title: Defendant Sentenced to 36 Months for Fraud and Witness Tampering

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Richland, WA - First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano, announced that on May 21, 2026, Ahmad K. Bachay, age 40, of San Diego, California, was sentenced after having pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and witness tampering. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Bachay to a 36-month term of imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of court supervision after he is released from federal prison. Judge Dimke also ordered Bachay to pay restitution in the amount of $400,805 and forfeiture of $85,277. According to court proceedings, in February 2019, the FBI opened an official investigation into allegations that Bachay and others were involved in a scheme to defraud insurance companies and obtain money and property by staging automobile accidents, and filing false and fraudulent claims with insurance companies. As part of the investigation, the FBI used a confidential human source (CHS) who covertly recorded conversations with individuals suspected of being involved in the staged accident scheme. The CHS provided information to the FBI regarding violations and suspected violations of the Federal criminal laws. In May 2020, the FBI executed warrants to search residences in Washington and California for evidence of federal crimes. Following the execution of search warrants, a number of Defendants, including Bachay, attempted to identify who was cooperating with the FBI. On December 21, 2020, Bachay, used the threat of physical force against a person, by telling “John Doe”, an individual who was assisting the FBI in an ongoing investigation, that Bachay would identify and kill a particular person’s family in Iraq if that person was working with the FBI. On January 3, 2021, Bachay telephoned “John Doe” and accused “John Doe” of carelessly discussing the staged accidents with other individuals in the Iraqi community. “John Doe” later reported to the FBI that Bachay verbally threatened “John Doe” stating that he would travel to Eastern Washington to kill “John Doe” and “John Doe’s” family. Prior to the grand jury returning the indictment, Bachay, his wife, and children, left the United States. Bachay was considered a federal fugitive until his arrest on May 17, 2024, in the United Kingdom. After 16 months of resisting his return to the United States, Bachay was extradited back to the Eastern District of Washington. First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano said, “Staged collisions, like those involved in this case, make our streets dangerous, unnecessarily divert first responders’ attention and resources, and increase insurance premiums for all of us. Bachay’s attempts to undermine justice by threating to kill others and moving half-way across the world were unsuccessful thanks to our federal and state law enforcement and private industry partners who worked tirelessly to hold this fraud perpetrator accountable. This great resolution is a win for tax payers and insurance premium payers.” “Over the course of several years, Mr. Bachay conspired with multiple others to defraud insurance companies with false claims, risking the safety of those involved in the staged collisions while wasting the time and resources of first responders who should have been assisting people with real emergencies," said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. "Even worse, he threatened to kill a suspected witness and his family, then fled overseas for more than a year to evade the law. As this case demonstrates, staged auto accidents are serious crimes with real victims and real consequences." This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the National Insurance Crime Bureau. This case was prosecuted by Brandon Pang, Patrick Cashman and former AUSA George Jacobs. 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-5


title: Illegal alien from Honduras sentenced to over three years in prison for illegally reentering the United States after multiple deportations and drug convictions

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Honduran national was sentenced on May 20 to three years and four months in prison for illegally reentering the United States after previously being removed from the country twice. According to court documents, in 1997, Franklin Geovany Alvarez-Villanueva, 54, was convicted of assault and possession of a controlled substance in Fairfax County. In 2000, Alvarez-Villanueva was convicted of grand larceny and distribution of controlled substances in Fairfax County. Alvarez-Villanueva was removed from the United States on Oct. 18, 2002. Alvarez-Villanueva illegally reentered the United States and in 2013 was convicted for possession with intent to manufacture or sell cocaine. In 2015, Alvarez-Villanueva was convicted of unlawful reentry after removal subsequent to the conviction of an aggravated felony. He was removed from the United States again on June 30, 2017. Alvarez-Villanueva again illegally reentered the United States and, in 2025, was convicted of possession of cocaine in Fairfax County. On Feb. 18, Alvarez-Villanueva pled guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia to illegally reentering the United States. He remains subject to the previous order of removal. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Washington, D.C., investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob A. Mercer prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-cr-3.


title: Oro Valley Man Charged with Wire Fraud and Money Laundering for Defrauding Investors in Business Scheme

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Brandon Aaron Kreutz, formerly known as Brandon Aaron Moushey, 40, of Oro Valley, Arizona, was arrested Tuesday after being charged by criminal complaint with Wire Fraud and Money Laundering. Kreutz made an initial appearance Wednesday in federal court. Kreutz is alleged to have operated under business names Brandon Kreutz Custom LLC, Brandon Kreutz Custom LLC, dba BKC Firearms, Balor Defense LLC, Vice Manufacturing, and Vice Fitness Inc., and defrauded three victims of approximately $10.9 million between May 2023, through the present. According to the complaint, Kreutz told victims he was a former U.S. Government subcontractor and holder of a patent-pending firearms device with contracts to produce it. He further told the victims that he was party to multi-million-dollar contracts with foreign governments for the purchase of the device. Kreutz allegedly made false claims to secure loans from the victims, saying that loan proceeds would be used to fund the device’s production and sale to the foreign entities, ultimately yielding high returns and repayments of the loans. In reality, Kreutz did not apply for a patent on the device nor had the equipment to produce it. Furthermore, he had not secured manufacturing contracts nor lucrative contracts to purchase the device. Instead, the funds were used on a million-dollar personal residence, upgrades to the residence, dozens of luxury and exotic vehicles, a race car and membership in a racing club, travel, and firearms and accessories. Kreutz further concealed some of the victims’ funds in health and wellness business ventures and bank accounts owned by close associates. Anyone with information regarding this alleged scheme or who may have fallen victim to the scheme are encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov. The FBI Phoenix Division’s Tucson Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation are conducting the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Feldmeier, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. CASE NUMBER: 26-MJ-2189 RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-081_Kreutz # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Filed 114 Border-Related Cases This Week

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California filed 114 border-related cases this week, including charges of bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is the fourth-busiest federal district, largely due to a high volume of border-related crimes. This district, encompassing San Diego and Imperial counties, shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing, connecting San Diego (America’s eighth largest city) and Tijuana (Mexico’s second largest city). In addition to reactive border-related crimes, the Southern District of California also prosecutes a significant number of proactive cases related to terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and national security. Recent developments in those and other significant areas of prosecution can be found here . A sample of border-related arrests this week: On May 15, Jose Alberto Garcia Zamudio, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Importation of a Controlled Substance. According to a complaint, Customs and Border Protection officers found more than 466 pounds of cocaine concealed in the gas tank of a commercial passenger bus driven by the defendant. Garcia, who had applied for entry to the U.S. at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, admitted being paid $13,000 to smuggle narcotics into the U.S. On May 19, Ashley Aremy Ruiz, a U.S. citizen, was arrested and charged with Attempted Transportation of Illegal Aliens and Conspiracy to Transport Aliens. According to a complaint, Ruiz was taken into custody at Costco in Chula Vista when she attempted to pick up an alien from a smuggler who had been caught with the alien in his trunk while trying to cross into the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry. On May 20, Federico Cruz Alverdin, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested and charged with Deported Alien Found in the United States. According to a complaint, Border Patrol agents found the defendant hiding in a tree about half a mile north of the border and 13 miles east of the Tecate Port of Entry. He was previously deported to Mexico on May 1, 2026, through Phoenix, Arizona. The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with the support and assistance of state and local law enforcement partners. Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Illegal alien with multiple felony convictions, indicted for returning to the United States after being previously deported

