title: Guatemalan Illegal Alien Guilty of Illegal Re-Entry, Faces Enhanced Sentence for Prior Felony Conviction

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced today that NERI OSBELI ARGUETA-CHUN (“ ARGUETA-CHUN ”), age 33, a native of Guatemala, pleaded guilty on May 14, 2026 for illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a) and Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(b)(1). His sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown on September 3, 2026. According to the charging document, ARGUETA-CHUN , reentered the United States after being previously deported on October 31, 2018. On March 27, 2025, United States Border Patrol agents, performing targeted enforcement operations in Terrytown, Louisiana, determined that ARGUETA-CHUN, a previously deported Guatemalan national, was residing in Terrytown. During the enforcement operation, a Border Patrol Agent approached the driver of a vehicle. After identifying himself as a Border Patrol Agent, the driver, later identified as NERI OSBELI ARGUETA-CHUN , a Guatemalan citizen, admitted to being in the country illegally. During processing, law enforcement discovered that ARGUETA-CHUN was a native and citizen of Guatemala who had no claim of United States citizenship or lawful immigration status. ARGUETA-CHUN stated he entered the United States unlawfully on or about May 10, 2021, near Laredo, Texas. Additionally, on or about May 9, 2013, ARGUETA-CHUN was arrested for being illegally in the United States after previously being ordered removed by an immigration judge. ARGUETA-CHUN had also been removed from the United States on three prior occasions. Additionally, on or about September 11, 2018, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, ARGUETA-CHUN , was sentenced for illegal re-entry after deportation. Because of this felony conviction, the defendant’s sentence is subject to a maximum sentence of imprisonment of not more than 10 years, pursuant to Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(b)(1). ARGUETA-CHUN faces up to two years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to one year of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. However, because of his prior felony conviction, ARGUETA-CHUN also faces a sentencing enhancement of up to 10 years imprisonment. 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). U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of the United States Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution. -Updated May 20, 2026 * * *


title: Beloit Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Chadwick M. Elgersma, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Gabriel Lebron Mejia, 27, Beloit, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 10 years in federal prison for possessing 100 grams or more of heroin intended for distribution and maintaining a drug trafficking premises. Lebron Mejia pleaded guilty to these charges on March 13, 2026. Between January and August 2025, law enforcement conducted controlled purchases of heroin and fentanyl from Lebron Mejia. During his subsequent arrest on August 28, 2025, officers searched Lebron Mejia’s vehicle and found a hidden compartment behind the vehicle’s glove box. Inside, officers recovered 115 grams of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl and 60 grams of cocaine. Officers also searched Lebron Mejia’s apartment and recovered 100 grams of fentanyl pills, a hydraulic pill press, a gas mask, cutting agents, and other tools and drug packaging material. Police also found a 9mm handgun, ammunition, and over $21,000 in cash. At sentencing, Judge Peterson determined that Lebron Mejia was a high-level drug trafficker. Judge Peterson also noted that the chemical makeup of the fentanyl that Lebron Mejia distributed raised a public safety concern about whether conventional overdose reversing treatments would be effective. Rock County District Attorney Jason Sanders joined U.S. Attorney Elgersma in praising the federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who worked together to bring Lebron Mejia to justice. “I am grateful for the collaboration between Rock County and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in this case,” said District Attorney Sanders. “I am proud that we were able to work together to secure a significant sentence against a large-scale drug trafficker.” The charges against Lebron Mejia were the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, the Rock County Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Beloit Police Department. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force is comprised of federal agents with ATF and Task Force Officers from state and local agencies throughout the Western District of Wisconsin. Federal prosecutions by the U.S. Department of Justice involving drugs and guns are part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Operation Take Back America. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department 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 Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). # # # #


title: Iowa Man Found Guilty of Distributing  Child Pornography to a Panama City Resident

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Dalvert Encarnacion Francisco, 37, of Dubuque, Iowa, has been found guilty by a federal jury in Tallahassee of one count of distribution of child pornography. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty verdict. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Thanks to the incredible investigative work of our state and federal law enforcement partners, this depraved individual was caught and his days of distributing child sexual abuse material are over. It remains one of my office’s highest priorities to protect our kids from predators like this defendant who seek to sexually exploit and victimize innocent children.” During the three-day jury trial, court records and evidence showed that the Bay County Sheriff’s Office was investigating multiple child sexual abuse material tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During that investigation, law enforcement discovered the defendant distributed child pornography to the target of the tips, who resided in the Panama City area. With the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, further investigation revealed the defendant requested online payments for the child sexual abuse material he distributed. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. Francisco faces a minimum mandatory sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and up to 20 years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meredith L. Steer. Sentencing is scheduled for July 24, 2026, at Tallahassee, Florida before United States District Judge Mark E. Walker. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl .


title: Kenner Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – TEVIN BORNES (“BORNES”) , age 32, was sentenced on May 13, 2026, by United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to 160 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. BORNES previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine, and quantities of cocaine and cocaine base, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C), possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A)(i), possession of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o), and being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, law enforcement searched BORNES’ apartment on July 31, 2023 and seized 12.5 grams of marijuana, 47.74 grams of pure crystal methamphetamine, 9.75 grams of cocaine base, 137.22 grams of methamphetamine, 14.5 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, and 4 firearms, including: a Glock Model 22, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, equipped with a machinegun conversion device, a Pioneer Arms Model Sporter, 7.62 millimeter caliber semi-automatic rifle, a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and a Del-Ton DTI-15, 5.56 caliber semi-automatic pistol. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Kenner Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit oversees the prosecution. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. -Updated May 20, 2026 * * *


title: Defendant Extradited from Nigeria to Face Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy Charges

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – The FBI arrested Samuel Ugberaese after the US extradited him from Nigeria on charges relating to cross-border romance scams that targeted victims in the United States and elsewhere. A federal grand jury returned the indictment in the EDNC on January 22, 2021. United States Magistrate Judge Brian S. Myers ordered Ugberaese detained pending trial. According to the indictment, Ugberaese and his co-conspirators used romance scheme techniques, including false stories and promises, to exploit and defraud victims into transferring money on their behalf. The indictment further alleges that Ugberaese conspired with a co-defendant Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, a naturalized U.S. citizen, to conduct financial transactions through his bank account network, including accounts registered to purported export companies, to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the criminal proceeds. Ugberaese is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the South African Police Service, FBI's Law Enforcement Attaché Office in Abuja, the Department of State, and the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Office of Nigeria and Nigeria Police Force – INTERPOL provided critical assistance securing the arrest and extradition of Ugberaese. This case is being handled by the EDNC USAO’s Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Hulbig is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism Announces 15-City National Awareness & Action Tour

