in the fraud scheme. Prior to settlement, Rappaport and his co-conspirators determined that only $512,251.12 of the agreed upon seller credits should appear on the HUD-1 Settlement Statement as concessions from the seller to the buyer. The co-conspirators agreed to reflect a fictitious “Reno Credit,” for $85,000 on the HUD-1 Settlement Statement to lower the amount owed by Buyer #1 at closing. Bank B was unaware that Rappaport agreed to hold $335,367.93 in his attorney trust account for the purpose of concealing from the bank where the funds would eventually go, namely back to Buyer #1. On April 14, 2022, Coventry Realty completed the settlement to execute the sale. As agreed upon, the HUD-1 Settlement Statement reflected a fraudulent sale price of $7.8 million, fraudulent a “Reno Credit” of $85,000, and a $335,367.93 “seller fee” that was paid to the law firm where Rappaport was employed. Settlement Company A initiated a wire transfer to Rappaport’s attorney trust account for $351,617.93. As a result of this transaction, Rappaport received a $16,250 payment. Then on April 19, Rappaport’s attorney trust account initiated a $335,367.93 wire transfer to Buyer #1’s company, which the lender thought was the “seller fee,” payable to Rappaport’s law firm. Additionally, Rapport negotiated contracts for Shultz and other co-conspirators in connection with a residential homes wholesaling scheme. Through the scheme, Schultz and his co-conspirators identified homes for sale under market value and then placed contracts on these residences. Schultz and others only owned the homes for a short period of time, sometimes for less than a day, and then sold the properties to a third-party buyer at or near market value. In September 2021, Schultz and other co-conspirators identified 42 residential homes in Baltimore. Rappaport assisted Schultz and the other co-conspirators by negotiating a contract sales price of $87,500 per home or $3,675,000 collectively. As part of the scheme, the homes were sold to Buyer #2 for $112,500 per home or $4,725,000 collectively. Then the co-conspirators agreed to fraudulently inflate the purchase price to $165,000 per home or $6,930,000 collectively. Lender A did not know the true purchase price was $112,500 per home. On December 9, 2021, the 42 residential homes were purchased for $3,675,000 and then sold to Buyer #2 on the same day for $6,930,000. The HUD-1 Settlement Statement reflected that Buyer #2 provided $1,931,545.96 as a down payment that came from a third-party not affiliated with the transaction, but Lender A believed the funds came from Buyer #2. The co-conspirators, including Schultz, received $2,921,604.09 from the sale that went to Rappaport’s attorney trust account in order to conceal from Lender A the true sales price and the source of the down payment. After settlement, approximately $2 million was wired by Rappaport from his attorney trust account back to the unaffiliated third party. As a result of this transaction, Rappaport received $5,500. Rappaport faces a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is set for Tuesday, June 23, at 10 a.m. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, FHFA-OIG, and FDIC-OIG for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean R. Delaney who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Park Hill Teacher Charged with Attempted Enticement of a Minor and Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Plaza Middle School teacher has been charged in federal court on attempted child exploitation charges. Richard Villigram, 43, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged in a two-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. on Wed., April 22, 2026. Villigram had his initial appearance this afternoon. The federal complaint charges Villigram with one count of Attempted use of Interstate Facility to Entice a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity and one count of Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Villigram, over the course of several days, engaged in online communications with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing online as a 15-year-old minor. During his communications with the person he believed to be a minor, Villigram arranged to meet that individual to engage in sexual conduct and also asked them to send him pornographic images. Villigram was later arrested on April 21, 2026, after he arrived at the location he had arranged to meet the minor to engage in sexual conduct. A subsequent search of Villigram’s cell phone by law enforcement located text messages between Villigram and the purported minor. Also located were messages from Villigram to a third person stating, in sexually graphic terms, that he was trying to meet someone to engage in sexual contact. Villigram later told law enforcement officers that he was referring to the purported minor in those text messages. Villigram is currently in federal custody pending a detention hearing, on Mon., April 27, 2026. The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Luna. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Palmetto Man on Federal Supervised Release Indicted for Possessing Ammunition as a Convicted Felon

