title: Serial Child Predator Sentenced for Accessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A serial child predator was sentenced today for accessing child pornography after being previously convicted of possessing child sexual abuse material twice, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson sentenced William Don Woods, 49, of Claremore, for Possession of and Access with Intent to View Child Pornography. Woods was ordered to serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Woods will be required to register as a sex offender. Federal court dockets show that Woods was convicted in 2008 for Possession of Child Pornography. He knowingly possessed videos and images of children under 12 being sexually abused. Woods was ordered to serve 87 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, required to register as a sex offender, and ordered not to view, purchase, or possess any form of pornography. In 2014, 2015, and 2016, Woods violated his supervised release by looking at photos of children and pornography. In 2017, Woods was indicted a second time for Possession of Child Pornography. He admitted to viewing videos of children being sexually abused under the age of 12. He was ordered to serve 120 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Again, Woods was required to not view, purchase, or possess any form of pornography. Five weeks after his latest release from prison, in the fall of 2025, Woods was caught again searching for, accessing, and possessing child pornography. He was indicted in November 2025 and pleaded guilty the following month. Woods admitted to using DuckDuckGo to access videos and images of children under 12 years old being sexually abused. Woods will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Scaife prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, local, and tribal 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: LaPorte Woman Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison For Controlled Substance Offense

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Monica Del Real, 26 years old, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Adam L. Mildred. Del Real was sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, law enforcement observed Del Real driving in LaPorte County and discovered that she had active warrants for her arrest. Officers performed a traffic stop on her car. During the stop, a drug K9 alerted on the vehicle. Officers searched the car and found 136 grams of pure methamphetamine and 12 grams of fentanyl hidden in a compartment near the gas pedal. “Monica Del Real thought that she could freely traffic in dangerous narcotics,” said U.S. Attorney Mildred. “State and local law enforcement, and their K9 partner, proved her wrong. Thanks to their excellent work, both the drugs and Del Real are off the streets. I thank DEA, Michigan City Police Department, the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, and the LaPorte County Prosecutor Sean Fagan and his office for their partnership.” “Methamphetamine and fentanyl are dangerous drugs and poisons that have driven addiction, death, and violence across northern Indiana. The Drug Enforcement Administration, along with its Indiana law enforcement and prosecution partners, will continue to hold accountable those who disregard the moral values of society by trafficking narcotics. Ms. Del Real is now being held accountable for her criminal actions, which is the appropriate response for anyone wishing to bring pain and suffering to our northern Indiana home,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Chip Cooke. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the LaPorte County Drug Task Force, Michigan City Police Department, and the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lydia T. Lucius.


title: Mexican national admits to role in Black Market Peso Exchange money laundering scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – A 52-year-old foreign national has pleaded guilty for his role in two-year, multimillion-dollar trade-based money laundering conspiracy to move drug trafficking proceeds through Texas to Mexico, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Gabriel Arturo Castillo, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, participated in a sophisticated, international money laundering conspiracy to transfer proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs in the United States to cartels in Mexico without physically transporting money across the U.S.-Mexico border. The conspirators concealed those funds through the movement of goods between the two countries. As part of the black-market peso exchange scheme, the criminal conspiracy received large quantities of U.S. dollar drug proceeds in various cities in the United States. The proceeds then were either deposited into various bank accounts or transported to Laredo. From there, the drug proceeds were sold to Mexican business owners in Mexico who used the U.S. currency to purchase products from stores in the United States, including perfume sellers. Once the businesses received payment, the merchandise Mexican business operators purchased was transported from Laredo to Mexico. Finally, Mexican business operators paid for the drug proceeds by transferring pesos in Mexico to the drug trafficking organizations. By doing so, the conspirators sought to conceal the source of the drug proceeds and to allow the Mexico-based drug dealers to receive their profits in their native currency, pesos. “Castillo and his co-conspirators all played a critical role in laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds through an intricate trade-based money laundering scheme,” said Marck. “This plea is yet another step we are taking to dismantle the financial networks that fuel violence and narcotics trafficking along our southern border. We will continue to follow the money trail until all participants in this organization are held accountable.” “For years, Gabriel Arturo Castillo agreed to launder millions of dollars in drug proceeds through an intricate trade-based money laundering system,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cartels are motivated by profit, and these financial facilitators promote their deadly drug trafficking and endanger lives, legitimate business and trade. The devastating effects of this transnational crime are vast and wide ranging. This conviction sends a clear message that the Criminal Division will pursue narcotraffickers as well as those who enable their crimes.” “Gabriel Castillo played a key role for years in hiding drug trafficking proceeds using complex money laundering schemes,” said Special Agent in Charge Miguel Madrigal of the Drug Enforcement Administration San Antonio Division. “Castillo helped facilitate the concealment of drug profits through elaborate laundering operations. But once DEA agents in Laredo started their investigation, they swiftly identified the cartel's activities, leading to justice and ending the criminal schemes that empower their operations.” “The specific type of scheme they used is called a black-market peso exchange, versions of which existed for decades and can be as complex as the concept is old,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodrick Benton of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “We were able to follow the money to unravel how merchandise was purchased from U.S. businesses near the border and then sold in Mexico for a predetermined price. You can’t hide your ill-gotten gains from a law enforcement agency dedicated to following the money.” U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing July 7. At that time, Castillo faces up to 20 years in federal prison. DEA and IRS-CI conducted the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Office of Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, provided significant assistance in this matter. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and August 2025 extradition of Castillo. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Watt and Amanda Gould are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorneys Keith H. Liddle and Stephanie Williamson of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.


title: California Drug Dealer Sentenced to 31 Years in Federal Prison

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

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A federal judge sentenced Fortunato Beltran, 45, to 31 years in federal prison for conspiracy to sell methamphetamine and fentanyl and selling methamphetamine and fentanyl. On November 21, 2025, a federal jury convicted Inmate Beltran of the charges. “Fentanyl kills everyone, especially our kids. This California thug brought his Mexican poison here to kill children in our communities. We sent a strong message: Learn the lesson: don’t sell drugs, go to prison for decades if you do: do better.” said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. In early 2024, ATF and DEA began investigating a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization shipping tens pounds and hundreds pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine to Eastern North Carolina. Inmate Beltran orchestrated bulk shipments of methamphetamine and fentanyl from California and Mexico into Eastern North Carolina for distribution. Agents with the ATF and DEA purchased over $100,000 of drugs from Inmate Beltran’s organization, totaling 35 pounds of methamphetamine and almost seven pounds of fentanyl. “Drug trafficking creates a cycle of violence in our communities that too often includes illegal firearm use and possession,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Coordinated efforts among our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners help break up these drug trafficking networks, stop violent gun crimes, and make our neighborhoods safer.” W. Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. ATF and DEA investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley J. Avera and Special Assistant United States Attorney Alison N. Lester prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-CR-71-M-4.