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: TYLER, Texas – A Mexican national has been charged with unlawfully returning to the United States, announced Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs. Julio Zamudio-Ramirez, 33, was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury this week in the Eastern District of Texas charging him with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. The indictment alleges that in August 2025, Zamudio-Ramirez was in the Gregg County jail for abandoning or endangering a child, when it was determined that he was a citizen of Mexico and in the United States illegally after having been previously deported to Mexico. Zamudio-Ramirez had previously been removed from the United States on June 6, 2020, following a Gregg County conviction in 2016 for delivery of a controlled substance. Zamudio-Ramirez also has a Gregg County conviction for burglary of a vehicle from 2013. If convicted, Zamudio-Ramirez faces up to 10 years in federal prison and deportation. 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 is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Noble. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Defendant Sentenced to 15 Years for Carjacking and Weapons Offenses

body_text: Richland, Washington – First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano announced that on May 21, 2026, United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Hector David Flores, age 29, of Kennewick, WA, to 15 years in federal prison for Carjacking, Brandishing a Firearm in Commission of a Crime of Violence, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Judge Dimke imposed 5 years of federal supervision upon Flores’ release from custody. According to court documents, on June 10, 2025, Benton County Deputies observed Flores driving a vehicle just east of the Duportail Bridge in Richland. Deputies had been involved in an incident less than a week before, where Flores assaulted two deputies, and escaped by fleeing the scene in a vehicle. Anticipating that Flores would flee again, spike strips were deployed in an attempt to disable his vehicle. Despite successfully puncturing both front tires, Flores fled. Minutes later, his vehicle was reported abandoned in a nearby neighborhood. As deputies responded to the area, Flores was observed as a passenger in a truck. It was later learned that Flores had approached a good Samaritan and requested a ride to Pasco. The good Samaritan agreed. However, after a sheriff’s vehicle attempted to stop the truck, Flores pulled a loaded firearm, pointed it at the good Samaritan, and commanded him to keep driving. Instead, the good Samaritan was able to push the firearm away, bring the truck to a stop, and run to safety, advising officers of the firearm in the process. Flores stole the vehicle and drove away. Deputies pursued Flores in a high-speed chase, where Flores weaved in and out of traffic, and drove in the wrong lane of travel. Based on the incredible risk of harm posed by Flores, Deputies employed a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver, which ultimately allowed the pursuit to end. Flores was taken into custody. Inside the vehicle, Deputies located three loaded firearms, one of which was stolen, 32 grams of methamphetamine, 62 grams of fentanyl, baggies, a scale and approximately $1,200 in cash, and Flores’s wallet and identification. “In Washington, criminals have been emboldened by bad legislation that encourages the belief that they can elude law enforcement, evade capture, and avoid consequences,” stated First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano. “This case serves to show that my office, alongside our local law enforcement partners and federal agencies, will not let that happen. We will every tool possible to put an end to violent acts, protect our communities, especially our good Samaritans, and hold that criminals accountable.” “The victim in this case was simply trying to lend a helping hand to a stranger in need, and, in the process, became the target of the type of violent crime that continues to plague our community,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “Fortunately, the victim was able to escape, and the unrelenting pursuit of local law enforcement brought Flores into custody without any other citizen being harmed. ATF is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to put an end to this type of violence.” This case was initially investigated by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Richland Police Department. The case was formally adopted for federal prosecution by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Brandon Pang, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. 4:25-cr-6032-MKD-1


title: Police Officer Charged with Child Exploitation Crimes Involving Multiple Minor Victims

body_text: SAN DIEGO – A federal grand jury indictment was unsealed in San Diego today charging Brandon McGibbon, a San Diego Police Officer, with five counts of child sexual abuse offenses involving three minor victims. According to court records, between October 25 and November 6, 2025, McGibbon engaged in the attempted receipt and production of child pornography and the attempted enticement and coercion of the minors to engage in obscene matter and sexual conduct. Special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the cooperation of the San Diego Police Department, led the investigation. This case is the result of the ongoing efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit and was done with the collaboration of the San Diego District Attorney’s Office. Formed in April 2025, the SVU is tasked with leading collaborations between federal and local law enforcement in the investigation and prosecution of cases involving sex trafficking and child exploitation, civil rights, and labor trafficking. McGibbon is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Brammell and Lyndzie M. Carter. DEFENDANT Case Number 26cr1939-JO Brandon McGibbon Age: 33 San Diego, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography – 18 USC § 2252(a)(2) Maximum penalty: Five-year mandatory minimum and up to life Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor – 18 USC § 2251(a) Maximum penalty: Ten-year mandatory minimum and up to life Attempted Enticement of a Minor – 18 USC § 2422(b) Maximum penalty: Fifteen-year mandatory minimum and up to life INVESTIGATING AGENCY Federal Bureau of Investigation *The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Man Convicted on Federal Robbery and Firearm Charges Following Armed Crime Spree in Montgomery