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism today announced the launch of a 15-city National Awareness & Action Tour to combat antisemitism. The nationwide initiative reflects President Donald Trump’s unprecedented campaign to confront antisemitism across America. President Trump declared war on antisemitism in a way no other president has done. His actions include Executive Orders 13899 ( Combating Anti-Semitism ) and 14188 ( Additional Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism ). As the agency that enforces the nation’s civil rights laws, the Department of Justice is committed to carrying out that mission. The goals of the tour include: Increasing reporting of antisemitic incidents by local officials; Strengthening collaboration between local law enforcement, federal agencies, and Jewish communities; Strengthening broad interfaith opposition to antisemitism among Jewish, Baptist Christian, Catholic, and Muslim communities; and Addressing antisemitism in K-12 schools and teacher unions to ensure students are protected from discrimination and harassment. “President Trump has made clear that this Administration will not tolerate antisemitism, and the Department of Justice is committed to implementing that directive,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This national tour is an important step in ensuring communities across the country know the federal government stands ready to work with them to confront antisemitic threats, protect public safety, and uphold civil rights.” Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, who oversees key civil enforcement components and respect for religious liberty in litigation, emphasized the Department of Justice’s commitment to protecting Americans from unlawful discrimination and antisemitic threats. “Jewish Americans deserve to live, work, worship, and send their children to school without fear of harassment, intimidation, or violence,” said Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice is taking a far more serious and coordinated approach to combating antisemitism than Americans have seen in years. This Committee will help ensure the federal government remains focused, proactive, and relentless in protecting civil rights and confronting antisemitic discrimination wherever it appears.” Leo Terrell, Chair of the DOJ Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, will lead the Tour. He will meet with individuals and local communities impacted by antisemitism and work to identify practical solutions to combat antisemitism at the local level. Follow @TheJusticeDept, @DAGToddBlanche, @ASGWoodward, and @LeoTerrellDOJ for updates. If you have been discriminated against, you can file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division at civilrights.justice.gov . President Trump’s Executive Order can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/additional-measures-to-combat-anti-semitism/ .


title: Jury convicts illegal alien who claimed he was kidnapped and forced to return to US

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 37-year-old Mexican national has been found guilty of illegally reentering the country without authorization, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. The jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before convicting Eduardo Aguilera-Gallardo following a two-day trial. Testimony revealed he became a lawful permanent resident in 2001. However, he later lost that status and was removed from the United States in 2025. A deportation officer described how he escorted Aguilera-Gallardo across the international boundary in Laredo to be returned to Mexico. A fingerprint examiner also identified Aguilera-Gallardo as the same person documented in various deportation materials. Testimony revealed that on April 21, 2025, authorities found Aguilera-Gallardo in Houston with no authorization to be in the United States. The jury heard that at that time, he had not reported any threat or kidnapping and neglected to ask for any help. However, the defense attempted to convince the jury Aguilera-Gallardo was kidnapped at the Mexican border after returning to Mexico and held for ransom. He claimed his family paid for his release and kidnappers forced him to return to the United States. Testimony and evidence revealed that neither Aguilera-Gallardo nor his family sought assistance from law enforcement in either country. He also never reported the alleged kidnapping to authorities once in the United States. The jury rejected the defense and found Aguilera-Gallardo guilty as charged. U.S. District Judge Sim Lake presided over the trial and set sentencing for Aug. 7. At that time, Aguilera-Gallardo faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. Immigration Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Hostetter and Ekua Assabill are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Kansas City Man Sentenced for Cyberstalking That Resulted in Murder

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for one count of cyberstalking resulting in death. Michael Smith, also known as “Black Mike,” 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark for one count of cyberstalking resulting in death. Smith was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment, and the sentence was ordered to run consecutive to a 48-month sentence which Smith previously received in a separate $1.1 million insurance-fraud scheme. In his plea of guilty, Smith admitted that he was hired to kill the victim in late January or early February 2019. To carry out the murder, Smith and co-conspirator Dontay Campbell obtained a GPS tracking device and on March 5, 2019, Smith and Campbell deployed the GPS device on the victim’s red Chevrolet Tahoe by placing the device under the vehicle. Smith used the GPS device to track the victim through the movements of his Tahoe. On several occasions, Smith used the GPS tracking device to physically locate the victim. On March 16, 2019, Smith surveilled the victim as they drove to a Kansas City grocery store. When the victim left the store and walked back to the Tahoe, Campbell and a co-conspirator pulled up next to the Tahoe in a Chrysler Sebring. The co-conspirator exited the Sebring and shot at the victim several times with a Ruger .40-caliber handgun that belonged to Campbell. During the shooting spree, Campbell attempted unsuccessfully to remove the GPS tracker from the vehicle. Campbell and the co-conspirator then ran back to the Sebring, briefly drove around the parking lot, and parked again near the Tahoe. The co-conspirator again fired multiple shots into the Tahoe while Campbell again tried unsuccessfully to retrieve the GPS tracker. Campbell and the co-conspirator then sped out of the parking lot in the Sebring. The victim died from multiple gunshot wounds, and Smith was paid in cash for the murder. Co-defendant Dontay Campbell has also pleaded guilty to cyberstalking resulting in death and is awaiting sentencing. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Trey Alford, Nicholas Heberle, and Matthew Wolesky. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department. Operation Take Back America This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Delco Woman Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Christina Williams, 31, of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Judge Joshua D. Wolson to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The defendant and her mother, Rosemarie Dixon, 54, also of Drexel Hill, were charged by indictment in November of last year. As detailed in court filings and statements, from about January 2020 through April 2021, Williams conspired with Person 1, Dixon, and others to conduct financial transactions, knowing that the funds involved represented the proceeds of fraud, and knowing that the transactions were intended to disguise the source and ownership of the fraud proceeds. In March 2020, Williams, Person 1, and others caused a business called Williams Royal Real Estate LLC (“Williams Royal”) to be registered in New Jersey, with Williams listed as the owner. Williams Royal never had any business operations or employees. Beginning in May 2020, at the direction of Person 1, Williams used the business registration paperwork to open business bank accounts in the name of Williams Royal at a variety of Philadelphia-area financial institutions. In July 2020, Dixon, as well as Person 1 and others caused a business called Dixon Delish Kitchen LLC (“Dixon Delish”) to be registered in New Jersey, and Dixon was listed as the owner. Like Williams Royal, Dixon Delish never had any business operations or employees. At the instruction of Person 1, Dixon used the Dixon Delish business registration paperwork to open numerous business bank accounts at area financial institutions. Around the time that the defendants opened these business bank accounts, Person 1 and others working with him caused fraudulent Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) applications to be submitted to the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), and the proceeds of those fraudulent applications to be deposited into the Williams Royal bank accounts controlled by defendant Williams. Additionally, Person 1 and others caused the proceeds of business email compromise (“BEC”) fraud to be deposited into the Dixon Delish bank accounts controlled by defendant Dixon. After the proceeds of the fraudulent EIDLs and the BECs were deposited into Dixon’s and Williams’s business bank accounts, Person 1, Williams, and Dixon worked together to move the money around quickly from one business account to another, between the defendants’ business bank accounts, from the business accounts to Williams’s and Dixon’s personal accounts, and out of their bank accounts to accounts in the names of other sham businesses controlled by other participants in the money laundering conspiracy. The total amount of the fraudulently obtained funds that were deposited to Williams’s and Dixon’s business bank accounts as part of this conspiracy, and which they laundered, attempted to launder, and agreed to launder, was $7,171,730. With the permission of Person 1, Williams also kept some of the fraudulently obtained funds, spent them on herself, and converted them to cash for the benefit of herself and Person 1. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on September 9 and faces a maximum possible term of 20 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $14,343,460. Dixon pleaded guilty to conspiring to money launder last month, faces the same maximum possible term, and is also scheduled to be sentenced on September 9. This case was investigated by the FBI, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, United States Secret Service, and U.S. Navy Criminal Investigative Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nancy E. Potts and S. Chandler Harris.