title: Cocaine Dealer and Repeat Immigration Offender Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A Newark man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and illegal reentry into the United States after removal. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Hall imposed the sentence. According to court documents, Adan Cuevas-Arteaga, 44, had been previously deported to Mexico on five separate occasions between 2007 and 2019. Most recently, he illegally returned to the United States and sold cocaine. Search warrants executed on Cuevas-Artega’s residence and car recovered cocaine, digital scales, drug packaging material, $7,400 in cash, and two rounds of nine-millimeter ammunition. “The defendant demonstrated a blatant disregard for our nation’s laws by repeatedly entering the United States unlawfully, and, once here, profiting from the distribution of illegal narcotics,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “My office will continue working alongside our law enforcement partners to vigorously prosecute drug dealers, especially those who have no legal right to be in the United States in the first place.” “The distribution of illegal narcotics continues to plague our communities,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “Adan Cuevas-Arteaga profited from trafficking cocaine while disregarding our immigration laws needed for public safety. Today’s charges serve as a reminder that the FBI, through the Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force, will continue to target these offenders and the adverse impact they are having on our communities.” The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Ibrahim prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 25-CR-134. ###


title: Wilmington Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A Wilmington man was sentenced yesterday to 121 months in prison for distributing child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”). U.S. District Judge Gregory B. Williams imposed the sentence. According to court documents, Tyler Ramaley, 32, joined other men on Zoom video chat rooms for the purpose of watching, discussing, and masturbating to videos depicting graphic sexual violence toward minors, including infants less than one year old. During the calls, Ramaley even streamed his personal CSAM collection for others. Following Ramaley’s arrest, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) seized and searched Ramaley’s devices pursuant to a federal search warrant, where they discovered additional CSAM and conversations with others regarding the exploitation of children. U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace stated, “Every time Tyler Ramaley watched a video of a child being sexually abused—and every time he helped another person do so—he was victimizing that child all over again. My Office will never stop pursuing those who hurt children, even if we need to chase those offenders through the darkest corners of the internet. I thank our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, whose excellent investigative work led to the arrest and conviction of this dangerous offender.” “The FBI investigates crimes of violence and sexual abuse against children as a top priority,” said FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul. “The sentencing of Tyler Ramaley for having knowingly received, possessed, and shared videos of child sexual abuse material will hopefully provide a degree of relief to Ramaley’s victims. Ramaley victimized the most vulnerable members of our society, and the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force will vigorously pursue anyone who commits such crimes.” Upon his release from prison, Ramaley will be required to register as a sex offender. The FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Task Force investigated this case, with the assistance of the New Castle County Police Department, Delaware State Police, and the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia L. Pare 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 25-cr-49-GBW. ###


title: Topeka man uses federal grant funds as shopping money

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: TOPEKA, KAN. – A former employee of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (PBPN) pleaded guilty to misapplying thousands of dollars the tribe received in federal grants and using the money to purchase sports memorabilia. According to court documents, Matthew Waits, 41, of Topeka pleaded guilty to one count of misapplication of federal grant funds. Waits previously worked for the PBPN as manager and program director of the Diabetes Prevention Program. In January 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) / Indian Health Service awarded federal grants and assistance to the tribe. Waits misapplied more than $5,000 in grant money by using it to buy sports memorabilia, which is not an authorized purchase under the rules of the grant and in violation of federal law. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2026. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. “Diabetes patients are susceptible to long-term damage to their heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. It was the defendant’s job to teach people how to avoid this chronic disease. Waits took money intended to help save lives and used it to purchase materials to enhance his hobby shop that sold collectables such as Pokemon cards and sports memorabilia,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (HHS – OIG) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Maag and Lindsey Debenham are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Career Criminal Headed to Federal Prison for Violent Crime Spree, Including Carjacking and Gunpoint Abduction

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- George Landy, 55, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has been sentenced to 22 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to interference with commerce by robbery, two counts of carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, attempted interference with commerce by robbery, and carjacking. According to court documents, in October 2022, George Landy committed three violent crimes in Indianapolis over the span of just eight days. On October 16, 2022 , at approximately 3:12 p.m., Landy entered the Family Dollar on East 38th Street, pretending to shop for cold medicine and carrying a box to the checkout counter as if he intended to purchase it. Instead, he lifted his shirt to reveal a .22‑caliber semiautomatic handgun tucked into his waistband and demanded money from the clerk. The clerk was forced to hand over $200. On October 23, 2022 , at approximately 2:15 a.m. , Landy attempted to rob a McDonald’s on West 38th Street. He approached the drive‑through window, forced it open, pointed a firearm at an employee, and demanded money. He fired a shot toward the worker, then attempted unsuccessfully to open the cash register himself. Landy then fired another shot into the restaurant before fleeing on foot. No one was injured. On October 24, 2022 , Landy approached a woman walking to her car in the parking lot of a Dollar Tree on Pendleton Pike in Lawrence, Indiana. He initiated a conversation under the guise of asking for her phone number and a date. As the woman began getting into her vehicle, Landy lifted his shirt to display a firearm and ordered her into the passenger seat. He demanded money, warning that “bad things would happen” if she could not pay. When the victim explained she only had $30 in cash, Landy abducted her and her vehicle to drive to two banks, where he compelled her to withdraw $500. He then drove her downtown and left her at the IndyGo bus station, stealing her wedding ring, debit card, driver’s license, and other jewelry before fleeing in her car. Landy has an extensive criminal history, including 22 prior convictions, 12 of them felonies, ranging from burglary and felony theft to drug offenses and resisting law enforcement. At the time of the 2022 armed robberies, he was on probation for felony auto theft. “These were brazen, violent robberies that evinced a blatant disregard for human life and the safety of our community. These terrifying crimes could easily have resulted in tragedy, and the emotional toll inflicted on innocent people simply going about their daily routines is profound,” said Tom Wheeler, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Today’s sentence affirms that individuals who commit violent acts in our community will be held fully accountable.” “George Landy victimized numerous innocent people during his violent crime spree, leaving lasting trauma in its wake. The offenses he committed—both in this case and in his past—are deeply disturbing and unequivocally heinous. The only appropriate place for Landy is where he is now headed: federal prison. I am extremely proud of the police officers and agents whose dedication and relentless efforts brought him to justice,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jorge Rosendo. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. U.S. Attorney Wheeler thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Massa, 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: Wilkinsburg Resident Sentenced Following Guilty Plea for Stealing from Another Passenger During Flight