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: On May 20, 2026, a jury convicted 24-year-old Rayshon Frances Demonta Hall, of Montgomery, Alabama, on multiple federal robbery and firearm charges, announced Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Sara J. Jones with the FBI Mobile, Alabama Field Office. “Armed robberies place innocent employees and customers in danger and create fear throughout the community,” said Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. “This verdict demonstrates that those who choose to terrorize businesses with violence and firearms will be held accountable in federal court.” “FBI Mobile is focused on protecting our neighborhoods from violent crime and the fear it creates,” said Special Agent in Charge Jones. “We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who threaten public safety.” According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Hall and 21-year-old co-defendant Najari Denarka Mitchell carried out a series of armed robberies targeting three Montgomery businesses over a four-day period. The crime spree began on August 1, 2025, when the defendants robbed a fast-food restaurant on Troy Highway while threatening an employee with a firearm. The following day, the pair committed a similar robbery at an auto parts store on Fairview Avenue. On August 4, 2025, Hall and Mitchell robbed a gas station on Troy Highway. At the conclusion of his three-day trial, the jury found Hall guilty of three counts of robbery and three counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. At sentencing, Hall faces a sentence of 21 years to life in federal prison without the possibility of parole. Mitchell previously pleaded guilty to his role in three robberies and one attempted robbery involving Hall. In addition, Mitchell pleaded guilty to four other armed robberies he committed in Montgomery before partnering with Hall, along with two charges for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a federal crime of violence. Those robberies targeted a cell phone store on June 5, 2025; the same Troy Highway gas station on June 20, 2025; a gas station on Eastern Boulevard on June 24, 2025; and another gas station on Virginia Loop Road on July 28, 2025. Mitchell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 26, 2026. Per his plea agreement, Mitchell is facing a sentence of 300 months in prison. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Montgomery Police Department, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and Eric M. Counts. This case is part of Operation Take Back America (OTBA) and the Middle District of Alabama’s Violent Offender Intervention and Deterrence (VOID) program. OTBA is 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. VOID aims to reduce violent crime by enhancing coordination, communication, and collaboration with law enforcement partners. The program focuses on working directly with local agencies and traditional federal partners to prosecute violent offenders and armed felons, dismantle drug trafficking organizations, and build proactive cases targeting gangs and repeat violent offenders. VOID prioritizes the most serious violent crime cases and fosters close working relationships with state and local prosecutors and law enforcement throughout the Montgomery River Region.


title: Former Senior Vice President of Atlanta Housing Authority Sentenced to Prison for Housing Assistance Fraud and Pandemic Relief Fraud

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Tracy Jones, a former Senior Vice President at the Atlanta Housing Authority, has been sentenced to prison and ordered to pay restitution for a scheme to fraudulently collect Section 8 housing assistance payments for her own rental property and family members, making fraudulent applications to collect pandemic relief funds, and committing mortgage fraud when refinancing her rental property. “Jones violated the trust of the community, the taxpayers, and the needy families she was supposed to assist, using her senior position at one of the largest housing authorities to steal limited public funds,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Her theft of that money meant other members of the community went without much-needed relief. Our office will continue to vigorously act to hold people like Jones, who violate the public trust and pilfer from the treasury, accountable.” “Tracy Jones abused a position of trust by diverting funds from multiple federal programs, undermining assistance intended for vulnerable communities and struggling businesses during the pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Jerome Winkle with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who exploit HUD-funded programs for personal gain.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From April 2017 to the time of her guilty plea in this case, Jones served as Senior Vice President over the Housing Choice Voucher Program at the Atlanta Housing Authority, overseeing one of the largest Section 8 programs in the country. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds Section 8 programs, including rental assistance payments to landlords on behalf of low-income families and individuals. Section 8 funds are limited, and there is often a long waiting list of low-income families seeking acceptance into the program. Housing authority staff are generally prohibited from receiving Section 8 payments for their own properties, and Section 8 landlords are typically prohibited from leasing to their own family members. Instead of upholding the integrity of the housing assistance program, Jones defrauded the program by using a series of falsified forms to have her family members admitted to the Section 8 program and then to receive Section 8 payments for them to live in her own rental house. To conceal her identity, Jones used a fake name and a shell business entity to execute housing authority documents. As a result, she improperly obtained more than $36,000 of Section 8 funds. Jones then obstructed subsequent investigations by submitting a false affidavit and convincing friends to lie and present false documents on her behalf. At the same time, Jones used her shell business and another business to collect more than $27,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s COVID-19 pandemic relief programs, falsely claiming that the businesses were functioning, had multiple employees, and received over $56,000 of gross revenues in 2019. When the SBA denied one of Jones’s applications, she appealed the denial, falsely stating: “I am truly a[n] honest business owner[.]” “I hear the stories how people abused the PPP loans to establish a lavish lif[e] style. That is not me. My business is small and is growing, but I [am] one of the legitimate and honest business that can use all the help I can.” “I also serve a community of low income families in my business, renting one of my three homes to a low income family as well as serve other owners of low income rental properties.” Jones also committed mortgage fraud when she refinanced her Section 8 rental property, falsely claiming on her application for a $219,780 loan that the property was her primary residence, that the residence was not a rental property, and that she did not own any other property. On May 20, 2026, Tracy Denise Jones, 61, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 9 months in prison to be followed by 9 months of home detention and 15 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $65,598.80 and a fine of $63,546. She pled guilty on February 2, 2026, to conspiracy to commit theft of government funds, wire fraud, and credit application fraud. This case was investigated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett L. Bradford prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus 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 . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Feeding Our Future Ringleader Sentenced to 500 Months

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Aimee Bock has been sentenced to 500 months in prison for her lead role in a $250 million fraud scheme that exploited a federally funded child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. As proven at trial, Aimee Bock, 44, was the founder and executive director of Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit organization that was a sponsor participating in the Federal Child Nutrition Program. Salim Said, 36, former co-owner of Safari Restaurant, was jointly tried with Bock. Together, they oversaw a massive fraud scheme carried out by sites under Feeding Our Future’s sponsorship. “Over forty-one years in prison is the cost this fraudster will pay for stealing from children,” said Colin M. McDonald, Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division. “Rather than using taxpayer funds intended to feed vulnerable children, the defendant instead pocketed the money to buy luxury vehicles, residential and commercial real estate in Minnesota, and finance international travel. As this prison sentence makes clear, Minnesota fraudsters should be on high alert—justice is on the move.” "Aimee Bock and her co-conspirators orchestrated one of the largest frauds against a social service program ever in Minnesota," said FBI Minneapolis Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "The hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars stolen through Bock's scheme were meant to help children and families in need. Defrauding programs designed to feed hungry children is despicable and the sentence handed down today underscores that fact. Complex fraud investigations are at the heart of the FBI's work. Our Special Agents, Forensic Accountants, Analysts, and professional staff will continue to work tenaciously with our law enforcement partners to protect the American taxpayer and families in need from frauds like these." As proven at trial, Feeding Our Future employees recruited individuals and entities to open Federal Child Nutrition Program sites throughout the state of Minnesota. These sites, created and operated by Bock, Said, and others, fraudulently claimed to be serving meals to thousands of children a day within just days or weeks of being formed. Bock and Said created and submitted false documentation, including fraudulent meal counts consisting of fake attendance rosters purporting to list the names and ages of the children receiving meals at the sites each day. Feeding Our Future submitted these fraudulent claims to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and then disbursed the fraudulently obtained Federal Child Nutrition Program funds to their co-conspirators involved in the scheme. To accomplish their scheme, Bock and her co-conspirators created dozens of shell companies to enroll in the program as food program sites, and to receive and launder the proceeds of their fraudulent scheme. In exchange for sponsoring these sites’ fraudulent participation in the program, Feeding Our Future received more than $18 million in administrative fees to which it was not entitled. In addition to the administrative fees, Feeding Our Future employees solicited and received bribes and kickbacks from individuals and companies sponsored by Feeding Our Future. Many of these kickbacks were paid in cash or disguised as “consulting fees” paid to shell companies created by Feeding Our Future employees to make them appear legitimate. In total, Feeding Our Future opened more than 250 Federal Child Nutrition Program sites throughout the state of Minnesota, and in doing so, went from receiving and disbursing approximately $3.4 million in federal funds in 2019 to nearly $200 million in 2021. Throughout the course of their scheme, Feeding Our Future fraudulently obtained and disbursed more than $240 million in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds. The defendants used the proceeds of their fraudulent scheme to purchase luxury vehicles, residential and commercial real estate in Minnesota, and to fund international travel. In pronouncing sentence, Judge Nancy Brasel told Bock, “This was a fraud vortex and you were at the epicenter of it.” Judge Brasel stated that “A sentence of less than 500 months would not do justice to the people of Minnesota, who were in a very real sense the victims of this fraud.” These cases result from an investigation conducted by the FBI, IRS – Criminal Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Matthew C. Murphy, and Matthew D. Evans are prosecuting these cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Baune is handling the seizure and forfeiture of assets.