title: Former Managers of Waste Pre-Treatment Facility Plead Guilty to Illegally Discharging Waste into Nashville Sewer System

component: ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section

body_text: NASHVILLE – A former plant manager and a supervisor of a Nashville, Tennessee, facility pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee to conspiring to bypass waste pretreatment systems and discharge the waste into the Nashville sewer system, and to tampering with a monitoring device at the facility. David Ray Stark, the former Plant Manager at Allwaste Onsite LLC, doing business as Onsite Environmental (Onsite Environmental) pleaded guilty yesterday. Caleb Warren Randall, a former plant supervisor at Onsite Environmental, pleaded guilty on April 22. According to court filings, both men admitted to bypassing treatment processes at the facility and discharging untreated wastes into the Nashville sewer system in late 2022 and early 2023. Stark and Randall also admitted that they directed plant employees to tamper with a sampling device that Nashville’s Department of Water and Sewerage Services placed at the facility to monitor discharges into the sewer system in January 2023. “Illegal discharges that endanger local sewer infrastructure will not be tolerated,” said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek for the Middle District of Tennessee. “I want to commend the collaborative efforts of the Metro Nashville government, EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division, and EPA’s Office of Inspector General on the investigation of the illegal conduct at Onsite Environmental and for bringing these defendants to justice.” “The defendants repeatedly and intentionally violated the Clean Water Act by discharging untreated wastes into the Nashville sewer system,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This prosecution sends the message that those who purposely undermine federal environmental laws and endanger public infrastructure will face felony prosecution for their illegal conduct.” “The defendant did more than simply violate the company’s CWA permit. Whenever his company took more industrial waste and landfill leachate than it could treat, the defendant had the waste dumped straight into Nashville’s sewer system and had employees tamper with the city’s monitoring equipment to avoid detection. The waste clogged and damaged the city’s water infrastructure, posing a health risk to the community,” said Assistant Administrator Jeffrey A. Hall of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “EPA will pursue companies that completely abdicate their responsibility to protect municipal infrastructure and downstream waterways, and criminal penalties are particularly appropriate for schemes to actively conceal and misrepresent violations of federal law.” According to court documents and statements made in court, the tampering by Stark, Randall, and Onsite Environmental involved removing the hose of the sampling device from the facility’s discharge flume and placing it into a bucket filled with cleaner water that was not representative of the actual waste discharged to the sewer. Stark and Randall face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Randall’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 4, and Stark’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 19. Metro Nashville’s Sampling Device Placed at Onsite Environmental’s Discharge Flume Last year, Onsite Environmental was sentenced to pay a $512,000 fine after pleading guilty for discharging waste into the Nashville sewer system. Nashville incurred over $80,000 in additional sewer maintenance and repair activities traced to the illicit bypassing at Onsite Environmental. Nashville recouped these maintenance and repair costs, as well as an additional $299,576 in unpaid surcharges, from Onsite Environmental in a separate action. The Clean Water Act established the federal pretreatment program — which is delegated to states and municipalities — to provide a permit system to protect sanitary sewer infrastructure from industrial discharges which may harm sewer systems and wastewater treatment plants. Under an approved Clean Water Act pretreatment program, municipalities can require the reduction of harmful pollutants in wastewater from industrial discharges prior to the wastewater being discharged to the sanitary sewer system. These pretreatment requirements protect the local sewer systems — which are generally designed to process domestic sanitary sewage — from industrial wastes which can harm sewer pipes and the treatment processes carried out at wastewater treatment plants. EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and Office of Inspector General investigated the case, with assistance from the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Toussaint and Criminal Chief Ahmed Safeeullah for the Middle District of Tennessee and Senior Trial Attorney Matthew Morris and Trial Attorney Rachel Roberts of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case. # # # # #


title: California Doctor Convicted of $45M Botox Fraud Scheme Targeting Medicare

component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: A jury in the Central District of California convicted a California doctor yesterday in a $45 million scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting claims for Botox injections that were never provided and medically unnecessary, and for obstructing the investigation by manipulating and altering medical records in an attempt to mislead criminal investigators. The investigation was initiated as a result of a referral from the Health Care Fraud Section’s Data Analytics Team, after its analysis showed that the defendant was paid more by Medicare for Botox injections than any other doctor in the United States. “Violetta Mailyan falsely diagnosed patients, fraudulently billed for Botox injections while she was actually on lavish vacations, and tried to trick federal agents with fake records,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “The Fraud Division’s data-driven approach will shine a light on fraud schemes across the country, ensuring that no doctor can engage in these types of brazen schemes to rob Medicare.” “Let this conviction serve as a warning: anyone who leverages their medical authority to defraud Medicare will be caught and held accountable,” said Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the Health and Human Servics Office of Inspector General (HHS‑OIG). “This defendant’s actions were a blatant betrayal of patients and the public trust. HHS‑OIG will stay relentless in protecting federal health care programs from those who seek to exploit them.” “Physicians who defraud and manipulate federally funded health care programs to line their own pockets do so at the expense of American taxpayers and those who are in legitimate need of medical procedures,” said Assistant Director in Charge Patrick Grandy of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI is gratified that the jury convicted Dr. Mailyan based on the evidence, which uncovered the largest Botox fraud scheme in the United States, to include brazenly billing for someone who was incarcerated. Furthermore, the FBI is committed to pursuing physicians and others in the healthcare system who fleece Medicare and, in doing so, drive up premiums and co-payments for law-abiding citizens.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Violetta Mailyan, 45, of Glendale, owned and operated Healthy Way Medical Center, a clinic that purported to provide beauty and cosmetic services. Although Medicare reimburses medical providers for Botox injections when necessary to treat documented cases of chronic migraines, Mailyan billed and received payments for thousands of injections that were never provided or were provided only for cosmetic purposes or for patients whose primary care physicians had not referred them for treatment of chronic migraines. For example, the evidence at trial showed that Mailyan billed for providing Botox injections when she was actually on vacation in Cabo, Mexico; Maui, Hawaii; Las Vegas; Pennsylvania; and New York; billed for purportedly injecting a Medicare beneficiary who was actually incarcerated in federal prison at the time; and billed for thousands of injections, representing over $19 million, purportedly provided on days when her clinic was closed. The evidence also showed that Mailyan backdated some claims to bill for injections purportedly provided before the patients even contacted Mailyan’s clinic to request an appointment, and fabricated patient medical records, including patient consent forms, to make it appear as if patients suffered from chronic migraines and had received treatment for those migraines in her office. In addition to the fraudulent billing, the evidence at trial showed that Mailyan actively sought to cover up her crimes when investigators were closing in. After receiving a grand jury subpoena seeking medical records, Mailyan altered patient records to make it appear as if she had provided Botox injections for chronic migraines when in fact those services had not been provided, and provided the altered documents to federal agents. The evidence at trial showed that Mailyan used Medicare funds she obtained through the scheme to pay for her lavish vacations in Mexico, Hawaii, and elsewhere, and to purchase luxury collectible goods such as a $12,000 17th century crossbow and a $3,000 painting, depicted below: This prosecution illustrates the success of the Department’s efforts to use advanced data analytics to detect health care fraud schemes and bring the perpetrators to justice. The Health Care Fraud Section’s Data Analytics Team identified Mailyan as an extreme outlier among doctors receiving Medicare payments for Botox, having at the time been paid more than $24 million over the previous four years — six times the next highest group of providers, all of whom were neurologists. As the investigation and evidence presented at trial showed, Mailyan’s outlier status owed entirely to her pervasive and long-running fraud scheme. Following the conviction, the jury also found that a Tesla Model X, a Tesla Cybertruck, $251,124 in funds contained in multiple bank accounts, brokerage accounts valued at $7,312,037 at the time of seizure, and four properties in Surfside and Glendale, California with combined estimated equity of $7,343,636, were proceeds of the fraud subject to forfeiture. The Cybertruck seized from Mailyan is shown below: Mailyan was convicted of nine counts of wire fraud and three counts of obstruction of a criminal investigation of a health care offense. She is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10, 2026. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and 5 years in prison for each count of obstruction. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Trial Attorneys Sandor Callahan and Jeffrey A. Crapko of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Vavere of the Central District of California’s Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Nicholas Kagen Woodin, 35, of Charleston, was sentenced on Monday, May 18, 2026, to five years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 22, 2024, law enforcement officers went to Woodin’s residence to arrest him for alleged violations of his parole. Officers recovered a Hi-Point model C9 9mm pistol under the pillow of Woodin’s bed in his bedroom. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Woodin knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for first-degree robbery in Putnam County Circuit Court on January 17, 2018, possession of a stolen vehicle in Kanawha County Circuit Court on September 6, 2018, and escape from custody in Fayette County Circuit Court on September 13, 2020. Woodin’s criminal history also includes prior convictions for receiving or transferring stolen goods, grand larceny, assault, domestic battery, stalking, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. United States Attorney Moore Capito made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), West Virginia Parole Services, and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Amy L. McLaughlin prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:25-cr-178. ###