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court on April 7, 2026, to a charge of theft on an aircraft and was sentenced to one year of supervised release, including 90 days of home detention, and ordered to pay a $250 fine, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Jaymer Ferrell, 23. According to information presented to the Court, on April 9, 2025, the Allegheny County Police Department was called about an unruly passenger vaping on a Pittsburgh-bound flight from Los Angeles, California. A flight attendant told investigators that he had observed the passenger, Ferrell, vaping and going through numerous bags in the overhead bins during the flight. Based on Ferrell’s behavior over the course of the hours-long flight, the attendant believed that Ferrell had stolen from other passengers’ luggage. Upon arrival at Pittsburgh International Airport, Ferrell was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant, and found in possession of a backpack containing the wallet, debit card, and credit cards of another passenger on the flight. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Allegheny County Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Ferrell.


title: Pakistani National Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Commit Isis-Inspired Attack At Jewish Center In New York

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John A. Eisenberg, Acting Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Coult Markovsky, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, James C. Barnacle, Jr., and Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Jessica S. Tisch, announced today that Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a/k/a “Shahzeb Jadoon,” pled guilty to attempting to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, for attempting to enter the United States and carry out a mass shooting with automatic weapons at a prominent Jewish center in Brooklyn, New York. KHAN pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12, 2026. “Muhammad Khan planned to carry out a horrendous attack on a venerated Jewish center in New York City in support of ISIS,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Thanks to the work of our law enforcement partners at the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI, Khan’s plan was disrupted before he reached the United States. Today’s guilty plea makes unequivocally clear: terrorism and other hate-based violence have zero place in New York City. We will continue to ensure the safety of religious groups who have the fundamental right to gather peaceably and without fear of harm. That’s what New Yorkers want and that’s the American way.” “Khan planned a mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York City, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks, with the explicit goal of killing as many Jews as possible,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “Khan declared that New York City was the ‘perfect’ venue for his attack because of its large Jewish population and boasted that his plot could be the largest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. The National Security Division will work tirelessly to ensure that terrorists like Khan face the full weight of American law.” “Khan planned to illegally enter the United States and conduct an ISIS-inspired attack on the Jewish community around the one-year anniversary of the attacks in Israel by Hamas,” said Acting Assistant Director Coult Markovsky of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “With this guilty plea, he will now face the consequences of planning a mass shooting in New York City that might have killed or injured many people. I want to thank the FBI teams and our partners for their work to prevent an attack and to bring this individual to justice.” “Muhammad Khan targeted a prominent Jewish religious center in Brooklyn to honor the October 7th anniversary by attempting to conduct what he hoped would be the largest terrorist attack on U.S. soil since 9/11,” said FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. “Khan planned to inflict significant casualties and fear before he was intercepted 12 miles from our northern border. May today’s plea emphasize the FBI’s unwavering commitment to stand alongside our local law enforcement partners to defend our city from terrorists seeking to harm any of our citizens.” “Muhammad Shahzeb Khan intended to come to New York City and carry out an ISIS-inspired act of terror against our city’s Jewish community,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. “The NYPD, in close coordination with our federal partners, was able to stop this dangerous plot before it could become a devastating attack. This case is yet another example of the sophisticated work that the NYPD does to protect our communities from harm and our ongoing commitment to stop hate-fueled violence.” As alleged in the charging instruments and other public filings: In or about November 2023, KHAN, a Pakistani national residing in Canada, began posting on social media and communicating with others about his support for ISIS, including by distributing ISIS propaganda videos and literature. KHAN subsequently began planning terrorist attacks in the United States in support of ISIS, including by communicating his plans with two individuals who, unbeknownst to KHAN, were undercover officers (the “UCs”). KHAN told the UCs that he and a U.S.-based associate (“Associate-1”) had been planning to carry out a terrorist attack in a particular U.S. city (“City-1”) using AR-style assault rifles to “target[] Israeli Jewish chabads . . . scattered all around [City-1].” [1] KHAN repeatedly instructed the UCs to obtain AR-style assault rifles, ammunition, and other materials to carry out the attacks, and identified locations in City-1 where the attacks would take place. KHAN also told the UCs that he had identified a human smuggler who would help him cross the border from Canada into the United States for the attack. In or about August 2024, KHAN changed his target to New York City, telling the UCs that the target location would now be a prominent Jewish religious center in Brooklyn, New York (“Location-1”). KHAN conveyed that he hoped to carry out this attack on or around October 7, 2024—which KHAN recognized as the one-year anniversary of the brutal and deadly terrorist attacks in Israel carried out by the foreign terrorist organization Hamas on October 7, 2023. KHAN told the UCs that “New york is perfect to target jews” because it has the “largest Jewish population in america,” and, as such, “even if we dont attack a[n] Event[,] we could rack up easily a lot of jews.” KHAN told the UCs that “we are going to nyc to slaughter them,” and later sent a photograph to the UCs of the specific enclosed area inside of Location-1 where KHAN planned to carry out his attack. In the days that followed, KHAN continued to urge the UCs to acquire AR-style rifles, hunting knives to “slit their throats,” and other equipment for the attack, and reiterated his desire to carry out this attack in support of ISIS. During one such communication, KHAN noted that “if we succeed with our plan this would be the largest Attack on US soil since 9/11.” On or about September 4, 2024, KHAN attempted to reach the U.S.-Canada border using a human smuggler. KHAN traveled from the vicinity of Toronto, Canada, toward the United States, before he was stopped and arrested in or around Ormstown, Canada, approximately 12 miles from the U.S.-Canada border. * * * KHAN, 21, a Pakistani citizen who was residing in Canada, pled guilty to one count of attempting to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The potential maximum sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Clayton praised the outstanding efforts of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force of the FBI, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies, and thanked the FBI’s Los Angeles and Chicago Field Offices, the New York State Police, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division for their assistance. The Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division worked with authorities in Canada to secure the arrest and June 2025 extradition of KHAN. Mr. Clayton also thanked our law enforcement partners in Canada, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Department of Justice Canada’s International Assistance Group, for their assistance. This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaylan E. Lasky and David J. Robles are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Kevin Nunnally of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. [1] “Chabad” is a branch of Hasidic Judaism, as well as a movement that operates Jewish religious and educational institutions around the world.