title: District of Arizona Charges 389 Individuals for Immigration-Related Criminal Conduct this Week

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – During the week of enforcement operations from May 16 through May 22, 2026, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona brought immigration-related criminal charges against 389 individuals. Specifically, the United States filed 170 cases in which aliens illegally re-entered the United States, and the United States also charged 191 aliens for illegally entering the United States. In its ongoing effort to deter unlawful immigration, the United States filed 23 cases against 28 individuals responsible for smuggling illegal aliens into and within the District of Arizona. These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recent matters of interest include: United States v. Gregory James Russell. Gregory James Russell was charged by criminal complaint on May 20, 2026, with Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit and Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. On May 19, Border Patrol Agents observed a Ford F-150 exceeding 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. The driver also swerved from side to side, crossing the center line, then continued into the town of Sonoita, Arizona, where agents eventually initiated a stop. Inside the vehicle, agents discovered two individuals who were determined to be citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. Agents also observed an open container of alcohol inside the vehicle and noted that Russell appeared to be intoxicated. Agents learned that Russell drove from Tucson to Nogales to pick up two illegal aliens and transport them to Phoenix and that he would be paid to do so. At the request of agents, Arizona Department of Public Safety Troopers also responded and charged Russell with Driving Under the Influence. [Case number: 26-MJ-03276] United States v. Robert Blair Schenberg. On May 20, 2026, Robert Blair Schenberg was charged by criminal compliant with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On May 19, a Pinal County Deputy noticed the license plate on a silver Hyundai Elantra was blowing upright in the breeze, making it unreadable. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Robert Blair Schenberg. While speaking to Schenberg, the deputy noticed the rear passenger was dressed in camouflage clothing and wearing carpet shoes. On the floorboard next to the passenger was a camouflage backpack. The deputy contacted the U.S. Border Patrol for assistance. Border Patrol Agents confirmed that the passenger was a citizen of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States. [Case number: 26-MJ-5222] United States v. Luis Arturo Quezada-Garcia. On May 19, 2026, Luis Arturo Quezada-Garcia was charged by criminal complaint with Transportation of an Illegal Alien. On May 18, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent noticed a Chevrolet Silverado near Wickenburg, Arizona, with dark window tint and an item hanging from the rearview mirror. The agent followed the vehicle and noticed the driver slow down and repeatedly drift across the fog line. As the agent pulled up to the vehicle, he could see two passengers in the back seat. Shortly after, the two passengers were no longer visible. The agent conducted a vehicle stop for an immigration inspection. During the stop, agents learned that the driver, Quezada-Garcia, and the rear passengers were citizens of Mexico, unlawfully present in the United States, and that they had crossed the border into the United States approximately one week prior. [Case number: 26-MJ-01388] This case is part of Operation Take Back America , a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. RELEASE NUMBER: 2026-081_May 22, 2026, Immigration Enforcement # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: 13 Defendants Sentenced for Serious Drug and Gun Crimes as Part of the Homeland Security Task Force Initiative

body_text: 13 defendants were convicted and sentenced to a combined 915 months for dealing drugs, conspiring to deal drugs, and unlawfully possessing firearms announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould. In this operation, law enforcement seized 4.1 kilograms of marijuana, 282 grams of crack cocaine, 2.3 kilograms of cocaine, 1.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 6.1 grams of fentanyl, 12 firearms, 2 glock switches, and $11,985 of United States currency. The Court sentenced the last defendant as part of the DTO on May 7, 2026. In total, 13 defendants were all convicted and received the following prison sentences: Edward Williams – 240 months Courtney Smith – 87 months Davonia Hart – 50 months Alicia Slaughter – 57 months Perry Taylor – 42 months Lucis Lugo – 57 months Dmarcus Quartez Roderick Moton – 40 months Quentavis Zikeiy Hawkins – time served (approximately 13.5 months) Jordan Davis – 87 months Xavier Barnes – 92 months Brandon Bedford – 87 months Ladarius Holly – 37 months Sebastian Medlock – 26 months This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (“HSTF”) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting, the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Dallas comprises agents and officers from FBI- Dallas and the Dallas Police Department with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. The Violent Crime Reduction Plan utilized hot spot policing across 47 neighborhoods that were identified as having the highest rates of violent crime. These neighborhoods were selected based on a comprehensive statistical analysis conducted by a local university. Investigators focused on one of the neighborhoods, most frequently associated with criminal activity, which include the sale of illicit narcotics, illegal firearms, machine gun conversion devices, as well as violent crimes such as capital murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and assault on public servants. This operation represents a significant step forward in the shared mission of FBI Dallas, Dallas Police Department and the Northern District of Texas, to reduce violent crime and protect our community. The success of this initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies in keeping Dallas safe. The Dallas Police Department (DPD) and the Dallas Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets and Gang Task Force (SSGTF) investigated the case. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas prosecuted the case.