title: Nigerian National Extradited to the United States to Face Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy Charges in Romance Fraud Scheme Targeting the Elderly

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – The FBI arrested Samuel Ugberaese after he was extradited from Nigeria to the United States on charges relating to cross-border romance scams that targeted victims in the United States and elsewhere. A federal grand jury returned the indictment in the EDNC on January 22, 2021. United States Magistrate Judge Brian S. Myers ordered Ugberaese detained pending trial. According to the indictment, Ugberaese and his co-conspirators used romance scheme techniques, including false stories and promises, to exploit and defraud victims into transferring money on their behalf. The indictment further alleges that Ugberaese conspired with a co-defendant Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, a naturalized U.S. citizen, to conduct financial transactions through his bank account network, including accounts registered to purported export companies, to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the criminal proceeds. Ugberaese is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he faces a statutory maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, FBI's Law Enforcement attaché office in Abuja, the Department of State, the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Office of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force – INTERPOL, and the South African Police Service provided critical assistance securing the arrest and extradition of Ugberaese. This case is being handled by the EDNC USAO’s Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Hulbig is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Boalsburg Woman Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison For Bankruptcy Fraud

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kristina Johnson, age 69, formerly of Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to 15 months of imprisonment for falsification of records during a bankruptcy proceeding. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, Johnson and her husband, John J, Johnson II, were owners of the Springfield Bed & Breakfast in Boalsburg, PA. The Springfield Bed & Breakfast filed for bankruptcy in 2022. As part of the bankruptcy proceedings the bed and breakfast continued to operate as the Johnsons attempted to reorganize their debts. The Johnsons were required to submit monthly operating reports to the bankruptcy court. However, the reports submitted to the bankruptcy court by the Johnsons included false information about bank activity and also concealed the existence of a bank account that was not disclosed to the court. Along with her husband, Kristina Johnson previously entered a guilty plea in this case in November 2025. John J. Johnson was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment in March 2026. The United States Bankruptcy Trustee and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey W. MacArthur is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Federal Jury Convicts Hanapepe Man of Producing, Receiving, and Possessing Child Pornography After 4-Day Trial

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – United States Attorney Ken Sorenson announced that Roger Biggs, 40, of Hanapepe, Hawaii, was convicted by a federal jury on May 14, 2026, of producing, receiving, and possessing child pornography, including of at least one child under the age of 12, following a four-day trial. Sentencing is set for September 3, 2026. Biggs remains detained pending sentencing, where he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 15 years in prison. At trial, the evidence showed that in December 2024, the FBI National Threat Operations Center received an anonymous online complaint regarding allegations of the sexual exploitation of a child. The complaint identified the subject as Roger Wesley Biggs, of Hanapepe, Hawaii. The FBI later became aware of numerous CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which were related to Biggs. These CyberTipline reports were filed by members of the public as well as multiple social media platforms. The evidence at trial showed that Biggs was a serial, self-described “groomer” who targeted children, many of whom were mentally and emotionally vulnerable. Biggs contacted the children through direct message communications on social media platforms, sending thousands of messages to his victims. In one such message, he admitted to his victim: “i [sic] prey on vulnerable children.” Biggs groomed the children by sending them photographs of himself, gifts, and money, and by engaging in sexually explicit communications with them. He then convinced the children to produce, and send him, images and videos of themselves involved in sexually explicit conduct. Among his many victims, were two 14-year-olds on the U.S. mainland, one of whom Biggs traveled to meet in person. Biggs was also convicted of possessing child pornography on his cellular phone, including at least one image of a prepubescent minor under the age of 12. Trial Exhibit 12 “We remain committed to bringing to justice those depraved individuals like Roger Biggs who target, groom, and then victimize children, the most vulnerable members of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson. “While we cannot undo the harm Biggs inflicted on his minor victims, we are committed in the belief that charging and obtaining convictions in these cases sends a forceful message that those who seek to exploit and prey upon our children will be held accountable in federal court.” “The FBI will never waver from our mission to identify and apprehend those who prey on our children,” said FBI Honolulu Special Agent in Charge David Porter. “Despite the defendant’s attempts to hide his illicit activities behind a screen, the expertise and persistence of our investigators brought his crimes to light, and justice to his doorstep. This verdict is a testament to the tireless work of the FBI’s Crimes Against Children Task Force and our commitment to protecting our island communities and youth.” The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret Nammar and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Heidi Turner prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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 Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Owensboro Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Federal Prison for Multiple Business Robberies and Carjackings