title: Lincoln County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A Waynesburg, Ky., man, Jasper McCann, 43, was sentenced on Tuesday to 120 months by U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to his plea agreement, on May 12, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by McCann. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement located digital scales, four firearms, and approximately 206 grams of methamphetamine. McCann admitted to possessing the methamphetamine with intent to distribute it to others. McCann had previously been convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance first degree in January 2013. Under federal law, McCann must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for eight years. Jason Parman, First Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; John Nokes, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Aaron Noel, Mt. Sterling Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and Mt. Sterling Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. – END –


title: Lexington County Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Stolen Gun

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. —Trevor Jerremy Jones, 36, of Lexington County has pleaded guilty to possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute and possessing a stolen firearm. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Nov. 6, 2021, a University of South Carolina Police officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jones after determining that the car tag had expired. When the officer approached the vehicle, he smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers located a clear plastic bag containing suspected marijuana in the driver’s side door and a large clear plastic bag containing a large amount of suspected marijuana in the center console. A further search of the car revealed a loaded .40 caliber pistol in the glove box. The gun had been reported stolen. Jones claimed he bought the firearm from a friend and admitted that he knew or had reason to know that it was stolen. Jones also had a large amount of money, grouped into small denominations, consistent with the sale of narcotics. Lab tests confirmed Jones possessed marijuana, in a quantity that he intended to distribute. Jones faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Jones after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. 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. This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the University of South Carolina Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Defuniak Springs Man Indicted For Attempted Enticement of a Minor

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Michael R. Foster, 49, of DeFuniak Springs, Florida, was indicted by a federal grand jury charging him with one count of attempted enticement of a minor. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the charge today. Foster appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for August 24, 2026, before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. If convicted, Foster faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Eric W. Welch is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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 available 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: Tallahassee Man Indicted for Child Exploitation Crimes

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Chandler Brittain Smith, 27, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been indicted in federal court on one count of distribution of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to minors. John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the charges. Smith appeared for his arraignment in federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick in Tallahassee, Florida. Jury trial is scheduled for May 26, 2026, before District Court Judge Mark E. Walker. If convicted, Smith faces a minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment, and up to life imprisonment on the attempted enticement count. Smith also faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the attempted transfer of obscene materials count. The case is being jointly investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Tallahassee Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. 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: Sex offender sentenced to prison for possessing child pornography

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A convicted sex offender was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Jacob Navarrette, 34, of Wichita pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography. In April 2020, a federal judge in the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma sentenced Navarrette for possession of child pornography. As part of his sentence, Navarrette went to stay at a transitional center in Wichita, Kansas. In 2024, a staff member found a contraband cellphone under Navarrette's mattress. The phone contained an instant messaging app and messages between the defendant and a person who self-identified as a 17-year-old minor. This minor sent explicit photos of himself at Navarrette's request. Navarrette later admitted to installing the app and using it to speak sexually with many people, including minors. “Unfortunately, Navarrette was back to committing child sex abuse crimes before he finished serving time for the offense that landed him in prison in the first place,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “This case is an example of why continued monitoring of sex offenders is crucial to protect our society and our children.” Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigated the case. Project Safe Childhood 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Personal Assistant Pleads Guilty to Defrauding her Elderly Employers

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Catalina Corona pleaded guilty to wire fraud after stealing nearly $10 million from her employers, an elderly married couple from Long Island, New York. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis. When sentenced, Corona faces a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, as well as restitution and fines. Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea. “Today’s guilty plea means the defendant has been held accountable for a calculated scheme that siphoned nearly $10 million from the very employers who trusted her,” stated United States Attorney Nocella. “Our Office will continue to pursue those who exploit positions of trust for personal gain and ensure they face the consequences for their deception and fraud.” “Catalina Corona stole nearly $10 million from an elderly couple who entrusted her with their care to fund her lavish shopping habits. The FBI is committed to holding accountable individuals who abuse positions of trust out of selfish greed,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle. As set forth in court filings, between approximately 2017 and 2024, while working as a personal assistant to an elderly married couple (the Victims), Corona repeatedly deposited hundreds of checks written out to cash—made payable to herself—from the Victims’ bank accounts without their knowledge or consent. In total, Corona stole nearly $10 million, which she used to pay her credit card bills and to purchase luxury items from Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Gucci and other high-end brands. Many of these transactions took place in Queens and on Long Island. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca M. Urquiola is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : CATALINA CORONA Age: 62 Corona, Queens E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-78 (NGG)


title: Houston operation leads to charges against several for drug and gun crimes linked to Clinton Park neighborhood

body_text: HOUSTON – A total of 10 Houston residents are now in custody for various firearm and drug trafficking offenses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. Authorities arrested Damian Ray Broussard, 39, Corre Deandre Plater, 36, Stacy Lawton, 46, Quentin Mayes, 51, Johnnie Lee Chatmon, 51, Leroy Lumpkin, 55, Emanuel Walker, 30, and Anthony Means, 51, April 7, who have begun to make their initial appearances in federal court. All are charged in separate, but related indictments returned in March which were unsealed upon their initial appearances. Ronald Maddox, 42, was previously arrested and remains in custody pending further criminal proceedings. At the time of the arrests, law enforcement also took a 10 th man into custody. Justin Leonard, 39, is charged in a separate, but similar criminal complaint. He is in custody on related charges and is expected to make his appearance in federal court in the near future. According to the allegations, the group trafficked fentanyl, crystal meth, cocaine and counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs as well as firearms in Houston’s Clinton Park neighborhood. As detailed in the complaint, Walker and Leonard allegedly sold various amounts of cocaine, crystal meth and approximately 3,000 pills containing meth. Leonard has also sold a large amount of crack cocaine out of the Clinton Park residence, according to the charges. As part of the operation, authorities allegedly discovered and seized over 30 firearms, cocaine, pills containing meth or fentanyl, crystal meth, prescription pills, crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana and cash, among other things. With the exception of Mayes, Chatmon and Walker, who face varying terms up to 40 years in federal prison for the drug charges, the remaining men could receive up to life in prison for either the drug and/or firearms charges. All could also be ordered to pay a maximum $250,000 fine on any of the counts. FBI – Houston led the investigation as part of Operation Spring Cleaning along with Houston Police Department; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard D. Hanes is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: San Antonio Man Sentenced to Federal Prison After Firing Machine Gun Near Air Force Base