title: Rancho Cordova Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Production and Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Daragh Finbar Hayes, 45, of Rancho Cordova, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins to 40 years in prison for production of child sexual abuse material and one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. According to court documents, between June 25, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2024, Hayes used a child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct. Hayes hid cameras inside a bathroom that he knew the victim used and used the cameras to take videos and pictures of the victim while they were undressed. He then edited and saved those images in a hidden folder on his computer. Hayes went into illicit online chatrooms where he bragged about these images and shared them with others. Hayes pleaded guilty on Jan. 9, 2026. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Campbell 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: Former CDC Supervisor Pleads Guilty to Stealing More than $190,000 of Agency Funds

body_text: ATLANTA - Gwendolyn Brandon, a former supervisor at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has pleaded guilty to theft of government funds in connection with fake invoices she submitted to the CDC. “This defendant embezzled taxpayer money and brazenly exploited her position of public trust by fabricating invoices,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “When she is sentenced later this year, she will pay the price for her greed and deception.” “This federal employee-turn-fraudster exploited her government position to steal taxpayer money to enrich herself,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus L. Sykes of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “HHS-OIG is committed to protecting the integrity of the federal workforce and to help ensure that HHS funding is spent appropriately to serve the American public.” According to U.S. Attorney Hertzberg, the charges, and other information presented in court: From approximately August 2023 to February 2025, while employed as a CDC administrative professional, Brandon created fraudulent invoices that appeared to be from vendors requesting payment for goods or services provided to the CDC. The invoices triggered payments to an account she controlled. She used her role as a supervisor and her knowledge of CDC’s invoice and credit card processing system to perpetuate the fraud by causing employees under her supervision, who were unaware of the fraud, to make the payments. Through her scheme, she caused the CDC to pay at least 46 fraudulent invoices in amounts ranging from $2,230 to $9,970, resulting in the theft of $190,461.50 in government funds. Gwendolyn Brandon, 43, of Cumming, Georgia, pleaded guilty to theft of government funds yesterday. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders. As part of her plea agreement, Brandon agreed to resign from the CDC and never apply for employment with the federal government again, nor will she seek to do business with the federal government as a contractor or vendor. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica C. Morris is prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Eastern District of Texas honors Jacksonville Police Officer with Hometown Hero Award

body_text: TYLER, Texas – U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs of the Eastern District of Texas announced Officer Elyse Hand of the Jacksonville Police Department as the district’s 2026 Hometown Hero Award recipient. The Hometown Hero Award is sponsored by the Department of Justice in honor of the United States of America’s 250th year of celebrating its independence. The Hometown Hero award recognizes one of our law enforcement partners who best embodies the spirit upon which our Nation was founded and reflects a steadfast commitment to the enduring ideals of liberty, service, and civic responsibility. The U.S. Attorney’s Office recognizes Officer Hand for her courageous actions on the evening of Sunday, November 2, 2025. On this day, Officer Hand was shot twice in the line of duty while attempting to apprehend a wanted fugitive. Today, she is on the road to recovery, supported by her husband, a Texas State Trooper, and their young son. In honor of Officer Hand, employees of the U.S. Attorney’s Office held a gift-in-kind charity drive to benefit local child advocacy centers in the Eastern District of Texas. Those centers include the Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County in Plano, the Grayson County Children’s Advocacy Center in Sherman, the Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center , the Children’s Advocacy Center of Smith County in Tyler, Harold’s House East Texas Alliance for Children in Lufkin, and the Garth House in Beaumont. As the Eastern District of Texas’ Hometown Hero, Officer Hand represents the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers across the nation every day. We salute Officer Hand and her bravery and wish her a speedy recovery. To learn more about the Hometown Hero award and Freedom 250, please visit https://freedom250.org/ . ###


title: Ten-Time Convicted Scammer Charged in New $1.5 Million Romance Fraud Targeting Elderly Woman

body_text: SAN DIEGO –Troy Clinton Van Sickle of Temecula appeared in federal court today to face charges that he stole more than $1.5 million from an elderly woman he claimed to be romantically interested in, and that he obstructed federal law enforcement efforts to investigate the alleged fraud scheme. According to the indictment and court records, Van Sickle – a 10-time convicted felon who worked as a janitor at a San Diego County preschool – targeted a wealthy divorced woman and cultivated what appeared to be a romantic relationship in order to gain access to her finances. Prosecutors allege that Van Sickle concealed his criminal history, which included convictions for fraud, theft, extortion, and perjury, and instead portrayed himself as a trustworthy and successful businessman. After gaining the victim’s confidence, Van Sickle allegedly claimed he was facing financial hardship and needed money from the victim to pursue business deals and investment opportunities. He allegedly promised to repay the funds promptly and share future profits. But it was all a lie. Van Sickle did not intend to repay the woman. He used her money to enrich himself and others and to pay for personal expenses, including to make payments on luxury cars, gamble at casinos, and send money to other women. The government also alleges that Van Sickle created a miniature replica car company and provided the woman a fake multi-million dollar contract between the company and Lotus Cars to give the impression that his company was legitimate. The woman sent the contract to her financial advisor and wired $150,000 to Van Sickle to fund the purported agreement. Van Sickle then used the money to purchase a 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale worth $650,000. According to the indictment, Van Sickle was on federal supervision for a prior fraud conviction at the time of the criminal offense. He had been ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution to nine victims of that offense and was required to truthfully and accurately report his financial resources to his probation officer. To conceal the offense and avoid paying restitution, Van Sickle submitted a false financial packet signed under penalty of perjury to his probation officer that did not include the money he received from the woman, the luxury cars he had purchased and sold, and his gambling winnings and losses. According to the indictment, upon learning that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had contacted the woman to discuss the money she had wired him, Van Sickle manipulated and exploited her to delete text messages, lie to law enforcement, and sign a false and fraudulent promissory note to make the wired proceeds appear simply as lump-sum loan payable over a 10-year period. Van Sickle also directed the woman to sign a false statement to make it appear as though Van Sickle had already made a $140,000 payment to her through the note. Van Sickle disclosed the woman’s payments to his probation officer, along with the false promissory note and statement, and lied that he had already made a $140,000 payment to the woman. Between 2022 and 2023, Van Sickle received approximately 20 money transfers from the woman totaling more than $1.5 million. He has not repaid any of the money to date. According to court records, there may be other victims of Van Sickle’s scheme to defraud. If you or someone you know has given more than $25,000 to the man depicted in the photographs below, please contact the FBI at (858) 320-1800. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Swan and Sarah M. Fix. DEFENDANTS Case Number : 26-cr-1774-RBM Troy Clinton Van Sickle Age: 55 Temecula, California SUMMARY OF CHARGES Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343 Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $250,000 fine Money Laundering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1957 Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine False Writing or Document – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1001(a)(3) and 2 Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine Falsification of Record in Federal Investigation – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1519 Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine False Statement – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001(a)(2) Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Pittsburgh Felon Indicted for Possession of Firearms

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of the Greenfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal firearms law, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named Jadus Stubbs, 21, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about March 22, 2026, Stubbs had two firearms and ammunition in his possession after having been convicted on a prior state felony drug trafficking charge. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney V. Joseph Sonson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. 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. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Georgia Sex Offender Sentenced to Prison for Failing to Register in Madison County, Florida