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – An Owensboro man was sentenced last week to 24 years in federal prison for an armed robbery spree that involved carjackings and robbing multiple businesses across Jefferson County and Bullitt County, Kentucky. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Chief Paul L. Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. Daniel York, 47, of Owensboro, Kentucky, was sentenced to 24 years in prison, followed by 5 years supervised release, for several armed robberies and carjackings he committed over a three-day period in November 2024. On November 4, 2024, York entered Nick’s Vape & Smoke Shop on Preston Highway in Louisville, Kentucky, pointed a firearm at the employee, and took business cash as well as the employee’s vehicle. On November 5, 2024, York entered a Marathon Gas Station on Preston Highway in Louisville, Kentucky, pointed a firearm at the employee, and took business cash and the employee’s phone. On November 6, 2024, York entered O’Reilly Auto Parts in Hillview, Kentucky, pointed a firearm at several employees, and took one of the employees’ vehicles. York was arrested later that same day after leading police in a high-speed chase through Scott County, Indiana, Jefferson County, Kentucky, and finally Jennings, Indiana, while in the last victim’s stolen vehicle. “York’s offense conduct is among the most heinous prosecuted by our Office. On three separate occasions, he walked into local businesses and held innocent employees at gunpoint. Those folks will live with that trauma for the rest of their lives. York has earned every day of his twenty-four year stay in the federal penitentiary,” stated United States Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner. Mr. Bumgarner further stated, “Congratulations to the men and women of LMPD’s esteemed robbery unit and the Hillview Police Department for locating York, running him down, and building a tremendously successful prosecution.” “This sentencing makes clear that violent behavior will be met with decisive consequences,” said LMPD Chief Paul L. Humphrey. “This dangerous criminal terrorized people who were simply trying to do their jobs, and we have no place for that in our community. I’m proud of the relentless work of our officers and partner agencies who stopped him before he harmed more people.” There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Louisville Metro Police Department’s Robbery Unit and Hillview Police Department, with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Lantz prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. ###


title: Previously convicted felon sentenced to federal prison for ammunition possession

body_text: SAVANNAH, Georgia: A previously convicted felon found in possession of ammunition faces years in prison after sentencing in federal court. Terrell Polen, 37, of Augusta, was sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, said Margaret E. “Meg” Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen Jr. sentenced Polen to 52 months in prison and a $1,500 fine, followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. “Our office has a zero-tolerance approach for convicted felons possessing guns or ammunition, particularly while committing another felony,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “If you’re prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition because of a history of committing crimes, we’ll work with our law enforcement partners to hold those violators accountable.” As described in court records and testimony, Richmond County sheriff’s deputies responded in November 2024 to a report of a man pointing a rifle and found Polen in possession of ammunition. Under federal law, it is prohibited for previously convicted felons to possess firearms or ammunition, and Polen previously was convicted on state felony charges. The case was investigated by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry W. Syms Jr.


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Possessing A Weapon In Prison

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Davon Nelson, age 41, of Baltimore, MD, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Matthew W. Brann to 18 months in prison for possessing a weapon in prison. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on October 8, 2024, Nelson was an inmate at Allenwood Federal Correctional Institution and possessed an inmate-made, sharpened steel weapon, measuring 4 ½ inches in length. The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case. # # #


title: The Senate Confirms Brian D. Miller as United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

body_text: On May 18, 2026, Mr. Brian D. Miller was confirmed as the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. This marks his third confirmation in a leadership position. Mr. Miller stated, "I appreciate the confidence the Senate and the district judges have placed in me. Most of all, I am grateful to President Trump, Acting Attorney General Blanche, and Senator McCormick for selecting me to serve as United States Attorney. It is an incredible honor, and I am privileged to work alongside so many dedicated and talented professionals. I will do my utmost to keep the citizens of the Middle District safe and to assist President Trump in making America safe again.” Mr. Miller was originally appointed by United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi on October 27, 2025, for 120 days. On February 24, 2026, the District Court appointed Mr. Miller as United States Attorney until the vacancy was filled by the President. Previously, Mr. Miller was confirmed by the United States Senate to be the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery on June 2, 2020. Mr. Miller’s prior positions include Senior Associate White House Counsel; Inspector General of the United States General Services Administration (Senate confirmed on July 22, 2005); Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General; Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia; Special Counsel on Health Care Fraud for the Deputy Attorney General; and Counsel to the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He has also served as Acting General Counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2025. As a federal prosecutor, Mr. Miller litigated civil and criminal cases involving terrorism and terrorist financing, drug-related conspiracies and murder, and the False Claims Act. As an inspector general, Mr. Miller is known for his investigation of a lavish GSA conference in Las Vegas. Mr. Miller was honored to receive the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award, the EOUSA Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an AUSA, and the David M. Walker Excellence in Government Performance and Accountability Award, which recognizes and honors government audit professionals who have made sustained contributions to improve government performance and accountability through their leadership in transforming government organizations. Mr. Miller received his bachelor’s degree from Temple University and his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. He resides in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. # # #


title: Aberdeen Maryland Man Sentenced To 15 Months In Prison For Attempting To Provide Contraband To An Inmate

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that James Hampton-Smith, age 38, of Aberdeen, MD, was sentenced by Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann to 15 months in prison for attempting to provide contraband to an inmate. According to United States Attorney Brian D. Miller, on August 14, 2024, security officers at United States Penitentiary, Lewisburg, observed the defendant climb the prison perimeter fence around 12:25 a.m. Utilizing a thermal imaging device, security officers watched the defendant jump down onto prison grounds and place a backpack in a trash can near the facility’s basketball court. The bag’s contents included vape pens, cell phones, cutting tools, and synthetic marijuana. The Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tatum Wilson and Robin Zenzinger prosecuted the case. # # #


component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: Fulton County Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Child Pornography ALBANY, NEW YORK – Ryan Michael Mowrey, age 39, of Caroga Lake, New York, pled guilty in federal court to distribution of child pornography. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Mowrey admitted that between April and May of 2025, he began communicating online with an undercover law enforcement officer (the “UC”) that Mowrey believed to be the parent of an 11-year-old female child. As part of those communications, Mowrey expressed his interest in engaging in sexual contact with the child and ultimately sent the UC a video of child pornography to prove Mowrey could be trusted. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarcone stated: “Mowrey distributed child pornography in what appears to be an effort to gain access to a child he wanted to sexually abuse. However, before Mowrey was able to engage in the heinous acts he openly discussed with the UC, he was arrested and will now spend years in federal prison.” At sentencing, which is currently scheduled for September 1, 2026, in Utica, New York, Mowrey faces a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison, a mandatory minimum term of five years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life. Mowrey will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is convicted of violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. FBI Special Agent in Charge Tremaroli stated: "With this plea, Mr. Mowrey is guaranteed to spend at least five years in federal prison for his despicable behavior. FBI Albany’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force will continue to use every resource at our disposal to aggressively investigate these predators and hold them accountable for their disturbing actions.” The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian S. LaRochelle is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Schenectady County Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Gary Yorkshire, age 69, of Scotia, New York, was sentenced May 12, 2026, to 120 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for the attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Yorkshire was arrested as part of Operation Restore Justice. First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Yorkshire admitted that on or about May 1, 2025, he communicated with an individual to discuss and plan his sexual abuse of a person he believed to be a 12-year-old child. Upon arriving at a pre-determined location, Yorkshire paid $250 cash to an undercover agent so he could engage in “regular sex” with the child. Yorkshire was arrested by law enforcement shortly thereafter. “Prosecuting those who prey on our children is amongst the most important work we do at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” Said First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “This Administrations commitment to our children via Operation Restore Justice should be a clear message to anyone wishing to engage in nefarious crimes against children, you will be caught and you will face justice. Mr. Yorkshire will be spending the next 120 months behind bars and upon release be an octogenarian subject to additional post release supervision to ensure he does not seek to reoffend.” In addition to the imprisonment and supervised release terms, United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also ordered Yorkshire to pay a $5,000 fine. Yorkshire also will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig A. Tremaroli stated: “Operation Restore Justice highlighted the tremendous partnerships on FBI Albany’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. By leveraging those partnerships, we removed eight dangerous predators from our communities in just five days. As Mr. Yorkshire heads to federal prison for the next decade, FBI Albany will continue to work with those partners at every level of law enforcement to swiftly identify, investigate, and bring to justice any predator looking to harm our children .” This case was investigated by the FBI and its Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes members of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Paulbeck and A.J. Vickey prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Homeland Security Task Force Operation Discovers 500 Fentanyl Capsules (Disguised as Percocet) in the Mail