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio man who prompted a military response by firing a weapon outside Lackland Air Force Base in 2024 was sentenced today to 40 months in federal prison for possession of a machine gun and unregistered firearm, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons. According to court documents, Joseph Anthony Jimenez, 20, fired a stolen 9mm pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD) into a field near Lackland Air Force Base on two separate occasions on Aug. 17, 2024. Also known as a “Glock switch,” an MCD allows a firearm to fire as a fully automatic weapon. An MCD is defined as a machinegun under the National Firearms Act, even when not installed. Jimenez admitted to accidently shooting his friend later that same day, then throwing the MCD-equipped handgun over the perimeter fence of an apartment complex. Jimenez was arrested on a state warrant on Aug. 29, 2024. He was federally indicted with possession of a machine gun and possession of an unregistered firearm on Nov. 6, 2024, and transferred to federal custody on Nov. 21, 2024. On Dec. 3, 2025, Jimenez pleaded guilty to both charges. “Beyond the basics of responsible gun ownership, everyone must understand the dangers of machinegun conversion devices,” said U.S. Attorney Simmons. “This individual set an example of what not to do, and he should feel fortunate that the consequences of his actions were not far worse, even deadly. Thanks to the response from the JBSA Defenders, along with the subsequent investigation by local and federal authorities, Jimenez is being held accountable for his poor decisions and violations of federal law.” “The illegal possession and use of a machinegun conversion device represents a serious threat to public safety,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel. “These devices turn otherwise lawful firearms into fully automatic weapons, dramatically increasing the potential for mass harm. ATF remains committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who endanger our communities through the use of illegal firearms and conversion devices.” The ATF, FBI, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, U.S. Air Force 502nd Security Forces Group, San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wannarka prosecuted the case. ###


title: Jefferson Parish Man Sentenced  For Federal Gun and Drug Charges

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – MICHAEL FEAST , ( “FEAST” ), age 31, was sentenced on March 31, 2026, by United States District Judge Brandon S. Long, after previously pleading guilty to Counts Two and Three of a three-count indictment, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. Count Two charged FEAST with distribution of a quantity of cocaine base, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Count Three charged FEAST with using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). FEAST was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment as to Count Two and 60 months as to Count Three, to be served consecutively. Judge Long also ordered that FEAST be placed on supervised release for three years as to Count Two and five years as to Count Three. The terms will be served concurrently. Also, FEAST is ordered to pay a $200 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court records, on August 1, 2024, United States Homeland Security, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint operation to purchase narcotics and firearms from co-conspirator William Small, at an apartments complex in Metairie, Louisiana. During the joint operation, FEAST and Small sold 7 grams of crack cocaine to a confidential informant in a controlled purchase. Additionally, during a second joint operation by law enforcement, on September 18, 2024, FEAST sold a Metro Arms, Model American Classic Amigo, .45 caliber pistol and a small quantity of cocaine to a person believed to be a legitimate buyer in an additional controlled purchase. United States Attorney David I. Courcelle praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security Violent Crime Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crime Unit of the United States Attorney’s Office. 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 New Orleans comprises agents and officers from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).


title: Mexican National Extradited to the United States to Face Drug Trafficking Charges

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Timothy VerHey today announced that Adrian Weyman-Urbina (37) of Ensenada, Mexico was extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges. Eight others were previously convicted as part of the drug trafficking conspiracy charged here, which involved current and former inmates of the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) obtaining methamphetamine and heroin from Mexico and distributing the drugs in West Michigan and elsewhere. The conspiracy spanned eleven counties in Michigan, including Alger, Luce, Allegan, Berrien, Branch, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa, and Van Buren Counties. Further details of the investigation are available in the April 19, 2021 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office (available at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2021_0420_Operation_Prison_Break ) and the criminal complaints filed in United States v. Luis Alberto Cruz, No. 1:20-mj-00145 and United States v. Carlos Martinez, No. 1:20-mj-179. “My office went the extra mile to extradite Weyman-Urbina out of Mexico because he set up his drug distribution network while he was in our country illegally, then continued to harm our citizens after he was returned to Mexico. Let this be a message that wherever you are in the world, if you are responsible for the distribution of drugs in the Western District of Michigan, we will find you, arrest you, and bring you to justice in an American courtroom,” stated U.S. Attorney VerHey. “We look forward to proving this defendant’s involvement in the conspiracy beyond a reasonable doubt.” This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Michigan Department of Corrections, the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office, and the Michigan State Police and its sponsored drug trafficking task forces, including the West Michigan Enforcement Team, the Southwest Enforcement Team, and the Traverse Narcotics Team investigated the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vito S. Solitro. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Two Sentenced In Connection With Fraud Ring That Stole Millions In Government Funds, Thousands of Identities

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney for the District of Colorado announces that Ikponmwosa Erhinmwinrose, 39, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Nyerhovwo Presley Agbure, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, each sentenced in connection to a fraud ring that stole millions in government funds and victimized thousands of people nationwide. Erhinmwinrose will spend 17 years in federal prison after a federal jury in Denver convicted him on six counts of wire fraud, three counts of aggravated identity theft, one count of wire fraud conspiracy, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Agbure will spend 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Two other codefendants await sentencing. According to the evidence presented at the trial and sentencing of Erhinmwinrose, he and other conspirators including Agbure, applied for more than $90 million in government benefits and stole more than $7.6 million in government benefits from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, multiple state unemployment insurance programs including from the state of Colorado, and tax refunds. The PPP and EIDL are economic relief programs launched by the federal government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To obtain these benefits, Erhinmwinrose, Agbure, and other conspirators in the fraud ring used the stolen identities of more than 1,000 victims. As a result of Erhinmwinrose and Agbure’s actions, identity-theft victims never received IRS stimulus payments, received letters in the mail stating that they had to start repaying loans that were taken out in their names, and faced backlash on social media because others thought they had taken out large loans that in fact went to Erhinmwinrose, Agbure, and other members of his fraud ring. To facilitate the criminal activity, the defendants created dozens of email accounts under false names to impersonate real individuals and businesses, worked with conspirators to submit fraudulent applications for benefits, and then instructed a network of conspirators to launder the proceeds through multiple bank accounts before converting the money to cash or transferring it overseas. “Driven by greed and selfishness, these criminals ran an aggressive fraud scheme which stole millions of dollars from American taxpayers and victimized more than a thousand innocent people,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly. “The United States Attorney’s Office in the District of Colorado in partnership with the National Fraud Enforcement Division will continue to vigorously seek out and prosecute those who defraud and victimize American taxpayers.” United States District Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presided over the sentencing. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, FDIC Office of Inspector General, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General handled the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Craig Fansler and Sonia Dave handled the prosecution. The core mission of the National Fraud Enforcement Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The National Fraud Enforcement Division will fulfill that mission by coordinating with agencies responsible for administering benefit programs; partnering with federal, tribal, state, territorial, and local law enforcement on fraud-fighting efforts; developing systems and processes that ensure efficient identification of fraud against taxpayer dollars; and equipping prosecutors and law enforcement with state-of-the-art tools and resources needed to bring criminal actors to justice. The attorneys in the National Fraud Enforcement Division will work every day to protect the financial integrity of our government and the tax system that supports it. Department of Justice efforts support President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form Case Number: 1-23-cr-00300-CNS