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: Tallahassee, Florida – Tavaris Andre Donaldson, 30, of Madison, Florida, was sentenced in federal court to 27 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The sentence was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “Convicted sex offenders like this defendant are legally required to register with local authorities when they move to a new location. This legal requirement is necessary to keep our communities informed of their presence and safe, and my office will ensure those registration requirements are strictly enforced.” Court documents reflect that the defendant was convicted of child molestation in May 2014 in Lowndes County, Georgia, and, as a result, was required to register as a sex offender in each county where he lived and worked. Although the defendant had been registering as a sex offender as required in Lowndes County, Georgia, he absconded from there in October 2024 and traveled to Madison County, Florida, where he lived and worked. Employment records showed that the defendant began employment in Madison County, Florida, in early-2025; however, the defendant knowingly failed to report his employment and residence as required by SORNA. After serving his term of imprisonment, Donaldson will have to serve eight years of supervised release. “There is nothing more important than protecting our nation’s children,” said Acting U.S. Marshal Greg Leljedal. “If a sex offender crosses state lines and fails to register, the U.S. Marshals will arrest and bring charges against them for these violations.” The case involved a joint investigation by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen. 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: “Seventh Ward Soldier” Sentenced to New Term of Imprisonment

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – LESHAWN PARKER (“PARKER”) was sentenced by United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance on May 13, 2026, to serve a total of 60 months in federal prison, after pleading guilty to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute. This 60-month sentence was ordered to be served consecutive to the 37 months sentence that Parker received earlier this year from United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo for the revocation of a previous term of Supervised Release, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle. PARKER had previously been convicted by a jury following a 1999 trial, in federal court in the Eastern District of Louisiana, for Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base and Cocaine Hydrochloride, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, and for Possessing a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). Evidence at that trial proved that he was part of a violent street gang known as the Seventh Ward Soldiers. This gang was responsible for several drug related murders and shootings in New Orleans. After being convicted, PARKER was sentenced to life in prison as to the drug conspiracy charge and a consecutive 60-month sentence for the firearm violation. He was also sentenced to serve 60 months of supervised release. In 2021 his life sentence for Count 1 was reduced to 220 months pursuant to the First Step Act. His 60-month consecutive sentence was not disturbed. Parker was released from federal custody on December 1, 2021. In his most recent case, on January 10, 2023, PARKER was arrested by members of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) after officers observed him in possession of a firearm. PARKER initially fled on foot from the officers and discarded his firearm over the fence onto the practice field of St. Augustine High School. The incident was captured on the officer’s body worn camera, and the firearm was recovered. PARKER was initially booked on state charges but made bond shortly thereafter. On May 3, 2024, PARKER was once again arrested by NOPD officers after he refused to pull his car over on a traffic violation. While resisting arrest, officers observed a gun on the floorboard of PARKER’S vehicle. A search incident to arrest revealed that PARKER was also in possession of several rocks of crack cocaine and several hundred dollars in small bills. PARKER admitted to having the intent to distribute the cocaine. Federal prosecutors adopted both January 10, 2023, and May 3, 2024, state charges and charged PARKER in Federal Court. This case was investigated by Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (A.T.F.) and members of the New Orleans Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maurice Landrieu of the Violent Crime Unit. 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: EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY RECOGNIZED AS FREEDOM 250’S HOMETOWN HERO FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: Deputy Brandon Searles of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office was recognized as the Middle District’s Freedom 250 Hometown Hero, announced U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall. The Freedom 250 Hometown Hero initiative is part of America’s 250 anniversary celebrations, honoring local law enforcement heroes across the country for their courage, generosity, and service. On May 8, 2025, Deputy Searles, a private citizen and former Marine Reservist at the time, stopped an attempted bank robbery at the Regions Bank on South Sherwood Forest Boulevard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Without hesitation or concern for his own safety, Deputy Searles disarmed and secured Quarles James Harris, age 52, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Harris was then arrested by Baton Rouge Police officers and taken into custody. Before the incident, Deputy Searles was in the process of applying with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. He graduated from the Capital Area Regional Training Academy in December 2025. Harris was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on July 16, 2025, for bank robbery; using, carrying, possessing, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He pleaded guilty and is currently awaiting sentencing. U.S. Attorney Wall stated, “It is my honor to recognize Brandon for his selflessness and bravery. Without hesitation, he took action that day to protect his fellow neighbors from a very dangerous situation. He has served our country as a marine and continues to serve our community as a deputy. We are very fortunate to have Brandon as our Hometown Hero. “Even before Deputy Brandon Searles joined the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, he demonstrated the courage, selflessness, and instinct to protect others that define the very best in law enforcement,” stated Sheriff Sid Gautreaux. “His actions that day reflected the character, integrity, and sense of duty that cannot be taught. We are incredibly proud of Deputy Searles for receiving this well-deserved recognition and grateful that he is now a member of the EBRSO family. I also want to thank U.S. Attorney Kurt Wall and his office for recognizing Brandon’s actions and honoring individuals who selflessly step forward to protect others. We are fortunate to have Deputy Searles serving our community alongside us each day.”


title: Barre Woman Pleads Guilty to Social Security Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Barre woman pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to stealing over $100,000 in Social Security benefits. Jennifer Valley, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government money. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for Aug. 28, 2026. Valley was charged in April 2026 . From October 2022 through August 2025, Valley stole approximately $100,218 in Social Security retirement benefits that were intended for a beneficiary that had died and with whom she had previously lived. Prior to the beneficiary’s death, Valley had been appointed as the beneficiary’s representative payee to manage their Social Security benefits and provide regular accountings to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Valley failed to report the beneficiary’s death to SSA. Instead, in June 2023, she submitted a representative payee report to SSA stating that all the benefits received during the previous 12 months had been spent for the benefit of the deceased, including $23,157 in funds improperly paid after death during that period. Additionally, in December 2023, Valley updated the deceased’s mailing address with SSA to her new address to conceal the beneficiary’s death. The charge of theft of public funds provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Amy Connelly, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division made the announcement. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg of the Worcester Branch Office. On March 26, 2026 , United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the creation of the Benefit & Voter Fraud Team, a district-wide initiative established in response to the rampant fraud being uncovered across Massachusetts. The Team is led by two senior federal prosecutors serving as Fraud Coordinators, whose mission it is to aggressively investigate and prosecute misuse of taxpayer-funded benefits in Massachusetts. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected benefit fraud in Massachusetts by calling 1-855-SCAM-MA-1 (855-722-6621). On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division . The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Names Memphis Police Department Sergeant April Moseley as "Hometown Hero"