body_text: Aberdeen, MS – Medford Delon Eiland, 39, of Louisville, Mississippi, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison and 5 years supervised release after previously pleading to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl in Excess of forty grams. Senior U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Eiland. On March 7, 2022, a Priority Express Mail was mailed from Tolleson, Arizona and addressed to Eiland in Louisville, MS. A USPIS inspector identified the parcel as suspicious and detained it. After a federal search warrant was obtained, the parcel was opened and found to have a heat-sealed plastic bag holding numerous round blue tablets. Due to the risk of fentanyl exposure, the tablets were removed, and the parcel was returned for a controlled delivery to the residence. After the delivery, law enforcement units from USPIS, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Winston County Sheriff’s Office approached the residence. Eiland fled into a wooded area behind his home where he was subsequently located and detained. He stated he knew the package contained narcotics but was unaware it contained fentanyl. The USPIS Forensic Laboratory Services estimated the total number of dosage units to be 500 based on its weight. Chemical analysis identified fentanyl in the pills. Additionally, Eiland’s fingerprints were located on the parcel. U.S. Attorney Scott Leary stated, “Our country has been inundated with fentanyl since our borders opened in 2020. It has devastated families and destroyed communities. Individuals, including our young people, trust the wrong people and pay the ultimate price with their health or even their life. We are working on slowing this tragedy down by closing our borders and stopping the flow of illegal drugs on our streets. One way is through the prosecution of people like Mr. Eiland. We will continue to do our part in putting these traffickers behind bars. Please join us in spreading the word about the dangers of drug use.” “Mr. Eiland callously ordered a massive quantity of deadly fentanyl pills that would have continued poisoning our communities and destroying lives in the process,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office Robert Eikhoff. “The FBI has zero tolerance for illegal drugs, and such criminal activity will not be tolerated. This sentencing underscores the commitment of the FBI, HSTF, and our law enforcement partners to safeguarding our communities from illegal drugs.” 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 Jackson comprises agents and officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection – U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection – Air and Marine Operations, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sam Stringfellow prosecuted this case.


title: Chicago Federal Court Imposes Statutory Maximum Sentence of 15 Years in Prison for Defendant’s Illegal Possession of Loaded Handgun

body_text: CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to the statutory maximum of 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun. DIRK HUGO was arrested on May 1, 2024, after he was found in a parking garage in Arlington Heights, Ill., possessing a loaded handgun in his waistband and wearing a bulletproof vest. The prior month, Hugo was involved in an assault at a Glenview, Ill. motel during which he allegedly struck a man’s head with a gun. Hugo had previously been convicted of multiple felony firearm offenses in state court and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. Hugo has remained in law enforcement custody since his arrest. A jury in federal court in Chicago last year convicted Hugo, 49, of Arlington Heights, Ill., of illegal possession of a firearm as a previously convicted felon. On May 12, 2026, U.S. District Judge Martha M. Pacold sentenced Hugo to 15 years in federal prison, which was the statutory maximum sentence that could be imposed for this criminal conviction. The sentence was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. “As defendant’s criminal record makes clear, he absolutely refuses to give up his firearms despite decades of being told that he cannot possess a gun,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie C. Stern and Simar Khera argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s refusal to give up his guns combined with his violent tendencies are a dangerous enough combination; but when defendant’s absolute disdain for the law and his failure to acknowledge his own misconduct is added, it showcases an individual who is an extreme danger to the community.”


title: United States Attorney Peter McNeilly Appointed To Attorney General’s Advisory Committee

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly has been appointed, along with 17 other United States Attorneys, to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). Created in 1973, the AGAC advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting U.S. Attorney’s Offices and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys in Department policies. The first meeting of the AGAC took place earlier this month. “I am humbled to join the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and look forward to engaging with my colleagues and Department of Justice leadership on issues that are important both nationally and here in Colorado,” said United States Attorney Peter McNeilly. “Our office’s tireless work to achieve justice for the United States and the people of Colorado has earned us a reputation as a national leader. I am excited to use this opportunity to advocate not just for the interests of Colorado, but for the U.S. Attorney community and the Department of Justice as a whole.” The appointees to the AGAC include: United States Attorney Dan Bishop, Middle District of North Carolina; United States Attorney Andrew Boutros, Northern District of Illinois; United States Attorney Scott Bradford, District of Oregon; United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine, District of Arizona; Acting United States Attorney Catherine Crosby, Northern District of Alabama; United States Attorney Michael Dunavant, Western District of Tennessee; First Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Ellison, District of New Mexico; First Assistant United States Attorney Bilal Essayli, Central District of California; United States Attorney Adam Gordon, Southern District of California; United States Attorney Jerome Gorgon, Eastern District of Michigan; Acting United States Attorney John Marck, Southern District of Texas; United States Attorney Peter McNeilly, District of Colorado; United States Attorney David Metcalf, Eastern District of Pennsylvania; United States Attorney Jeanine Pirro, District of Columbia; United States Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones, Southern District of Florida; and United States Attorney Lesley Woods, District of Nebraska. United States Attorney Peter McNeilly was appointed as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado by United States Attorney General Pam Bondi on June 16, 2025. On October 14, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado appointed Mr. McNeilly to continue as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado. Before his appointment, Mr. McNeilly had served as an Assistant United States Attorney in Colorado since 2014, primarily working on cases targeting transnational criminal organizations. Mr. McNeilly is also a lieutenant colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserves. His full biography appears here .


title: Federal Inmate Pleads Guilty to Threatening Federal Court Employee in Massachusetts

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A federal inmate pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to sending several threatening letters to an employee at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse. Devin James Melycher, 33, pleaded guilty to three counts of mailing threatening communications. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun scheduled sentencing for Sept. 22, 2026. Melycher was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024 . Melycher is a federal inmate who, since 2023, has been in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons. It is alleged that on three separate occasions: Dec. 16, 2022; Jan. 3, 2023; and Jan. 12, 2023, Melycher sent letters addressed to a U.S. official at the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston threatening to injure the victim employee. The charges of using of mailing threatening communications each provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B Foley and Dennis Matulewicz, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Luke A. Goldworm and Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.


title: Group’s Efforts to Poison Community with Drugs Results in Extended Federal Prison Sentences