title: North Hollywood Drug Dealer Who Sold Ketamine that Killed Actor Matthew Perry Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley woman was sentenced today to 180 months in federal prison for her long-running drug dealing activities, including selling ketamine that contributed to at least two deaths, including the overdose death of actor Matthew Perry in October 2023. Jasveen Sangha, 42, a.k.a. “Ketamine Queen,” of North Hollywood, was sentenced by United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett. Sangha pleaded guilty in September 2025 to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Sangha is a dual citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom and has been in federal custody since August 2024. “For years…Sangha operated a high-volume drug trafficking business out of her North Hollywood residence,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “To cultivate her business, [Sangha] marketed herself as an exclusive dealer who catered to high-profile Hollywood clientele…While [Sangha] worked to expand and profit from her drug trafficking, she knew – and disregarded – the grave harm her conduct was causing.” According to court documents, Sangha worked with Erik Fleming, 56, of Hawthorne, to knowingly distribute ketamine to Perry, a successful actor and author whose struggles with drug addiction were well documented. In October 2023, Sangha and Fleming sold Perry 51 vials of ketamine, which were provided to Kenneth Iwamasa, 61, of Toluca Lake, Perry’s live-in personal assistant. Leading up to Perry’s death, Iwamasa repeatedly injected Perry with the ketamine that Sangha supplied to Fleming. Specifically, on October 28, 2023, Iwamasa injected Perry with at least three shots of Sangha’s ketamine, which caused Perry’s death. After learning from news reports of Perry’s death, Sangha called Fleming on the Signal app to discuss how to distance themselves from it. That day, Sangha updated the settings on the Signal apps to automatically delete her messages with Fleming. She further instructed Fleming to “Delete all our messages.” Two days after Perry’s death, Fleming left Sangha a voicemail on Signal and texted, “Please call . . . Got more info and want to bounce ideas off you. I’m 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry]. Only his Assistant. So the Assistant was the enabler. Also they are doing a 3 month tox screening . . . Does K stay in your system or is it immediately flushed out[?].” In August 2019, Sangha sold four vials ketamine to victim Cody McLaury, who died hours later from a drug overdose. In March 2024, law enforcement searched the residence and found thousands of pressed methamphetamine pills, 79 vials of liquid ketamine, MDMA (Ecstasy) tablets, counterfeit Xanax pills, baggies containing powdered ketamine and cocaine, and other drug trafficking items such as a gold money counting machine, a scale, a wireless signal and hidden camera detector, drug packaging materials, and $5,723 in cash. Sangha also used her North Hollywood residence to store, package, and distribute narcotics, including ketamine and methamphetamine, since at least June 2019. Besides Sangha, the following defendants have been sentenced in this case: Salvador Plasencia, 44, a.k.a. “Dr. P,” of Santa Monica, is serving a 30-month prison sentence after pleading guilty in July 2025 to four counts of distribution of ketamine. He surrendered his California medical license in September 2025. Plasencia repeatedly sold vials of ketamine to Perry despite knowing Perry’s well-documented history of drug addiction and that Perry’s personal assistant was administering the drug without medical training or supervision. Mark Chavez, 55, of San Diego, was sentenced to three years of probation, eight months of home detention, and was ordered to perform 300 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Chavez operated a ketamine clinic and sold the drug to Plasencia, who then distributed it to Perry. Chavez surrendered his medical license in November 2024. Iwamasa and Fleming are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months. Each of them pleaded guilty in August 2024 to federal narcotics charges. The Los Angeles Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian V. Yanniello of the National Security Division and Haoxiaohan H. Cai of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Previously Deported Guatemalan National with Murder for Hire Conviction Admits Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced MARIO RAMIRO ARAGON-RUANO, also known as Mario Ramiro Aragon and Jose Juana-Zapata, 43, a citizen of Guatemala, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to unlawful reentry of a removed alien. According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2006, Aragon-Ruano, using the name Jose Juana-Zapata, was encountered by U.S. Border Patrol in Arizona. He was deported to Guatemala later that month and warned that he could not return to the U.S. for a period of five years. He subsequently reentered the U.S. and was arrested in 2007. In August 2008, Aragon-Ruano was convicted, under the name Mario Ramiro Aragon, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on a federal charge of murder for hire, and was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment . In September 2013, he was again deported to Guatemala. In July 2019, U.S. Border Patrol encountered Aragon-Ruano in Arizona. In January 2020, he was convicted in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported and he was sentenced to 13 months and one day of imprisonment. He was deported to Guatemala a third time in July 2020. Aragon-Ruano subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. On January 10, 2026, he was arrested by Waterbury Police and charged with criminal trespass in the first degree and breach of peace in the second degree. After Aragon-Ruano was released on bond on those state charges, he was arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations on January 12, 2026, in Waterbury. Aragon-Ruano has been detained since his arrest. Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for July 1, 2026, at which time Aragon-Ruano faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: New Jersey Tax Preparer Sentenced to 144 Months in Prison for $170 Million COVID-19 Tax Credit Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK N.J. – A New Jersey tax preparer who sought more than $170 million in fraudulent COVID-19-related tax refunds was sentenced today to 144 Months in prison and 5 years of supervised release before the Honorable William J. Martini, in Newark federal court, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Haynes was also ordered to pay more than $55 million in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Following a six-day jury trial in November 2025 before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark federal court, Leon Haynes, 52, of Teaneck, was convicted of 15 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of false tax returns, one count of mail fraud, and two counts of tax evasion. This is the largest COVID-19 tax relief fraud case to be tried to date in the country. “Pandemic relief programs were created to support Americans during a national crisis, but Haynes—a tax preparer entrusted to help people comply with the law—treated those programs as a personal cash machine. Our office will continue to pursue those who exploit emergency relief programs and hold them accountable for stealing from the American people.” - U.S. Attorney Rob Frazer According to documents in this case and evidence at trial: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, Congress authorized an employee retention tax credit and sick and family leave credit that small businesses could use to help keep their business afloat and employees on payroll. From November 2020 to May 2023, Haynes orchestrated a massive, multimillion dollar scam to exploit those COVID-related tax credits for his own greed. As a tax preparer, Haynes prepared and submitted, and worked with others to prepare and submit, more than 1,900 false employment tax returns to the IRS claiming COVID-related tax credits on behalf of himself and his clients. Each of these tax forms contained a number of false statements. For example, the vast majority of the tax forms claimed a fictitious number of employees and/or fabricated wages. Haynes and his co-conspirators fraudulently sought more than $170 million in tax refunds on behalf of his own businesses and his clients and successfully caused the government to pay out over $55 million in refunds . Throughout the scheme Haynes also charged clients a percentage of the refund checks as his fee and requested cash payments. He failed to report the money he received from his clients, thereby evading his own taxes. U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer credited special agents the IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amy Connelly, and postal inspectors from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen, Philadelphia Division, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fatime Meka Cano, Matthew Stark, and Peter A. Laserna of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Newark. The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. The Department of Justice has established the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The core mission of the National Fraud Enforcement Division is to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars. The National Fraud Enforcement Division will fulfill that mission by coordinating with agencies responsible for administering benefit programs; partnering with federal, tribal, state, territorial, and local law enforcement on fraud-fighting efforts; developing systems and processes that ensure efficient identification of fraud against taxpayer dollars; and equipping prosecutors and law enforcement with state-of-the-art tools and resources needed to bring criminal actors to justice. The attorneys in the National Fraud Enforcement Division will work every day to protect the financial integrity of our government and the tax system that supports it. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . ### Defense Counsel for Haynes: Michael Koribanics, Esq., and Vando Cardoso, Esq.