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – The United States Attorney's Office of the Western District of Tennessee selected Sergeant April Moseley, of the Memphis Police Department, as its "Hometown Hero" for the Western District of Tennessee. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, made the announcement today. The "Hometown Hero" award honors the enduring ideals of Liberty, Service, and Civic Responsibility. The award is dedicated in recognition of a steadfast commitment to these ideals and an embodiment of the spirit upon which our Nation was founded. U.S. Attorney Dunavant presented Sergeant Moseley with this award on May 21, 2026 on behalf of the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's Office as part of Freedom 250 events hosted around the country to celebrate America's 250th birthday. Sgt. Moseley is one of 93 individuals in the country selected to receive this award. Sgt. Moseley has been a member of the Memphis Police Department for over 21 years and has worked in several units, such as the Organized Crime Unit, Sex Crimes Bureau, General Investigations Bureau, and Uniformed Patrol. She is currently assigned to the FBI Safe Street's Task Force (SSTF), where she investigates cases and oversees the daily tasks of task force officers from multiple other agencies. She relentlessly investigates each case and does not stop until every single investigative option has been fully explored. She is victim-focused and ensures that each victim is informed of case status and that their victim's rights are honored. U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Sgt. April Moseley is most deserving of this high honor to recognize her tireless work to achieve justice for victims and consequences for criminals. As we celebrate our Nation’s 250th Birthday, it is our honor to also recognize, celebrate, and thank Sgt. Moseley for her outstanding service to Memphis, the Western District of Tennessee, and the United States. She is truly our Hometown Hero.” Police Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis, of the Memphis Police Department, attended the ceremony and thanked Sgt. Moseley for her outstanding work and service with the Memphis Police Department. She stated, "This is truly one of the most joyous experiences in a Chief's career when they see their hard-working officers, supervisors recognized for the work that they do". She stated Sgt. Moseley is "professional and about getting the work done", and that she was proud to see her being recognized as Memphis' Hometown Hero. The ceremony was held at the U.S. Attorney's Office and attended by Sgt. Moseley's family, Memphis Police Department Commanders, FBI Safe Streets Task Force officers, and many of her law enforcement partners and friends. Sgt. Moseley with U.S. Attorney Dunavant, MPD Chief Davis, and MPD Commanders Sgt. Moseley with U.S. Attorney Dunavant and FBI Supervisory Special Agent Tom Barlow ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Lawrence Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Nine Kilograms of Cocaine

body_text: BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Leonardo Lara, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In October 2025 , Lara was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (involving five kilograms or more of cocaine). In August 2023 , Lara was indicted by a federal grand jury along with co-conspirators Merced Navarro Morfin and Leandro Martinez. In April 2022, an investigation revealed that Lara was in possession of $230,000 in drug proceeds that he sought to send to Mexico. On April 20, 2022, Lara was stopped on Interstate-84 in Sturbridge and approximately $40,000 in drug proceeds were found hidden in baby-wipe containers in the trunk. Lara was released from the traffic stop and promptly contacted his co-conspirators. Approximately 36 minutes after the traffic stop concluded, Martinez and Navarro Morfin were observed travelling to Lara’s residence in Methuen and removing eight kilograms of cocaine. Another kilogram of cocaine, and approximately $196,000 in bundled cash, were found in the car that Martinez and Navarro Morfin drove to Lara’s house. According to court records, Lara was previously convicted twice in federal court in Boston. In 2004, Lara was convicted of bank larceny and was sentenced to probation. In 2017, Lara was convicted of money laundering, transactions in criminally derived funds and theft of government funds and was sentenced to 15 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In November 2025, Navarro Morfin was sentenced to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In May 2025, Martinez was sentenced to 23 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel R. Feldman and Sandra Gonzalez Sanchez of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case. This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.


title: Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Recording His Sexual Abuse of Sleeping Child

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARIO RENE GARCIA MARTINEZ, also known as “Mario Rene Martinez Garcia,” 41, a citizen of Guatemala unlawfully residing in the U.S., pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to child exploitation offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, on two occasions in February 2024, in Connecticut, Garcia Martinez used his smartphone to record images and videos of himself sexually abusing a prepubescent minor female while she was sleeping. Garcia Martinez pleaded guilty to production of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Garcia Martinez has been detained since his arrest on March 6, 2025. A sentencing date is not scheduled. This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the West Haven Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel E. Cummings and Anastasia E. King with the assistance of the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Ansonia-Milford. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com . 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: Maryland Man Sentenced to 36 Months for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Maryland man was sentenced to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty for his role in a conspiracy to traffic personal identifying information (PII), U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced. Chief United States District Judge Renée M. Bumb imposed the sentence on April 23, in Camden federal court. Chouby Charleron, 27, of Severn, Maryland, pleaded guilty before Chief Judge Bumb on November 19, 2025, to a single count Information that charged him with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From at least February 2020 through his arrest on January 22, 2024, Charleron accessed and obtained the PII of thousands of unwitting individuals and then sold that PII to a network of co-conspirators through interstate wires using a web-based encrypted messaging application that users could access on their cellphones. Charleron was the administrator of a chat group that advertised the sale of PII to prospective co-conspirators. Charleron sold the PII, including Social Security numbers, of more than 5,000 victims to multiple co-conspirators. Charleron sold the PII with the knowledge that his co-conspirators would use the PII to, among other things, defraud or attempt to default the victims whose PII had been stolen. In addition to the prison term, Chief Judge Bumb also ordered $102,288.18 in restitution and a term of supervised release of 2 years. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Michael S. McCarthy with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dak Cohen and Alison Thompson of the Criminal Division in Camden and Newark respectively. ### Defense counsel: Gary Mizzone, Esq.


title: Out of state trucker among 273 charged as part of newest Operation Take Back America actions