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Four Indianapolis men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine operating across central Indiana. Lionel Muse, 25, was sentenced in September 2025 to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Andre Anderson, 32 , was sentenced in October 2025 to six years in federal prison, followed by four and a half years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a machinegun. Adonis Gillespy, Jr., 24, was sentenced in December 2025 to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Dontae Blount, 32, was sentenced on May 15 th, 2026 to 16 years, 8 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to court documents, from September 2023 through April 3, 2024, the men conspired to buy and sell fentanyl and methamphetamine, operating out of at least four apartment properties across Indianapolis. The apartments were rented by Dontae Blount under false identities, and rent was paid using drug proceeds. On April 3, 2024, ATF agents executed simultaneous search warrants at the four locations, recovering the following drug‑trafficking contraband: 4538 Edwardian Court, Indianapolis: Seven firearms Digital scales 1,826 grams of fentanyl in pill and powder form 129 grams of methamphetamine Pill press Assorted ammunition 6304 Pickwick Court , Zionsville: Seven firearms, including one reported stolen from Hendricks County and one equipped with a machinegun conversion device $100,216 in cash 6139 Robin Run, Indianapolis: Seven firearms, including a Glock 22 .40-caliber pistol with a machinegun conversion device One additional machinegun conversion device 1,918 multicolored pills containing 574 grams of methamphetamine 196 grams of a brownish substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl 3,046 blue counterfeit oxycodone pills containing 322 grams of fentanyl Zionsville Road, Indianapolis: $16,265 in cash “Fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking endangers every community in central Indiana. These defendants operated a multi‑location drug distribution network and stocked their apartments with illegal firearms and equipment to support it,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These sentences reflect our commitment to protecting Hoosiers from the deadly combination of narcotics and gun violence.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and IMPD investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jayson McGrath and Kelly Rota, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Vacaville Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Firearm and Drug Possession

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — James Cargill, 45, of Vacaville, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez to 15 years in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, on Jan. 21, 2025, police officers found Cargill to be in possession of more than a pound of methamphetamine. Cargill was arrested and released on parole. He was arrested again on May 9, 2025, after police officers found him in possession of just under a half a pound of methamphetamine and a loaded Glock 20 semi-automatic pistol. Cargill pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2026. The Vacaville Police Department, the Fairfield Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: New Boston Woman Pleads Guilty in $4.6 Million Child Modeling Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Chanise Coyne, 46, pleaded guilty today to executing a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme involving supposed child modeling events, United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. announced. Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Coyne pleaded guilty to a charge of wire fraud and admitted that she obtained over $4.6 million from a local family by fraudulently claiming that money would be used for advance fees associated with the participation of the family’s young daughter in various modeling events across the country. Coyne also admitted that she generated false and fraudulent records—including fake text messages, emails, and invoices—relating to the supposed placement of that young girl in modeling events. The money obtained by Coyne was fraudulently misappropriated for her own benefit and not used in connection with the placement of the young girl in a single modeling event. Instead, Coyne used significant sums of her fraud proceeds for gambling. “Coyne exploited a child’s dreams and ripped off a local family with her fake claims. But she will face real consequences,” stated U.S. Attorney Gorgon. “The defendant’s guilty plea is an acknowledgment that she deliberately calculated and executed a multi-million-dollar scheme that violated a family’s trust, and she will face the full measure of accountability for her actions,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “Our work does not stop here. FBI Detroit remains relentless in pursuing those who attempt to defraud Michigan families and in ensuring that those individuals’ illicit activities are brought to a swift and decisive end.” Sentencing is set for September 1, 2026, at 2 p.m. before Judge David M. Lawson. Coyne faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind. Related forfeiture matters are being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Fasbinder.


title: Nine Indicted In Multi-Count Drug And Money Laundering Case

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Juan Omar Gonazlez-Guzman, 24, Abel Joshua Thomas, 41, Paris Kayla Gonazles, 33, Karla Lyn Cipares, 46, Diego Yair Hernandez-Barbizani, 24, Pedro Carrillo-Hernandez, 29, Diana Victoria Amador-Rodriguez, 31, and Dustin Gary Trujillo, 38, who all resided in the Denver metro area, and an unidentified individual, are charged in an indictment containing seventeen counts of possession and distribution of fentanyl, possession and distribution of methamphetamine, possession and distribution of cocaine, and possession and distribution of heroin, and a conspiracy to commit the same. Hernandez-Barbizani faces one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Thomas, Cipares, Hernandez-Barbizani, Amador-Rodriguez, and the unidentified individual are also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the indictment, between October 2024 and through 2025, individuals named in the indictment participated in a variety of actions including possession and distribution of illicit substances as well as a variety of financial transactions to, amongst others, conceal the source of the money from alleged drug dealing. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation and was joined by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Transnational Organized Crime and Money Laundering Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado is handling the prosecution. Case Number: 1:26-cr-00092-PAB


title: USAO-KS honors Wichita police detective as Hometown Hero

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS) announces a Wichita Police Department (WPD) detective, who dedicates himself to improving public safety by working to eradicate communities of drug trafficking, as a recipient of the Hometown Hero award. The Hometown Hero award commemorates the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. It honors the enduring ideals of Liberty, Service, and Civic Responsibility. Across the country, the U.S. Department of Justice is recognizing members of law enforcement who exhibit a steadfast commitment to these ideals and embody the spirit upon which our nation was founded. USAO-KS selected Detective Kevin D. Real as the honoree for the District of Kansas. U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser presented him with an award certificate and a challenge coin on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Real is a 29-year veteran of the Wichita Police Department, and in 2024, was named the Kansas Narcotics Officers Association’s Officer of the Year. Through his expertise in research and surveillance and keen deductive reasoning skills, Real has successfully facilitated the arrests of suspects directly connected to organized criminal networks involved in trafficking methamphetamine and heroin, and in firearms smuggling. His efforts have significantly disrupted trafficking operations, and to date, Real has seized over 400 pounds of methamphetamine intended for distribution on the streets of Wichita. “Detective Real goes into drug houses and dangerously comes face-to-face with individuals who have a propensity for violence. This work requires courage, skill, and resilience,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We are grateful for his efforts in holding drug traffickers accountable and ensuring communities are safer for everyone.” “Detective Kevin Real represents the best of the Wichita Police Department,” said Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan. “For nearly three decades, he has taken on dangerous work that most people never see, but our community feels the impact of every day. The hard work he’s done has removed drugs, guns and violent offenders from Wichita neighborhoods, and this recognition from the U.S. Attorney’s Office is well deserved.” Real has experience working with local, state, and federal agencies. He formerly served as an FBI-credentialed Project Safe Streets Task Force Officer where he worked on investigations that were complex, time-intensive, involved multiple interviews and search warrants, and included evidence collection across several jurisdictions. ###


title: Legal Permanent Resident Arrested for Voting in Federal Elections Since 2008