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Black-Market Peso Exchange Money Laundering Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Mexican national pleaded guilty yesterday to participating in a two-year, multimillion-dollar trade-based money laundering conspiracy that moved drug trafficking proceeds through Texas to Mexico. According to court documents, Gabriel Arturo Castillo, 52, of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, participated in a sophisticated, international money laundering conspiracy to transfer proceeds from the sale of illegal drugs in the United States to cartels in Mexico without physically transporting money across the U.S.-Mexico border. The conspirators concealed those funds through the movement of goods between the two countries. As part of the black-market peso exchange scheme, the criminal conspiracy received large quantities of United States dollar drug proceeds in various cities in the United States. The proceeds then either were deposited into various bank accounts or transported to Laredo, Texas. From there, the drug proceeds were sold to Mexican business owners in Mexico who used the U.S. currency to purchase products from stores in the United States, including perfume sellers. Once the businesses received payment, the merchandise purchased by the Mexican business operators was transported from Laredo to Mexico. Finally, Mexican business operators paid for the drug proceeds by transferring pesos in Mexico to the drug trafficking organizations. By doing so, the conspirators sought to conceal the source of the drug proceeds and to allow the Mexico-based drug dealers to receive their profits in their native currency, pesos. “For years, Gabriel Arturo Castillo agreed to launder millions of dollars in drug proceeds through an intricate trade-based money laundering system,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Cartels are motivated by profit, and these financial facilitators promote their deadly drug trafficking and endanger lives, legitimate business, and trade. The devastating effects of this transnational crime are vast and wide ranging. This conviction sends a clear message that the Criminal Division will pursue narcotraffickers as well as those who enable their crimes.” “Castillo and his co-conspirators all played a critical role in laundering millions of dollars in drug proceeds through an intricate trade-based money laundering scheme,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “This plea is yet another step we are taking to dismantle the financial networks that fuel violence and narcotics trafficking along our southern border. We will continue to follow the money trail until all participants in this organization are held accountable.” “Gabriel Castillo played a key role for years in hiding drug trafficking proceeds using complex money laundering schemes,” said Special Agent in Charge Miguel Madrigal of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) San Antonio Division. “Castillo helped facilitate the concealment of drug profits through elaborate laundering operations. But once DEA agents in Laredo started their investigation, they swiftly identified the cartel's activities, leading to justice and ending the criminal schemes that empower their operations.” “The specific type of scheme they used is called a black-market peso exchange, versions of which existed for decades and can be as complex as the concept is old,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodrick Benton of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “We were able to follow the money to unravel how merchandise was purchased from U.S. businesses near the border and then sold in Mexico for a predetermined price. You can’t hide your ill-gotten gains from a law enforcement agency dedicated to following the money.” Castillo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7 and faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The DEA and IRS-CI are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Keith Liddle and Stephanie Williamson of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Watt and Amanda Gould for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and August 2025 extradition of Castillo. MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations. MNF’s Money Laundering and Forfeiture Unit investigates and prosecutes sophisticated money laundering schemes involving financial facilitators, gatekeepers, and other individuals and entities laundering criminal proceeds, and litigates complex civil forfeiture cases to recover assets on behalf of victims.


title: Maryland Man Admits to Sex Trafficking

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Temple Hills, Maryland man has admitted to sex trafficking between Virginia and Martinsburg, West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew L. Harvey. Rodney Dale Johnson, 47, pled guilty today to sex trafficking. According to court documents and statements made in court, Johnson transported the victim from Virginia to Martinsburg, West Virginia to engage in sex acts at a hotel. Johnson used threats, threats of force, and coercion with the victim. Johnson faces 15 years to life. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI and the West Virginia State Police investigated. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.


title: Cincinnati man who supplied methamphetamine to area drug dealers sentenced to 10 years in prison

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Quinten McCommons, 36, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 120 months in prison for possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, McCommons was a source of supply of methamphetamine for numerous street-level drug traffickers throughout the greater Cincinnati region. In October 2023 and November 2023, McCommons distributed methamphetamine that was lab-confirmed to be between 81 percent and 98 percent pure crystal methamphetamine. He conducted drug sales transactions at the Beechmont Mall. When law enforcement officials searched McCommons’s residence, they discovered methamphetamine, digital scales and more than $2,300 in cash. McCommons has prior local convictions for aggravated drug trafficking, aggravated possession of drugs and possession of marijuana, as well as aggravated assault, domestic violence, disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing. The defendant was arrested in November 2023 and pleaded guilty in October 2025 to possessing with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Joseph O. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Detroit; and officials with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. Assistant United States Attorney David P. Dornette is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Collin County man sentenced to federal prison as part of Operation Take Back America for robbing firearms store

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A McKinney man has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison in connection with the robbery of a firearms store in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Brandon Elliott Bennett, 22, pleaded guilty to conspiracy of theft from a federal firearm licensee and theft from a federal firearm licensee and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on April 7, 2026. According to information presented in court, on May 5, 2024, Bennett conspired with others to rob Mister Guns, a licensed gun store in Plano, by ramming a vehicle into the front entrance of the business, knocking off the entrance door and causing extensive damage to the storefront. Once inside, Bennett smashed several glass display cases with a sledgehammer, and stole over 60 firearms, including rifles, handguns, and pistols. Bennett fled the scene and later sold the firearms for profit. 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chalana A. Oliver. ###


title: Johnstown Resident Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 144 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan imposed the sentence on Jonathan Brunson, 54. According to information presented to the Court, from in and around April 2019 to July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Brunson conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, 28 grams or more of crack, 40 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, and quantities of heroin and cocaine. Additionally, at different times during the first half of 2021, Brunson possessed with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine and a quantity of a mixture of fentanyl. Brunson was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others as part of a Homeland Security Task Force investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Brunson. Additional agencies participating in the investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. 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.