body_text: Tampa, Florida – Brandon Bernard Williams (41, Palmetto) has been charged by federal indictment for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. If convicted, Williams faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to the indictment, on March 5, 2026, Williams was in possession of ammunition after having been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, including a prior firearms offense. At the time of the offense, Williams was serving a term of supervised release for his prior federal convictions. As a convicted felon, Williams is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Texas Woman Sentenced for Fentanyl Distribution in Southern New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Texas woman has been sentenced for her role in a drug trafficking organization that distributed fentanyl into southern New Mexico. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, between January 24, 2024, and February 7, 2025, Mayra Mendivil , 37, participated in a drug trafficking organization operating between Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and southern New Mexico. During the investigation, Mendivil coordinated and completed multiple controlled sales of fentanyl to an undercover agent. Specifically, on January 24, 2024, Mendivil sold approximately 328 grams of fentanyl for $3,000. On February 28, 2024, she sold approximately 205 grams of fentanyl for $1,000. On February 7, 2025, Mendivil sold approximately 280 grams of fentanyl for $3,000. Mendivil pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and three counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to time served. Upon her release from prison, she will be subject to two years of supervised release. 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 Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Devon Aragon Martinez prosecuted the case.


title: Cheektowaga man pleads guilty to stealing from local union

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that David Martinez, 58, of Cheektowaga, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to embezzlement by union officials, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. According to the plea agreement, between December 2019, and March 2024, Martinez served as president of the International Association of EMTs and Paramedics, Local 394. During his time as president, Martinez embezzled approximately $87,542.03 from the union by writing checks payable to himself, making electronic transfers for his own benefit, and making unauthorized purchases using debit cards belonging to Local 394. None of the funds were used for a legitimate union purpose. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Bonanno. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards, under the direction of Jonathan Russo, Boston-Buffalo District Office. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. # # # #


title: High-Ranking Member of Los Zetas Cartel Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: A Mexican national and high-ranking violent member of the Los Zetas cartel pleaded guilty today to federal narcotics charges. According to court documents, Daniel Perez Rojas, also known as Cachetes and Cacheton 49, of Mexico, was a high-ranking member of Los Zetas cartel, a drug trafficking organization comprised primarily of former Mexican military officers that began as an armed militaristic wing of the Gulf Cartel. Perez Rojas defected from the Mexican military’s special forces unit in 2001 to join Los Zetas. He served in security roles for the then-leaders of Los Zetas before being named in 2007 as the successor to then-leader Heriberto Lazcano Lazcano. “Daniel Perez Rojas was a high-ranking member of Los Zetas Cartel, one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in Mexico that trafficked massive amounts of cocaine and marijuana into the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Perez Rojas was responsible for rampant violence, corruption, and intimidation in Mexico and elsewhere that allowed the cartel’s rampant drug trafficking to continue. Today’s conviction is a powerful reminder that the Criminal Division will aggressively pursue violent cartel members and hold them accountable for the harm they have caused here and abroad.” “Daniel Perez Rojas, a high-ranking member of the Los Zetas cartel, was transferred to the United States in August, and today pled guilty to federal drug charges,” said Chief of Operations Matthew W. Allen of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “Let this be a clear message: No one escapes justice in America. This Administration will use the full strength of the federal government to defend our nation and protect the American people.” Perez Rojas routinely used violence on the cartel’s behalf. In 2008, he traveled to Guatemala, where Los Zetas had paid millions of dollars in bribes to the newly elected president. Perez Rojas and other Los Zetas members met with Guatemalan government officials to discuss the cartel’s expansion into Guatemala and with other drug traffickers to arrange supplies of cocaine. During a meeting with a rival Guatemalan drug trafficker, Perez Rojas and other Los Zetas members murdered that rival and several of his associates and bodyguards. Perez Rojas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one thousand kilograms or more of marijuana for unlawful importation into the United States. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 30 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The DEA is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Kirk Handrich, Hunter Smith and Erik Cervantes of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in connection with Perez-Rojas’ August 2025 transfer from Mexico to the United States pursuant to Mexico’s National Security law. The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section’s (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations. 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 and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Homeland Security Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.