body_text: BOSTON – A legal permanent resident, residing in Saugus, Mass., has been arrested and charged for allegedly voting illegally since 2008. Sunny Manhertz, 40, was charged with one count of unlawful voting by aliens and one count of the procurement, casting, or tabulation of ballots that are known to be materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent under state law. Manhertz made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today. According to the charging documents, Manhertz is a citizen of Canada and became a United States lawful permanent resident (“LPR”) on Feb. 25, 1987. On or about March 1, 2016, Manhertz submitted a Massachusetts Official Voter Registration Form under his own name. In response to the question, “Are you a Citizen of the United States of America?” Manhertz checked “Yes.” Towards the bottom of the form, the Voter Registration Form read: Manhertz signed under penalties of perjury he was a United States citizen. According to Saugus records, Manhertz has voted in multiple federal elections, including the 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024 elections. During the same period, Manhertz knew that he was not a United States citizen. On or about Feb. 13, 2019, approximately three years after registering to vote in Saugus but before the 2020 and 2024 federal elections, Manhertz allegedly submitted to the Department of Homeland Security an I-90 form, or an “Application to Replace Perm anent Resident Card.” On the form, Manhertz provided his Alien Registration Number, his name and his Saugus address. In response to a question regarding his legal status, Manhertz allegedly checked the box “Lawful Permanent Resident.” Manhertz signed and dated the application. On May 11, 2026, law enforcement officers interviewed Manhertz. During the interview, Manhertz allegedly confirmed that he signed the March 1, 2016, Voter Registration Form. When shown a list of elections he had previously voted in, Manhertz allegedly confirmed that the list was accurate and further added that he has been voting since 2008. The charge of procurement, casting, or tabulation of ballots that are known to be materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent under state law provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of unlawful voting by aliens provides for a sentence of up to one year in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of $100,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Sun of the Criminal Division 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. manhertz_-_complaint.pdf


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office to Enforce Federal Voting Laws to Protect 2026 Elections

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – As mail-in ballots are distributed across Nevada for the upcoming primary election, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada encourages all eligible citizens to participate in the democratic process and reminds the public that voting in federal elections is limited to eligible United States citizens. Nevada’s Primary Election will be held on June 9, 2026. Voting is one of the most important rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting both lawful participation in the electoral process and the integrity of our elections. Federal law limits participation in federal elections to eligible United States citizens. Individuals who are not eligible to vote, including non-citizens who may inadvertently receive election-related materials or ballots, should not complete or submit ballots for federal elections. “The right to vote is a fundamental part of our democracy,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “We encourage every eligible citizen to participate in the election process while also ensuring compliance with federal voting laws that protect the integrity and fairness of our elections. Federal law prohibits non-citizens from voting in elections in Nevada, and our office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and pursue credible violations of federal election laws where appropriate.” “Our republic cannot function without fair elections,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “The Justice Department has a zero-tolerance policy for any attempt to illegally undermine the legitimacy of our elections, and we stand ready to prosecute illegal voters and those who enable them.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, as well as election officials, to safeguard the electoral process and ensure compliance with federal laws protecting lawful participation in elections and public confidence in the integrity of the voting process. Members of the public who believe they have information regarding possible election fraud or unlawful voting activity may contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or submit tips online through the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.tips.fbi.gov. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at DOJ Voting Section . ###


title: Arizona Woman Indicted after Allegedly Attempting to Smuggle Firearms, RPG Launcher Tube into Mexico

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

body_text: PHOENIX Ariz. – A woman has been charged in federal court after she attempted to cross the southern border in a vehicle loaded with firearms, firearm parts, and an RPG launcher tube. A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging Migdelia Irma Mendoza, 42, of Phoenix, with Attempted Smuggling Goods from the United States . The charge resulted from a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation. According to the court documents, on April 19, 2026, Mendoza was traveling to Mexico and passed multiple signs warning drivers that firearms and ammunition are prohibited in the Republic of Mexico. When Mendoza attempted to cross the border at the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, officers conducted an outbound inspection. As officers searched Mendoza’s Lexus, they folded up the rear seat and found non-factory black fabric beneath it. Under the fabric, officers felt objects that were solid and did not appear to be part of the vehicle. After anomalies were confirmed through a scan of the vehicle, officers conducted a closer inspection and discovered the RPG launcher tube, firearms, and firearm parts. Specific items included four AR-style rifles, 16 AK-style rifles, one AK-style pistol, one RPG-7 launcher tube, 20 firearm pistol grips, 16 rifle buttstocks, and 24 AK-style firearm magazines. These items are prohibited by U.S. law for export without a valid U.S. government issued export license, which Mendoza did not possess. This prosecution is part of the 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 Arizona-Tucson comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Border Patrol, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, and various local and state law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, Phoenix. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: 26-CR-489 RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-080_Mendoza # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Upstate Trio Indicted for Roles in Deadly Interstate Robbery and Kidnapping Plot

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a 10-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Elisa Marie Rosario, 33, and Jeremy Todd Lark, a/k/a “Jeremy Abdul Wakil Jones,” 42, both of Roebuck, and Kezayvian Lee Campbell, 19, of Greenville, with robbery affecting commerce and conspiracy to do the same, kidnapping resulting in death and conspiracy to do the same, use of a firearm during a crime of violence to cause death, obstruction of justice, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, destruction of the vehicle, by fire, to prevent its search and seizure by law enforcement and providing false statements to federal agents. The indictment alleges that beginning on or about June 16, 2025, a Spartanburg County couple and a third man executed a scheme to kidnap and rob M.B.G., a person engaged in a business and activities affecting interstate commerce, of money, jewelry, a cell phone, and a 2025 Hyundai Genesis he rented from Enterprise. The defendants are alleged to have enticed M.B.G. to travel from South Carolina to Harrah’s Casino in Cherokee, North Carolina under the pretense of a date with Rosario. In preparation for their trip to North Carolina, the defendants were in possession of two firearms and other materials they planned to use in the commission of the charged crimes, including latex gloves and masks. The indictment also alleges that in the early morning hours of June 17, shortly after he arrived at the casino, Rosario urged the victim to leave. Rosario and the victim then took a quick trip to a nearby convenience store. After a few minutes inside the store, Rosario drove the victim away from the store parking lot and then pulled the car over at a location where Campbell exited Lark’s car and entered the victim’s car. The three defendants, traveling in two cars, then held and transported the victim 12 miles away into Sylva, North Carolina to rob him. According to the indictment, during the robbery, the defendants shot the victim with a firearm, resulting in his death. While traveling, the defendants discarded the victim’s property. Later that evening, authorities in Spartanburg located the victim’s body and his burning rental car in a wooded area near the intersection of Woodburn Road and Pinecrest Road. The victim’s jewelry was found in the defendants’ Roebuck residence. “The alleged actions of these defendants show a dark and devious scheme that crossed states lines and ultimately resulted in death,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones as we take this step toward justice.” "This alleged conduct was callous and showed a deliberate disregard for human life," said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore. "This multi-count indictment is the result of a thorough, data-driven, and forensically supported investigation conducted jointly by the FBI and the Spartanburg Police Department. The collaboration was instrumental in identifying, building a case against, and apprehending the defendants. We will continue to use every available investigative and judicial resource to pursue justice and ensure that those who commit such crimes are held fully accountable.” “This case represents the strength and effectiveness of law enforcement agencies working together toward a common goal,” said Major Art Littlejohn of the Spartanburg Police Department. “Through the coordinated efforts of investigators, local, state, and federal partners, justice was pursued for the victim and his family. I want to commend every agency for their dedication and commitment throughout this complex investigation.” Each of the defendants face a maximum penalty of life in federal prison and are currently detained pending a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin F. McDonald. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Spartanburg Police Department, and the Spartanburg Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leesa Washington 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. ###