title: Four-Time Convicted Felon Indicted for Possessing with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – Skyler Palmer (31, Tampa) has been charged by indictment with one count of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. If convicted of all charges, Palmer faces a minimum sentence of 17 years, up to life, in federal prison. According to the indictment, on August 8, 2025, Palmer possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute it. He also possessed two firearms in furtherance of that drug offense. Palmer has previously been convicted of four felonies, including a prior firearm offense. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).


title: Illegal alien indicted for gun possession

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging an illegal alien from Mexico with having a firearm. According to court documents, Luis Estrada-Andrade, 22, was indicted on one count of possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case. OTHER INDICTMENTS Alfredo Bustamante-Pineda, 46, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. Francisco Javier Gandarilla-Baray, 35, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. Alexis Guzman-Olea, 22, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of reentry of previously removed alien. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Rask is prosecuting the case. Apolonio Melesio-Rios, 48, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Fadler is prosecuting the case. Edgar Montoya-Jakes, 45, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of reentry of a previously removed alien convicted of an aggravated felony. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case. Santiago Ramos-Zeferino, 37, an illegal alien from Mexico was indicted on one count of unlawful reentry after deportation. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jabari Wamble is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Twice Deported Ecuadorian National Previously Convicted of Sex Abuse, Other Offenses, Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering U.S.

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE RAUL MAITA, 55, a citizen of Ecuador, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to unlawful reentry of a removed alien. According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 1996, Maita was granted status as a legal permanent resident in the United States following approval of an application based on his marriage to a U.S. citizen. In February 1998, Maita was convicted in Westchester County Court in New York of sexual abuse first degree involving sexual contact by forcible compulsion. The victim of the offense was nine years old. Maita was sentenced to five years of probation and was required to register as a sex offender. In November 2000, Maita was convicted in New York of failure to register as a sex offender. In August 2001, he was convicted of driving while intoxicated and for violating his probation stemming from his sexual abuse conviction. Maita’s probation was revoked and he was sentenced to one year of incarceration. In October 2003, Maita was deported to Ecuador. Maita illegally reentered the U.S. and, in November 2006, he was convicted in Westchester County Court of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. In April 2007, he was convicted in New York of failure to register as a sex offender. In April 2008, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Maita and, in October 2008, he was convicted in the Southern District of New York of unlawful reentry. In August 2009, Maita was again removed to Ecuador. He subsequently unlawfully reentered the U.S. On September 20, 2025, Maita, who identified himself as “Jose P. Maita” and provided a false date of birth, was arrested by the Connecticut State Police in Southbury on charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle without a license and illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Maita was subsequently released on bond. On November 4, 2025, the U.S. District Court in New Haven issued a criminal complaint charging Maita with unlawful reentry. Maita was located and arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations on March 18, 2026, in Waterbury. He has been detained since his arrest. Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for July 2, at which time Maita faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. This matter is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.


title: Former Army Employee and Top Secret Clearance Holder Arrested and Charged with Leaking Classified National Defense Information

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: The FBI arrested Courtney Williams, 40, of Wagram, North Carolina yesterday and a federal grand jury indicted her today in connection with her alleged transmission of classified national defense information to individuals not authorized to receive it, including a journalist (the Journalist). Williams allegedly violated 18 U.S.C. § 793(d). “Clearance holders accept a solemn obligation to protect the classified information entrusted to them,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. “That they do so is critical to the security of our Nation. When clearance holders violate that trust, the National Security Division will act swiftly to hold them accountable.” “We trust our war fighting individuals to cooperate as a team to protect our military and country,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Ellis Boyle. “We will pursue criminal charges to keep these warriors safe whenever we find leakers exalting their own feelings over the safety of the United States.” “Courtney Williams swore an oath to safeguard our nation’s secrets as an employee supporting a Special Military Unit of the Army, but she allegedly betrayed that oath by sharing classified information with a media outlet and putting our nation, our warfighters, and our allies at risk,” said Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Division. “This indictment should serve as a stark warning to all current and former clearance holders thinking of violating their positions of trust. If you jeopardize our national security by disclosing classified information without authorization, the FBI will hold you accountable for your crimes.” “The tradecraft, tactics, and techniques used by the U.S. military unit in this case are classified and should be shared only with those with proper clearances and a need to know in order to protect American lives and safeguard classified National Defense information,” said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina. “These are serious accusations. Anyone divulging information they vowed to protect to a reporter for publication is reckless, self-serving and damages our nation’s security.” According to court documents, from 2010 to 2016, Williams worked for a Special Military Unit (SMU) and held a Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance. As a clearance holder, Williams received training as to the proper handling, safeguarding, and storage of classified information. Williams also signed a Classified Nondisclosure Agreement which, in relevant part, confirmed her understanding that the unauthorized disclosure of classified information could constitute a criminal offense. In her role at the SMU, Williams had daily access to a broad range of classified information. As alleged, between 2022 and 2025, Williams repeatedly communicated with the Journalist via telephone and text messages. During this period, Williams and the Journalist had over 10 hours of telephone calls and exchanged more than 180 messages. In one such message, the Journalist identified themselves as a journalist and stated that they sought information about the SMU in support of an upcoming article and book. After these communications with Williams, the Journalist published a book and article that named Williams as a source and attributed specific statements to her. Some of these statements contained classified national defense information. In addition to her disclosures to the Journalist, Williams also made unauthorized disclosures of national defense information via her social media accounts. On the day the article and book were published, Williams exchanged several messages with the Journalist. In one such message, Williams stated that she was “concerned about the amount of classified information being disclosed.” In a separate message to a third party, Williams added that, “I might actually get arrested . . . for disclosing classified information.” In a subsequent message, Williams citied a statutory provision of the Espionage Act. And when asked how she knew that she may face legal consequences for her disclosures to the Journalist, Williams responded, “I have known my entire career,” adding that “they tell you everyday . . . 100 times a day.” Finally, in a message to a different third party, Williams stated that she was “probably going to jail for life.” The FBI Charlotte Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Logan Liles for the Eastern District of North Carolina and Trial Attorneys Menno Goedman and Matt Hracho of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.