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – The Southern District of Texas has filed another 271 cases involving immigration and border security-related crimes from May 15-21, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck. A total of 249 illegal aliens are charged with unlawfully being in the United States - 67 and 182 for illegal entry and reentry, respectively. Most have previous convictions related to narcotics, immigration offenses, violent crimes and more. The cases also include 19 people allegedly involved in human smuggling, while the remaining matters relate to other immigration crimes. One such case involves an out of state truck driver arrested in a failed human smuggling attempt of 42 illegal aliens in a hot, locked trailer. The charges allege that on May 16, Juan Nasario-Reyes arrived at a checkpoint and claimed his vehicle was empty, but a K-9 alerted, and law enforcement ultimately discovered four illegal aliens concealed inside the cab with 38 more in the trailer. It had been latched shut from the outside with a temperature inside of approximately 92.5 degrees, according to the complaint. A total of 13 of the illegal aliens are also facing either illegal entry or reentry charges, while the remaining are expected to be immediately removed from the country. Three more complaints involve illegal aliens from Mexico who were allegedly found unlawfully in the United States. One - Santos Rivera-Garcia - has a significant prior conviction for felony illegal reentry and was ordered to serve 63 months in federal prison in 2022 and removed April 24 of this year, according to the complaint. However, the charges allege authorities discovered him near Mission less than a month after that removal. Two other cases allege law enforcement discovered Faustino Soto and Genaro Perez-Alonso near Escobares and Mission, respectively. Both allegedly have prior narcotics convictions and had been sentenced to at least 10 years in prison prior to their removals from the country. With no authorization to be in the United States, all could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. Also announced this week were the guilty verdicts in two trials against illegal aliens unlawfully in the United States. A Houston federal jury deliberated for less than 30 minutes before convicting Mexican national Eduardo Aguilera-Gallardo – an illegal alien who claimed he was kidnapped and forced to return to the United States. Testimony revealed that authorities found him in Houston after a deportation officer had previously escorted him across the international boundary in Laredo following his removal order. The jury heard that neither Aguilera-Gallardo nor his family sought assistance from law enforcement in either country and never reported the alleged kidnapping to authorities once in the United States. In Corpus Christi, a federal jury took less than 10 minutes to convict Jose Leandro Juarez-Rivas , an illegal alien from Mexico. Authorities had identified him on a commercial bus Feb. 18 with no legal authorization to be in the country. The defense attempted to convince the jury Juarez-Rivas did not know he was ordered removed from the United States or that he was not allowed to reenter the country. The jury rejected those claims and found him guilty as charged. In another Houston case, Jose Angel Martinez Menjivar , an illegal alien sex offender from El Salvador, was ordered to federal prison for 40 months for unlawfully reentering the country without authorization. He has previous convictions for illegal reentry and indecent assault by touching and was first removed in 2022. However, authorities discovered him again in Houston July 9, 2025, with no authorization to be in the United States. The cases are referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations, Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners. The cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Under current leadership, public safety and a secure border are the top priorities for this district. Enhanced enforcement both at the border and in the interior of the district have yielded aliens engaged in unlawful activity or with serious criminal histories, including convictions for human trafficking, sexual assault and violence against children. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas remains one of the busiest in the nation. It represents 43 counties and more than 10 million people covering 44,000 square miles. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from all seven divisions including Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo work directly with our law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels to prosecute the suspected offenders of these and other federal crimes. An indictment or criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced for SNAP Benefits Fraud Scheme

component: National Fraud Enforcement Division

body_text: Greenbelt, Maryland – A Maryland man received a federal prison term, today, for masterminding a supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) benefits fraud scam and other related crimes. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Brendyn Andrew, 34, of Gaithersburg, to 54 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for SNAP benefits fraud, possessing unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, passport fraud, and witness tampering, in connection with the scheme. Judge Chuang also ordered Andrew to pay $41,699.79 in restitution. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker, U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) Northeast Region, and Special Agent in Charge David Richeson, U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) – Washington Field Office. This prosecution is part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. In February 2025, a grand jury indicted Andrew for aggravated identity theft, SNAP benefits fraud, social security number misuse, and theft of government property. Then, in May 2025, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Andrew with additional crimes for possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices; aggravated identity theft; passport fraud; and tampering with a witness, victim, or informant. According to court documents, between February and June 2021, Andrew used the Department of Human Services’ online system to apply for SNAP benefits and obtain electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards later found in his possession. Andrew, who used identities belonging to more than 30 individuals, intentionally misrepresented his identity to obtain the benefits. In October 2022, during the execution of a search warrant, law enforcement found Andrew in possession of more than 15 EBT cards in the names of other individuals. Then, in January 2023, and again, in February 2024, Andrew submitted United States passport applications. On the applications, Andrew stated he was other individuals, and without legal authority, used the victims’ social security numbers. One of the individuals is Andrew’s brother. Records obtained from U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed Andrew flew multiple times, using the fraudulent passport he obtained in his brother’s name. Additionally, in March 2025, while detained on the original indictment at the Chesapeake Detention Facility in Baltimore, Maryland, Andrew spoke to Dominique Collins, 38, of Stafford, Virginia, his girlfriend and co-conspirator, on the phone. During the call, Andrew asked Collins to delete an e-mail account to make the account unavailable for use in an official proceeding. In March 2026, Collins pled guilty to tampering with a witness, victim, or informant. Collins’s sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, July 2, at 9:30 a.m. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs. U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USDA-OIG and DSS for their work in the investigation, along with the Montgomery County Police Department for its investigative assistance. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kertisha Dixon who is prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Jackson Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Distribution

component: Department of Justice

body_text: JACKSON, MS – Level Allen was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute it. Additionally, once released, he will be placed on supervised release for four years. According to court documents, and statement made in open court, Allen sold methamphetamine from a Jackson motel on multiple occasions. Allen was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2025. He pled guilty in January 2026. U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger for the Southern District of Mississippi; ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson; and DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer made the announcement. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline 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: Pittsburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of the Allentown neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics law as part of a Homeland Security Task Force prosecution, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Malik Martinez, 28, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan on May 21, 2026. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, between March 2024 and July 2024, Martinez participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, both Schedule II controlled substances, by functioning as a redistributor of street-level amounts of both substances. Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for September 16, 2026. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the Court continued Martinez’s detention. Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly M. Locher and Katherine C. Jordan are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. This prosecution was 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 toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations that have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. The Western District of Pennsylvania is part of the Philadelphia HSTF, which comprises agents and officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), the United States Department of State–Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and state and local law enforcement partners, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania.


title: Repeat Criminal Alien from Guatemala Sentenced to Federal Prison for Third Illegal Reentry Conviction

body_text: Pensacola, Florida – Jose Francisco Santizo-Perez, also known as “Jose Mynor Castillo Lazaro,” 42, of Guatemala, was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal reentry by a removed alien. The plea was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: “This criminal illegal alien has clearly not gotten the message that violating our nation’s immigration laws will not be tolerated, so now he will spend more than a year in federal prison before being deported once again. We are a nation of laws, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who dares to violate those laws in the Northern District of Florida.” Court documents reflect that the defendant has been deported from the United States four times, and had twice been convicted of illegal reentry by a removed alien in 2018 in this district and again in 2020 in the Western District of Texas. After his most recent deportation in 2021, he illegally returned to the United States and was found in Okaloosa County, Florida, in January 2026. “This criminal illegal alien is a repeat offender who has been deported four times and twice convicted for illegal reentry and continues to demonstrate his contempt for the laws of the United States,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Miami acting Field Office Director Kelei Walker. “This conviction highlights the persistent issues associated with criminal illegal aliens who continually break immigration laws. The 16-month federal prison sentence demonstrates ICE’s dedication to upholding the law and safeguarding our communities from individuals who ignore the legal process.” The case was investigated by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney Alicia H. Forbes prosecuted the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 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 .